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.

June 5-11 *Summertime*

The first week of summer is always a trick for me. It takes me about one week to adjust to the new schedules. I plan a whole new chore chart for the kids during the summer and this usually takes some time. Then I like to go through all the kids rooms and closets to remove fall clothes that don't fit and school items we won't be needing anymore. I also use this time to plan our summertime fun. So this is how the first week of our summer went.Monday 6, we spent all morning long figuring chores and doing them. The kids always think it is torcher that I make them do homework everyday. But Bowdee this year said he was so glad I make them do it so that he is still smart when he goes back to school. That felt nice that someday they just might appreciate the torcher I am putting them through now. Then at 1:30 they had their first swim practice of the year. Then after swimming, it was time for Bowdee to start packing for his spacecamp adventure. In P.G. they have a spacecamp in a school where kids can go and do a mock space adventure in these cool ships. Then they get to sleepover with their friends. He was so excited and he loved every minute of it. Although it was really weird for us to have him gone all night. He went on this wonderful adventure with Izak, Jonah, Annie and Adi all which are his best friends for a very long time.

Tuesday 7, What a wonderful day. Today is my brother-in-law Mikes birthday. I just have to give Mike a shout out. Mike has always been such a wonderful brother to me. He has loved me like I was his own sister since I was like 10. He has always been to the major events in my life and honestly I don't think one birthday has gone by that he has not called, wrote or somehow expressed how much he loves me. Mike you are an amazing person. Thank you for everything you have done for me and my sister in this life. She could not have married a better man. I love ya!

When Bowdee came home it was obvious he did not sleep well. But he was so excited it didn't really matter. I love seeing how happy he was to be with his friends. Bowdee I hope you continue to always choose good friends. Then Matia had a baseball game which she did pretty well she got on base both hits which was GREAT because the other team was really good. Then we shuffled Tia off to her dance and headed to Bowdee's Baseball game as fast as possible. Right as we were pulling up Bowdee's assistant coach called us and said we just missed Bowdee's home run. There were 2 boys on base and he hit the fence and ran them all home. And of course we barely missed it. His team still hasn't had a win, but they sure try hard.

Wednesday 8, This is the day we take off of swim team and we go play as a family. I woke up early and ran 4 miles with my sister to get my workout out of the way. Then we hussled with our chores then we hit the Shelley library for new books, down to Fat Cats for free bowling, over to Nickle City for some fun, to Arbys for some lunch, to Poco Loco for some swimming supplies then skipped the movie because it didn't start soon enough and back to AF. Drop Bowdee off at his friends to take him to another Baseball game, then to the church for Activity Days, as soon as that was over back to Bowdee's baseball game then home for dinner. I know it sounds like alot but we all loved it and we slept really good that night.

Thursday 9, I woke up and realized something was very wrong. My throat was on fire, I took a drink of water to put it out and that just made it worse. So I went to look at it and found it was BRIGHT RED with some white patches down it. It wasn't just that though I hurt all over like I got hit with the worse flu ever. I was in denial and fought it for most of the morning. Then I finally gave in and went to the Dr. Yep it was Strep alright. He gave me the option of a shot or pills. I took the shot of what seemed like peanut butter, shot all the way down to the bone the needle was so long which hurt but I felt so sick it didn't even matter. Got some popsicles and headed back to my bed. That was all I remember of that day. Matia did knock out Tregs other front tooth last night playing football, then he did have a baseball game tonight that Terry took him to.

Friday 10, Matia had her dance dress rehersal so since I still didn't feel the best rolled out of bed and got her ready then my friend Stacy took her for me so I wouldn't have to go sit through that. Then my friend Amy took the kids to swim team for me so I could rest some more and by 5:00 I was feeling pretty good. So we went on a double date with the Callaways. And we let the kids all play while we were gone. When we came back we headed outside and enjoyed a little campfire. I am s thankful for all these wonderful friends in my life.

Saturday 11, Treg had baseball practice in the morning and then at 2:00 was Matia's Dance Recital. She has worked for about 6 months on this dance and she did such a great job. Terry and I just love watching her dance! My mom and dad also came to watch which is fun to have them there. They danced to "Friends by Toy Story" and a song from Tangled. She did fabulous and loved the trophy she got at the end of it. We also got her flowers and took her to Olive Garden to eat. I guess we are trying to bribe her to keep dancing. Which is fine we will do what we need to do to keep her loving it. Because right now she does it because Terry makes her. Then spending abot 4 more hours dewinterizing the boat and burning up the impeller we threw in the towel and went to our friends Claytons house for BBQ and visiting with friends. We stayed until about 10:30 but we loved every minute of it.

May 31- June 4th - 15 Year Anniversary

"You Make My Heart Skip!"
May 31st, 15 years ago today I married my best friend. Through the last 15 years we have built 2 houses, earned Terry's Bachelors Degree, had 3 beautiful children, suffered a painful miscarriage, started a successful preschool, endured 4 different lay offs, and even though the last 15 years has been alot harder then I could have ever imagined it could be it has been more rewarding then any other time in my life.







"I have"
I am so thankful to have Terry in my life and to know that he has my back and he loves me through all my weaknesses! Terry I am so thankful that we enjoy the same things in life. That we don't just love each other that we "Get" each other. You understand me better then anybody else. And I have a pretty good understanding of you and who you are. And because we believe in and enjoy the same things we make a great couple. Thanks again babe for everything you are to me. Happy Anniversary! I also believe I have loved you forever and I am so glad we found each other just in time.


Once again Tues, Wed, Thurs, and Friday all blurred together with baseball games every night. We did find out that all 3 kids will be doing swim team again this summer. And I spent my days preparing for my summer days to be filled with adventures with my children. I love summertime. I love these precious long days with my kiddos.

So Friday was the last day of school. Every night I ask the kids their bestest and worstest and all of the kids said the same thing. Their bestest was it being the last day of school. But their worstest was it being the last day of school. I am so glad I have kids that love school as much as they hate it. After school we celebrated with friends, freetime to do anything they wanted, and of course snow cones!

Saturday, my really good friend Amy insisted on taking the kids for the weekend so Terry and I could go celebrate our anniversary. So where else can you go that will give you free rooms, $60.00 free gambling money, and a perfect 1&1/2 hour drive not too expensive in gas but long enough to enjoy our long getting to know you better talks. No where that we have found offers this but Wendover. So yes we left for the night to go dancing, penny slotting, and relaxing in the company of just each other. Thanks Amy, your the BOMB!

May 22-28th Yellowstone FINALLY!

May 22nd is a special day in my life. This is my mom's birthday. My mom is an amazing person. She has so much strength and courage. We share alot of the same loves in life. She never judges anyone for the things they do. I love the comfort I feel just by being near her. I feel like I can tell her anything and she will somehow understand. I love you mom! I sure missed you when you were in Hawaii.
Then Monday, Tues, and Wed where such a blur. Filled with all 3 kids baseball games, practices, scouts, dance, activity days, and packing for Yellowstone. To me baseball isn't as fun to watch as soccer is. But I still love watching my kids do their best and learn the sport.











Thursday we finished packing and headed out right directly into the storm. We almost didn't go because of the weather but I am so glad we did. We left Dash with Troy and his girls and squished all 7 of us into our Sierra. This is the trip we like to do yearly but missed it the last 2 years. So we spent the first night in West Yellowstone at the Days Inn.
The pool was so full of teenagers we skipped swimming that night and figured we would hit it early in the morning. We did eat at Gushers Pizza and then sat around listening to Grandma's Hawaii experiences as the snow gently covered the ground through the night.
Friday the kids (Dad, Terry, Bowd, Tia, and Treg) all went swimming while mom and I went to check out the roads in Yellowstone and Movie times. We found out they closed Yellowstone until about 12:00 because of all the ice. So we checked out of the hotel and went to enjoy the IMax movie of Yellowstone.
After we picked out rocks and souvenirs and headed to Mammoth. We spotted 2 bears and some amazing wildlife sites. Of course it was snowing on and off all day. So we just enjoyed the amazing sites Yellowstone has to offer from the comfort of our truck.
Saturday we went to go into Lamar Valley to check out the wolves and Grizzly w/ Cubs feeding on a carcass when the road was closed due to a rock slide. DANG! So we about faced and headed back to Mammoth. The boys went to the museum watching movies and browsing trying to kill time for the road to open (which it never did). While the girls went shopping.
Then when we decided it wasn't going to open we went for a drive down to Hayden Valley. We saw more Grizzlies up close and by the road. They were amazing and so fun to watch. I was also thrilled to find a Grizzly bear since this was the one thing Treg really wanted to see on this trip.
Sunday we took our time driving through the park down to Jackson. We also stopped at the mud pots and geysers for Bowdee. The Grand Canyon waterfall was hidden by a thick layer of cold frost in the air. When we stopped at West Thumb we saw an amazing Coyote in the parking lot.
Since we didn't see Bowdee's Wolf we were excited to see one of his cousins. Tia was still on the lookout for her moose and we were all relieved when we found a lone moose at Grant Village. Then we saw another moose along the Snake just outside of the Grand Tetons.
We made it to Jackson in time to do a little shopping for Bowdee and Tregs last souvenir and then to Bubba's for dinner. After dinner which took a little longer then we liked we hit the pool. It was nice and warm in the pool but oh how the rain was cold outside. This was the first year since we started this tradition that my mom felt well enough to get in and play with us. I can't tell you how valuable this memory is to me. I loved every minute of it.
Monday morning I took the kids to play in the game room while Terry cooked us an awesome tailgate breakfast of english egg and sausage mcmuffins. Then we cleaned up and headed home. Nobody was excited to have our exciting vacation over but we will cherish our memories created forever! Thank you mom and dad for the wonderful experiences you shared with us. It was an amazing vacation even if it snowed everyday and never got over 45 degrees!