Saying goodbye to Callie

We had to say goodbye today to one of Ryan's parents horses who really is just the sweetest horse. Callie is 26 or 27 now and it is just time for her to go... getting old is no fun. She isn't feeling very well and we all thought best to put her to sleep. So we went over to give her one last love and a bunch of treats to let her know how much we love her and will miss her. Mason really surprised me...over the last few years he hasn't been too interested in the horses, but when he was younger he rode Callie a lot in lead line classes in shows or just playing around at the house. He was in tears when we told him what was going to happen. He kept telling her she was a good friend and he must have fed her 10 carrots and kept giving her lots of loves. It was the sweetest thing. Animals have a way of getting into our hearts and leaving an impression. We are so grateful that Callie was so kind and gentle with my kids in introducing them to riding horses. She always took great care of them! We love you Callie!

Quote of the day: After trying to comb Ella's hair and it being full of tangles, I asked her, " Ella why is your hair so messy?" "Well mom, I can't help it when you make me wear my new, fastest shoes(she just got some new Nike's), I go so fast that my hair is just going to be a mess." She cracks me up!

Storm Clouds

This post is probably more info than most of you want to hear about but I just got to thinking and realised that I needed to put this one down for me...The past 6 weeks or so have felt like there has been a constant rain cloud and storm around me. I feel as though I am either preparing for the worst or dealing with the aftermath and to tell you the truth I am just not sure when relief and peace will come. But tonight as I was sitting there with both girls on my lap watching backyardagains, the thought came to me that I need to be grateful for the breaks in the weather and for being able to feel the warm sun on my face... even if only for a short time before the clouds come back. And then I got to thinking about what those sunny spots have been when the clouds have parted and I just felt as though I needed to count my blessing and write them down for me to remember and refer to.
sUnNy SpOTs-
-Love watching Mason play football today... its one of my favorite things to see him excel in sports and be so in love with playing the game...love going to the games, even if they are high stress:) Love seeing him get pumped up, catch touchdowns and kill quarterbacks!
-I took Ella today for her first pedicure. Her and I have been fighting a lot lately and I just felt like we needed to do something fun and be each others best friend today. So we got peds. Her sweet face was priceless as she was doted on. She loved choosing the colors, soaking in the water and getting those nails painted. I look forward to many more times at the nails spa with my girls.
-Ryan's face when he is driving the Bronco is so funny. He has this funny grin and total joy written all over his face. I love seeing him pull in the driveway. He is obsessed with this car... its his new baby!
Incredible friends who drop by and spend a bunch of time with me just chatting and getting my mind off all the crap. And who also allow me to help ease their burdens. They are like sisters to me and I love them to pieces!
-My parents dropping by to say hi and see the kids and check in.
-At our Relief Society Retreat last night (I'm on the enrichment committee) we had a great turn out and it seemed like the girls had fun and were spiritually fed by President and Sister Yadon. The topic was, The Beauty Within, and I think we were able to really begin to feel what our worth is as daughters of God and whats important in our lives. I really enjoyed my calling and being able to see the inspiration that we had as a committee months ago come to life and touch those sisters.
-I am not a big reader but a book series called, The Great and Terrible was recommend to me recently by my mom and a few other gals and I am completely engulfed and excited to get lost in the stories. I finished the first book in a couple of days which is a record for me!

I know that I have many more blessing that Heavenly Father has blessed me with but I just felt like those were the ones recently that have seemed to part the clouds and let the most light in. I am hoping and praying that soon I will feel more sun than rain in my life but until then I will cherish the breaks in the weather.

LOVE

The kids wanted to go out and work with their daddy one Saturday morning in the yard and needed their bandannas on of course... I just fell in love with these pictures...Ella is of course posing, Mason is crazy and Claire is just sitting there so sweet taking it all in... And Ryan, of course, takes the time to stop what he is doing to get them all bandannas and pose for a picture! It was just one of those moments that really caught all their personalities perfectly!! LOVE you all!

3rd Grade!!!!

3rd grade seems so big... I know its not in the whole big scheme of things but he is just growing up too fast and becoming more and more independent as the days go by... That's a good thing, right:)? Still, I am just grateful he is a good kids who tries really hard at all he does! So here we come 3rd grade, you better watch out cause I have a feeling that Mason will take you down. Its an exciting year for lots of reasons... We have a brand new school to go to, Traverse Mountain Elementary!!! Which means no more bus!!! Hooray! I love love love that he can walk to school with his friends and that its soooo close! I was getting really tired of that bus... he just learned too many things he didn't need to know about yet and it was just enough time for him to get into trouble:) Also, he has sooooo many friends in his class. Poor Mrs. Mangum:) All really good kids but they are just really familiar. All the neighbor kids, except 2, are together... Jane &Kate, Braden, Tanner, Mason, Paige and Hallie. So it can be a really fun year or a tough one. But I have a feeling it will be great!
Mason was hilarious this year when it came to shopping.... he is really starting to have an opinion of the kind of clothes he wears... he had to try everything on and make sure that all pants, warm-ups, shirts, jackets, hoodies worked together. He reminded me so much of his dad when we were out shopping. Such a clothes and shoe horse!! It made for some fun outings though.
So excited for this year. Mason will do great! I love seeing him grow and develop interest, make more/new friends and enjoy what he is doing!

Random thoughts

So I guess you know that summer is almost done when...the smell of zucchini bread and peach cobbler are in the house, back to school shopping, the kids won't stop fighting, I am yelling more:), the sound of a morning routine is almost appealing, soups and baking sound yummy, back to school nights, cramming the last week of summer all the fun stuff in that you didn't get around to doing with the kids during the middle of summer, football starts, school starts, nights cool off, water the grass less, get excited to break out the jeans,sweaters and boots, start to plan the family fall picture...
I feel really lucky and grateful that Ryan likes to unwind by playing with the kids. He really is amazing when it comes to playing with them... he can let go of everything and just be with them whether is snuggling, playing a game, going on dates with them, it really doesn't mater. He loves being with his kids! It is one of my favorite things about him. One of his quirks that kills me is that I think he has a little man crush on Tom Cruise:) Every time he comes out with a new movie Ryan strives to get his hair to look like Toms...what a funny guy!
Claire has a birthday coming up... I can't believe she is almost 2... trying to decide what kinda party to do. Sunday dinner for everyone or just cake and ice-cream... what should I get her? She is an amazing little girl... so lucky to be her mom. She definitely keeps me on my toes.
I have got to figure out better ways to dealing with stress... its going to be a part of my life, right? Loosing my fair, gaining weight, and not sleeping are just not working for me! I know the answer... exercise!!! better get on that!
I really wanted my garden to work this year! I love having a garden but have struggled finding the best place for it in my yard...needed better sunlight, more water, better soil... Our house in Millcreek had a huge and amazing garden and that's where I fell in love it gardening. But so far here it hasn't been quite the same. Oh well... we'll keep trying!
Better get back to being a mom!!! Thanks for letting me get some of those random thought outta my head. Maybe I can focus a bit better!

Pre-K Starts

Ella started Pre-K today... she was my last one to finish at the end of the school year and my first one to start!! I'm not quite ready for this morning routine thing to start. But I guess with Mason not starting for another 1 1/2 week I can ease into it a bit. She was darling today as she got ready... she picked her outfit and couldn't wait. She's going to The Newcastle School again this year... her teacher is Miss Jeri and I can't wait to see how she does.
She is such a creative little soul...loves to make believe play, draw, paint, play dough, anything artsy... sooooo completely excels in that area. When it comes to the other side of the brain, I think its going to take a bit more work... the reading, math etc.. but she is super smart and I know she will do great!
Ryan gave her a blessing last night to help send her off right and her little face was beaming. She felt so special that she had this special prayer for her. The spirit was really strong and it just reconfirmed to me of what a choice and unique, sweet, and loving girl she is! I love my Ella!
Here's to a great year!!

August 6th 1977

33... I can't believe it! I remember when my parents were 33 and they seemed like they were getting up there:) But i feel like I am about 25 or so...So i have a feeling that this year will be a good one!!! I must admit, I love celebrating my birthday! I love to play and have an excuse for fun and getting together and even getting a tad bit spoiled! I really did have a great day... well actually a great weekend! The day before my parents took us out to lunch and got me a Magic Bullet mixer thing, which I am stoked about (is that sad???:)and then on the real day... Ryan took over, as he usually does, and spoiled me beyond words. He is too good to me. We started by going to lunch with his family at California Pizza Kitchen...YUM... and then he surprised me and said, "you have a facial apt. in 30 min. Ill meet you there and grab the kids" WooHOO!!! Those are my most favorite ever and it was a great one! So relaxing and never lasts long enough! Upon getting home he had his sister all lined up to come over and told me to get ready we were leaving. So I did and we then took off... upon traveling up Provo Canyon I asked him if we were headed to the cabin and he said yes we were for a quiet night under the stars with tin foil dinners.... how cute is that! The cabin is my favorite place and I was so excited! It got even better... when we pulled up he pulled out the over night bag and told me we got to stay over and that Ally was going to stay with the kids all night! WHAT!!! could he be any better! Thanks to Ally for letting us have the night! We had a blast... tin foil dinners, treats, camp fires, movie, stars, lots of kissing (hehehe), and he even bought me my Nano I've been wanting. The guy is a rock star! In fact we had so much fun up there that we came home Saturday and packed up the kids and went back up there for the rest of the weekend to play! It was a great weekend with my kids... fishing, sleeping over (which we haven't done yet this year), 4wheeling, smores, more tinfoil dinners, playing cards... so fun! It really was great!
The next night... Monday the party continued with my girl friends... they took me to Cheesecake Factory, my favorite, for a long dinner full of laughing and chatting! One of my most favorite things to do! Thanks girls for all the love and fun, Andrea, Gen, Yvett, and Andrea (we missed you Jenny)... Love those girls!
So if all birthdays could be that fabulous I think I would have one very day! Thank you to all for the thoughts and love! It means so much to me! I feel so blessed to have been so richly blessed in my 33 years!

Bear Lake

The last weekend in July we went with Ryan's family to a place I have never been but always wanted to go... Bear Lake! Yes, I know crazy that I have never been there before and as crazy as that seems I can even top that... I have never been to Lake Powell either. What am I thinking... I know! So anyways... we headed up there on a beautiful weekend with the fam! Honestly it just wasn't long enough. We left on a Friday afternoon and were home by Sunday evening! We really needed another day or two up there. It was really fun. Friday night was spent playing in the pool, grocery shopping and going out to eat. Saturday we rented a boat for the day and took the wave runner out and headed to the beach for the day! My kids could play at the beach endlessly... no fighting, no complaining... it is great. The sand, water, endless bags of chips, and treats keep them totally occupied! Especially my Ella... the girl is a bEaCh BuM... she is my one who when she turns 18 leaves me and moves to California to live on the beach and get a tattoo (she better not:)...Although she loves the beach and playing around in the shallow water... not the boat or wave runner so much. One ride and she was good for the day. Mason loves the wave runner and went out on the boat with us... he even tubed. But getting him in the lake to swim scares him to death. To be honest... the boy is a terrible swimmer. We have had him in dozens of lesson and he just cant get it...but is so athletic in just about everything else. So deep water did not sit well with him but we got him out there and he swam around with me a bit. Ryan wake boarded awesomely...no surprise! He is a stud at just about everything he tries. I even tried to get up and did once for about 10 seconds and then could not do it again for the life of me. But had a great time trying. Claire just played and played and played wherever we took her. She loved it! That night we had incredible raspberry shakes and burgers followed by watching the X-games and hanging out! The weekend definitely went by too fast and I keep telling Ryan that I wanna go back soon. It was just so beautiful!!! Thanks for a wonderful weekend everyone! So good to play with you!
PS... just thought of one thing I can do with out for a while though... my kids are obsessed with the Black EyedPeas... holy moly... if I have to listen to Boom Boom Pow, Rock that Body, or Tonights Gonna be a Good Night... one more time!!!! They sang and danced the heck outta those songs every time we got in the truck!

The Subway

I have been nervous to post this amazing experience that I was able to have with my family over the July 24-25th holiday because I just don't think I can do it justice in words of just how incredible it was! But none-the-less I have to try and just hope I can convey even the smallest part of how much I enjoyed it. So my dad, all my brothers, Ryan, me, and two of my sister-in-laws Lisa and Elizabeth hiked The Subway in Zions. By far tHe mOsT crazy, adventurous, fun, hard, challenging, bonding, beautiful, and amazing thing I have ever done. Now mind you, I am in terrible shape and really should've prepared myself physically better for this... it probably would've meant a faster hike for everyone and a lot less soreness afterwards for me but at the same time... I did it!! and am really proud of myself for being able to say that... it may have taken ALL day, but i did it. So I copied a little expert from a description on the Internet that I thought began to do it justice...
" The mystical journey through the Left Fork of North Creek involves route finding, plunging cautiously into chilly pools then sloshing, sometimes frantically, through frigid water over and through difficult obstacles. The narrow Subway section of this hike forces hikers through a unique tunnel sculpted by the Left Fork of North Creek. Churning water chisels the rock floor, forming shallow potholes that fill to the brim with frosty water. Silhouettes dance freely on multi-colored walls where only a trickle of sun light penetrates into the curved chamber of the Subway. Falling water echoes in the nature carved tunnel where dragonflies dart, frogs laze about and shimmering emerald pools tempt cold hikers to dawdle. Before long, the promise of daylight urges an exit to the warmth of the sun waiting outside the Subway. The canyon widens as hikers cross back and forth across the creek, making their way to the grueling uphill exit."
The hike it self is well over 10 miles of climbing, bouldering, swimming, wading through water in river beds, repelling 4 times, climbing up and down steep mountains, walking through wooded areas and across the hot red rocks, and seeing some of the most amazing scenery. It starts at about 7000 feet and you hike down to about 4500 in some of the most exciting and challenging climbs I have done.
I had the best time with my family... usually all the boys go golfing or to movies together and I am not usually there... Ryan is. But this time it was so fun to do this as a family... we helped each other, encouraged each other, laughed at each other, chatted together and just had the best bonding time that we have had in a while. It was one of those times that just changes you as a family. Also being able to do that with Ryan was amazing. We haven't ever done anything like that together and it was so fun to have him there to play with, to help me, to walk with, to just completely enjoy each other and push ourselves. Dallas and Lisa were our tour guides, since they have done it once before, and were so great. Dallas was so patient with all of us during the repels and guiding us through the trails. In fact at one point on the hike on the way out he had to run ahead to catch a ride from somebody up to the cars because he forgot his keys(long story) and when he left us it was a bit scary. The hike on the way out isn't marked well... it basically bouldering for 3-4 miles and trying to cross riverbeds to find the trails followed up at the end with an eXtRemE climb up a cliff, of which I was ready to hurl, and when he was gone we all felt lost and worried if we were headed the right way... thank goodness we were and we found our way... Overall the experience was awesome and I am so happy my dad encouraged all of us to go and climb together... What a memory.
Some of my favorite parts... loved the descent down in to the canyon, it was the first obstacle and a fun one to climb down, watching Ryan be a mountain goat and explore every turn and hill to climb, loved watching Ryan try the water slides...or should I say the non-eater slides, at least up until the point where he hurt his leg going down a water fall not meant for a slide but he thought it should be. the first time he did it great the second time he jumped a ledge and landed on his leg. Lets just say it made the climb out of the mountain painful...poor guy! , watching my dads face as he repelled down the first rock, he was so happy and excited, this was a trip he has been dying to do with his kids and was in heaven, loved having something new to look at around every corner!, just playing with my brothers! I never get to do that! sososososo fun, even the smashed PB&J's for lunch tasted great...awESomE!
So between all of us we took over 400 pictures, don't worry I won't post all of them, but I will try to tell the story of this amazing hike through them.!!! Here goes! Hopefully I can trim it to 50???!!!