TRIAL LAKE 2011

I have to say that Trial Lake or any lake in the Uinta's for that matter, takes me back to when I was dating THIS guy.
Our campground
We took a little camping trip bc school starts in a week and the kids have been asking to go. I have to admit I was a little hesitant. Camping isn't what it used to be now that I'm a mommy. So when I hear the words "Lets go camping!" What it really sounds like is "Let's go pack our whole house, get it all super dirty and give mom LOTS of work to do!"
But I have to say, It was just what the Dr. ordered. It was BEAUTIFUL. My kids were HAPPY. My husband was in his ELEMENT. {not his car} And I found the PEACE I had forgotten that I feel when I'm up there.




We went fishing!



THEY went swimming..It was FREEZING!!
Puddy can't decide if he should swim. half way in..
Scott braved the cold
Brrrrrrr..
And when you gotta go, you gotta go..
Puddy aka Ding Dong, swimming..Or should we call it splashing..
I wonder if he is imagining being a secret agent or something..
Braids
Pig Tails

Boys don't need much to be entertained. But who knew that a cut off fish head could possibly be the best thing they have played with in a long time..

Add a pocket knife and they are lost for hours in their dissecting glory..
First things first, remove the eyeball...


How awesome is it that a quick little jaunt to our Mountains can offer such a great experience and a perfect getaway with my little family. I'm so blessed.

Gratitude

I've been thinking about gratitude.


I'm grateful for a husband that is kind and good. I'm grateful for kids who are curious, happy, and healthy.

I'm grateful for family that I call my friends and for friends that I call my family.

I'm grateful for my kids friends, whom of some I also call family.

I'm grateful for my neighbors who care about my kids. And about my home.

I'm grateful for the goodness that is in the world. For the simple things. For the hard things.

I'm grateful for laughter. And for smiles. I'm grateful for hugs {yes hugs} and for love.

I'm grateful for people. All kinds of people and for all that I learn from watching them and talking to them.

I'm grateful for beauty. For nature. For seasons. For freedom.

I'm grateful for health. So grateful for health.

I know this is cliche' and I know you are grateful for all the same things. I just had to express it. I had to tell you that I'm grateful for you. {awwwww...} But it's true. Thank YOU.

good intentions.

So awhile back I talked about things that annoy/bug/embarrass me about the Mormon culture?? Well I have something to add to the list. And maybe I'm totally wrong about this being a Mormon thing but It just has so much sap that it has to be.

There is this thing called friendship bread..Its when someone brings you a 1/2 a bag of dough with some instructions and a few sample pieces of the finish product. You are supposed to add an ingredient to the bag everyday for like a week or something and then bake it and pass the "favor" along. I personally think this is the most ANNOYING thing. If I wanted to bake bread, I would bake bread! If I wanted to share it, I would share it! But don't bring me a ziploc bag of 1/2 the ingredients of a loaf of bread that is going to take a week to finish, and THEN expect me to drive around the neighborhood with a big smile on my face passing out 1/2 filled ziploc bags to other people! I refuse to ask anyone else to take part in this mundane chore. I understand the "point" of it. But really, don't we have enough other stuff to do?

Then there is this other thing that makes me absolutely crazy too. Its called "boo"ing or "cupid"ing or "elf"ing or whatever other lame thing we can think of do "ing" Its when every holiday someone anonymously brings you a treat with a note attatched to it that says "You've been Booed" {read the above note for instructions on what to do next. If you ask me, the people that started this tradition are just plain bored. And if you really have the need to do something nice for people, I'm sure there are 100 other ways to do it instead of making someone else continue your lame attempt to do "good."

So if you feel the need to bring me "friendship" bread, or you think it would be cute to "Boo" me, just know that the chain ends there.

Pinewood Derby 2

See the White one that looks like an Ipod?? That's Oliver's car. The thing about high expectations is, there is always room for disappointment. Oliver's little heart was beating so fast as he waited for the excitment of the District race to begin. But after the 2nd time his car came down the track without a win, he knew it was over. The look on his sad little face was heartbreaking.

And then came the tears..

And then came the looking forward to the future where thoughts of Pinewood derby Glory 2012 are surely going to change this ill fate.

PINEWOOD DERBY GLORY!!

A few weeks ago, Grandpa told Oliver how he always built "winner" pinewood derby cars, so when it came time to make Oliver's car last Saturday, there was NO way he was going to let Grandpa off the hook with building his car. Oliver was convinced that every secret Grandpa told him was for sure going to make his car the winner.
Scott, Grandpa and I were a little bit worried that these high expectations were not going to be met! But needless to say..Grandpa's... I mean Scott's..I mean OLIVER'S car took FIRST PLACE!

This was taken after he had won 3 of the 4 races. I'm not sure what Grandpa is saying right now, but I do know this..It needed to be whispered. Which tells me it was something like "Our car is the best one here Oliver, all of these other little boys are just losers!" {there seems to be a competitive nature in little boys..of all ages The Pit Crew..We're #1!! {not sure who is happier}

And the first place trophie with all of its Pinwood derby GLORY!

{I do know one thing..next year could get ugly}

BLACK FRIDAY HELL!! or not???

There is a reason I have always avoided Black Friday. I don't like shopping. I can't stand crowds, and I think it is absolutely ridiculous that people put themselves into a frenzy over "stuff." Then about a week 1/2 ago my sister in law Erin called me. She asked me if I wanted to go with her to the madness. You see, there was a pretty pricey item on sale for a great deal that both of us needed {wanted} to get from our children's Santa wish list. Crap. Now I'm torn. Do I go fight the crowds to save some money? Certainly I'm in NO position to not try to save some dollars whenever possible. But is it really worth staying up all night? Putting myself not only in the position of shopping madness, but also in the my least favorite nightmare store..Walmart? I told her I needed to think about it. I guess I always knew that I would end up going, the guilt of saving that money would get to me and I knew this, but I gave it my best effort of fighting it.

Now picture this: We get there, Erin has list and game plan in hand..{mom and Cam are both there too.} We send them to the line for the item that we both came for in the first place and Erin and I take off to see the games that are on sale for $7.00. Which by the way, really is a smokin' good deal on these particular games...Erin takes me back to where we stand and wait to grab..We have to wait until midnight to grab but see people start crowding around these items two hours ahead of time. I asked Erin how you do it, she says "as soon as they say GO, you grab whatever it is you are wanting and you do it as fast as you can bc it will be gone in seconds." Well I feel the pressure start to build..I'm checking out the cart of stuff and I see nothing that I wanted. We ask the Walmart employee {guard of all items} where these other items are and he says "watch the backroom door, they will bring out a new bin in a bit." So our eyes are on the door..Suddenly it opens and out rolls the cart..I ran over to it, spotted the items I was looking for, Score! BUT I soon realized they only put out FOUR of each item!! With all of the people wanting the same thing, and they really only put out FOUR of them??!! I was mad!! I felt tricked!! But I stood guard over them for the next hour 1/2. I knew that what I was doing was ridiculous, but as the minutes passed I found myself getting some sort of crazy adrenaline rush..my heart was pounding..suddenly those items were a NEED not a want..And I was going to grab them first. NOTHING or NO ONE was going to stop me. I began to think crazy things like "if that lady who is eyeing this item even DARES to grab it, she WILL regret the day she crossed me!" I was like a wild beast protecting her young. I knew the logic of the situation. I realized the ridiculousness of it, but I couldn't help myself..The more people that swarmed in around me, the more I KNEW I HAD TO HAVE IT AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO STOP ME! I was as nervous as could be. Erin and I texted back and fourth to each other at our own posts while the anxiety was rising.. I started to realize there was no way that I was going to be able to grab the item on the bottom shelf and be able to grab the item on the top shelf also. I would have to make a choice..I couldn't bear it, so I created a game plan with the lady next to me. I told her I would grab her item on top if she hunched down and grabbed my item on the bottom.. It was genius! I was thinking, "I am so smart, none of these Walmartians will outsmart me!" Finally the time came! I heard "GO!" I grabbed my items plus hers, she grabbed her items plus mine..I was so quick that I realized I still could grab more if I wanted to! No ONE had been as quick as me! So I grabbed two other things just because and took off running out of the way of the other mental patients. Phew!! I DID IT!! I GOT THEM ALL!! EVERYTHING I WANTED! I WAS AMAZING!! I found Erin and as I showed her my amazing score, I found my hands were shaking!! Shaking from the crazy adrenaline rush! It was purely primal instinct at its finest!

Well needless to say, after an all night bender, we got exactly what we came for! It was a total success and we were amazing! Will I do it again you ask??? Well, it would have to be a big item again. I would never go to save a few bucks on small items. But I was able to get my big item, plus five other items for the price of the big item not on sale. So did I feel it was worth it? YES. Sadly..Yes I did.

Thirteen!!

Thirteen!!
It's such a pink, pretty, innocent, world at your feet, happy, bubbly, birthday candles, and wishes, crushes on boys, toilet papering is so much fun, slumber parties are the best, colored pens, "I"s dotted with hearts, fingernail polish, lipgloss, music, dancing, jumping on your bed in slippers, giggles, teen magazines, butterflies, long phone calls, braces, curls, shopping, frozen yogurt, teenage, bubblegum, happy, loveable age for a girl...

My wish for you Senekah, is that you realize, enjoy, and hang on to this age for all of its beauty, excitment and promise.. Happy Birthday my beautiful little girl!! I LOVE YOU!!