Fresh Fish Fun

My friend Emily and I were off to a blogger's conference - from which one would assume that I would be a better, meaning "more consistent", blogger (but you'll have to just keep on assuming) - and so the hubbies decided to take the children fishing in our absence.

The reports from the children were:

*One dad did not like to touch the squirmy, bleeding fish (uh, so not the Army guy)
*Ivy knew better than her own dad when she had a fish on her line - and she was absolutely right
*Ty was just happy to be there - getting dirty in his pink coat
*Kate excitedly reeled one in
*Cooper and Carter weren't bothered by the blood and guts

Surprise Family Reunion

My sister had a great idea:  We should all get together and surprise mom and dad (For dad's birthday and for their anniversary).  It had been quite a few years since we'd all been in the same place at the same time and so we started making plans.  Carla and Ray were flying from New Mexico, and Sandy from San Diego.  Unfortunately, Carisa could not make it from North Carolina.

Richard and I (and McKenna, Austin, and his friend Rick) took my parents to the Cheesecake Factory and while we waited for the server, we also waited anxiously for the surprise. 

Soon Carla and Sandy stood in front of the table . . . and magic happened.

My parents were speechless and wept.  It was wonderful.

Here we are at dinner - all blurry with a cell phone camera.  We also spent a day in Park City but I've got to find those pictures!



A Snapshot in Time

Our ward prints a directory of all the families and their contact information . . . and their picture. 

We had been way too s.l.o.w. about sending a picture to Bro. Evensen, the compiler of the directory.

So he showed up one day in our backyard with his camera - he lives just over the back fence - and snapped this photo.  Let's just say that I sent him the photo I wanted to be printed for the world to see just a couple days later.  This one is a  little too much reality for me.  Uncombed hair, play clothes and work clothes, and me with no makeup are just a few things that make me cringe.

But, truth is, it's the way we look.  I'm glad Chris captured it. 

But I'm also glad it didn't get printed in the book.

Govenor's Day

Each year the Utah National Guard has "Govenor's Day."  All the Guard troops turn out to parade for the Govenor and, of course, there are speeches (snooze).  But there are also fun booths, helicopters to peer inside of, tanks to climb on, and food to eat.  So we go. 
(Well, okay, we have to go.)

First Day of School

I have a big problem with my little people growing up.

But, alas, there's nothing I can do about it - so I snap pictures at milestone events . . . 

 and then cry every time thereafter that I look at them. 

My beautiful Maia - starting 4th grade with Mrs. Alston

My darling Cooper - starting 2nd grade with Mrs. Laycock

Park City

Richard and I had the opportunity to go to an Army-sponsored marriage enrichment conference for a weekend in Park City.  We've been before (the classes are always great) but this time we took the little kids.  They hung out in the hotel room and lobby during our meetings, and in our free time we swam in the pool and . . . RODE ON THE ALPINE SLIDE.  So fun.

Maia and Tessa rode up the mountain with Brent & Laurie Anderson

I made sure the little ones were with me . . . so I could remind them to sit back, not swing their legs, and hold still and . . . SIT BACK!  It didn't work.

Those are the four slides that we'll be sledding down.  It's a great ride.

Coop and Maia ready to go.  They were both excited but a little unsure of how much they could trust the brakes on the sled.

Tessa - always a good sport.

Love this one.  I casually mentioned that a picture of the Colonels squished up on tiny sleds ready to go down a slide would be a great piece of art on the wall in Guard Headquarters.

Happy Girl (and I'm not sure why she has her swim shirt under her regular shirt.)

Random Moments

Our 22nd wedding anniversary was on August 1.  We had a nice dinner and then wandered about Thanksgiving Point for a bit.  We didn't have time to go through the gardens, but we stood on the balcony and enjoyed the view.  Maybe next year?

Tessa went to Maddie M.'s birthday party at our neighbor's pool.  Always a fun day when the mix includes water, giggly girls, and birthday cake.

Yankee Meadows

Dutch oven dinners, smoky campfires, playing in the lake, outhouses, catching horny toads, and swatting flies: all part of the fun at Yankee Meadows.

Our family spent a few days camping there before the Robb Family reunion.  (Grandpa Gary Miller's side of the family).  Luckily we got to shower in a hotel room before the big get-together.

Our camping candle - to celebrate Richard's 45th birthday.  Notice Ivy's hand sneaking into the cake box.

Hanging out with her friends

Silly mama's girl

gettin' sleepy before bedtime

Hoping for a prince

Mama and her boy

Maia happily entertained Kaitlyn

Not happy about something!

Completely in his element - dirt, water, rocks, sticks, and dead fish

Smiling in anticipation of a swim back to shore

Ian and Coop - Quite a pair!

Fishing Fun

Still playing in the water

Cute Camper

Coloring with her pet

Camping Cousins

And the big boys

Tessa

Cooper

Maia

More toads but, most importantly, a happy face!

Gurney's Soccer Camp

Our neighbors are superb soccer players.  And, to earn money for their soccer tournaments, they put on a soccer camp each summer for the little ones in the neighborhood.  Ivy was SO THRILLED to be playing soccer.  But, truth be known, she really just wanted the popsicles at break time, and the treat at the end.  And she really liked sitting on her ball watching all the activity around her.  Cooper, on the other hand, loved the running and the kicking and the scoring.

Hogle Zoo

Hmmm, I can't remember why I (the mom) didn't go to Hogle Zoo with everyone else. 

I'm guessing it had to do with the heat, the smell, and the stickiness?

But I'm usually a good sport about that stuff when my kids will have fun, so I'm sure I was sick that day.

At any rate, here are my cute kids at the zoo because their daddy took them.

Annual 5K in Canterbury

Each year our ward does an Independence Day 5K run and breakfast.  I don't know how long it's been going, but I'm pretty sure we slept through the first few.  Or perhaps it started while we were in Boston.  At any rate, this was the first time our family showed. Pretty sure it's 'cause I was on the committee.

We thought it'd be fun to have Ivy participate by driving the Jeep.  I actually thought it was fun, because I was back at the start/finish line taking pictures.  However, Richard thought it was less fun because he was out on the route pushing the Jeep when the battery failed. 

Getting her on the track, ready to go - completely unaware of the upcoming irony.

Won't care less about the irony.  Will have fun anyway.

Ready, Set, Go - Coop's on the right in a fierce stance, waiting for the whistle.

Came in strong . . . after he lightened his load (the Jeep and the girl).

Cousins were there for the day with us.  Jake and Lexi, with Maia and Ivy.