July 2, 2010 Fifty Years!

Happy Fiftieth!


My Mom's sister Verla and her husband Laren celebrated fifty years! That is a long time. It was wonderful to be able to go and visit with them!

My Mom has seven brothers and only one sister. We lived close by so we have always been fairly close with my Aunt Verla and her family. When we were small we would go out to their house and play in the ditch that ran in front of their house. It was like a little swimming pool. Aunt Verla always gave us bottles of home canned pickles and beets for Christmas. My Mom and Aunt Verla have always been close being the only two girls in a house full of boys.

(strange I only took one picture--I must have used Mom's camera!)

July 1! Happy Birthday Van!

(Gina, , Emily, Caden and baby Van)

(Caden and Justin)

(Van and Grandpa-my brother Royce)

(Van and Aunt Gina)

We drove to Idaho to celebrate this little boy's 1st birthday!!! It is so strange to be a Great Aunt. I remember some of my Great Aunts and they were very elderly women. Some of them were rather cranky. I hope that little Van doesn't grow up thinking that I am an old cranky Aunt!! He is sure a sweet little thing!

Swimming Lessons June 2010

This was Little J's first time at swimming lessons! He did them with his cousin C and they had a ball! E had lessons as well with her other cousin K.

We went everyday for two weeks(8 times total). It is about a half hour drive so it seems like the entire day! They loved being in the water. J has been very hesitant about the water. I think it is because he has been on our boat, so he hasn't been able to walk into the water.

They loved it! They also loved the days that we would stop at Maverick and get frozen yogurt!!!

Manti Pageant-June 28

(I am doing some catch-up posts. )


Manti Miracle Pageant June 28 2010

We decided to go to The Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti, Utah. Only our oldest daughter attended with us a few years ago with the singles ward. We drove to Manti, found a place to park the RV and headed towards the Temple grounds. We found some chairs and then went to find some "pageant food". This is similar to fair food. Burgers, speciality items--all being sold out of tents. We had a variety of foods--traditional bbq turkey(a Sanpete county thing) fruity drinks( not so good), frozen gelato and scones. After all that food we walked into Manti proper and had ice cream.


As we were returning to our seats our children noticed the people that were against the LDS church. Signs and chanting, people with horns yelling and fighting. It was very ugly. I have always felt that people need to be kind and courteous, even if we disagree. It was a stark contrast to the pleasant peaceful feeling that was present on the Temple grounds. We were glad to find our seats and wait for the pageant to begin.



The performance was fabulous! It starts at dark. It depicts scenes from the early part of the church and then the Book of Mormon. There are actors running across the hill of the Temple acting the scenes. Lights flashing, flames-there is activity happening all over this large hill. We were constantly moving across the hill with anticipation and awe.



At on point there is a fight scene between Lamanite and Nephite warriors. One side good, one side evil--Little J Man was so intent on one part of the hill that he had not looked over to see the bad guys coming. Hubby pointed them out--J's little mouth dropped open! He was mesmerized. It was a long performance, almost two hours. J lasted until the very last 20 minutes-which was 11:00 p.m. Pretty good for a five year old.


As we were leaving we were bombarded by more Anti-Mormon preachers. It was disheartening. We had much discussion that night and the next day about why people feel the need to fight against other people. I will never get into a fight with these types of people. I know many wonderful people that are not of my faith. I don't stand outside their events and protest them. I let them worship and I respect them. I wish that others could do the same for my faith.


This was all in all a lovely experience for my family. We may start to make it a tradition in June.



The next morning we took the scenic route through Provo Canyon into Heber Valley and had breakfast at the cafe.

August-Really?

Here it is August 2nd. I feel the summer starting to slip into the oblivian that happens every August. School prep(which involves too much shopping for this girl) football, tennis, and cooler mornings.

I am not ready to give up summer. I am however ready to have more sleep. I am also ready to have LESS laundry.

One day soon I am going to try and actually put pictures depicting our lovely month of July. It had moments of sheer bliss, and lots and lots of laundry!

July 17th ALREADY?

I looked at the date --July 17th! Why does summer have to fly so quickly? I have been busy trying to enjoy the loveliness.

One day soon I hope to add pictures of all the fun we have been having!

*Mormon Miracle Pageant(Manti pageant) in mid May

*Girls camp for MissA

*My Great Nephew's first birthday(weird to be a great aunt-just weird)

*My Aunt's 50th wedding anniversary

*Swimming at the river by my Mom's house

*Bear Lake for July 4th (I don't think I took one picture)

*Fireworks at Weber State-always fun

*Boys camp for BigM and Daddy

*Visiting Grandma's(my Mom's) for a week which includes staying up too late, and playing at the river.

*Having a baby shower for my niece--another little one to add to the great aunt thing.

*extra pounds on the scale because of all the fun!

Happy July!

Happy July!!! We are going to celebrate!

Hall project reroute!

I posted my finished hall closet projet-but it posted it after the last two posts-I had it in draft-but I thought it would publish where I wanted!!

So for my Hall Project 2010 scroll down or go here.

Waterfall Canyon

In our church we have what we call Family Home Evening which is usually held on Monday evenings. We focus on family. We play games, do yard work, give service, have gospel lessons and just try to spend time together as a family.

(this boy is part billy-goat! He would have kept

going until we needed rescue workers to get

him down!)

(dad and his boy-right together

the entire time!)

(hot and tired 5 year old at the end of the hike, he didn't complain a bit)

This past Monday we decided to hike Waterfall Canyon. I had never hiked this trail. It took longer than I thought it would. It wasn't a "difficult" hike but it wasn't an easy one either. It was rather steep and the first 3/4 mile was very hot(no shade). Once we got into the canyon it was so beautiful. All of my children(minus A) did so well, they just kept moving with hardly any complaints. Once we got to the waterfall it was breathtaking! The water was gushing! Later in the season it will become a trickle.

While on the hike we ran into a few "kids" from Dad's singles ward. The wards have been realigned now but they were with their "FHE" group having family night! Even after seven months it seems like yesterday we were working with these great young adults.

On the way down MissE started to get a headache. She was a trooper and made it all the way down. We went for ice cream and then just as we pulled in the garage she got sick. Poor thing-she threw up a few times and didn't get to go to Camp Kiesel with the Achievement Day girls the next day.

Just a reminder, if I ever decide to become a hiker, remind me-don't wear levi capri's. They don't bend and they don't breathe!

Summer has Finally come!

Summer at Last!
My garden is finally starting to look like summer! I just love it when my blossoms start to show their beautiful colors! My peonies are fabulous! Their smell is just heavenly, I can smell it coming through my window in the early morning.

My crazy wild rose bush is more loaded than ever before. I had to remind the Daddy to not trim it in the spring-or else we would have no blooms! It is one beautiful bush but it is a mean thorny thing! This rose bush was from my elderly neighbor Margaret. She has been gone awhile now. It makes me think of her. The other day while I was trying to cut out a wandering start I smelled these yellow roses. I totally remembered being at my Grandpa Roses house when I was a very little girl. The side of the house seemed to be lined by rose bushes. The smell was intoxicating. I know I was small because my Grandpa died when I was six or seven and the house was moved so the freeway could come through. However, in my minds eye I remember that house, the hedge out front, the flowering trees down both sides. I remember sitting on the front step and playing around the side wondering why we couldn't go into the cellar. My siblings and cousins ran around and around while our parents sat on the front step and visited.
Grandpa always had lemon drops and peppermint candies for us. The stairs to upstairs were so very very step. They seemed to lead to the largest bedrooms I had ever seen. In reality, it was because I was so small. My Mom and eight other children slept in those two bedrooms. Two or three to a bed!

I really do love my summer garden.

Hall Closet

The Hall Closet-2010

This closet is in my main hall. It is not a coat closet. It doesn't need to be a linen closet. What it has turned into is a catch-all! I seem to have lots of places in my home that this is the case. Lots of just putting things anywhere there is a space, just to get it put somewhere, even if that somewhere isn't really its home!

This picture is AFTER I pulled out all the blankets, pillows, sheets and other types of linens. It was crammed to the gills!



I pulled out blanket after blanket. I counted fourteen baby blankets that will be going to DI so someone can get some good out of them. I kept many of them because I love the flannel and thought that I could make something out of it. The problem? I am not at the point that I am making things like that and I am drowning in TOO MUCH STUFF!

I did have to call my Mom and have a moment of sadness because I love these blankets. These are NOT the blankets that my kids loved. They are not their Lovies, those I kept. However, fourteen baby blankets? Next were the pillows(why in this closet?) The extra large bedding blankets-just in case. Not the home for them. Old sheets that the elastic is worn out and not cute fabric. Tablecloths, old embroidered pieces that I want to make something from. Just way too much stuff!

This is what my hall looked like--actually this is a little bit better, I must have already put some blanket piles away.



This project has taken much too long. Mainly because all the other aspects of my life continue-even if I am in organization mode! Things like laundry, dishes, dinner, swimming lessons, toilets!


I have had this medium sized tote in the bottom of our pantry for nine years. It is the catch all craft box. The problem is that it is a big box and you have to sift through it to find what you want. I really don't like this. It is just the reason why big toy boxes don't work. The kids have to dump out the entire box to find the red car that is at the bottom of the box! I emptied out the box, threw out a bag of garbage, have another bag of unfinished crafts that will go to DI and I have an empty container for my crochet yarn that has been sitting in a plastic sack on my bedroom floor!!! I also went through my yarn, putting colors together so that I know what I have. Hopefully, I will start to make hats again soon!!



I knew that for my family"craft" closet to work I would need separate containers. So, off I went. I have sorted, purged, junked and finally have a closet that I can open!!




I have all the craft stuff separated into similar things. I have a little box(hidden in corner) for my hot glue gun and extra glue, I have a shelf for wrapping supplies(notice the empty box-that is for scissors, tape, bows etc.) The blue box on the floor is my yarn! Off of my bedroom floor!!!

I am so excited about having this project finished!! Now on to the bathroom closet!!! That is after I clean my bedroom from all the residual leftovers that are either being donated or going to their rightful other homes!

Progress-I am making Progress.

A Pantry Reveal

Pantry Redo!

My Pantry now looks like a pantry instead of a giant catch all! Better yet-my dining room table is no longer covered!!(I did put a bunch of stuff in a laundry basket so we could have a party! )
Next project-hall closet!

Remember childhood summers that seemed to last forever? I want one.

Next on The List

I go through phases. Usually it is just survival. Doing the daily stuff and keeping my head above water just enough. Then I realize that the chaos is drowning me and I better start digging out.
Quite a few weeks ago-maybe even six weeks ago, I started a list. This is a list that really is on going. I write one quite often. This list consists of most of the chaos ridden spots in my house. Places like closets, cupboards, etc. I started on the garage shoe spot. That project took three weeks to finish. I am happy to report that we are sporting a new shoe cupboard. I will hold off on deciding if it is a success-as it took me nine years to call the other method a complete and total failure.
However, I did cross it off "the list".

Stuff from TWO Shelves in my pantry
This is my latest project off of "the list" My pantry. I have a very large walk in pantry. It really is a lovely pantry. The problem is that it is a very large pantry. It serves dual purposes. It is not only the food pantry it is also the broom closet, the kitchen office, and over all catch all for anything that doesn't want to be properly put away!

I have been working on organizing this pantry for the last three years. I have made progress. I have labeled baskets for food that actually mostly work. I have drawers for pencils, crayons, phone books etc. that have actually been working for 8 1/2 years! The problem is that there is still space that is not designated with a very specific purpose. What ends up in this space? Anything! Mostly art projects and such that I want to save. I have a room in my basement that I have drawers for each of my children. The problem is that my children bring me treasures every single day. Usually I put the art on the bulletin board so that we can enjoy them. Then I decide to clean it off but I don't actually take the thirty two seconds to run it to their drawer in the basement.

So--my very large dining room table and counter is covered with stuff from TWO SHELVES!! Two! I am sorting, purging and will be photographing the artwork. I am also considering new containers. I have realized that my family(and me) do better with closed drawers. This way the only things that gets put into these drawers are the things that are labeled. I will be visiting the store in a day or two to purchase some plastic drawers. Baskets with lids work on things that are used infrequently, such as extra school supplies or recipes. But for the rest I must have drawers-that way, I wont just pile!!! I am also thinking about a label maker.

Hopefully, there will be great success to share soon!!!

Scenes of Summer

We finally got some nice summer weather! We have been quite impatiently waiting. We set the pool up over the weekend(it hasn't been up in two years). MissE and the cousins were so happy to start playing in it. They are all a bit toasted today--not quite enough sunscreen! J and his cousins -getting warm on the cement and pulling faces,of course!!

A was exhausted after helping at tennis camp. Dad saw her sound asleep with a ring pop in her mouth. How old is she again?

Memorial Day 2010

Why do five year old boys think that they MUST pull funny faces in every picture that is taken of them?

We had a fun Memorial weekend with my former roomie Steph and her darling daughters. The water was not warm but is was still fun to be out on the water. Steph was brave enough to jump into the frigid water--not me!

First Lost Tooth

May 27,2010 J's First Lost Tooth!!!

At J's preschool graduation he bumped his face. He thought that he had knocked his tooth loose. I looked at it and really just thought that it would tighten back up--there was no way he could lose a tooth already. I was wrong! Two days later he comes running to me with his tiny little tooth. "Mom-it was just sitting on my tongue!" As I looked in the space the new tooth was already up ! Another last! The last time one of my children looses their first tooth! It won't be long before those new teeth need braces!!

Preschool Graduation 2010

J's Preschool Graduation May 25, 2010

My last baby graduated from preschool. MY LAST ONE! I have never been one of those Mom's who cry when my kids go to kindergarten. I have always been so excited for all that they are going to learn. However, with this little guy I have had quite a few of those "last time" moments. He was an extra bonus for us to start with, we didn't think we would get any more babies. From the beginning of his life I knew that he was my last baby. I have tried to pay attention to the little things knowing that as a Mom I won't get to experience it again.

He was so cute at his little graduation. He got to be the flag holder for the pledge of allegiance. They sang songs and then all together threw their graduation hats in the air.

Good Job Sweet Boy!

Dance Recital and Nationals

The girls had their dance recital and then National's at Lagoon. Both of their teams did fabulous!

A's team got overall high golds and then an MVP gold on their A cappella dance--that is the highest award there is!!!

E's team did super as well getting overall high golds.

(recital was May 20th and National's was May 22, 2010)

Happy 17th!!

Happy 17th Birthday!

May 22 was MissA #1 firstborn child's birthday! I use to laugh when "older" people lamented about how fast time goes. I totally understand it now. I have a daughter who is 17 years old-how did that happen?

We celebrated her birthday by going to a dance competition at Lagoon! Hopefully, soon we will have a full day of shopping to really celebrate!!

Happy Birthday Skunke-we love you!

50th Wedding Anniversary

June 3, 1960

50 Years Ago Today my beautiful parents were married in the Idaho Falls Temple. I have been told it was a beautiful day and the lilacs were in full bloom.

The loss of someone you love leaving too soon never really lessens.

(we have had a lot of rain-picture taken at Grandma's - Spring 2009)

Drowning in Mt. Washmore!

My laundry is one of my biggest struggles. So--I am digging down and sorting, washing, folding and putting away mounds. Trying to NOT LEAVE MY HOUSE TODAY!

It is the last week of school so--

*Lovely MissA had her 17th birthday on Saturday--17! Holy Cow, how did that happen?

*dance competition was at Lagoon last Saturday. A's team got an overall MVP award! That is huge-this is the national competition so it is quite an honor--it was also a brand new Acappela dance they had never competed before.

E's team also did exceptionally well with an overall high score.

*A spoke in church, M spoke last week

*J had preschool graduation-my last little person in preschool

*E had a rendezvous field trip

*M hiked to the M and is at Lagoon today

*E has a field day today -games and fun activities all day long.

*Sugar Daddy has been busily working on a service project for a neighbor--hard manual labor kind of stuff.

*M has flag football practice twice a week

*I drive, buy lunches, take pictures and don't get my laundry done!(I am still hitting the gym at early o'clock)

*E had her last sewing class

*E and I had a Mommie Miss party last night and I got my toes painted!

*Graduation is Friday-A will be lighting the M with the Juniors and then taking pictures with the cute boy.

*It has been raining, my flowers are growing nicely, yet so are the weeds! I sprayed yet will need to again.

*We are hoping for good weather so that we can get the boat out on the water.

* I have not gotten much done on my list but we did go and buy a cabinet for the garage and I emptied a bookcase in the basement. Not a big dent but still something!!!