Happy 4th of July weekend!

The best part about holidays is having daddy home from work! He had an "early-out" day on Friday and we spent the evening with our friends on this great little hike to a waterfall. LOVED IT! Saturday was busy with a family picnic, dollar movie with our boys, and fireworks. We carried our camera with us all day, and didn't take a single picture. phooey. Monday we spent the day swimming and then had Shayne's family over for fireworks. It was a fabulous weekend!

When I was a freshman in college, I went on tour with the BYU band to Southeast Asia (Taiwan, China, Phillipines, and Hong Kong) for 3 1/2 weeks. I did not understand culture nor did I have a great appreciation for my home country until that trip. Don't get me wrong, the trip was amazing and eye-opening. I loved that experience. When we landed in LA and came through customs underneath a HUGE American Flag - my heart swelled with pride for our land of liberty and freedom. It was an amazing feeling that I can not forget. I'm grateful for the sacrificies of our forefathers and our grandparents, and even our neighbors who continue to defend and sacrifice so much for all of us to enjoy this amazing country. This is a blessed land and I'm thankful to be a part of it. Happy 4th of July to all!

YEAH for peaches!

I love the cheers and shouts of joy when I'm buying produce. You'd think that I never buy produce, but there are lots of things that just get those boys EXCITED! I have my list of produce to buy, but how can I say no when they ask for a plum? or grapes? or peaches? I kept saying yes and they were simply THRILLED with all the goodies mommy was buying them. Honestly, they shouted with joy and it made me giggle. Who knows what the others around us were thinking... I was extremely PROUD of those gleeful shouts!

By the way, that reminds me that Cole keeps asking in his prayers that the vegetables will grow in our garden. I keep trying to tell him that I didn't plant any vegetables (it's a berry patch this year) and well, that means no tomatoes. But, he keeps on praying for them! LOL.

I {HEART} NYC & DC

We had the fabulous opportunity to have a kidless get-away to NYC and DC this past week. Here are some picture highlights!

Riding around Central Park - definitely the best way to get around that AMAZING park!

The pit-stop next to the big tree that protected us from a sudden cloud burst! (and gave me a chance for a cat-nap!)

Look at ALL THOSE BUILDINGS! How does this place continue to exist while I live in my cute suburbia neighborhood?!?!

This was a "MUST DO" on Lea's list. We saw a clip on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" about a marshmallow milkshake in NYC that was to die for. Ummmmmmm, can I PLEASE have your secret recipe?!? I can't afford another trip to get one!

We got to see Phantom - a first time for me (Lea). LOVED IT!!

Yeah, I got to meet Rachel Ray - she was super nice.

You can tell that Shayne got all flutter-hearted when he saw this dude.

This is Shayne's highlight of the trip.

If you didn't figure it out yet, those famous people were all at Madame Tausade's - a wax museum. LOL!


The Catamaran Ship we sailed in to see the Statue of Liberty. Too bad the weather had a turn for the worst and the majority of the trip was me sitting under that little canopy afraid of getting soaked to the bone. It was still a great experience.

Us, on the boat. And I have to say at least ONE of the many pictures we asked strangers to take for us, worked. Seriously. Can people really not take a picture?!?!? Our experience is: NO.

This is me with my Great Aunt Lorrie. She was so kind to let us stay with her in Brooklyn - that's how we afforded such a luxurious trip!! Thank you Aunt Lorrie! I hope I can be as healthy and active as she is when I reach her age.

When we left NYC, we went to Atlantic City. But, I guess I didn't even take a single picture there. It was so fun to just take a day off and lay on the beach!! We managed to NOT get sunburned - and enjoyed walking up and down the boardwalk in the "mini las vegas" of the East Coast. We grew to HATE all tollways and there is an ABUNDANCE of them when driving on the East Coast. Seriously, it was ridiculous. We made it to DC and enjoyed some time at the National Museums. My favorite museum was the "Holocaust Museum" - but no photos were allowed while in there. Definitely a place I wish I could have spent another 3 hours.

This is the "Red Castle." We just liked the look of it!

I love the GRANDEAUR of the buildings in DC. WOW.

The guy who took this picture for us, had an amazing camera. I thought, SURELY, this guy will be able to snap a picture for us? Well, it's fine.... crooked, but fine. It's better than the "heads cut-off" ones or "what, you wanted a picture with you AND the Time Square buildings behind you?" Whatever.

Coming home was as adventurous as our entire week! We managed to to arrive at our plane's gate - after the plane had pulled away. (TRAFFIC WAS NO FUN) We did get on a flight for the next day - but every one of those flights were delayed. UGH. When my sister asked me what the highlight was for my trip - it was being with Shayne. It's rare that we can have a conversation and not be interrupted! Thanks hon for a fabulous week. And a HUGE shout-out to all the family who took care of my little ones. It wouldn't have been possible without you.

Memorial Weekend

Well, I don't have many photos to prove our adventurous weekend - but we had a lot of fun with Aunt La-La visiting us from Georgia. I wish she lived closer!! It was a great week to have time for 4 of my 5 siblings to be together and just love being in one-another's company. We spent some time in Heber - including a fun "hike".... well, it was a long, slow walk when you have 5 kids under the age of 7 together! But we survived our adventure in the woods and got in the car just as it started to pour. Whew. We also enjoyed a visit to Bridal Veil Falls and Shayne was crazy and took Danny and Hunter WAY UP HIGH.... my camera doesn't have a zoom to prove why their mommy had a LUMP in her throat the whole time they were up there. Glad everyone survived and had fun. Thanks La-La for visiting us - we LOVE YOU! But we vote you bring Greg next time too - we missed you Greg.

Flashback for Boyd

Several years ago, Hunter made this special book with help from his personal scribe, Boyd. Hunter knew the stories he wanted to tell and the picture to go with them. I wish I had written down the year he wrote this - but I'm certain it was before school days. Enjoy!

White Trash

Yeah, we went to the Motocross despite the forecast of snow (in May).

And yeah, I thought my coat was rain proof (& snow proof).

Of course, when I realized my coat was lame, I put on a trash bag.

And yeah, that trash bag kept me dry.

White trash, I know, but we weren't the only ones.

And I could NOT believe how many young families were at this event.

Even more surprising was that their children were NOT whining from the cold and snow. Mine would have been before we got to our seats.

So, one thing for sure, my first Motocross experience was one to remember!

Century Ride #1

Yeah, even within 48 hours of that ride, I'm already thinking, I want to do that again! Yes, I'm a little sore - but honestly, the sun burn on my arms (I forgot to put sunscreen on them!) is the most painful part of my recovery. Yes, I'm tired and luckily, I got a nap in today! Here are a few pics to help me remember the entire experience:

Me and Rach - how lucky am I to have such a great friend who drove me, took pics for me, and told me I could do it over and over again!?! Very lucky indeed. Thanks Rach. I look forward to many years of riding together!

I got to know Rach's Sis-in-law. She had arranged the hotel room for the lot of us. Originally there were going to be 8 women, but in the end, it was just the 3 of us. We drove up to Logan Friday afternoon, and had the evening to check out the fun booths and merchandise for sale. I was seriously tempted to by a water-repellant jacket that evening. There was a scare of rain and I seriously thought I was going to break down at any minute and just start crying. Sorry, but I'm just not equipped for a rainy bike ride - nor was I prepared to buy such apparell. Lucky for me, the day of the ride was PERFECT!

I did this ride by myself. At times I would fall in behind groups I could keep pace with (and draft) and other times, I just passed a lot of other riders. I was very happy with my pace - I rode the first 50 miles in 3 hours. It took me 3 1/2 hours to do the next 50 miles. So, with my 1/2 hour lunch break, I crossed the finish line in exactly 7 hours! The hardest part was mile 70-79. I hear people talking about hitting a "wall" and I'm not sure if that is how I would describe it. But it was a tough spot to mentally keep those legs spinning. It was a tough climb with wind and no one else riding close to me. When I took the next little pit stop (mile 79) I felt rejuvinated and ready to finish the last 20 miles. What's 21 miles after doing 79??!?

My favorite part of the ride was the valley. It was absolutely gorgeous. I was riding through tiny little farm towns that were so enchanting. I wish I could have had my camera with me - but it just wasn't an option with all my "fuel" foods and my jacket. Besides, I would have stopped every few miles for another postcard perfect picture! It was absolutely beautiful.

Here I am approaching the finish line.

The beloved banner letting me know I was FINISHED!


Barely able to walk after being on a bike all day, I'm smiling and famished. They had great food at the finish line and I'm ecstatic that I've REALLY DONE IT!





My hubby and boys did not come to the race. They had soccer games and it would have been a long trip for them to see me ride across a finish line. When I got home, my sweet husband had these beautiful flowers waiting for me. Thanks sweetie! Not for just the flowers, but for supporting me and letting me take the time to pursue this goal. I couldn't have done it without your support..... or your bike!!

PS When I got in my car to drive home, I found myself trying to do the "stop" signal with my hand (fist behind my back) as I pulled up to a stop sign. I had to remind myself that I was in a car and obviously, I did not need to do the signals!

1st Grade Grad

This young man got a certificate for passing the 1st grade. I thought that was funny but I did tell him it was an important little document. It meant he did not have to repeat first grade, nor does he have to do SUMMER SCHOOL! He was appalled that such a school exists and was relieved he had done his school work.

Hunter says he'll miss:

1) Jacob O. - his best friend (and at times his worst friend) who taught him to do the monkey bars, played tag with him, and played on the swings too.

2) doing art projects, they were fun

3) his teacher, she was really nice and helps us learn a lot

The kids made self protraits for their class shirt. I love Hunter's art work!