We were featured!

Check it out...


http://thedahlingdatingdivas.blogspot.com/2010/06/sassy-suggestion-sock-date.html


LOVE this website--it's awesome!

Oh, What Do You Do in the Summertime?

We had our first camping trip of the season this weekend.  SO...MUCH...FUN!  We used our new tent, and we love it!  One minute set up (and that was with two ladies, who both had babies in one hand), and one minute take down (and that was just me cuz Mike got wiped out on the 4-wheeler), and 10 minutes to get it in the bag...gotta work on folding up that baby!

We had originally planned on going to the Manti Pageant, but when our friends baby came down with a cold, we changed our plans and headed up north to Left Fork Canyon in Logan with Steph and Kyle.  These guys camp in style--4 wheelers, motorcycles, a camper and GOOD food.  Plus, everything is better with good company.  Thanks guys for letting us tag along--we can't wait til next time!

Strawberries!

Remember last year when we went picking strawberries?  It was great, although not super successful.  Well, yesterday Mike's cousin, Holly (whom we LOVE), and her cuties came to Layton to visit and we went picking strawberries.  Hot, Hot, HOT fun.  The morning ended with the kiddos enjoying a movie in the air conditioned vehicle while the parental units finished picking so that we could get our money's worth.  

We played tetherball, picked peas, enjoyed lunch and talked 'girls camp'.  It was great!

When Mike came home we canned a whole bunch of Strawberry Lemonade concentrate--yum!  The strawberries were tasty by themselves, and really tasty made into strawberry lemonade.  It's going to be the perfect summer treat.

Thanks Holly for the great day!  Katelyn woke up today wondering where 'Our friend Addi' was.  We'll have to do it again!

Katelyn and Addi--although the kids were worried that my kids were too young, these two had fun!

This is how Josh spent the day--tsk, tsk Mamma--forgot a stroller! One HOT dude!

Tanner, just to prove that more kids really were there.

Quick Catch-Up

So, what did you miss while I was knee-deep in Girls Camp?

Our garden is growing--like a weed!! It's beautiful and we love it. Anybody need some lettuce?  We've got it coming out of our ears!

Katelyn took a Parent and Tot swimming class--she of course loved it!

I went wild and crazy pulling out plants and bushes in our front yard this spring--and now I regret it!  Any landscaping friends out there who would be willing to come over and help me fix what I tore apart!? 

Josh loves keys...

We've almost saved enough for new carpet--July has 3 paychecks, so carpet here we come!

Got another great freecycle (or wantedcycle) find...we LOVE it!

We spent $300 bucks to fix our AC, but after being totally jipped by Whipple, we found a company we LOVE and would highly recommend

Oatmeal is our friend.

I lost my camera, and one of Katelyn's pink shoes--are they are your house?

Summer has finally arrived and we're living up the great weather!

Anybody want to play? :)

Look what I can do!

I learned a great new skill up at girls camp...check it out!

Josh likes them too!

Now taking Pancake animals and shapes, by request!  What a great 'mom trick' to have up my sleeve!

It was AWESOME!!

Girls camp as a leader is so much more fabulous.  A TON of work, but totally awesome.  I had fabulous help (thanks Kim, Jenny, and Balinda), and we ate awesome.  Little to no sleep, sore calves, tick scares, camp fires, and thunderstorms.  It was great!

Our theme was 'Oh the Places You'll Go.'  Each morning and evening we had a devotional based upon places these girls will go in life: Motherhood, the Temple, Missons, College, High School, etc.  Our YCL's did the devotionals and each went well.  Our final evening we did a faith walk/Iron Rod Experience.  It was so neat.  I just sat and cried as I drew all sorts of parallels to life and to each of these girls.  Judging from their comments, it was a moving experience for each of them as well.

Here's a quick run-down.

The Leaders...

We visited the temple...

We lunched at parks...

We Crafted...

We ate GOOD!

We played and played and played games...

We skitted...

We hiked...

We primped...

We slept (sometimes!)...

We saw REAL LIVE owls!!

We campfired...

We cleaned...

We ice creamed...

Testimonies and friendships were strengthened.  Laughter and games were shared.  Tummies were full.  Hearts were happy.  It was awesome!

What does Girls Camp look like...

It looks like totes, bags, boxes, dutch ovens and stuff all throughout a house.

It looks like fridges and freezers full of food that families can't eat.

It looks like hours spent gathering, planning, creating and praying.

It looks like a kitchen over-run with stuff--it looks like going out to eat!

It looks like 7 awesome ladies who already hiked once--and 21 more who are going to have to do it too!

It looks like first aid being learned and secret sisters being assigned.

It looks like a stack of carpet samples generously donated so we can make welcome mats to talking with our Heavenly Father.

It looks like devotionals assigned and Priesthood brethern taking time off work.

It looks like a team of 5 magnificent women who have gone above and beyond to help me out!

It looks like 30 of these beauties, all ready for an Iron Rod Walk

It looks like Smore's, and the newest thing, Starbursts!

It looks like Lodge sleeping cuz we're planning on rain.

It looks like it's gonna start tomorrow--and it looks like we're ready!! :)

For Your Viewing Pleasure...

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Taking a break...!

Girls camp is 3 days and counting--but I'm up to eyeballs and I need a break!  What a lovely thing, blogging.  Here's a quick update...

Potty training-yes, let's start there.

We've done it!  It was frustrating and at the same time way easier than I thought.  We're (we're...why the we're. I've been potty trained for YEARS!), she's even potty trained through the night.  In fact, nights have been most successful for her.  I attribute that to the fact that this girl can hold it like no one I've ever seen.  You know when you drive somewhere far away and plan on having to stop somewhere on the side of the road cuz your darling has to go potty, right now! Not this one--she can hold it for 9 exits (and then we decided not to push our luck!).  Wahoo.  Thanks goes out to Kyle who gave me the great advice to wait until she's three--this has been amazingly pain free (except that if I leave her alone she likes to put THE WHOLE ROLL of toilet paper in the toilet, and, I don't skimp of TP around here.  We're talking the expensive stuff.  Not to mention how gross it is to fish TP out of a currently in use pee receptacle.  UCK!)

Favorite potty training quote..."Come quick Mom!! Come see the biggest poop I've ever pooped!"

What else...mmm...

Despite acquiring her new skill, we still have far too much of this...

I've been told that age 3 is better then age 2--but we're only a few weeks from three and we are FAR from see the magical transformations.  I'm not sure we're going to make it...

And then, there is this guy--

(Picture taken before our miracle skin cream...)

He's the bright, calm spot in our life.  (I love the big guy in the picture too!) Happy, almost all the time, even when he has ear infections and is getting teeth (he's up to 8 now!).  Something that I missed in the fine print, however--apparently this guy comes with a required-two-times-a-month-visit to the Dr.  We're on such a good basis, the Dr. and I, that I can call him up and he'll send me in a prescription--without even having an office visit. Yeah, an ENT specialist is the next stop...we're planning on tubes.  (And folks, I'm not exaggerating when I say we've been there two times a month all winter--do you have any idea how often that is! Crazy!)  Bonus is that after 5 visits about his skin--it's lovely and clear! Yahoo!! (At least most of the time...)  We went back this week and the Dr. just laughed..."How is it that you had the luck to catch the first of the summer viruses--I was hoping we wouldn't see you until September..."  Ha, ha.  Very funny.  I took the staff donuts though--I'm sure they are looking forward to our next visit! :)

Girls Camp is calling my name again--it's going to be SO AWESOME!  Our theme is "Oh The Places You'll Go" and it's going to be so cool...only a few more things to gather and figure out and we're golden.  Maybe I'll even get a few more posts in before camp next week!  Happy Saturday!