{No Shame...No Shame at all}

As I glanced out my back door this morning and saw Avery, I couldn't help but think how wonderful childhood is. Wouldn't it be great if we could sit out on the patio bare naked and color our bike with chalk, and not have one other care in the world? No shame, no embarrassment, and above all no worries.

I love my kids and have to laugh at moments like this

(not freak out over them) I wish my life was still as care free as a little toddlers! I want my kids to be kids and enjoy every second of it because it's gone so quickly. It's just a good thing that Mechams are my back door neighbors (who see everything that goes on in this home) and they are the type to laugh along with me, and not call social services.

Happy Birthday MOM!

We spent the weekend up in Logan at my sister's house. We got together Friday night and had a scrumptious dinner, then camped in the backyard. (okay so some of us non-campers sacrificed the tent so that the little one's weren't alone inside, I know very honorable)

We watched a movie outside on the "big screen" (sheet)

The next day was my Beautiful Mother's 54th Birthday. We opened some presents then sent the boys to the fun park and gave my mom Spa treatment.

I hope when I am 54 that I've become as amazing as my mom is. She is so smart and fun, she's always willing to help me and such a good friend to so many people. Not to mention the fact that she has a sure ticket into the Celestial kingdom because she's had 7 kids!! Mom you're the greatest and we love you so much. We are so glad we got to hang out with you this weekend!

One year older...and Hopefully wiser!

Saturday was my birthday, and I woke up to find a wonderful surprise... The night before my birthday Brecken had told Bubba that she wanted to decorate a sign for me. He told her okay and that he would wake her up to do it. We all hit the sack and started snoozing. At 3:30a.m Breck woke up and realized she hadn't decorated.....so she snuck out of bed, and literally crawled across our room to get to Bub's side of the bed. She was determined not to wake me up. She told Bubba that they HAD to do it now before I woke up. So a few minutes later that sweet little girl and her dad were out making me this sign! She is so thoughtful, and was able to go back to bed and sleep a little more soundly! I love her so much for being so worried about how I felt, Thanks Breck!

We postponed our getaway weekend so that we could join in a wonderful cause. A neighbor of ours was recently in a horrible car accident which resulted in 6 deaths. Him and his son were blessed to make it, but have been in the hospital for over 3 weeks. Our supportive community put together a fundraiser to help their family through this rough time with mounting medical bills. It was very successful and we are so happy it all went well.

this is what went on:

silent auction, spaghetti luncheon, car show, face painting, bouncy house, and car wash

Bub washed cars and I served the lunch, it really was a great afternoon.

After the fundraiser we had to go celebrate with a little PF CHANGS!!

YUM YUM YUM!

Some Things Never Change...

Last week I got together with my good friend Jamie and her cute kids. Jamie and I were great friends during Dental/Medical school. I just love this girl. I grew up with her husband then Jamie and I hung out for 4 years while our husbands were in school. Our kids were great friends and we would swap babysitting all the time. Jamie was in town from Texas and called me to meet up with her. We spent hours and hours together when we lived right next to each other but we hadn't seen each other for over 2 years. The funny thing is you would have thought we still lived right by each other. We picked up right were we left off, and didn't stop talking for 4 hours. When you have found a true friendship I believe that will always be the case,

Some things never change.

We met up at a fun park and let the kids play, then went out to eat. We went somewhere with an indoor playground and enjoyed a little air conditioning after being out in the heat.

These two have known each other since they were 1. They are so cute together and after a few minutes of slight awkwardness started playing and laughing. I think they started to remember the good old days! Now I look at their funny big teeth smiles, and can't believe they are getting so old! Jamie and I tease that this couple is our hope of someday being related!

These two were raised from birth to 3 years together. they are such cute little friends

We left Virginia when Avery was 6 months old and Treyson was 3 months old. So these two obviously don't remember one another, but that didn't stop them from joining the fun, playing, and getting to know each other. This was such a great day. THANKS JAMIE

{Things aren't always what they seem...}

Here are a few pictures of my adorable, sweet, fun, spicy, little AVERY... this is the side of her that I love to capture on the camera, but remember things aren't always what they seem!!

If she has any of you fooled by the pictures above... let me now capture some of the fun things around the house that Avery likes to do!

Color all over my leather ottoman with a Pen!

(I used a home remedy and I was able to get it out without ruining the leather!)

Come up to me giggling about the wad of gum stuck in her hair!

Pull Tate and 5 full size clean towels into the bathtub with her!

And last but not least, her latest... I had put Avery into timeout

because she had pooped in her swimming suit in the backyard (whole other story)

After not hearing anything for awhile I figured she had fallen asleep...boy was I wrong! I opened the door to check on her and then BAM the stench hit me like a brick wall!!

She had sweetly sprinkled a bottle of FISH FOOD ALL over her room!

It was all over the carpet, on every step of the bunk bed ladder, in drawers, on the windowsill. It was EVERYWHERE. and her room stunk like the flippin dead sea. I'm still finding flakes in remote places of the room.

Although these are not the pictures I love to always capture...I have made a vow to have my blog include the nitty gritty of life....the good the bad and the ugly. I know I will want to remember the hard times so that I will appreciate the happy perfect "smiling" times.

I love this little girl so much and I'm already laughing at all the noddy little things she does to get attention around here!

And someday when she's complaining about her kids doing these inevitable things...I have proof of where they got their bright ideas!

A Weekend of CELEBRATION!

Last weekend was so much fun. We had 3 busy crazy days and pulled off a lot! It all started with

THURSDAY...

Brecken chose to go to Lagoon for her Birthday, Papa Jack got us a great deal on some tickets through his work so Kami and I packed up and headed out with all the kids.

First things first...PARTNER UP everyone.

Brecken and Ashton Tate and Davin

Avery and Skylar

Next up... RIDES

My kids LOVE rides...these were some of the kid rides, but that doesn't mean they only rode these. They loved the big ones, and luckily they could go with Kami's kids because they were tall enough to ride on them with my kids Then I could take Avery. Their favorites were:

The Scrambler, The Tidal wave, The Bat, and the Swings.

I was so paranoid the whole time. Kami kept laughing at me because I was so nervous someone would get hurt or fall out or something completely outrageous. But luckily we all had a blast!

Lots of laughs and fun.....and lots of DAREDEVILS with their hands up all day!

And of course....the moment I drove away from the park, I had three little troopers sound asleep. Having so much fun is such hard work!!

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Friday... (24th of July)

The next morning I ran in the 24th of July 5k here in town. After getting home from Lagoon at Midnight I couldn't really open my eyes, but it was a fun run anyway. My cute ward decided to get these pink Ladies shirts made, that way we could spot each other and cheer each other on. Some women ran, some jogged, and some walked. It was so fun

That night Grantsville had a little carnival with booths and free dinner. The kids got their faces painted, made their own ice-cream, made a little doll, did obstacle courses, leg wrestling, and tons of other fun things to honor the Pioneers. Afterward there was an amazing multi-stake Pageant put on. It was outside on a big grass hill (mini Manti pageant) and it was WONDERFUL. I really was impressed. They had at least 200 people in the cast and they did a phenomenal job. Dancing, singing, acting... it was great. What wasn't so great is the fact that I took all the pictures on Bubba's blackberry, which we just found last night to be the reason for the loud banging noise in the dryer. YEP it had already been through an entire wash cycle!! UUGG!! Therefore...no pictures, but it was a FUN FUN day!

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Saturday...

We have a tradition of going to the Bee's baseball game with Bubba's family for the 24th of July. This year we went on the 25th so that we could enjoy the other festivities in town on the 24th. I love these games. We get to just sit, relax, talk, and laugh. Great family activity!!

Yes there are many who would say that Baseball isn't Baseball without an alcoholic beverage in hand, but for us the substitution of a Snowie is WAY BETTER!

We had great seats right behind 1st base...we were so close! Our cousin Kylie who was sitting right in the seat in front of us got a foul ball hit right into her lap! After the game... field lights go out and an awesome fireworks show!!! we get to sit and snuggle and watch the fireworks! We love this night, we have for years and will for years to come!

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Sunday...

More Birthdays to Celebrate... Bubba's dad Jack turned 59 on Sunday. We celebrated with a fun dinner and of coarse cake and ice-cream!

WHEW... how's that for wrapping up a weekend!