We're Keeping Busy 'Round These Parts

This week has had us running here and there. Monday I went into find out some details on what I would be doing for Paul's company. After that I took my camera in while Emma and Paul got some food at Taco Amigo. I met them there, ate lunch super duper fast and hurried home so I could get Andrew from his primary class party. The rest of the day was a lot more relaxed. 

Tuesday the kids had a second craft class at Robert's. We had signed them up to make T-shirts and door signs. I think the door sign class went a little smother than the other class, but not much. All that matters is they had fun, right? 

That afternoon we had reservations for the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. We got to South Jordan just in time. This open house was a lot better than Draper because they didn't bus you in. We walked right up and got in a tent for the movie on the importance of temples. I loved the movie they played. It talked about our ancestors who helped build up that part of Utah. The testimonies that were shared, especially Elder Holland's, were very touching. 

After the movie we got to do the shuffle through the temple. I hate that it is so crowded and slow going. I don't let it bother me though because I know how important it is for the kids to be there and to see the beauty. Here is a link to some photos of the interior.

We loved the chandeliers that they had all throughout the temple. It was breathtaking. I also love all the beautiful art that is in the temples. 

After we were done with the tour we got our cookies, took some pictures and headed to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Dang that was good.   

Family Fun at Seven Peaks

This past school year the kids earned free passes to Seven Peaks for being a Peak Readers. Paul took the day off so we could have a nice family day. Of course we chose to go on what I am pretty sure is the last valid day for the pass. We ran into Rees and Kari there and saw one other family from our ward so apparently we aren't the only procrastinators LOL!

We started pricing everything out and we were shocked that Seven Peak's website boasts about affordable family fun. Good grief. They nickel and dime you to death. They charge an arm and a leg for the day ticket, they charge for parking, they charge for tube rentals, they charge you for shade and the food is expensive. Luckily the kids were free, we had a buy one get one half off coupon for Paul and I and then at the entrance we signed up to listen to a time share presentation over the weekend and got a gift card that paid for about half of our entrance fee. Plus we will get a mini-getaway, gas money and $100 restaurant gift card. We love getting free gifts from time share presentations. We have gotten really good at saying, "no, we just want the gifts."

Back to the important stuff. The kids were so excited to go. So excited! See, that's excited.

I was pretty overwhelmed by the whole thing. Paul and I hadn't been there since the 90's and didn't know what to expect. I wanted to know where the kids were but also wanted them to feel like they had some freedom. I think we did that pretty successfully.

We rented a cabana because we wanted to make sure we had some shade but it was so far away (thus the surprisingly reasonable rate) that we hardly used it. It was also much bigger than we expected.

I think the kids managed to go on just about everything big and scary at least once. They are such dare devils. It blows my mind that they want to try the biggest and craziest slides.

Both kids did the blue slide on the right and Emma did the yellow slide.

Emma and Paul getting ready to go on the Boomerang while Andrew and I waited for the "Toilet Bowl"

This is what we call the toilet bowl.

Andrew picking out his wedgie.

That is Emma way. up. there.
Yes those are her feet.
Pretty excited that she did it.
Andrew in the wave pool.
Andrew coming down the big slide. Great splash little buddy.

Here goes Emma for round two. I did better with the camera this time.
This is the Boomerang. Who thought this was a good idea? I missed Paul and Emma going down it for the first time. Andrew and I were in line waiting for the "Toilet Bowl" slide and we didn't make it in time to catch them.

Here goes Emma on her second trip down. She went three times today.

Andrew and I decided to go too. We were both really nervous. The first drop is a doozy.

We were both glad when it was over.
Can you spot Emma? Here's a hint. She is on the yellow slide.

Toward late afternoon all the sport camp kids from BYU came by the bus loads. As a matter of fact a herd of boys had taken over our cabana while we were away even though our neighbors had told them is was rented and our stuff was still there. Idiots! We kicked them out then ended up leaving shortly after since it was getting so crowded.

It was fun and we will do it again next year if they offer the same Peak Reader program. I guess we better start saving now ;)

You Could Win a $50 Gift Certificate

Hey Readers. Do you want a chance to win a $50 from Fat Quarter Shop? Rachel from p.s. I Quilt has a giveaway on her blog. Click the link so you can sign up for your chance to win. You can earn up to three entries. Good luck!

I know what you've been thinking...

Her pictures just get crappier and crappier. Okay probably not, but that is what I have been thinking. I was missing shots left and right. The majority of the pictures I took were out of focus. (Notice Emma's picture above. It looks like poop.) I was struggling to find usable shots. The camera would pause, not be able to focus, or just not take the picture at all. I thought that I had managed to kill my D80 in just two years. (Super big sad face here) I have shot about 30,000 pictures in that time! I took it in to a local camera shop and it was diagnosed as having some obvious dust on it's sensor. I am so excited to have that taken care of. Maybe now I will have more pictures to blog ;)

Pages for Week 29

Wow these are ginormous!!! Perhaps I will use Photobucket more often.

Summer Storms

We get some pretty good summer storms around here. They consist of thunder, lightning and even rain at times. Since we are perched so far up it is easy to see the lightning striking all over the valley. Saturday night there was a wicked electrical storm west of the lake. Some looked like bolts and other strikes would make the whole sky light up.

I have always wanted to try to photograph lightning but the storms are pretty short. Saturdays storm kept going and going and going... I actually managed to catch some but it looks nothing like what I had hoped it would look like. It's pretty sad actually. But I did it. I managed to catch lightning. Woot. (Mock enthusiasm)

Emma Cracks Me Up!

Some day she will kill me for this. Friday night we spent most of the day shopping in Park City. We also ate out twice. When we got home Emma "had to take care of business." I was busy doing something when Paul said, "you have to see this".

We do have a lock on the bathroom door, and it works, sometimes a little too well. Kids have been known to get locked in. My kids chose not to use it for that very reason. I guess this sign was a better warning than "Stay Out" or "Occupied". I mean really, if you know for sure that pooping is in progress aren't you going to stay far far away?

Another Day at the Park

My friend Kameo had told me about this cute little park in Cedar Hill. It's called Heritage park. It is a pretty, shady, park with a little creek that runs right through it. I had been there years ago to take engagement pictures of Mere and Matt. Anyway she said that her kids had a ton of fun playing in the water there. Maggie and I decided that it would be the next place to have a get together. I bought tubes and advertised it on Facebook. We met there this morning. It didn't take long before the kids told us the water was COLD! It was also really shallow so the kids were dragging butt and not floating too well. 

I think I can, I think I can.
Nope, I can't float. Eeeek! It's cold mom!
They gave up on floating and just started chasing their tubes. That was fun for a while.
Kyle loved splashing around, jumping in and throwing rocks.
Then more of our friends came and helped build a damn to make the water deeper. That helped a lot. 
What boy do you know that can resist mud? Andrew and Chandler couldn't. 
Of course Emma couldn't stay away either.
Here is a portion of our group.
Our fun started out slowly but once more kids got there they found more things to do and ended up having a blast! 

The Last Couple of Weeks

Summer is going well. Some days are better than others and some weeks are busier than others. I don't think I have heard the kids utter the word bored at all so that is good. I know that they have gotten bored but they haven't complained about it. We have less than a month left of our summer break. It will be over before we know it. 

We have harvest veggies from our garden, bought overpriced ice cream from the ice cream truck, and spent a lot of time in pools. What more can you ask for from summer?

On Monday the 13th we went to Orem to celebrate grandma Ferns 91st birthday. 


I always have to get the kids away from the koi pond when it is time to leave. I was so excited to see this water lily this time. Even more excited because I had my camera.
Before we headed to grandma's house we had Family Home Evening. We read our chapter from the Book of Mormon and then took turns sharing our testimonies. It was a good experience for all of us. We had promised the kids Sno Cones as part of FHE and our swamp cooler wasn't working well (we had to go to two different stores to find the pads we needed) so we didn't get to stay too long at grandma's house but we are glad we went. 





Tuesday grandma and grandpa asked if we would like them to take the kids for the evening. Um...YES!!! Paul and I got to go out to dinner to Noodles and relax a little before the kids got home. It was nice to spend time together.

Wednesday was our Lindon pool day and dinner with Maggie. It was also the day that Paul left to go to LA. We sure did miss him while he was away. 

Thursday we chilled. I love days where we do nothing. 

Friday the kids and I went to Taco Amigo for lunch, ran some errands and then waited impatiently for daddy to get home. He brought back a bunch of treats for the kids and some goodies from H&M for me then he took us out to dinner at Rubio's.

Saturday I got up early and went out. When I got home it was time for Paul and Emma to start getting ready for Harry Potter. They had a daddy daughter date and Andrew went next door to play for most of the afternoon. It was great. I did laundry and sewed up a bunch of squares for my autumn quilt. That night we went to see the fireworks in AF that celebrated the end of Steel Days. 

Sunday we went to church and then we dropped the kids off so they could spend a couple of days with my parents. Paul and I have enjoyed our quiet time. We went out on a date night Monday to see West Side Story. 

We ate lunch together today and went out to the mall tonight. I will be getting the kids in the morning. Thursday we hope to have a park day with friends and then Friday is a holiday around these parts so we will be able to have a nice long weekend. 

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!