Oquirrh Mountain Temple

We went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house the other day. It was so neat to be able to go through the temple with the kids. It is a really good experience for the kids and I'm so glad they were able to go through and see parts of the temple before the dedication.

4th of July Fun

We had a very busy 4th this year. We started the day with a very early morning to make it to the balloon festival. The kids love being able to watch the balloons get filled with hot air and then take off in flight. We then sat and watched the balloons compete in a few events.

We had a great time except for when S got lost. Some of the balloons were throwing candy as they were taking off, and S decided he really needed some candy, so off he went chasing the balloon. The next thing we knew, he was gone. He was gone for a long time too. We were looking all over the field that was covered with hundreds of people and giant balloons. It was super scary. Then my phone rang and it was S in tears. Luckily someone had noticed him crying and took him over to the tent where the event workers were. I was so grateful that he was okay and that someone was nice enough to help him out. That feeling that you may have possibly lost one of your children is a feeling I never want to have again.

We could feel the heat g0ing in to the balloons.

Watching the donuts be made at Krispe Kreme.

What a perfect breakfast for right after a festival!

DH and Greg at the BBQ. We had SO much food!

Patiently waiting and waiting for the fireworks to start!

This Is The Place

Today we went to the "This Is The Place" Heritage Park.

It was a lot of fun to spend time together and to see how the pioneers lived.

The boys made rope.



Lu and S petting the animals.

Uncle Yoho and the boys at the Indian Village.

Leather Stamping

Doll Making

Candle Dipping

Carding

T trying out the stilts.

The lady there said that was the best she'd ever seen anyone do!

Doing laundry.

Sisters!

Yummy ice cream to end the day!

Idiots and Airheads

The girls!

Sarah and I were roommates at BYU for a little while.

She was a fun person to be with, and still is!

Little Natalia all dolled up!

We got to visit with our cousins for a little bit this evening. They are here from Oregon, and were able to come for a short visit. I love these guys so much. It's been WAY too long since we've been together. When we were growing up we were known as the Idiots and Airheads because of our last names, too funny! The kids all got along great and we enjoyed spending the evening together. Hopefully it won't be too long before we can get together again.

We Are Family

J's second dance this year was "We Are Family".

The girls were so cute shaking their little buns!

Stupid Cupid

J all ready for competition!

I'll Stand By You

This was M's other dance this year. It was a lyrical, and they did a great job!!

Cat in the Hat

The girls had a great year of dance. M really grew a lot this year. She had a great time. This dance was super cute, and the girls all had so much fun!

EQP

Yesterday my cute hubby got put in as the new "EQP" (elders quorum president) in our ward. This is a calling that he's had in 2 different wards, so we know it is a lot of work, not only for the eqp but for his wife too. Hope we're ready. Actually, I know he is, I hope I am!

Runway Girl

M went to a birthday party for one of her friends. They went to a spa and got pampered, ate treats, and walked the runway. They had a great time. I was just emailed me these pictures and had to post them, because I thought they were so stinkin' cute! Looks like it was a blast!

M and her friend Shae.

Enjoying some treats!

Watch out!

Good Friends

We went to St. George with some friends and had a blast.

This is just outside of the temple.

Ramona Quimby

Introducing: M as Ramona Quimby

My name is Ramona, I'm only eight.

It isn't my turn, but I just couldn't wait.

I tried to bring Beezus but she was in tears,

so I came without her, do you like my new ears?

It just seems to Henry and Ribsy and me,

that tossing out books is so silly you see.

Cause books make us laugh, make us think, make us feel

things that are special and things that are real.

APX Party

My sis Ange invited the kids and I to go to her works summer kickoff party on Saturday. It was a blalst. It was by far the best work party I've ever been to. When we first got there everyone got a new shirt and we entered our names in for drawings.

There were a ton of bounce houses, slides, and mazes for the kids to play on. It was catered, and the food was so YUMMY! BBQ is not my favorite, but this was good food! There were also scones and snow cones. You could have as much as you wanted. I think each of the kids had at least 2 or 3 snow cones.

There were a ton of drawings for prizes. M won a hat. I won skullcandy, which I guess is supposedly some really good expensive headphones. I'd never heard of them before, shows how much I know. I probably won't use them, so I guess I'll try and sell them. Ange won some luggage worth like $300. It really was a great party.

They had a cash cage where you stand in one of those boxes and cash blows all around and you have 30 seconds to catch as much as you can. Well, all of my kiddos got to go in there. They thought that was the best ever. Combined they "caught" $98.00!!

We stayed for a long time and just hung out. The kids had a blast winning prizes, playing, and eating. It was a great way to spend a Saturday while DH worked.

Ange is such a good Auntie going down the slide with J!!

This was the only picture I got of S. The rest of the time he was out running and playing. I could barely get him to hold sort of still for this one picture.

Cub Scout

S finally got to go to Scouts!

He's been waiting and waiting for this day, and had a great time.

Hope of America

T got to be part of a huge performance at BYU. It was called "Hope of America". The kids sang some great songs. There were also some dances and a slide show. He had a great time performing. Some of the songs they learned in sign language. It was a nice tribute to America!

(T is in the middle section, fourth red row up, in case anyone was wondering!)

"It's Like in the 70's"

J has been coming home from school almost every day asking if she can get out the slip-n-slide. I keep telling her that it's not warm enough yet. She doesn't agree. Finally the other day she asked and I said no again. She then said "It's like in the 70's!" So, I finally gave in. They had a great time, although they didn't last very long. Crazy girls!

Look Who's 8!

Yesterday my little Cinco de Mayo baby turned 8. How the heck did time go by so quickly? This guy has been waiting to be 8 so that he could be baptized. We had a short little celebration because yesterday was super CRAZY, but we will redeem ourselves. He was happy to get his presents: scriptures with name embossed, scripture bag, scout shirt, scout book, and "wolf" slide. He was thrilled with his gifts and was smiling all day long.

S is my little trouble maker. He drives me absolutely crazy, but I love him SO much. He's got a great smile and the most tender heart. So, when he goes through his little crazy-naughty moments it's so hard to be mad at him. He puts on that little charm and gives me a big smile and then it's so hard to stay mad.

Happy Birthday Bubba!

I Totally Wish We Were Still Doing This!

Get ready...

...and jump!

We love swimming!

Sun, anyone?