4 Wheeling

We were invited by my Sister's family to go 4 Wheeling with them & both Korey and I were not to sure how it was going to turn out. But we both had a lot of fun and boys loved it. As soon as we got there Preston was all ready to get on one. So he took off with Cameron and had a blast. It took a little more coaxing for Ryan to enjoy it. I got him to sit on it, then I got him to put the helmet on, then I moved a little. He was freaking out. So we went back then when Korey got back he decided to go with him and was hooked too. Parker we took just around in a circle and as long as you were not going to fast he liked it. It was funny when McKay got home from his trip he was more mad about missing this then he was about missing lagoon. My BIL was so glad to hear that. Anyway it was a lot of fun and the boys keep talking about wanting to go again. Thank You again Rutland's!!! Also thank you Strickland's for letting us use your helmets. I did actually remember to take pictures this time and her are a few for you to enjoy!

Preston & Korey

Cameron & Preston

Ryan & Diana notice he will not look up at the camera. He did not want to ride with me!

Ryan & Korey with his thumb up! (Whatever Ryan)

Parker & Korey

By the looks of Parker you would think we had been there for days! No this is after about 10 min.

IT'S WHAT FUN IS!!!

So last week we had a chance to go to Lagoon with Korey's family. All thanks to Grandma Kathy:) I took the boys up and then Korey meet us around lunch time. At first I was a little disappointed in Ryan and Parker. They were being little terrors and not loving any of the rides. Me being the mean Mom that I am forced them to go on the rides kicking and screaming the whole time. Ryan after would say " Oh Mom that was not that bad I liked it". I was so bugged. Parker was not happy before, during, or after. It was not until right before the park was about to close that we found a ride Parker loved and then he would not get off it. Poor Preston loved everything and was so mad because he was not able to go on all the big rides. I was very proud of myself because I went on the ride "Wicked" the name says it all. It was a crazy ride. I think I almost peed my pants I was so scared. But after it was all said and done it was a way fun ride. I felt guilty that McKay was not there to enjoy the day with us. So after he returned from his trip I was able to get a sitter for the 2 little boys and McKay, Preston, Angie, & I went back on the bounce back tickets. It was so fun we just went non-stop all day. We kind of cheated and had Preston wear his church shoes and then he was able to go on a lot more rides this time. He was so very brave and went on some way big rides. McKay was great too & he went on every single ride, & loved them all! I am sad to say that it was more fun without the 2 little boys and it was a great time to just hang with the other 2 boys. I once again forgot to take my camera the 2nd time but I did get some fun shots the first time around. Thanks again Kathy it was way fun. Thank you Jason & Molly for watching the boys so we could go without them!!! I hope next year will even be better:)

 

Fish Lake 2009

We love to go camping & this year at Fish Lake it was so much fun! It is amazing how much easier things are getting now that the boys are getting bigger. There was no getting up and trying to make a bottle, or trying to keep a baby quiet in the middle of night. They feel asleep so early each night because they were so tired from running nonstop all day. We all had a great time! The boys loved and cannot wait until we get to go again. While we were there Grandpa Jon brought his boat and the boys each got to fish a lot. In total we caught 18 fish. The 2nd night we were there we had to eat the fish for dinner so that we could go out and catch some more the next day! I was a horrible Mom and did not bring my camera, but my Brother in Law snagged a few cute pictures of the boys. I just wish I would have had some of them with the fish they each caught. They were so proud!!! They also caught a lot of squirrels while we were there. I will have to copies of his pictures and post them. There cousin Cameron brought stuff to make a trap and they would set them around camp, catch one, and then release it, and do it all over again. Parker loved being able to be dirty and run around like the crazy kid he is! It was a great trip!!! Thanks everyone who came and made it so much fun.

Our House

I was going to Title this post as "before & after", But I cannot find any before pictures of our house. Which I am really bugged at myself for not taking any pictures before. But if you read HERE you can at least see what the back yard looked like when we moved in and I think in some of the pictures you can see the paint color our house use to be. The lady we bought the house from swore that it was tan. I think now it is tan. Any way we are way happy with the color and the windows. I cannot believe what a difference windows make. Our house does not get as hot as it use too. All the noise from the construction is not as bad too. It is also so nice to be able to open the windows without all the flies coming in. I think the only one complaining is the cat because now she cannot get out whenever she wants. Also it sucks if we leave the keys in the house. Before none of our windows locked so I would throw one of the boys in a window whenever we locked ourselves out. I cannot wait to see what we are going to do to the house next summer!!!

Cherries For Sale

A while back the boys and I went to my nephew Kaden's baseball game. While we sat and watched the game Grandma Kathy was talking to McKay about coming over to her house and picking her cherries and then selling them. McKay jumped at the chance to do it & when Preston heard the idea he had to get on the action too. So the next evening McKay, Preston, & there friend Evan went over to Grandma's house and picked 2 five gallon buckets of cherries. The next morning they meet at our house and bagged 60 sandwich bags of cherries. Then they made a couple posters and loaded a table, chairs, and an umbrella in the van. I then drove them to my brothers house who lives on a busier street then we do and they set up there cherry stand. They sold all 60 bags in less then 2 hours and each made $20. They were so excited. The money was burning a hole in there pockets until we took them to toys R us to pick out a toy. They keep asking grandma if they can do it again. Good job guys I am so proud of you! Way to work so hard!!!



By Preston's face you would think he was having no fun! But really any excuse to do things with the big boys he is in heaven!!!

I Love to See the Temple

Awhile back we(as in Utah) have had the amazing opportunity to get to go to 2 open houses for Temples in our area. Back before school got out we went as a family with Korey's family to the Draper Temple open house. Then my brother Mark & his family were in town and we were able to get tickets and the boys and I went with them to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. I am so pleased with the way my boys acted while at the Temple. They were very reverent and would ask lots of great questions. I feel that we are so blessed to live in an area with so many Temples. The boys love to look for them as we drive around. Parker thinks that every church is a Temple too. It is very cute! Parker loved while we were at the Temple to find all the Jesus pictures while we walked around. Thanks guys for the invites it was fun to hang out with you guys!!!

Orem Summer Fest

Who in Orem does not love the Orem Summer Fest! Alright do not answer that because we love it at our house!!! My Dad is a big, HUGE parade guy. So we hit a lot of parades in the summer time. I think the OremFest is my favorite. Here is my top 5 reasons. 1-It is at night so it is usually cooler. 2-It has amazing fireworks. 3-You gotta love all the high quality people that come out to it. 4-Great family time together. 5-Running into all your friends from way back when. So I have always been in charge of saving a spot for this parade. It use to be that the morning of I would get up early and go and lay out a blanket or two. Then a few years back I had to start laying it out before I went to bed the night before. Last year and this year I had to take 3 huge tarps and go on Thursday morning to get our sacred spot. I do have to say that I got a great spot this year with lots of shade and lots of space for us to all spread out.






I was very proud this year because my son's scout troop was able to be the flag boys for the start of the children's parade this year. McKay and his buddy Evan & Tanner and the scout leader Sister Moultan. Walked the whole parade with the flag. Good Job boys you guys looked great.




The weather this year was a little crazy & you where never sure what it was going to be like outside. So the whole parade it was great & then right at the end a big storm cloud came rolling in. So we gathered up the troops and headed home. After about an hour we drove back to a church and backed the mini in to watch the fireworks. I do have to say that Orem puts on a great firework show.

Festival Day

Back at the beginning of June the boys and I went down to Provo to the Children Festival of Arts. It is a really fun event that Provo puts on every year & me having the great hook ups that I have is able to go and enjoy it for free. So My Brother and his family came along with us. Provo City takes a big park with lots of volunteers and sets up tons of tables and at each table they have a craft. The kids love it & I do have to say that they have some really unique crafts. The boys could spend all day there. But after a dozen crafts I am usually hot and done helping 4 boys make crafts.




On that same day there was also the Utah Lake Festival. Which it is only their 2nd year doing this. It was pretty fun too. They had booths set up with different games and things to look at. They also had free fishing, boat rides, hay rides, and food. I think the kids had more fun throwing rocks into the lake then anything else we did there. But hey as long as they had fun that is all that matters.






After a couple hours there we were all ready to go home and take naps.I think the boys had fun & to this day they still play with some of the crafts they made that day.

Phase 1 Done!

Today to McKay's surprise he got his braces off. WAHOOOOOO!!! We are so happy for him. So until the rest of his permanent teeth come in he will have to wear a retainer. Then he will have to have braces put back on for phase 2, but it will only be for a shorter time period then if we would have started this whole thing later in life. I am so proud of him he has been so tough through this whole thing and has hardly complained. Read HERE for all the things he has had done to his poor "jacked up" mouth. His smile looks so great now and we looked back at pictures of before and were in shock of what a mess things were. We did not realize how bad they were until we see them now. When he got his braces off today he had a lose tooth and the Dr offered to pull it. But McKay nicely declined. So a little bit after he went to bed he came out complaining about how wiggly his tooth was. So Korey looked at it and it was hanging by a thread so he made him wiggle and wiggle until it came out so that it would not fall out in his sleep. I hope the Tooth Fairy realizes how hard he worked today and gives him a little extra. I am so proud of my guy for being so brave. Way to go bud you look great!!! I will have to post a before and after picture sometime!

S'mores

Last night we had a block party at a neighbor's house. I was assigned to bring 2 dozen cookies. Well I was not in the mood to make cookies. So instead I made a batch of rice krispies treats. My kids like to make them different colors each time we make them. So Ryan picked orange as his color today. Then I made some S'mores. Oh how I love s'mores they are so yummy:)My Grandma Beth would always make these and I would eat the whole pan. Since she is no longer around to do so I have taken it upon myself to make them for different family things. Well do to popular demand I am now adding the recipes here so that you to may all enjoy this very yummy treats too!!!

1 bag (10.5 oz) miniature marshmallows (5 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips (9 oz)
5 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 box (13 oz) Golden Grahams® cereal (8 cups)

1. Grease 13x9-inch pan with butter. Reserve 1 cup of the marshmallows. In 3-quart saucepan, melt chocolate chips, butter, corn syrup and remaining 4 1/2 cups marshmallows over low heat, stirring occasionally, until completely melted. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
2. Pour cereal into large bowl. Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal; stir until evenly coated. Stir in remaining 1 cup marshmallows.
3. With buttered back of spoon, press mixture in pan. Cool at least 1 hour or until firm. Store loosely covered at room temperature. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.