July 17-24 Flaming Gorge

I am just going to throw up alot of our favorite photos from this trip. It was amazing! Yes is rained alot the first few days but we had some fun inbetween the storms. We also created a memory none of us will forget during a major lightning thunderstorm. I guess you just had to be there but we ended up all huddled in our truck with all 6 kids crying because they thought we were going to get struck by lightning. If you get the chance have Matia tell it to you! She is hilarious! So here it goes the photos will give you an idea of how things went.

July 5-10 Brothers Visit

When I was growing up I never imagined a life where my family didn't live close by. We grew up on a farm in the middle of the sticks where all we had was family. We were each others best friends... Of course we are still best friends but it just makes it so hard when we are all so far apart. Kathy in Cedar City, Clint in Seattle and Colt in Minnesota that is not how I imagined it to be when we were little but that is what it is and man it sure makes one fun week when everyone comes into town.

Tuesday Clint, Colt and Kathy all came into town with their families. Clint and Colt staying until Sat and Sun Kathy just for one night. We started it off with a birthday party for little Lucy at my house. It was fun to see my house fill up with friendly family faces but I soon had to leave for the American Fork First Soap Box Derby.

The kids were so excited to race their soap box that they worked so hard to make. It was so much fun seeing all the kids excited to race their creations and the spectators sitting by, and mothers biting their nails hoping their kids wouldn't get hurt.

Bowdee did great, he is a very serious racer who steps up to the ramp with all sorts of butterflies hidden deep within him. He crossed the line at 20.22 with a over all of 6th place. He told me that was the only sport he has played that he really didn't mind losing at all because the thrill of the race was worth every minute of it.

Matia flies down the hill and got all sorts of excited to see her cousins and uncles waving at her cheering her on. So she gives them a cute wave and almost loses control as she crossed the finish line. Then she ends with the first crash into the tires and cardboard boxes with a final time of 20.44.

Wednesday was filled with taking cute Lucy to Build a Bear for her birthday. Which is always a fun activity with a 5 year old. Then to Cafe Rio for lunch with the girls. Of course Cafe Rio is always fabulous especially when you have such great company. Then chilling at the house with all the cousins and family.

Then hustling to the kids 2nd swim meet of the summer. They all had a great swim Bowdee had 2 first place and 1 second place. Matia took 6th, 8th, and 3rd. Treg took 3rd, 2nd and a disqualified Butterfly (which really wasn't very fair). But the best part was all being there together to cheer each other on. All the other family went up the canyons for a nice hot dog roast.

Thursday this was the day of the famous Runway Tea Party. I didn't have the time I would have liked to have this all prepared so I took most of the morning preparing the house for a great Tea Party when you have 8 girls you must have a tea party. So tea party we did with a dress up photo shoot after a nice pampering.

Clint and Colt took some fabulous photos of the girls as they came out strutting their stuff! Then we had dinner here and sent all the kids to mom and dads for the famous cousin sleepover that they all look forward too.

Friday was filled with an innocent game of laser tag. Then off the Timpanogus to hike the cave. The cave was sold out so we opted for Cascade Springs. I have not been there in years so it was so much fun to hike around with my bros and their kids. Not to mention I love to drive American Fork Canyon it soothes my soul!

Saturday Terry, Bowdee and I woke up early to run the AF Steels day 5K. I was so proud of Bowdee for passing me in the last 30 seconds and for me running the whole thing without stopping. Then we rushed home to get Tia and Treg for their half mile race. They both did great Treg took 8th Matia took 6th Bowdee took 5th for their ages.
Then we stayed and watched our friends in the parade, then headed home for a shower then down to the carnival. Bowdee loved the Spinny one that about made me throw up just by watching it. Matia loved he spaceship but loves the classic merry-go-round as well. Treg loved the spaceship as well, but wished he could go on the round the world.

June 30-July 4th (Gooseberry w/ Covingtons)

Last year when we went on this Gooseberry camp out with my parents we had so much fun we decided to make it a yearly tradition. We also had so much fun we decided to invite my whole family to join in on the fun. Well Kyle, Kami and mom and dad were the only ones that were able to make it. Sad that everyone couldn't join in on the fun but we were thrilled to have them come along.

My best part of the whole trip was sitting back watching the cousins just play together. I don't remember then once fighting or disagreeing. They always included everyone that wanted to be included. I loved watching the boys widdle wood, the girls explore the stream and all of them love each other. Its amazing the bond these cousins have with one another. So the plan was to go Fri after work.

However, we were all so excited to get this party started that we left on Thurs. Friday and Saturday were filled with driving the four wheelers around exploring the area. This year it was unique because since it has been such a wet cold year there were many trees fallen over.

In fact Troy had gone camping in the same area just the earlier part of the week and he parked his 4 wheeler on the path to a lake and just as he and his 3 kids got down the path toward the lake a huge 14" round aspen tree fell and landed right on his 4 wheeler!!! Not good he ended up having to hike back to his camp and drive to Salina to borrow a chain saw then head back up cut the tree off his 4 wheeler... By the end of all this drama he decided to just pack it up and head home 2 days early.

We also spent the mid mornings fishing Salina Res. Everyone that had a license caught a fish (many fish in most cases). We experienced the best fishing we have seen in along time. Grandma was thrilled because yes she loves those fish. She even started offering the kids $1.00 for each fish they would catch and clean for her.

So life was good fishing in the morning, four wheeling in the afternoon, and campfire visiting in the evening! Grandma also loves the pixie fires we provide for her. She thinks of them as the Utah Northern Lights. We would talk around the campfire many nights until 1 or 2. Just nice to catchup on our busy lives.

Sunday however, was a complete different adventurous day. You see we wanted to show Kami and Kyle more of the beautiful area and drive over to Fish Lake. We had heard that the road wasn't completely open due to the snow. But we thought we would go check it out in our 3 Diesel trucks and see how far we could go. We came to the first snow bank and Kye checked it out for us. Dad had to pull him out...

So we decided to throw out the sleds and let the kids go sledding in July for a bit, while we made and ate our lunch. Of course Terry had thought to pack the sleds... While we were sledding another group came along and decided they were going to shovel their way through it. So our boys grabbed the shovels we had and within an hour they made their way through to glacier.

We thought since we made it through the worse part that it was free sailing from there on out. It was beautiful and we were glad we pressed forward until we came to a traffic jam of like 6 trucks and a jeep rolled over down the hill. Nobody was hurt even though Terry tried to make our heart stops with a little tease. But in front of the trucks was a mud hole stopping everyone.

We had a little disagreement on whether to keep going or turn around. And the majority decided if we made it this far we need to keep going. So the men threw rocks and branches into the mud hole and we pressed forward. Grandpas truck was the last to go through and it was looking pretty ugly by the time he crossed it. But we made it through and on to Fish Lake it was.

We were thrilled to get out of the Trucks and stretch our legs in the Fish Lake Lodge. Where grandpa treated us all to an ice cream then we sat on the deck and enjoyed each others company. The tension from the drive was released and friendships rekindled.

Then we drove a short way along the lake to find a nice fishing spot. We all unloaded our children, dogs, tackle boxes and poles and headed down to the edge of the lake. Grandpa was the only one to catch a fish but we all gave it our best. And of course just being together is what it is all about anyway.




We all drove down through Salina and back to camp rather then driving the way we came. When we got back to camp we ate simple meals and rested or tired bodies around a nice campfire as the kids played in Kyles condo on wheels. After everything was said and done I think we will look back and remember this day to be filled with memorable moments. Stories that will be told to our families families through out time.







Monday we packed up camp and headed to Salina for a small town 4th of July Celebration. We signed up for the kids Grease pole, bought lots of raffle tickets and played all their booths donating to different groups within the city. Bowdee, Matia, Treg and Tayla did the grease pole... They were the 3rd group but the smallest so all the dollars stuck to the bottom half of the pole were gone. The kids gave it their best and climbed as high as they could. The fire dept gave them each a dollar for trying.

Then at 1:00 began the swimming races. Kami's family decided to head home. And Dad fixed his trailer brakes just in time to watch his grandkids race. They all did great and were thrilled with the quarter they got at the end of their races. The water heater was broken so it was fun to watch because so many kids had their breath taken away when they first got in the water.

But they all loved it when they threw in tons of coins and then blew the whistle for all the kids to jump in and collect as much money as they could. This is always a love/hate event because so many kids get tons of coins and some get none at all. When my kids heard how sad Tayla was about not getting many coins they rushed to split half their money with her. Ya that's a moment where a mother feels like she is teaching her children something right.

So our camping trip was over with a short 2&1/2 hour drive home. It is so nice now that the kids are old enough to help clean out the truck and trailer. I think in less then 1 hour we had everything pretty much cleaned up and back to normal... Besides the leaning tower of dirty clothes in my laundry room :(

Running low on energy we decided a short climb up the ladder to the top of the roof to watch fireworks all around the valley was just the ticket to a memorable 4th of July! I believe this was the first time I have been on our roof. It was steep and unnerving to have all my children up there where I didn't feel like I could help them if I needed to... But it was beautiful and amazing when I focused on the fireworks and not the fear. Thank you to all my family that came to Gooseberry with us. It was a great time, one I will cherish for all my remaining years to come.

June 19-25 Terry's Week

Sunday- was Fathers day so we had planned to go boating however, it was windy and the AF boat harbor road was closed due to the road being washed out by the flooding... So we bagged boating and we headed to Grantsville to wish Terrys grandpa Hager, and dad a happy fathers day. We stopped at the Beehive home first to visit Grandpa. He is doing great still wanting to go back home. He did fall yesterday and hit his poor eye on the dresser and hurt his back. So he wasn't as "Happy" as he usually is.

Then we headed to Terry's dads house to visit him. He is doing so great after his surgery. You see last week on Tuesday he had his prostate removed due to cancer. We went to visit him that day and then the next morning he was headed home. He is doing AMAZING! I have to say I am so thankful for all the technology we have these days to catch cancer in its early stages. The visit we had with them was great!

Of course we couldn't just go home so we went to the Grantsville reservoir to try some fishing. Troys family was out there with us so the kids were playing more then fishing but as long as they were having a good time is all we cared about. We didn't catch anything and headed home. Terry thank you for being such a wonderful father to our kids. They are so lucky to have you in their lives! THANK YOU!

Monday- Since we were not able to wish my dad a happy fathers day yesterday, I invited him over for dinner tonight. I made one of Terry's favorite which is Alice Spring Chicken. I have to say my dad is amazing! He is so full of love, energy and spirit. He truely cares for and enjoyes every minute he spends with my children which shows how he loves me. Thanks Dad for always being so amazing!








Tuesday- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TERRY!!! What an amazing husband I have! Everyday he continues to shock me at the many talents he has. I feel bad for him almost because he can do so many things himself it puts more pressure on the boy. He never feels like he can justify paying someone to fix his car... Since he can do it. Repairs on the house, sprinklers, basement upgrades, building, everything... I just never have to worry because I have so much faith in him. Thank you Terry for being the man you are and being in my life... I love you so much! Just think one more year and you will be an old man. So you better really enjoy this year.

Wednesday- First swim meet of the season! So the kids did a fabulous job on their first swim meet of the season. Bowdee did the 200 IM and the 100 Butterfly which he set new summer records for both. Then he took first in the 100 Breast. Amazing swimmer he is. Matia did great on her 50 free, 50 Breast and 50 Fly. She really really didn't want to do the 50 Fly but she did it for me... Good job Tia. Treg did the 50 free, 25 Breast and 25 Fly. He took 1st on 2 of them and 3rd on the other. We love the competition and time to spend with each other.

Saturday- I was looking on the Steel Days website for information about the 5K. When I read "Soap Box Race" what is that" Terry about flipped out "What are you serious? Where, When tell me all about it." So needless to say I printed all the information out and after playing the Bill Cosby Go Cart clip for us he headed for the garage followed by his 3 little ones... They spent the rest of the weekend (which was supose to be a 3 hour project) building this soap box. Tuesday is the inspections so we had to get it all completed by then. What do we do with these men once they get an idea in their heads??? I will tell ya... the only way to get it out of their head is by letting them do it. And being as supportive as you can along the way. I may complain but in reality I couldn't think of a better way to spend the windy weekend with him in the garage teaching the kids all about building a soap box!

Best Friends of all time.

Growing up on a farm we always had a pet dog as part of the family. They were good dogs some of our best friends. Honey (German Shepard, Husky Mix) and Nicky (Collie) were the 2 I remember as I was a small child. I remember them both being very loyal, loving and fabulous friends for us kids.

We also had a black lab named Penny who was a fabulous and very athletic dog. She was a great mink catcher, when the mink would get out she would catch them and pin them to the ground without hurting them. Then my brothers or dad would take the mink from her and return them to their pen. I don't have the original photo of Penny but this is what I remember her looking like. I remember the day my neighbor shot him while we were at church and only fatally wounded her. That was a hard day!

Then as I turned 8 my dad bought me a dog named Jenny she was a great dane and man did she get BIG. But I loved her so much and she loved me just the same. I don't have an original photo of her but this is what I remember her to look like. Jenny had a heart attack is what the vets said because she grew so fast her heart couldn't keep up with her. She was 2 years old.

Then I got a little older like kids always do... And we got a new family dog named Buffy. This was our first "little dog" she was a little poodle that was fun for us girls to tote around with us every where we went. But Buffy got old and grumpy and had to go live with an older lady more her style.

Then we moved into the "City" and Kami and I became teenagers. I don'tknow if this was just coincidence or very well thought through from a father with 2 daughters going throught the teenage years. But dad brought home a red doberman pincer named Missy. She was a great dog. I was amazed at how loving these dobermans were. We loved her so much we got another doberman named Jake.

Missy got hit by a UPS truck, the truck didn't even dare get out of the truck he just left her in the road. That was a hard hard day for me. So it was Jake who was left to protect us girls. That lasted for a while until all our boyfriends found out how loving he was then the didn't get to afraid of him anymore. Well shortly after I met Terry, we believe Jake had a heart attack. We found him resting peacefully in the back yard.

Then I got married and moved away. I didn't feel an urge to even get a dog because Terry and I were very busy... Well I thought that was the reason but looking back I really believe I was afraid of the day my new friend would leave me. You see I have never dealt well with death wether it was a person, farm animal or my dear pets. But shortly after I was married Kyle brought home the cutest chocolate lab puppy I have ever seen, and he named him "Timber". I can still remember Timbers puppy love. It's not hard to forget because he never lost that puppy bounce of course as he aged his bounce was not as strong or big but whenever we would come home he would bounce right up to us like he did the day Kyle adopted him. Another thing that is so special about Timber is he was the strong and silent type so full of love. When he was a puppy Kyle was teaching him to fetch and he was SO good at it.Kyle through a stick and he caught it but it jabbed into the ground and down his throat ruining his voice box. Never to bark again he would grumble or groan but no barks. I truely feel that we were Timbers true family, he was not our pet but we were his family. June 19 Timber passed away he was 99 years old in dog years. He was nearly blind and his hips hurt him so bad he could barely climb the steps to get into the house. He was loosing control of his bowel and we believe he had cancer... Yet even the last time I visited him he bounced right up to me to give me loves. Yes his bounce was slow and painful but so full of love. Kyle thank you for sharing Timber with all of us. And Timber your the most loving dog I have ever met... until next time my big buddy... I love you.

I guess if I am mentioning all our family dogs I must mention our "Crazy Maggie". Maggie is a head case who is often confused. When we all grew up and had families of our own my mom felt like she needed a "lap dog" so Kami and I found Maggie and took her home to our mom. Maggie had a hard life before my mom and now my mom is her comfort. Maggie has been great for my kids before we got Dash. I know the Grandkids all enjoy babysitting her.