Cousins!

We got to watch the Willsons for the weekend, while their parents played in Vegas. Our kids really enjoy having cousins stay over. We went on the mountain and while I helped James set up the trailer, they played. After a while, I decided I better go see where they went. I found them not by the lake, but in the lake. They had found an abandoned, old canoe. They then found some old logs that they used for oars and all 6 of them were floating near the middle of the lake. They were pretty proud of themselves. I on the other hand was a little concerned for the two little kids that don't know how to swim. They did make it back to the shore and all was well. It reminded me of the times Jodi and I would swim in the lakes above Joes Valley.

Pee Wee Horse Show

Glenda's Pee Wee horse club is one of our favorite events of the year. My kids love going to practice every week and love the show at the end of the summer. They did super! Chase took second in Western Horsemanship. He had a mile wide smile for the judge. He also took second in the poles. He did every event by himself. No one led him around at all! He even trotted down and jumped off to pull the ribbon off the goat! Way to go Chase!

Wade did great. He went so fast in the poles and the keyhole. He was a little sad that he didn't get a trophy, but he won lots of second place ribbons too.

Bailey was the All Around Queen. I couldn't believe it!! She won halter, keyhole, poles, and the goat tie. She was amazing. She ran the timed events so fast and she tied the goat up like a professional. She won every event but 2! She deserves it after the bad year we had last year. She should be very proud!

Last Blast of the Summer

We had to have one last blast of fun before school, so we took the family to Lagoon. The lines were short and my kids were tall enough for most rides, so it turned out to be great. It was so funny to watch the scared look on the kids' faces, yet how much they loved the ride when they got off. Bailey is a thrill seeker and loved it all, especially Wicked and Colossus. Wade is nervous, but likes it in the end and liked to ride The Rocket. Chase loved the bumper cars.

We spent the next day at Cowabunga Bay water park. It was fun. We spent half the day on the slides and then have the day in the lazy river.

Jana had her baby today, so we also got to end the trip with a quick trip to see Jess. He is the cutest little baby!!!

The Hunt is ON

We have spent the last two weekends bow hunting. We had a great time camping on Cove Mountain. Wade is James' little hunting partner. He doesn't care how early or late James is going, he isn't missing out on any part of the hunt. On opening morning, Wade and James saw several BIG elk. Wade was excited. Chase on the other hand can't seem to stay very quiet, but he loves to hunt. Bailey and I are just happy to be in the mountains. The weather was great it was so nice not to have to be doing anything else. Bailey built a great swing in the tree. They all tried several attempts to trap a chipmunk (thank goodness none of them worked). We also got to spend some time in an old canoe that Bailey found on the shore. We didn't take in too much water. We had fun. The second weekend, we took the four wheelers over on the Pahvant Mountains. We rode from Richfield, over the mountain to Fillmore for lunch, and back home again. It was a long ride, but it was pretty. All we saw were a bunch of does.

1st Day of School

I just can't believe summer is over. It was a great one! My kids have mixed feelings about school starting. I think Wade would be alright if school didn't exist, Bailey is so excited that she can't sleep, and Chase has no idea what is about to happen.

Bailey is starting 4th grade with ME as a teacher. She is such a good kid, I am glad I get to have her in my class. I know that she will keep me right on track.

Wade is in 2nd grade and his teacher is Mrs. Jones. He came home the first day really excited. He has great friends in his class.

Chase gets to go to Lisa for daycare in the morning (she is wonderful), and then he will be in kindergarten with Mrs. Winegar in the afternoon. He is just mad that he has to wait a week to start.

I am really glad to be back teaching. I really do love my job. It is also very nice to be right down the hall in case my kids need anything.

Hikin' the Slots

James had to go to meetings in Cedar City so we joined him. We love Cedar for the motel swimming pool, the best shaved ice, and of course the ultimate cinnamon rolls. After the meetings were over, we ventured to Kanarraville Creek for a hike up the canyon. We started up the path and almost turned around because it was HOT and we weren't sure how far or what was up ahead, but we kept going. I am SO glad that we did! We found the most amazing slot canyon ever! It was one of those hikes that you MUST do!!! We hiked through narrow slot canyons that were filled with water. The water was freezing, but it felt good because of the heat. Around every turn, there was a surprise. The slot canyons narrowed and we saw beautiful waterfalls. At the first one, there was an old tree and a rope that we all climbed up (going up was the easy part, coming down was more challenging). Then up a little further, there was a water fall off a rock. The kids decided it looked like a great slide and slid off the rock into the water below. We hiked through yet another slot full of waist high water and came to one more waterfall. It was great!!! It is so fun to see that you don't need slides at seven peaks, you just need a creek and a slick rock. You don't need to go buy expensive necklaces, you just make them out of the reeds along the shore. You don't need to spend money to do the things that are the most fun, and doing them with the people I love make them even better.

Weekend in Wastach County

Grandma and Grandpa invited us up for the rodeo. It was a great rodeo. My kids love watching the bulls. We even got to see sky divers and fireworks. The best part of the rodeo is when the announcer said Happy Birthday to Chase! The kids got to chase a money calf and ride stick horses in the middle of the rodeo. They got a little cowboy hat for participating.

The next day, Chase got another birthday! We had cake and went fishing at Mill Hollow. It was a lot of fun and we caught quite a few fish. Even if they were tiny, at least we were catching some.

On the ride to the lake, Grandma and Grandpa showed my kids the money rock!!! Yes, there was all kinds of coins hidden on and around the rock. You should have seen their eyes light up at the sight of all the money. They came home with pockets full!

Chase's Birthday

Chase had a Monster Truck birthday party this year. And he got in invite friends this year. He was so excited about the whole thing. When the kids got there, we had all of them make their own monster truck. We made them out of boxes, spray painted them and then every kid made a license plate and put stickers on. They loved running around the track that we made in our yard.

We then pretended the chocolate doughnuts were tires and tried eating them off the string without any hands. They were pretty funny.

We played Smash Time, Red Rover, Hot Hot Wheel and threw beanbags in the tires. Chase loved opening his presents. He knows now that he is totally rich because Grandma Jo gave him a whole bunch of one dollar bills. He got a motorcycle bike and he thinks it is the best. He has been on it ever since

His day ended with watching Toy Story 3 at the theater. He had a fun day, and he knows now that he is 5, he can go to kindergarten and he can't wait.

Emery County Fair

We don't miss out on a thing! We made it to the Emery County Fair. All the kids got to go repelling. Chase was so excited until he got to the top and looked down. He did it though. They said he was the youngest one to try it! They got to rock climb, play in the home run derby, do the dizzy spin thing, you name it-they did it. Wade came home with a pen that shocks you (it really shocks). He was quite proud of it. We watched a magic show and Bailey got to be the assistant. I am glad she assisted with the knot and rope trick, not the trick where he cuts your head off. She cut the rope several times and it always ended up back together. We also went to Kelsey's party at the pool. The adults all did a train down the slide. The teenage lifegaurd at the bottom didn't quite know how to tell us not to do that again. It was a fun day!

Butch Cassidy Rodeo

My kids love to go to Junction and be in the Little Buckaroo Rodeo. All three of them rode sheep this year. They all roped and Bailey rode a steer again. She stayed on all the way across the arena. They all came home with a new belt buckle. Way to go cowboys!

Fishing in the Boulders

One good thing comes out of moving around so much. We meet some really great people and make some really great friends. The Whickers from Mona are some awesome people. Wade will always put Coleman on the top of his list of friends. So when they called to have a camp out together, we were ready. It was supposed to be just the boys--Wade, Coleman, Jarrett and James--but Chase and Bailey didn't want to be left out! James took all the kids and for the first time in 10 years I had a night without anyone home! They had a great time. Besides being rained on, and having to say goodbye, everyone had fun! They all caught some pretty great fish! We are so thankful for great friends!