Pioneer Days Celebration-July 24th!

I grew up in a tiny little town in Idaho. St. Anthony to be exact. For many, many years the town has celebrated it's Mormon Pioneer Heritage by it's annual Pioneer Days Celebration!

For a tiny little town this is quite a production. The entire area gets involved. The local Mormon(LDS) church helps coordinate and run events. Each congregation(ward) enters a float that follows the theme chosen for the year. These floats are amazing! There is quite the competition to get the Grand Prize float award! They rival any floats from the Salt Lake City parade! Local businesses enter little floats, cheerleaders ride on firetrucks. The local baseball teams are in pickups, the Jr. Miss girls ride on old cars(which are usually my sister in laws dad's cars!). There are Grand Marshalls and kids holding banners in front of floats. Horses and pooper scoopers. Old farmers on older tractors. Old Mayors hollering at new Mayors. This parade is totally America at its best! Everyone comes out and supports the town, the kids, the veterans , our country and our faith in God.

The 24th parade is a tradition I will never tire of! There have been a few summers here and there that we have not been able to attend. The summer just seems off, like something is missing. We missed the parade last year. This year we had to leave our house at 6:00 am to make it in time--we didn't want to miss it again!

A few years ago the route was changed so the parade now goes directly in front of my Mom's house. So--it becomes a mini reunion! All the Aunts and Uncles, cousins and friends come to find a great seat.
Justin was totally anxious for the parade to finally begin! He is still such a joy to watch-he just loves everything about the parade!
This parade still allows candy to be thrown-so the kids run and catch as much as possible.

No matter how old I get I am still so moved by the carrying of the American Flag. I never tire of this tradition.

When I was a girl we always had marching bands. We would hear them practice all summer for the parade. I marched in a few parades. Then the marching bands disappeared. It was so sad. I loved the marching bands. I was so thrilled this year to hear and then see the marching band coming down the street! They were lucky they didn't have to wear the full band uniform that we wore--those were hot!

While I watched the parade a flood of memories came back to me. I remember carrying the very front banner with my best friend Laurel. We had matching rainbow shirts. Another year I rode on a pick up truck with our girls only baseball team-in a boys league. We never did win a game. I remember marching in the band. The first year we were in full uniform. Wool pants, heavy jackets and helmets. I remember taking off the jacket and being soaked to the skin it was so hot! I remember another year my sister riding on a float and it started to rain. I was at the front of the parade with the banner and she was at the back on the Grand Prize float. She was totally drenched when she was finished. We have watched the parade on Bridge street, at Bob's Lube Bay, at Uncle Merrill's house, at Vance's house and now at Mom's.

My beautiful cousin Sydni and Sweet baby Berkley.

Emily, Ashley and Nick

Two old codgers--oh--Uncle Garth and Dave

Ashley and Nick

A look at the crowd on Grandma's lawn-the perfect location to watch the parade!

Kids waiting for the candy fest!!

Stake Lagoon Day

My Kids Love Lagoon!

Little Justin isn't so little anymore! This was the last year that he will be able to ride the tiny boats. However, he was big enough to ride the big rides--like the Wicked, the Colossus, Spider and the Bat! He really actually liked them as well!

July 19th Christa's Baby Shower

We went back to Grandma Dalley's house for another week of fun! We played in the river, had hotdogs on the fire and celebrated with a baby shower for Christa.

It was so fun to look at all the darling tiny little boy things. We were so anxious for this little guys arrival.

Spending time at Grandma Dalley's in the summer is a highlight. We sleep in, watch too much t.v. and movies, go swimming at the river, golfing at Uncle Royce's and basically just chill. While we were there we did go to the new Toy Story 3 movie. It was a huge hit--we promptly went and got a Woody doll to bring home. Even Grandma liked it!!

July 4th Weekend 2010

July 4th!

We actually spent the 4th of July Weekend at Bear Lake at Kolan's cabin. We were lucky enough this year to have our cousins from Colorado with us. They don't get to come and visit very often so it was a special treat.

Saturday the 3rd was so cold that we were all wrapped up in coats and blankets all day-IT WAS COLD! On the 4th the weather was warmer so we all enjoyed the fireworks. Everyone buys great big fireworks and shoot them out over the water. We just watched up and down the beach for about and hour. Grandma Carolyn(Kolan) went crazy and bought out the firework store--we told her she got a special plaque on the wall. It was a great evening topped off with jumbo smore's around the fire.

Sometimes I take too many pictures and other times I don't take enough. This was a sparse weekend. Luckily I got pictures of Dan and Byron before they headed home. I hope it isn't another year before we see them again.

July 2-The Sandbar!

Sandbar Time!

(Mitch and Em--playing together--a rare miracle)


(Em-at the diving board--she is such a fish)

(Mitch)

(Justin)

(Caden)

(Mitch and Em)

(Justin--he loves the sand and shallow water)

Summer doesn't seem quite right if we haven't swam at Grandma's Sandbar. It is a place on the river about a block from our family home. It was created about fifty years ago. Sand is brought in to play in, there is a slide, a diving board and lots of space to play.

We have all been swimming here since we were born. Our Mom would take us there every day in July and August and sit with us for hours. My own children love to go now. The few years that we haven't been able to come and visit Grandma and swim at the sandbar have somehow felt off.

We had a ball playing for a few hours before we headed home.

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.