Come Back!

Dear Kaitlin,

We miss you-A LOT.  Tyler did NOT want to go to Costco today.  He kept saying, "Can I please just stay home with Kaitlin?"  I had to explain to him that you were gone.  We are both sad.  I can't imagine how sad the other boys are going to be when they figure it out.  Can't you just live here and commute to school?  I'm serious.

Love,

Us.

Another Good Weekend

Kirk and I went camping this weekend.  I actually quite enjoy camping, minus dirt.  I have always hated dirt and dust.  I am sure dust makes me claustrophobic, my throat closes up and I just want to run away.  Growing up we did two kinds of camping, the Sand Dunes (in a campground with running water, bathrooms, and showers) and Lake Powell.  I loved them both!  There is nothing better than cards, Easter Eggs, seven layer dip, and four wheelers at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes.  That little camp ground holds some of the best memories for me and I am sure for most of my family as well.  I was always able to manage the camping because it could end with a long hot shower, it was no problem.  And the sand was beautiful!  The good thing about sand is that is doesn't cause a lot of dust either.  Lake Powell was the other place we used to camp.  After finally arriving there, we had to wait for my Dad to scout out the perfect beach.  Any old beach spot was never good enough, if he kept looking, he could always find one better.  He would scout out every possible option and then we would settle on the best spot.  Camping at Lake Powell was always more work because running water and bathrooms were not close by.  Now that I have my own family and have done my own Lake Powell trips, I marvel at the work and effort my parents had to put in to create such good times for us.  We always took 2 vehicles, sometimes a four wheeler, a pedal boat, and everything else you would need for camping.  Keep in mind they had 7 kids and we never went alone.  Lots of times I had a friend, families with boats and families without boats would join us as well.  My dad had built special equipment just to get everything loaded in the truck.  We always had the best time.  We got pulled behind the boat, fished, played in the sand, jumped off of cliffs, and explored.  You couldn't ask for a better vacation.  I hope my kids have such fond memories of their family vacations.  There were a few times we stayed in a hotel, but honestly, my better memories were the times we were camping.  Even as I type that I feel bad.  It is true and I don't know if I have it in me to camp with the whole family.  Their Lake Powell memories might all be hotel related, but I hope they are just as good.  

From our beach, just as the water started to get good.

Last weekend we went to Lake Powell sans children.  In an effort to recreate the good times, we camped with my brother and his wife.  The camping did not disappoint.  The scenery is amazing of course and so is the calmness and beauty of the lake.  We took the boat out in the evening and took advantage of the good water.  Then we stayed out in the moonlight and showered.  Going out each night to "lather up" is another of my favorite Lake Powell memories.  Afterwards we made our way back to the beach in the dark and started grilling our dinner.  Parker and Chelsey made the best chicken and steak kabobs ever!  I felt bad they brought so much food for only the 4 of us, and then we actually ate it all, it was so yummy!

The view from my tent when I got up.

By the time the sun started coming up, our air mattress was just about flat, and I was ready to get out of bed.  My brother takes amazing photos and I am still waiting for him to email some of the ones he took that morning, they are great, but until then, you will have to look at mine and imagine them as being better.  

Good morning lake!

You may remember me blogging about getting a boat and saying how I don't really care to be pulled behind the boat no matter what the apparatus is.  Well, I finally gave in and tried wake boarding.  And I actually liked it.  But then I couldn't do the surfing thing this time.  I don't understand how people are able to get good at water sports when they don't get to do them very much.  I will never appear athletic or capable at anything when I am behind a boat because I am not, but I do LOVE riding on the boat, swimming, and jumping off of little cliffs.  And I love Lake Powell.  We had a great time!

I only post pictures of myself and my big legs as proof that I actually did it.

Kirk is still a good surfer, I might not ever be a surfer.

Thanks to my little brother, Kirk got some great wake boarding tips and improved a lot this last trip.

All this writing about memories and good vacations got me thinking about an article that I read on a blog awhile back.  Here is a link if you are curious.  It is about how money can buy you happiness if you spend it right, like on vacations or experiences.  I find it to be very true!

A Little Sneak Peak

Aren't blogs great?  I took these pictures for my mom who doesn't live close enough to drop by and see the paint job going on at my house.  These were taken late at night, the lighting was terrible, and there are no decorations, but they kind of give you the general idea.  I can't wait to get everything put back together and make it look nice!

Recent Worries

Football try-outs have been going on this week.  It is very serious stuff.  Turns out, my boys love football so it is worth all the headache, but last night had me wondering about my parenting skills.  They have the boys "try-out" so that they can pretty much group them together according to skill.  The best team is called the "A" team and it goes on down from there.  The coaches carry around clip boards and take notes while the kids are timed, weighed, and put through all kinds of drills.  At the end of the week, they have a draft and the kids get a phone call from their coach and they are on a team!  Football is serious, but the "A" team is even more serious.  Since we are just average, we don't have to worry about the "A" team politics.  But the unexpected happened this year.  I got a phone call earlier this week from the "A" team coach.  He said they were looking at one of my boys and wondered what I thought if he played on that team.  I have 3 boys playing this year and they are all in the same division.  I was shocked.  I told him we did NOT want 3 separate teams, but we expected the boys might be on different teams this year.  So I said that should be fine.  Of course I didn't say anything to the boys, try-outs continued on.  Yesterday, they sort of pulled out the "A" team and had them with the coach doing their own thing.  My son was part of that group as were a lot of the boys he played with last year.  My other son was not a part of that group.  And he fell apart later than night.  I knew this would happen.  But I rationalized in my head that I shouldn't deprive the other of the opportunity.  Last night I really began to doubt myself.  I don't know what is best.  Is it worth the hurt it might inflict to one?  Again I rationalized that such is life, it is going to happen sometime, I can't always be there to intervene, but I wonder if I should have in this case.  My son hasn't made the "A" team just yet, so maybe it will work itself out.  And maybe I made a HUGE mistake.  I wish we could practice with fake kids before we got real ones, being a parent is hard, especially with twins.  

Change is Coming

A couple of years ago, I decided to paint my kitchen orange.  I didn't think much of it other than I loved the color and liked the way it looked with my cabinets.  I also picked out another color for the rest of the house.  My floor plan is very open and once you start with a color, it is hard to stop.  Afterwards I realized what bold colors I had chosen and how lucky I was that I liked the way they turned out.  The family room has needed paint for awhile now.  So I figured I might as well paint the rest.  So I picked out new colors.  Here's hoping I like the new as much as the old

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Family Lake Powell Trip 2010

This summer we took our little family to Lake Powell.  Ethan and the twins had been before, when they were babies, so it was pretty much the first time for all of them.  A couple of other families in our neighborhood joined us and we had a blast!  It was an awesome family vacation.  There were so many kids for all the kids to play with that I felt like I didn't even see or spend a lot of time with my own.  But everyone had the time of their lives and we can't wait to do it again next year!  

Ethan jumping off a cliff, he was my most hesitant little jumper, but he finally did it!

We had so much fun, we lost track of time and got a late start back to the marina the first night.  Kirk and I are new to this whole boating thing, by the time we got ready to load, it was dark, but we made it!  The sunsets were gorgeous!

Me on a surf board.  I am hoping to get better at this.  I was unsuccessful at staying up for very long.

Kirk is a much better surfer!

This was our first trip out on our boat by ourselves and we were so impressed with ourselves, we seemed to be doing great until Kirk accidentally ran over the rope.  Luckily we had lots of help and snorkel gear.  They guys were able to untangle the rope, but not without a few cuts!

This is the only picture of Tyler on the tube that I could find.  He always volunteered for the back seat where he would usually drop and dangle in the water.  Most of the time we couldn't even see him.  I guess he is ready for more "advanced" rides.

I don't know why Ethan was riding backwards?!?

No, those really aren't David's sunglasses!

Of course we had frozen punch bags, my favorite Lake Powell treat growing up!

Tyler's very favorite thing was cliff jumping, I think it was for all the boys, but especially Tyler.  He cried when we left because he wanted to jump off another cliff.  I couldn't believe how brave he was!

Jacob, David, and Kirk all jumping off together!

Seems like a dream, we can't wait to go again!

The Big Day

Tyler's dreams came true and he got to go to school.  Yesterday as we drove there, we passed lots of neighborhood kids riding their bikes.  Even though they couldn't hear him and probably wouldn't understand anyways, he was shouting, "Hey, I'm a kindergartner now, I get to go to school!"  He was lacking a little enthusiasm when I picked him up, I think it was pretty draining.  We had lunch and I thought for sure he would take a nap, so we cuddled up in my bed with my "magic" (electric) blanket to watch cartoons.  He never fell asleep, darn it, I was hoping for a nap myself.  But he did lay there and watch cartoons for awhile.  It is fun to see him grow up.  Now when he wakes up in the morning, he wants to do chores, like his brothers, he NEVER wanted to do them before.  He loves being able to be like them.  And he is so excited for the carpool to start later on because then he, "will get to ride when other people come."

The Couch That Made Me Happy

Today I read Cjane's blog.  She had some silly video on there advertising a concert series kick off in Provo.  As I watched it, I thought, this is kind of weird, but I couldn't stop watching it.  And by the time it was over, I was smiling and laughing.  Some BYU students hollowed out a loveseat/couch and put it on top of an electric wheel chair.  I think it is hilarious and I want one really bad.  So does Tyler, he thought it might be fun to take around the block.  Anyway, my day started out with a smile as I watched the silliness unfold.  And then I got a little sad that I am not so silly anymore.  I remember when I lived in Provo and was a student at BYU, we were crazy and spontaneous.  I remember coming home from college one weekend and running from the cops.  And while what I did might have been kind of illegal, luckily no one was punished and it makes for a great story because the ending was good.  I wonder if having kids and being responsible took it out of me, but I miss the old me a little bit.  Last year one of my missionary companions came to visit.  It was fun to be reunited.  I remember her making the comment that I was so serious.  I don't know what happened to me.  Maybe this is common and maybe it is called growing up, who knows?  And while I love my life right now, I think I just need to spice it up a little and bring back some silly.  

Speaking of silly, will you be watching the Bachelorette tonight?  Who do you think she will pick?  

Name Them One By One

Today I am grateful for-

• Prayer.  This week has been a week of answered prayers.  Mostly just small, little things, but it has strengthened me and my testimony.  
• Relief Society.  I can't believe I just wrote that.  If you know me, you have probably heard me complain about it (I can't seem to ever get out of there).  But I have come to really appreciate what a great organization it is.  No matter where I serve in the church, I will always be a part of the Relief Society.  And I am learning it is what you make of it.  
• Teaching.  One time my calling was to teach Sunday School.  I loved it.  I taught 17 year olds and I don't know if they ever got anything out of it, but I loved preparing for it and learning.  Today I got to teach, I love the study and preparation that comes with any teaching assignment.  I wish I was motivated enough to study like that without an assignment.  
• Rain.  We have had lots of evening rainstorms, they are the best!  It cools off and there is nothing better than to listen to the sound and smell the wetness.
• Retail Therapy.  I got a little shopping done in Park City this week.  It was so much fun to go shopping for clothes and some new stuff.  I have a testimony of retail therapy, I know it works.