Remembering...

Our shell seeker!

Would you jump into this lake for $10.00?

Hair cut, $12.00. Swimming trunks, $15.00. The look on this boy's face after a plunge in icy cold lake water...priceless!!!!!

It usually rains on Memorial weekend. It wasn't looking good for this weekend but we were pleasantly surprised. So Bear Lake it was! We chose to go there because Kelly wanted to visit his father's grave which overlooks the lake and is very close to his mother's house up there. The kids picked out flowers at the store and were so excited to give them to grandpa! The whole cemetery is filled with Kelly's family! We had fun saying, "here's another one!" Kelly and his mom visited a few cemeteries on their own to find relatives in the surrounding area. Kelly's family helped settle Bear Lake area so many, many grave stones were found! The kids had fun at grandma's house. We played baseball in the yard, wrestled, had a marshmallow roast with GIANT marshmallows (didn't know they made these), we played board games, watched movies, went to the beach, got milk shakes, ate grandma's homemade wheat bread with homemade strawberry jam, went on a boat ride (kids got to drive!) and basically hung out!!! Crazy Kelly ran and jumped into the FREEZING lake and then dared the boys to jump in too for $10.00 each. They did. Crazy. I think they would have done it for $5.00! So we stopped at Target on our way home to buy the boys their $10.00 gift. On the car ride both ways we talked and played games. Our DVD player doesn't work in our car so this was how we survived the 2 1/2 hour drive. It was actually really nice! I love spending time with my family and I loved being at Ordell's grave so we could be reminded of the place he holds in our lives and our hearts. We miss him!!!!

Laaadies and Geeentlemen!!!!!!!

I just heard that Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson are starring in the movie "Water for Elephants"!!!!!!! I loved this book and I am soooooo excited for who they casted for the main roles! It is going to be amazing and I will for sure be there opening weekend! Water for Elephants (a novel) is about the circus in 1930! It is a look inside life as a performer, a worker, and the greatest show on earth! It also has a great love story. It makes me want to take the family to the circus! We've never done it before. Maybe someday! Oh!!!! I can't wait!

The Dead Sea

This weekend consisted of Boondocks, father/son camp out, helping Kelly's bro. move, yard work, house work, and a little jaunt northward to Antelope Island. Not the Dead Sea exactly but close enough for now...Antelope Island which is surrounded by the Great Salt Lake was squeezed into our weekend at the last minute. We brought a picnic, played in the warm water, played catch, and skipped a billion rocks! All I heard most of the afternoon was, "Mom, watch!" X4!!!!! I had to say over and over that I couldn't watch ALL of the rocks being skipped!!!! The rocks that cover the beach and are found in the water, are very flat, shale like rocks and therefore the PERFECT skipping rocks! I think they would skip on dry land they are that good! We saw antelope grazing and a few jack rabbits too. Nice family time but I hope next weekend is a little slower!!!!

the four reasons i love this day!

Let me start at the end of the day. We were driving home from a picnic in the park with my family when Kelly asked "what was the best part of your day?" How do you choose the best part when you get a whole day of special attention? I said my favorite part happened the day before. Sam could NOT wait any longer to give me his special present from school so that started the kids on a present giving frenzy! I love the homemade gifts more than anything bought, more than any "time out" for me. I collect it all and keep it in a place in my closet. I CHERISH these items more than anything! So this was my favorite part, sitting on my bed with all four kids, unwrapping one sweet thing after another! Today Kelly made me feel very loved and appreciated as he always does but with an added gift of making homemade waffles! He got up at 6:30! They were amazing! I got something very unique from Bailey. As I walked into the kitchen and saw my fancy place with presents, the one that caught my eye was the Monchichi! Bailey knew that one of the most special gifts I ever got as a child was a Monchichi so since they made a come back, she bought one for me!!!! How CUTE! I love being a mom! I have really bad days and it is extremely hard and frustrating and overwhelming at times but who can think about that today? I was born to be this woman! This is who I am! And I am very, very full. My cup runneth over!