First day of school

I am really, really behind on my posts. First day of school! First 2 weeks have passed and everyone is loving it. Ellie wears her backpack every time we go to drop off and pick the boys up. She is really lonely around the house during the day so we try to find thing for her to do.
Keaton is in 4th grade, Andrew- 2nd grade and Owen is Kindergarten.

Do you see her little silver teeth? Yep, my daughter is a pirate. A cute pirate. At least that is what her little friend Jack says.

Colorado

Every year Lance's family goes to Colorado over the 4th of July week. Lance's father was raised in the Rico/Dolores, Colorado area and it is just amazingly beautiful. Lance's grandparents Bob and Mary Snyder still live there. So every year there is a chance to go and visit with them. Service projects and so many fun family activities.
Everyone tries to go. It is just little kid heaven up there. I guess I could almost say it was heaven for me too. That is huge coming from my mouth too. Anyone who knows me knows that.
It started off with my driving myself and all my littles by myself to Utah and then following everyone to Colorado. I had worked up a lot of courage and guts to do the big girl thing and just go. So I finally decided to do it. My kids would love it and I was hoping that I would love it too.
Lance surprised us by leaving work for the week and jumping on board with us. So we all went. Can I just say it was one of the best weeks I have had on vacation! It was so great!!! My kids loved every minute of it.

Grandma and Grandpa Snyder literally live off the land. They are so sweet and live so humbly and there is just a sweet reverence when you go there. There are many work projects to do and we were ready for all of it.

Some of the gang camped out. Some of us, rented a cabin and we survived. I don't do the tent thing. We rented a little cabin that was suppose to sleep 7 but we got stuck with a little bungalow that was only suppose to sleep 3. So the kids got the beds, because we wanted them to sleep. Lance and I traded between the recliners in the kitchen or the cot that folded out. We really did it. Looking back on it now I just laugh. It wasn't funny at the time but we did it and the kids actually slept really well.

Every day was play day. They went canoeing, paddling in the boat on the pond to making a fortune on Grandma Bucks. Grandma Snyder invented this amazing program where if all the grandkids did certain jobs around the place like helping clean up, cooking meals and other clean up projects, they would earn money to spend in the Grandma Store. All the kids went crazy over this and you could hear kids constantly asking "What can I do to help out?" It was a marvelous idea! Got everyone working and playing so nicely together.

My kids really do have the cutest cousins ever. They all played well. They made memories and now every year this will be a fun new tradition.

There were a ton of highlights but a few that were the most memorable to me was our ride to Silverton, Colorado. Grandpa S. told of an old rough road that they used to travel growing up that went up and over a pretty steep mountain that only took an hour instead of 3 going on the highway. So we loaded up all the grandkids and some adults to supervise in the back of Grandpa's truck and we had our suburban. We followed each other up to the base of the mountain and planned out what we were going to do. The kids were all together signing and having a grand time. Grandma came prepared with snacks and we followed comfortably in our car hoping that Hayden would take a nap on the bumpy ride up the mountain.

They weren't kidding when they said bumpy and straight up the mountain. I was pretty nervous going up the mountain on a small dirt road in our car. Sure going in a 4x4 up the mountain is one thing but in our suburban but it made it. Just as we were about to make it over the summit Grandpa blew two tires. What????? Change of plans. So all the kids hoped out and the guys changed the tires. Only problem is there was only one spare tire. So about 30 of us crammed into our suburban. It was really, really crazy but so much fun. Our car lost the new smell and look that day. Oh well.
We finally made it down into Silverton, Colorado. A small town nestled in the most beautiful mountains. We had packed lunches for the kids and the guys dropped all of us moms and our kids off at a little park next to a library so they could go get the tires fixed for the truck.

So imagine 5 moms and about 20 kids over taking this small town. Once we had lunch we all went into the little cute library that looked like an old Victorian church. Our family overtook the entire place. But the cute little librarians were very understanding and let us make all the noise we wanted.
Afterwards we traveled on down to the train station. The train was too long and too much to carry us all so we just waited there to see the train and get on and take pictures. The kids had a great time.
Before heading back up the mountain we stopped to get some hamburgers, French fries and ice cream for everyone.

 

They we started our journey back over the mountain. It wasn't nearly has bad going down then it was going up for me. It was doable and Hayden slept. So it was a good trip. We made it back to the Ranch.
Then on one other night we took a 2 hour drive into Durango, Colorado. There is a lot of cool places to see there. One of those places was the Bar D Ranch. Awesome place if you ever get a chance to go. It is an old western experience complete with shops, playground area and a huge BBQ dinner and entertainment for everyone. The food was amazing and the entertainment. That was the best part. There were 4 older gentlemen that had amazing voices and a lot of class. They also had all the kids dancing and laughing so hard they were crying. They sang a song that was close to Old McDonald had a farm instead they called it- Old Matt Palmer had a misfit farm. I was dying. Funniest song I have ever heard. An older man, grandpa age was playing the bass sang it and he was so funny. There were were asmatic horses, narcoleptic pigs, dyslexic sheep and other animals. Funny so funny!!!!
We will be going back there again with our kids. They really enjoyed it!

I think this was the first summer in a really long time where we really had a great time, no one got sick and everyone got along. It was so much fun for me as well. I got to see my sisters-in-law in a different light and they have become some of my best friends.
Since we spent the 4th of July there. The small town of Rico, Colorado held a great parade. The kids loved it! It was actually 10 x's better than our town parade. It was warm but we stayed cool with snow cones and thanks to Rashelle, an umbrella.

It didn't stop there. So we headed back to Utah on a Saturday afternoon thinking we would stay overnight and they head back to Boise the next morning. Well the kids and all the cousins talked us into staying another week in Utah to play. Lance had to get home to work and so he took our car home Sunday night (on my birthday) and we had mom and dad's house all to ourselves for a few days. My kids were in cousin heaven. I was so relaxed and stress free. We had a whole week to play and do nothing really but have a good time.
The Mason clan. Aren't they just a sharp looking family? ( Lance's older sister Shauna.)

Well the second night we were there and after I put all the kids to bed, my sister-in-law Sharlene called me over. No picture in your mind an awesome new subdivision built up against the mountains just south of the BYU campus and my in-laws all live next to each other. They all built their homes next to each other. My in-laws (Lance's parents) built their home with a daylight basement which is a whole house and the top is rented out to a sweet gal who lives there. They bought the lot right next door and seeded that and it is a beautiful lot nicely landscaped for all the grandkids and family to gather, eat and play ball. That is where we do all our family gatherings. Then the lot right next to that is Tom and Sharlene and their 4 kids. Right across the street from them in another brother Paul and his wife Lesa and their 4 kids plus another one on the way in November. Paul is the BYU Raquetball coach so he built a court in his home so the kids love to go over there and play.

So back to my story- Sharlene called me over and had the bad news- Kali her oldest daughter who is 12 had lice. This was bad news. So the entire week we spent nit picking, literally every morning and every night on all the kids and even us. Glad to report that no one else got lice but we had to sanitize everyone and everything that week. Glad I was around to help out.
It was really hard to leave but by about day 6 my kids were not sleeping well and I wasn't sleeping well. Like they say, "There's no place like hom!" It's true.
What a great trip we had!!! Can't wait to do it all again next year!!!!!

Sister's Retreat 2014

Well we did it! We actually did it!!! We all found a weekend that worked and all 10 of us met up. My sister-in-law Jaclyn hosted it this year in Acworth, Georgia. She was a great host too! They opened their homes, their family life and everything to all of us. It was so much fun too! Can I just tell you that I married into an amazing family. I love them all dearly!
On Monday July 21st I flew out by myself to Chicago, IL to be with Carrie and John and their sweet kids. It had been a really, I mean really long time since I had that much free time to myself and boy o boy I loved it! I think every mom deserves that. But to be honest after the first day I did start to feel homesick for Lance and my kids. Crazy ha?
My plane arrived around 2 p.m in Chicago and the Snyders were all their to pick me up. They were such a cute site. John drove us around to see bits and pieces of Chicago. Crazy. I have never really been in a place where I was the minority. This was my first taste. It was different. Things and places I have only seen in movies. This was the real deal.
We spent the first day at their sweet home and just visited. It was so fun to catch up with them. We ate lots, went for walks down Millionaire avenue and played. Oh I forgot to mention SHOP!! Gotta shop! We made a few trips to Home Depot so we could plant some flowers around their little home so it would brighten things up. You know me and flowers.
The next day we ventured out into Downtown Chicago. Holy smokes!!! Crazy place! Exciting place. A very sad place.
John introduced me to the Park Me app so we could find an affordable place to park. We finally found one. Super ghetto. We had to pull up in front of a rusted shed and a spray painted sign that read Honk for service. So we pulled up. We honked. Nothing happened so John pulled up closer and almost rammed the door. We honked again and slowly the door started to rise. I think we were all alittle nervous when it was pitch black inside and the only way you could drive was straight down. So down we went until we came to a little car garage where a man who was just about as dark as night standing there telling us to get out so he could park the car. We all looked at each other wondering what in the world were we doing here. Rest assured it was all legit. The gentleman parked our car and we headed back up into daylight and explore the city.

We had Brantly and Evelyn with us. They were super troopers. They did fantastic.
I have always heard about Sears Tower and have always wanted to go and stand on the glass ledge that overlooks the city. We finally found the building and headed up to the 40th floor. By the time we got there we found out the cost to stand on that little ledge and decided that $120 for all of us to see it just wasn't worth it so we went back down. The kids loved the elevator ride so that was worth it.
We walked and walked and walked. We explored and explored some more. I think next time in order to see the city we will find a babysitter for the kids and rent bikes so we can move faster.
I had seen homeless people before. Plenty on my mission but this was unbelievable. There were everywhere. We stopped into McDonalds to get some ice cream cones for the kids because they were hot and as we were sitting there eating there was this little old African American women just sitting on the corner crying. I sat there and watched her. Where was her family to help take care of her? So Brantly and I bought a prepaid card for the women to come back a few times and have a free meal. Brantly and Evelyn were the ones that went up to her and gave it to her. It was a very sweet moment.
Thursday morning came and it was time for Carrie and I to fly to Georgia and meet up with all the other sisters. Carrie was on standby and her flight didn't leave until 6 that evening so our plans kinda changed. I flew out at 8 and arrived in Atlanta around noon. I met up with my mother-in-law Sharon who happened to be there the same time I did. It was so fun to find each other.
After what seemed like hours trying to find our way around the largest airport I have ever been in we finally found the car rental place. We rented a car and then navigated our way to Acworth. Not too bad. A huge rain storm kinda slowed things down but we made it.
Everyone arrived! All 10 of us together! It was so much fun.

Lee made some delicious BBQ rib dinner for all of us. It was fun to sit around the table and just talk, laugh and just catch up.
We got to pick our rooms. I felt like I was in college again. We were all split up into two rooms and we stayed up until 3-4 a.m each night just talking and laughing. Seriously laughing so hard. I loved every minute of it!!!!! Such amazing sisters.

We went and say several history sites. That place as full of beautiful places. I wish we had more time to go and see it all. I guess I will just have to go back. I fell in love with Marietta. It was beautiful. I told Lance that we should move there. So green and so beautiful. It was my first time I have ever seen a fire fly. Each evening we would sit out on Lee and Jaclyn's covered patio and you could see them fly and glow. Pretty cool.

One night we went to Henry's Louisiana Grill. I hate seafood! I hate the smell and I hate the taste. I guess the word hate is pretty strong but that is how I feel about it. I ordered chicken to be on the safe side. Everyone ordered something fishy or spicy. Fun to see everyone's meals. My sister in law Lesa ordered oyster pasta and she had never tried one. I was so grossed out but they all dared me to try one so I did. Disgusting!! The texture was horrible. It didn't taste fishy at all but the texture was too much for me. I tried it though and I consider myself brave for doing that.

The weekend went by too fast and it was time to say goodbye. Can't wait to do it again in 2016. Love them all!!!!

FHE on Lake Lowell

This afternoon we got a call from Bishop Wheelock wanting to know if we wanted to join them this evening for a night out on the lake. We are always up for that. So we got everyone and everything ready so we could be to their home by 4. The kids were so excited. Lance took them to the store to buy them their own life jackets since there wasn't that many that would be readily available especially for kids as young as mine.
We went out to Lake Lowell. I was born and raised here in the Star/Eagle area and I had never ever been out to that side before. It was only about a 30 minute drive and the kids were done by about the time we arrived so it was perfect.

We packed up our dinner and all piled into the boat. We rode out and ate our dinner on the lake. It was perfect. The weather was perfect. Fun company. And all my kids were in heaven. After about 20 minute though Owen had had enough. He is not our water child. He could live without it. Baths are about as adventurous as he gets. We thought there would be a little sandy beach area for the kids to build sand castles and just play but there were only rocks. So it was everyone into the boat and we all really had a great time.
Hayden was a true sport. He wasn't quite sure what was going on. He didn't like his life jacket. He could barley move in it. He was just relaxed and he actually feel asleep for a while. He did great!

Ellie loved the water and we would dip her in several times. Owen was content to eat treats and sit in the front of the boat by either Lance or I. Keaton and Andrew were dare devils. Jumping out into the lake and giving Big Mabel a shot. Big Mabel is a huge inflatable inner tube that you sit in and hang onto. They loved it! That is all they wanted to do. Bishop was nice not to go too fast so they wouldn't crash. Although I think Andrew would have loved it.
The boys tried the knee board. Andrew tried a few times but had a hard time getting up. By the time he was done he was so cold, his lips were turning blue. So we brought him in the boat and warmed him up. Keaton was next. This kid of mine, I tell you what, no matter what he tries to do he succeeds. He is really just a talented kid to anything he puts his mind to. After his second try he was up and loving every minute of it. Once inside all the older boys were high fiving him and he felt pretty cool.
Keaton commented that every family night during the summertime should be like this. I agree son!

8 p.m. rolled around and it was getting cold and everyone had had enough so it was time to pack up and head for home. They should all sleep really, really well tonight.