Memorial Weekend... Sunny Brook!!!!

I finally got up there... my happy place!!! I love going to my family's cabin. We have had it for as long as I can remember, in fact my kids are the 5th or 6th generation to be able to play up there. Sunny Brook is almost 100 years old, most of the original cabins are still there and many are making improvements. My dad has been working on some major transformations now for a few years... and it looks awesome! In fact this was our first weekend up there with water!!! We still need to use the outhouse because we haven't been able to do the inside plumbing yet but there is a well and a pump house and all the necessary needs now to have it all work. This is a major accomplishment for my family! And we are all so excited for it.. So lets get back to why this is my happy place... totally gorgeous setting, peaceful, campfires, smores, cook-outs, lots of laughing with my fam., 4-wheelers, fishing, playing in the pond and river, the smell, relaxing, playing with kids, Ryan loves to work up there, and Sammy goes nuts! Every time we have to leave i get sad and every time we are heading up there I just get happy and peaceful. There is no place like it! I am so grateful to my parents for preserving this incredible treasure. My kids love it! It is so fun to watch them play and do the same things I did when I was little! So what a wonderful holiday weekend to spend a day up there enjoying nature! My entire family was there and we were able to get a picture together but my dad hasn't been able to get that to me yet, so I will post that later! I can't wait to see it myself! Until next time, hopefully it will be soon, can't get enough of it up there! Thanks Dad and Mom for all your hard work so we can enjoy and have this place to go up to!

Ella and Easton

These two I tell you are crazy! What fun it is to have cousins. I grew up with no cousins, I have one is is about 7 years younger than me but I didn't see him much at all. So I really didn't have a full appreciation for having a cousin close to you in age to play with. Ryan grew up with lots of cousins, and to this day is still close to many of them and looks forward to seeing them. Ella and Easton are a year apart and have always enjoyed each other but as of late they are just best little buddies and go crazy with each other and have a ton of fun! They hardly ever fight and laugh a lot, you know, those belly laughs that you just can't stop. They do have a tendancy to go wild at Grandmas and Grandpas! What a blessing to have a best friend as a cousin! This last year we had 3 baby girls born on my side of the family! Oh boy! What fun, I can just see it now in a couple of years... these girls will have a blast together and Ella is just going to be the ring leader! I am really excited to see my family grow and to be an auntie!

Americas Favorite Past Time

I LoVe BaSeBaLL! Really each year I look forward to this time of year and you can go to any ball park and hear the wonderful sound of the crack of a baseball bat and crouds cheering (or parents yelling), sound of cleats sliding through the dirt to touch home plate, seeing kids get so excited when they catch a fly ball, sitting in the sun at the ball park and letting the little one play, The smell of the leather gloves, and yes I don't even mind seeing the seeds come flying out of my husbands mouth (gross as it may seem), I have loved this all my life. I grew up with all my brothers playing baseball to the fullest extent up through high school and sometimes on multiple teams and thats where my love for the game grew. So much to my excitement Mason claims that Baseball is his favorite sport too. He is a great ball player and I was really excited for him to play this year and take his skills to the next level. Confession: Yes.. I am the ultra competetive mom who expects their kids to preform to their greatest ability.No I do not yell out obsenities at others or coaches but may think them sometimes (HAHA) In my defense though I don't think I would push Mason if I didn't think he could handle it and he does thrive on it so... I think I am alright. He is having a lot of fun this year, I am little disappointed with the coaching staff treating this like its recess at times and not a serious game. I wish there was more mechanics instruction and learning the ins and outs of the game a little more. But you know what they say, if you want something done right, do it yourself: Right? So maybe Ryan will coach next year. Anyways, Mason is growing and most importantly having great time... never complains about going to games or practice and has a smile on his face when he leaves. So I hope that he will always love this game and that we always have a game to look forward to. He really has great potential!
Another dream or wish I have that centers around baseball is to each summer go to a major league game. Just take off for a weekend and see different stadiums each summer and go to a MLB game. I think Ryan and I would have so much fun and something to look forward to each year. So far this year I think we will make it to an Angels game in late August when we go to California with Ryan's family. So lets keep our fingers crossed!
So, "Take me out to the ball game...take me out with the croud..."

Mason and Cade

My Favorite Week

So we got to celebrate a lot this weekend... and while I was thinking about it I realized that this week is one that I look forward to each year, it really is one of my favorite weeks of the year! On May 12th it will be Ryan's and mine 8 year anniversary!!! We were married on my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary on a really sunny and hot day! It was up in the 90's and we were so hot while taking pics. It really was a beautiful and magical day... everything was perfect (except that I wanted to have pics at the temple with all the wonderful tulips and it so happened to be that they were pulling them up that same day, bummer!) But if that's the worst thing that could happen I guess we are ok HAHAHA. It was a incredible celebration of a long friendship turned into a perfect love! And I married my best friend, my prince, and the one person who I can count on for everything! I knew he would make an incredible husband, father, and partner! And he hasn't let me down at all. So this last weekend we went out on a perfect date that I got to plan, (I plan evens and he plans odds and he usually out plans me, he is a better party planner, but this year I did pretty good). We went to Luganos for dinner... had the best Ravioli and creme brule! And then we went to a day spa and I had a facial and he had a massage! We were both giddy about them! They were wonderful! and just what we needed! A little TLC and pampering. So happy 8th anniversary babe! And thanks for making this marriage so fun! No one makes me laugh like you do!
So also this weekend we celebrated mothers day! And although it was a lot of work it was great. I am so lucky to be Mason's Ella's and Claire's mom! They are my great blessings! How did I get to have such chosen and sweet and wonderful and fun etc.. kids? My heart is so full that I am allowed the privilege to raise them and be called mom. We started the afternoon my going to my parents house to see my family and then to Ryan's. So it was a full day of cooking and family. I really enjoy being around my family. It is so fun to watch is grow and see my kids play with cousins and my brothers and I hang out! And I really do have the greatest mom out there! Never has there been a more selfless person than her or one who loves my unconditionally or perfect. She looks at people with Christ like eyes and is my best friend. So yes I am almost 32 and still have to talk to my mom almost everyday, just to check in. She is absolutely wonderful! Thanks mom!
So back to explaining why this is my favorite week... I get to celebrate all that is most important to me... my marriage and being a mom and my family! These are the things that bring me the greatest joy and I am grateful to have been so richly blessed! I pray that I can give back to those whom have taught me so much and given me so much! It will be my life's journey and quest. The Lord and My Heavenly Father knew I would need to be surrounded by those who I love and those who love me and I am grateful for that rich abundance!
In addition to all that great stuff going on, this time of year also has other things that bring me happiness... BaSeBaLL, PlAntiNG FloWer and VeGetAblE gardens, BbQ'S, and kids riding their BiKes, PlAyInG OuTsIde, and going to the CaBin!
QUOTES: Mason was the star behind both of these...When working outside with his dad he turns to Ryan and says, "Yeah a bugs life would be a hard life." "Whys that Mas?" "Well when people see them they either are scared of them or they squish them, yeah, a bugs life would be a hard life." Isn't he so insightful?!
Driving to church on Sunday he was asking me who he would marry and if he has already met her? I told him probably not but not to worry and he would meet her, and then he asked me, "Mom, but how will I know that she is the one?" I tell ya that kid can have some deep thoughts!


This was the best pic of all the grandkids and my mom they were all in tears soon after. (Easton, Ella, Kallie, Mom, Makaylee, Mason, and Claire)

Me and my brothas.
PS...
Pics soon to come of Ryans mom, we had to cut the evening short due to a Mason emergency...(its a secret, sorry. Lets just say he had an embarrassing moment. Poor kid)