Daddy Time

Since Justin has started his new position we have seen him a whole lot more (YAY!).  It has been so awesome for the children especially because there were many nights he would come home to them sleeping, not so fun for a family.  Then he would have to work all weekend.  We missed him so much.  So in the last couple of months we have soaked up as much lost time as we can.  This weekend in between all of the birthday events Justin decided he wanted to take a hike in the mountains by our house.  The whole family was the plan but then we decided B would be too tired for her party that night, so the older two got some much needed Dad time.
He said they were quite the troopers, but were definetly tired by the time they arrived at the lake. 
He told me that when they were about 100 yards from the lake they still couldn't see it over the hill and K.bug asked can we just turn back I am tired.  He said no we have come this far there is nowhere else to go it has to be here over the hill there is no reason to turn back. 
After I listened to him tell me this story I thought of our Heavenly Father and how he must feel that way about so many of us.  We get just about there just about to where we understand and can partake of the fruit of his and our labors and turn back without receiving that reward and inevitably have to turn around and make the trek again another day to see if we can get there this time.  I am so grateful for our Heavenly Fathers loving guidance the way he waits so patiently for us to all return to him.
I have received that kindness I know of his love for me of his joy when I finally reached "the lake".  I am so grateful to be able to have my family all of them!  I can't imagine living here without all of the people we are surrounded by at this time what a beautiful world we are given. 
Here are the pics that he took on their hike.  (I love that he thought to take pics for us!)

So beautiful how could you not believe in God after seeing something so beautiful

Aren't they just adorable...sorry blogger wouldn't load it the correct way  :(

Ahhh the reward

Christmas Fun

Wow Christmas was fun this year!  It usually is but I love it when it falls on a Weekend then we get Justin longer and.....this year he had the whole week off after so we have had family time which seems to not come as often anymore.
The kids all really loved their gifts this year and enjoyed just relaxing at the house for the most part.  Then Monday we decided to take them skiing for the first time.  Justin learned to downhill ski about four years ago and I learned when I was four but haven't been much since we were married.
We decided that a family lesson would be fun then we could spend the rest of the day playin on the slopes.  The kids picked it up sooooo fast.  I was so excited.  Jedi was a nervous on the big slopes so we took turns hangin' out with him on the bunny hill.  K.bug was so excited because some friends of ours ended up going to the same resort so her and a friend took off after we thought she had enough confidence to do it on her own.  Tornado like everything else in her life took off full speed she loved it, she said even the falling part was funny.
I can't wait to go back again.  I love spending time with our family outdoors and I especially love sharing something that I have loved for as long as I can remember.  I have so many fun memories of my Dad and I skiing together and can't wait to make some family memories with our family.

Here are just a few pics....  Just a funny side note; The one with Jedi and the licorice is after he did an awesome back bend while exiting the ski lift.  The lift operator came out and said "That was the best thing I have seen all day you deserve a treat"  Jedi thought that was so funny.  I couldn't stop laughing I didn't know he was so flexible!  LOL
What a great week!

First Grantsville Snowman

Here I thought we lived in this hidden Tropical Island.....but nope we actually got a decent amount of snow today.  The kids were ecstatic, they couldn't wait to get geared up and go outside.  Here are the results of their fun......

Pioneer Day!!!

Our stake does an awesome carnival and pageant for the 24th.  Unfortunately we didn't stay for the pageant, but we heard it was great.  Here's the collage of what we did, which included but is not limited too.....

Face Painting, Obstacle Course, Doll Making, Game making, Chicken flinging/catching, icecream making, watermelon seed spitting, parading, Handcart pulling/riding, roping, EATING, Stick pulling, rubberband shooting, Horseshoe nailin' and SWEATING!

Cherry Hills

The kids and I spent the day at Cherry Hills
It was a blast, with the exception of
my wardrobe malfunction! (poor
lifeguard that had to witness that)
We swam
Hung out in the Lazy River
and of course mastered
the slides.  They all had a blast.
Once again I couldn't
get many pics of Jedi but
he really did have a great time!

Schools Out For Summer!

Woohoo its over yay oh yeah its over......for 2 days!  My children decided that it would be fun to take summer school.  Tornado and K.bug's classes are for 3 weeks Jedi's is only for 4 days.  But really!  That means I have to get my lazy butt out of bed for 3 more weeks.
Our awesome neighbor threw a schools out water party.  It was a ton of fun.  We tried our best to get them to play water balloon games in the beginning but they weren't having it.  Then when it was their idea they had a blast doing it.  Some tossed to each other while others seen how high they could throw them up and still catch them in their towels.

Then of course we got to the nitty gritty and started throwing them at each other and uses more useful drenchers like.....cups coolers and of course hoses.  Here are some fun pics I got of them playin' around.

Grandparents and Cousins!

We had such a great weekend.  The kids were able to play with their cousins, Justin was able to help with the cows.  We were able to play cards with Grandma and Grandpa great which is always a blast.  We went Saturday and helped Grandma decorate graves which let Grandpa get out of the house for a ride.  It was so beautiful down there.
The girls each tried on their Grandma McCulley's Miss Teen Milford dress and it nearly fit K.bug perfectly, Justin's mom was 16!!!!  She was so tiny!
Then the kids went out back and built them a fort on Monday while we were packing up.  We really enjoyed our time with Grandma and Grandpa Great.  It is so nice to have that time with family.

Havin a bit of fun!

This photo gave me great fun today.  You see this is our house....But this is not our yard....YET.  I was bored while waiting for our sod to be installed in the BACKYARD.
So I took my nifty camera and we went for a walk around the neighborhood.  You see these trees, rocks, mulch and grass are a collection from some of our neighbors yards.  But man they look oh so good in mine.
The fun really started when the kids came home from school and I invited them to see before and after pics.  They were shocked (minus K.bug who figured it out) that they had missed this huge transformation while they were riding bikes.  Both Jedi and Tornado ran outside to look.
Jedi:"ummm mom it isn't out here"  running to the computer that isn't....."WAIT it is our house but that isn't our yard how what????"
Tornado & Friend (yeah I have no boundaries): "How funny we were just there....both go running out  HUH?  Oh wait its the back yard!......runnin out back...."MOM its not there anymore!"
ME:  "What did those guys take it when they left!!!!  Thats it I have had it I am callin their boss!!!"
Tornado: (look of confusion) Well it's not there!
Then I couldn't take it anymore and bust out laughing and told them that I did it in Photoshop.

AAAAHHHHH spring is here.....

We had such an incredible weekend I keep forgetting to post about it.  It was so beautiful.  We took the kids to their tennis lessons in the morning and headed to the park for a fun picnic with some long lost friends (groceries aren't the only things you can find at Wal-mart).  It was so much fun to catch up and let the kids play til their hearts content.

Then we came home planted our garden as a family and neighbors.  I love our neighborhood the kids here are so respectful and fun I LOVE having them over.  They were so excited to be able to help us plant and dig.
Then we did a little family bike ride and watched the kids play capture the flag and ride bikes through the neighborhood til it was getting dark.  These are my favorite times.

Spring Fever!

So we jumped the gun a bit and took the kids and the neighbor kids out back and had a marshmellow roast Saturday night.  It was so nice to sit out and relax.  We had a lot of fun and the kids were so excited to have their friends over. 
It started out with just K.bugs friend coming over, but Jedi soon let me know that he "sure would feel alot better about it if his friend could come over also"  So we had the triplets come from across the street so all three had friends to roast marshmellows with.  I can't wait for spring and summer. 
The smell of the fire got me so ready to camp and we still have quite a while to wait.  I do have pics but I can't seem to post them today I will update soon.

Primary Program

Today was our Primary Program.  We have been to our ward about 4 times now and I have yet to feel the spirit so strong (mainly I think because I get nervous around new people and I have been stressed).  But not today.  There were so many times I was near tears listening to the children bare their testimonies and their little talks.  The Presidency did a wonderful job they had the children build a Temple with white boxes that had the theme of what each set of children were speaking on it was really neat.  Jedi and Tornado were so excited and practiced their talks so they knew them well.  Jedi had his memorized and did such a great job it had a touch of the old Nike comercials ya know the Just do it! His was more geared toward baptism and follwoing Christs example in getting baptised it was way cute. 
Tornado read her whole talk by herself; hers was on how she knew we were created in Gods own Image.  It took us a while to get her to say Sacred Grove instead of Sacred Garden but she did it. 
K.bug was soooooooooo nervous she spit hers out in I swear 5 seconds turned around and walked to her seat.  She has gotten a little more shy in front of people these days.  But what she said was great (yes it was about moms and how great we are). 
I was so proud of them up there singing and knowing that they understood how much Heavenly Father loves them.  I am so grateful for our family.

In closing.....Today is Justin and I's 12 anniversary and ummmm we FORGOT!  Yes Both of US.  Niether of us bought cards or anything. In fact it was sweet little K.bug that as soon as she got up wished us a Happy Anniversary (we had been up for over an hour).  GO US!

A Fabulous Weekend!

What a weekend! It started off great and ended great. We really kinda live at Lebaron in the summer time. Justin's Family owns some property in Beaver and it is a blast right off from a small resevoir and ATV trails all over. We love it! This time we started building the kidos a cabin in their "club" (a spot they deemed thiers) Can't wait to see it finished.

Oh by the way I LOVE FREE fun for the family and my newest favorite spot that we found with a TON of help from those who love me most is the Black Ridge Resv in Herriman. What a fun little spot. I would bring life jackets for the little ones. But it's like a mini lake beach sand included for plenty o burrying and building of castles or whatever your little mind can make up. My kids and I had a blast. So get your suit on and take the kids for some free fun. Here is the address it's a little tricky to find but worth it.....5390 w 14940 so.

Here are some pics from both the lake and our good time campin!


p.s. I am posting a new slideshow with the progress of our home on my sidebar its easier to update that than to constantly bore you with new updates.

A Classic Time.....

We have an incredible Dentist Dr. Ayre. Every year he has a party for all of his patients and their families at Classic fun Center, he pays for swimming, skating and one other activity or a meal ticket. Today was the big day.

We headed over right after my crossing to get into the action. We decided to get the water park done first since the clouds had moved on for the time being. All was going great K.bug was loving the water slide and the other two wanted to try it.

I made Tornado stand in the pool they empty ya into to m ake sure that it wasn't to deep all was well it was only 3 feet, so up she went with Sis. First time way fun, Jedi chickened out decided it was too cold and too long. K.bug and Tornado jump out and go again, wee how fun!

Third time Tornado is screaming down the slide I can see the mat you sit on riding behind her (we all know how tolerable she is to things not going her way). So into the pool she goes with no mat and already steamin' mad. She panics can't remember that she can touch the bottom, is screaming and wailing her arms scared to death that she is drowning I am literally just out of arms reach of her......

I am trying to get her mat to her and get her attention to tell her to put her legs down, but to no avail. So finally being the nice mommy I am I JUMP into the pool FULLY CLOTHED and save my 5 year old who "thinks" she is drowning.

Now to be fair I am sure she immediately had flash backs of when she nearly drowned at age 2(I don't know when it is actually drowning I suppose when you die, she was just blue and not breathing for a split second, when she was 2). Which is why I finally gave in threw my camera and by some miracle my phone and my watch made it out of my pocket and off of my wrist.

Just a side note I don't think they heat their pools AT ALL! Brrrrrr. So off she went to the kiddie pool and all was fine.

p.s. I did have my suit in my bag but decided I didn't need it since the deepest was 3 ft and I was certain she wouldn't go near the slide. That is what I get I guess.

Funny story.....

I forgot to share a funny story a while ago, so here it is. I decided I better buy the kids some summer clothes since they are growin' like weeds and mother nature decided that it could be spring finally. . .

Off to target we went...We found each of them 10 different items to try on and sent them into their own dressing rooms, everything went fine they were so excited to have all of these clothes and try them on. I went into the dressing room to help Tornado hang up her clothes and decided what she needed different sizes on.....and what did I find you ask????

10 price tags, stickers and pantyliner (from swimsuits)strewn about on the floor. I quickly shut the door and say what are you doing!? "Well they were bothering me" (ARE YOU KIDDING THEY ARE ONLY ON FOR 30 SECONDS!!!!). As I am trying to figure out what to do, I can hear the lady at the dressing room counter laughing (I was obviously loud in my disbelief of the situation)....
She then knocks on the dressing room door and says I have a tool that can fix that....
I say ummmm okay thanks I'll get everything matched up. Then it was all fixed and I was laughing hysterically I couldn't believe she tore off EVERY tag!

Here are some cute pics of the kids at Discovery Gateway. We decided to go there and have free ice cream at Ben & Jerry's today. The best part was my kids love Webkinz and they had them buy 2 get one free. It was a great day.

A kiss my Dad's A** Post......

So I have been a little dingy as I have mentioned in the last few posts. But this one takes the cake. My Dad a man whom I admire and look up to and have some of my most fond memories of. The Man who has given me my love for the outdoors and working out. A man who is stubborn yet so loving and would give his left arm for his family......

Yeah it was his birthday on Friday and guess who forgot! Yep me! Little ol' me so intelligent and thoughtful and sincere old me. I can't believe I forgot. I had just given him a hard time about it just a day or two earlier and then the actual day comes and I MUFF it up! What is my problem. I call Grandma 2 months early and remember my Dad's B-day 3 days late and too late to call. So here I am laying in my bed and I just realize that I have won the daughter of the year award and now I can't sleep! So I am blogging hoping my Mom will read this soon and make him read it too.

I just spent the last 10 minutes texting my regrets and trying to blame it all on my Bro (to think he said it isn't his fault!). He used to take the blame so well as a kid and I didn't even have to ask he just took it, I coulda peed my pants and he would've taken the blame...Yet when I need him to he leaves me hangin'. RUDE.

I have the most wonderful family, I love them with all of my heart, I promise I don't mean to be so forgetful and next year I won't forget because I will be in a normal (as much as I can be) spot.

Sorry Dad I really do love you and I really wouldn't be who I am today without you. Drink your prune Juice and enjoy the scenery from the porcelain God, because that's as good as life gets at your age!!!! Love you, Your forgetful dorky takes after her father daughter! (did ya catch how i tried to blame it on my genes)

When did they grow up???

Really when did my babies grow up?....

I was sitting at the library watching them all snugged up on the couches and bean bag chairs enjoying some of the books they had chosen for the week. I could not believe that they were my children. So grown up (for children), they are getting tall, their faces are changing from babies to children. Braeda sat there sounding out little words and making up what she thought fit with the rest of pictures if she couldn't figure it out.

When and why does this happen to us. I was just telling a friend today that it is a good thing that I got my leak fixed after Braeda or I might have made a very weak moment decision to have another bundle of ....joy.....yeah joy I guess. Only two months later I would have wondered what I was thinkin'.

Because really I am done. There is no doubt in my mind. It is just bitter sweet to watch them grow up.

Wedding Bliss. . . . . . . .

It finally came, the marraige of Justin's younger Brother and Now Wife. It was beautiful and everything turned out so well. She looked gorgeous and he looked very Handsome. The kids were incredibly well behaved for starting at 9 am and ending at 10 pm. I can't say enough about how well all of them behaved! They all looked so adorable in their pink and gray outfits. I don't have many pics of the Grown up Ladies, I had to be in those pics but Man they were lookin' HOT!

We are all so excited to have it over with and welcome in our newest Addition. She is so adorable, down to earth and just plain fun to be around. She puts up with all the brothers and that is not an easy task! Welcome Raechel we love you, Congrats Ty you chose well. We love you and thank you for letting us be a part of it! Here are a few of my favorite Pics that we were able to take enjoy.

Hee hee I love kids!

We have been moving out of our home and Justin's back is feeling it, so I went to Sacrament meeting with the 3 kids on my own. Which is fine because they are older and really good kids...

During the kids were drawing and playing tic tac toe and Jedi had drawn the top picture that has a slash through it. Which K.bug had added without Jedi's permission. In the pic he was throwin' icecream at her which apparently she didn't like and slashed away. So he got really mad and drew the next pic of him pushing K.bug down and throwing icecream on her then sayin' "your a Boob!" when she cried. He was laughing so hard and thinkin' he got her back so good I thought he was gonna pass out. Luckily it was a silent laugh.

I couldn't help to think it was so funny, he didn't get physical or come right out and call her a name, he drew it! So no harm no foul right....?

The Draper Temple

We were able to tour the Draper Temple last friday, me and the kids. It is so beautiful, the kids loved it. K.Bug says she is getting married there, she loved the brides room.

Jedi can't wait to go do Baptisms and Tornado was just so impressed with how many alters there were and all the pretty murals.

So some funny things that were said during our tour....

We had to load a bus from one of the nearby Stake Centers our Bus was Red. Here is how the instructions went....

Sister "tour guide": (to the tourists) please make sure you get back on the RED bus, otherwise it will take a long time to get back.

Jedi: So does that mean that we are on the "short bus"

Sister "tour guide": (between giggles) umm do you think you need the short bus?

Jedi: yeah it would be better!

Sister "tour guide": Laughter......more laughter....

Now we joke consistenly in our house about the short bus, but poor Jedi has no idea what that means, so he then turns to me and says, "why is a shortcut bus so funny???"

Innocence is so much fun!

Monkey Girls!

We have had a good weekend lots of fun stuff, lots of time together. Tonight the girls decided to test their strength. They decided to climb the doorways. They do this quite often, they get so excited the higher they get. I think they each did it about 15 times!

When Tornado was all done she said, "Mom my heart is beeping can you hear it?" Justin and I laughed so hard, we have tried since she could talk to teach her that it is beating but she insists hers beeps!

Jedi was busy playin video games when I was takin' pics, but he is an awesome climber too.