Worst Blogger Ever

I am so bad at this blogging thing. I really do have good intentions. I just realized that it had been more than 3 weeks since I last blogged. It really only felt like two. I am so far behind that I guess I will just have to catch up when I have time. Ha Ha! I am too busy living life to blog about it. That sounds like a good excuse so I'll use it.

St. George

Over UEA weekend the kids and I packed up and went to St. George for the weekend. We were graciously invited to a family gathering of my birth-family. We went down with my aunt Deb, uncle Greg, their 2 daughters and most of their famlies. When we got down there I was able to meet aunt Kathy and 3 of her kids, Steph, Jen, and Chris and their families. I also met uncle Harold and some other family members. It was a little overwhelming. It would have been really nice to have had Jeff there with me. But the kids and I had alot of fun. We had a Halloween party for all the kids one night. The next day we went to uncle Marty's and rode 4-wheelers, horses and bounced on the tramp and in the bounce house. Josh was a huge fan of the 4-wheelers but would not ride a horse. Katie did plenty of both. They had a fabulous dinner for everyone too. The next day we went up to Springdale which is right at the entrance to Zion's. Marty and his fiance Tish were married at a beautiful park there. Then we all hung out and the kids played. I even got out some hoops to play with and I think the adults had as much fun with them as the kids did. They fed us very well with the best smoked barbeque I have ever had! By the end of the weekend I was totally exhausted. Josh, however, asked if we could stay 2 more days! He really liked the pool at the hotel! I just wish I had gotten some better pictures, but we were too busy having fun.

Thanks to Ashley for letting us bunk with you and the kids! And to all the cousins and family- I am really glad we got to meet and get to know you a little! Keep in touch and I hope to see you all again sometime!

15 years

How time flies! I can't believe it has been 15 years already. Jeff and I wanted to do something special for our anniversary so we picked the beautiful Johnson Mill Bed & Breakfast in Midway. We went to lunch as we left town and then stopped in Park City where Jeff patiently let me shop awhile! I desperately needed pants that fit! After spoiling me there we drove down to miday and checked into the hotel. It was so beautiful and quiet there. If you ever get the chance I highly recommend it. We walked around the grounds and went to dinner at a local restaurant. The food delicous but the best part was the strawberry lemonade that was served in a huge mug with sugar crystals on the rim. I have never had strawberry lemonade that good! After breakfast, which was also delicious, we walked around the lake again and watched the swans. We stopped at California Pizza Kitchen for lunch at the Gateway before heading home. It was short but so totally realaxing and enjoyable. I wish we could do it every year!

The Brady Bunch

September was a busy month. And one reason I didn't have much time to blog was that I was too busy spending every free moment with my sister Julie and her little girl Elliot. We were so lucky that Julie was able to come and spend 3 weeks in Utah this time! Jason was able to come for a few days too. Josh was a big fan of uncle Jason but not so impressed with Elliot at first. Little Elliot is such a doll and growing up to be such an adorable little sweetheart. We miss her so much. Some highlights of the visit were the trip to the fish farm, listening to her try and say "Lulu", watching her share ice cubes with Lulu (Em's pug), watching her jump with Katie, getting kisses and loves, listening her sing wheels on the bus and itsy bitsy spider and just spending time with her. Julie is expecting a baby boy in Feb. and we are excited to add another adorable Brady to the clan! We hope we can go and visit with them this spring!

FOUND!!!

As any mother knows one of the saddest things is your childs face when they have lost a special toy or blanket. Josh's little stuffed dinosaur "Chomp" went missing 3 days ago. We pretty much tore the house apart looking for the little guy. Checking all the usual places- under the couch and bed, closet, car, etc. He was getting pretty worried and frankly so was I. I thought he was gone for good. I never thought he would turn up in the hamper! We all had a good laugh when I uncovered Chomp while sorting the laundry this morning. I love that our kids keep life interesting!

On a side note- I started this blog as a way to keep connected with family and friends but also as a journal for our family. And I have not been very good at keeping it updated lately, so I will be attempting to catch up for the next few weeks!

First Day of School

O.K. so this is really late but here is a cute picture of the kids on their first day of school! They love school this year. I was a little worried about Josh changing to full day but he loves it! Especially math ( he got that from dad, not me!) Katie is one of the oldest in the class and the kids have nicknamed her the walking dictionary. She prefers book worm though. She loves being able to help the other kids.

Nickelcade

A trip to nickelcade during the summer is one of the kids favorite activities. Josh is getting quite good at air hockey. I love the skee ball and wack the alien. But the big favorite this time was a game called "dance revolution". It was hillarious watching the kids try to follow the dance moves, they got really into it. I wish I had been able to video tape it.

Treehouse

We went to the treehouse with some friends this summer. The kids had such a blast. The funny thing is, they did the same things that they do everytime but they still love it. School is one of Katies favorite places and of course the art garden. Josh has a love of all things theatrical especially when it has to do with knights and kings. He still remembers his birthday party from a year and a half ago that he had at the treehouse when they did a partici-play and he was the king.

Bowling

Wow does time fly! It has been forever since I blogged. One of the main purposes of this blog was to keep a record of our memories. So now I will attempt to catch up. We have been pretty busy and there is lots to write about and lots of pictures to share.

The end of summer we went bowling with some friends. The kids had a blast. I bowl about once a year and then remember that I am a terrible bowler. I think I came in last, which is sad considering there were bumpers and I was bowling againist 3 kids under 10. Katie on the other hand is a pretty good bowler!

Bad Blogger

I have been a very bad blogger lately! We have had computer problems on both computers. My husband fried the motherboard on one of them and the other has spyware problems. Hopefully all will be up and running this week. I have some fun stuff to post from the end of summer. We all started school last week and the kids are loving it and so am I. I am the preschool assistant at Horizon this year. I love getting to play with the little kids, they are so fun and say the funniest things! I am sure I will have many funny stories to come. Don't give up on us yet, we will be back soon!

SUPERHEROES!!!

I was looking through some old pictures yesterday and this one made me laugh so hard. I love the expressions on their faces! Josh has always loved two things- superheroes and dressing up. You have just got to admire his bold fashion choices! Katie is perfectly coordinated with her cat-eye rims and cat purse! Katie was 6 and Josh was about 3 1/2. It was so cute I just had to share it!

My little fishes

I finally got some cute pictures of the kids swimming this year! Josh has turned into quite the little fish. He has been so afraid of putting his face in the water that he still hadn't passed the beginning swimming class. This year we skipped lessons and I am so glad. He was able to discover it on his own and now I think lessons will be alot easier in the future. The first time we went this year he started to get brave. He would take a deep breath and go just barely under and come back up. He told me, "Mom I can breathe under water!" I explained that people can't breathe under water, that's why we hold our breath. He said, "Well just a little bit I can breathe under water, mom." It was pretty cute. Now he just dives in and even has dad push him down to the bottom of the pool so he can float back up to the top. It is so great to see the kids learn something new all on their own! Katie is a huge fan of the waterslide. She has become quite the little thrill-seeker this year! Josh took some convincing but finally tried the slide and now he likes it too.

I need your help!!!!

O.k., time to get creative people! I need a name for my tiny, but growing hoop business! I have been trying to come up with something cute but I need some help! Please post your suggestions in the comments or email me. Thanks!

My favorite new hooper!

This is just too cute!!!!

father & sons camp out (aka-male bonding time)

Josh's favorite picture of his daring stunt hanging through a bridge!

Jeff, Josh and Grandpa Don went on the annual father & sons camp out last weekend. It is a much anticipated ritual that Josh thoroughly enjoys. With no women around to nag them these guys get to really let loose! So what do they do up there? Well, this year I had Jeff take the camera to document the event. Boys will be boys even if they are BIG boys. Josh came home with stories of homemade bottle rockets, daring stunts, manly games, and adventures in the wild mountains. O.K., so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it is how he remembers the trip! Thanks to Grandpa Don for all the work in getting ready for the big camp out. I know all the boys really enjoyed it!