Sun, Water Fun, and Shaved Ice... Just what our Easter needed! Part 2

I know I didn't give much detail to the whole nephew buried in quicksand story on day one of our trip.  The reason being was because Sister Steph really did save the day earning her bragging rights in all places, not just as "favorite" Aunt to the young one who's life she saved.  She's the better story teller anyway, I knew my role on this day and stood behind the lens documenting this great story for her.  I don't mean to be unsympathetic, but when everything was all said and done... one couldn't help but laugh at the situation poor Ayden (as appose to how I've been spelling it... it's NOT Aiden) found himself in.  As Sister Steph makes reference to... who would ever think you would find yourself in a pirate like situation where having watched mythbusters would come in handy when saving a boy's life?  Without further ado, I suggest you just go read for yourself at Sister Steph's Blog The Circus HERE.   

It's all in the wiggle. 

Anyway, on to day two.  We woke far too early than I would have liked after the night we had with poor Sam and his swimmer's ear.  Mom and Dad were in a rush to get out the door as Dad had a singing gig he had to do at a local rest home.  Apparently they (him and his brother's) are a BIG DEAL around that place.  They go play there weekly.  The elderly folk love them, and they too must love the elderly folk as they do all this out of the kindness of their hearts.  These brother's (The Eldredge Brother's) are quite talented.  Prior to Mom and Dad heading out the door, Dad spent a good half hour or so warming up.  Brenna was quick to find her place right beside her Grandpa as he sang some fun songs for her.  She loves to listen to him play guitar and sing.  She could sit and listen for hours and I as a mom love to watch her just gaze upon him while he sings. The love she has for that man is so apparent in those moments.  You can see it in her eyes, those are the moments she will one day grow to cherish.  I love that.  

After Mom and Dad left, we got some breakfast in us and got ready for the day.  We didn't have any set plans aside from me heading out for some much needed shopping. We had traveled down to St. George without having done any Easter shopping and here it was day before Easter and we had nothing to give the kids.  I knew what was on the agenda for my day, which meant that Bill had to occupy the kids while I went shopping.  Bill decided to take the kids up to a little reservoir not far from the parents place so Sam could try out his fly fishing pole that he has yet to use since he got it for his birthday nearly a year ago.  Both kids were excited to go fishing, which is good cause fishing is not my strong suit and didn't mind missing out on that "fun". 

Dad requested that I make ribs for dinner so I threw them in the oven then met up with Mom in town to do some shopping.  We were quick.  I hate Walmart and the crowds in St. George were insane.  I don't like crowds either.  I didn't want to be shopping so I rushed through Walmart, poor mom having to remind me to slow down.  I forget one doesn't always function like a 30 year old.  

We were back home in a little over an hour and was surprised to see Bill back with the kids already.  Apparently the biting wasn't all that great and the kids got board fast.  

Mom suggested that we head out to a park that was all the rave in St. George at the moment.  We showed up only to find it extremely crowded due to an Art Festival taking place.  That didn't matter we got out, listened to the live music, and walked around admiring some of the local art.  There is quite the water set up there too.  The kids couldn't wait to submerge themselves in that ice cold water.  

When we were headed to the park, we notice that the shaved ice shack was already up and running.  Dad has a weakness for black cherry shaved ice so we knew if we mentioned that the joint was already open he would insist on stopping by for a cool down.  We weren't disappointed.  Dad did suggest we stop on our way back to the house for some delicious shaved ice.  Why don't these places just stay open year round?  I would so pick one

 up in the dead of winter.  They are so good.    

I've decided that someone needs to open one in Magna that stays open all winter.  I won't be doing that though cause that would mean I would have to run it in the dead of winter and I'm just now willing to sit out in the cold.  Someone else can do it though.  I'll let them. 

We had a bit of a late dinner, which resulted in having to dye Easter eggs late and an even later bedtime than I had hoped for.  

The kids crashed fast once they made it to bed and I was able to play Easter bunny and make it to bed before midnight myself. 

Sun, Water Fun, and Shaved Ice... Just what our Easter needed! Part 1

It's no secret that spring has sprung and with it the spring fever slowly begins to fade as we are teased with those few warm, sun soaking, days that come scattered among those cloudy, thundering, raining, days.  

I'm okay with rain... So long is it doesn't freeze into that white stuff.  

(not even going to say it's name... It's like a curse word in my house)

Unfortunately, those few (and I mean very few) warm days have not been enough to ease my irritability caused by lack of sunshine and being cooped up in-doors since OCTOBER!

Six months is just TOO much!  

I decided, though we spent Easter with Bill's family last year meaning this year was reserved for my family, we needed to get away.  Sorry to my dear family, but my sanity depended on it.  So for the second year in a row we headed south.  Last year we camped out with Sister Steph and her Circus at Sand Hollow (HERE and HERE).

It was great fun, but lets just face it... I'm just not a good camper.  Granted if we had the set up Sister Steph has, camping might not be all too bad, but we don't so we have to tent it.  Me and tents aren't friends.  Rather than tenting it out at Sand Hollow, we decided to stay in the comfort of my in-laws house instead which is close enough to still enjoy the beach, water, and sand with the family who spent their Easter camping out.  

We headed down early Friday morning and hit the parents house just before noon.  We quickly scarfed down some lunch and headed back to the road to visit our family at Sand Hollow.  Sister Steph didn't have her whole Circus with her this time around, but Sister McKell was up there with her beau and two of her youngsters along with some friends who had a couple kids.  My kids were content in playing with them and excited to hit the beach running. They immediately stripped down to their suits and soaked in the sun.

My girly girl quickly transformed to not so girly as she dug in the mud with a slew of boys.  It was her and a bunch of boys... that didn't even phase her.  She fit right it... muddy face and all.  In all honesty I think she may have been enjoying getting dirty far more than any of those boys.  Sam enjoyed digging in the mud with them for a great while too, but eventually just wandered off on his own really soaking in the heat.  We were in Heaven. 

Okay, not heaven... I hope that in heaven we don't have to deal with sand in not so desirable places, but you get the idea.  We were where we SO DESPERATELY needed to be at that moment.  

Sanity, semi-restored.

We sat for a few hours and enjoyed the company of some wonderful people... Bill and our nephew Bryce went for a ride in the dunes in West's four wheeler, not the most successful trip out, but at the very least Bryce was left with smiles and I believe the words "Lets do that again!" did come from his mouth.  The rest I will leave up to the others to spill.  I'm still just clinging to the good (that there was enjoyment) of that ride... the rest I will not speak of.  Simply because may husband my not forgive me.

Sister Steph however... is free to speak. ;)

While we all sat and enjoyed conversation... the kids were a short distance away enjoying all the wonderful things the beach and water had to offer.  This included burying each other in the sand. 

This burying each other in the sand business also took a not so good turn like the four wheeling had, only us parents were completely oblivious to the severity of the sand burying situation. 

Our first problem was relying on the information from a not so urgent five year old (Sam) who walked up to us and simply said...

"Aiden is stuck."

To which Sister McKell quickly replied "Oh, yeah he loves getting buried!" 

To this Sam gave a simple shrug and walked away continuing to enjoy his time there at the beach.  

It was later discovered that Sam's little announcement of Aiden being stuck was truly meant to be urgent.  As in, maybe an adult should go help him get unstuck.  Turns out the kids had buried Aiden a bit to close to the water which meant that the hole he was buried in acted much like quick sand.  The more he moved... the more he sunk.  My little Brenna and another kid stuck by his side the entire time committed to digging him out without having to impose upon the adults fun and coming in between the conversation time we were having.  Once it was realized that Aiden truly needed help... the adults pulled together in getting him out.  While I on the other hand, grabbed my camera and started to photograph it.  I'll allow Sister Steph to tell the story of how she became the heroin and saved this boy's life.  After all she is the master story teller...  I will offer up these few pictures of the moment though...

This boy is REALLY stuck

Poor boy defeated by the sand...

Sister Steph saved the day!

Needless to say it was a very eventful day.  

Two guys were left feeling a little defeated, but that's ok cause Sister Steph made it all better with a card game with those two defeated guys...

And in all reality, we truly enjoyed being out there in the sun and with our family.  Our family is just one of a kind and I wouldn't trade them for anything.  

We left there shortly after this card game ended and headed back to the parents house for some much needed rest.  Mom made us a DELICIOUS Chili Verde for dinner and after the kids piled into the hot tub cause apparently they hadn't had enough water yet.  

Day One of our little mini-vacation was a success... though the first night was a little rough.  Sam woke up screaming from a dead sleep at about 11pm.  He had apparently acquired swimmers ear and was in dire pain for a good couple hours. I tried to console him back to sleep, rocking him, rubbing his head, but the second he would fall back asleep he was awake within seconds crying again from the pain.  I was left to head out into town at 1am to get some ear drops and pain medicine.

I was pooped.

My Friday started just before 5am and I didn't get settled into bed for sleep until 2am.  

It didn't matter though cause I knew I got to wake up to another day full of sun, warmth, and family.

A Week of Winter Woes and Influenza... and a little bit of talk about a giveaway.

How was your Holiday weekend?

(If you're wondering I'm referring to the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday... I'm just really slow at this)

It's always nice to have those long weekends, especially if they follow a week that you were so eager to have end for whatever the reason... My reason, none other than looking forward to having time to catch up on house work that piled up when I was sick.  

Yeah, that didn't happen.

Sam came down with something that hit full force Saturday night.  

By full force I mean woke up in a hallucination panic as a result of a 104 point something fever that had shown no signs prior to putting him to bed that night.  He remained miserable with a very stubbornly high fever for several days following.  

My weekend off turned into a weekend full of fulfilling my nursing duties as a mother.  Administering medications every three hours around the clock, and of course left with clean up duty from those cough so hard you puke moments.  Yes, momentS... several of them.  All the while feeling helpless because I just couldn't make him feel better and I just couldn't get that darn fever under control.

We hit the doctors come Monday after he had no signs of improvement.  They swabbed him for influenza and though we have yet to receive test results back I'm willing to bet he was positive.  Of course the doctors these days can't really tell you exactly what is going on, it's more of a guessing game.   This time around our guessing game consisted of multiple antibiotics and upwards of $60 in hard earned cash.  At the very least one thing was made certain....

Sam had "an unknown object" lodged deep into his left ear that would require removal from an ENT (specialist) on a later date.  

Great... JUST GREAT! 

On the up side... I did fit in a little bit of fun time too.  

Saturday morning I ventured out with Brenna, as Bill and Sam took off for the motorcycle store (pre-illness mind you), for a little girl bonding and shopping.  We pick up my lil' sis Skylar on our way too.  It was a good day, though I failed to find what I was looking for.  In case you're wondering that would be pants that fit my chicken legs, flat butt, and wide hips without leaving me walking around with a very obvious camel toe.  What's the deal with pants these days?  Don't those designers know that we all don't maintain that high school figure for our entire life?  I mean I have reached the point in life that comfort hold priority over vanity.  I'm just not willing to walk around with my pants snug in all the wrong places, just so some unknown persons can get a nice look at what's meant to be hiding beneath the clothes.

PANTS WEREN'T MEANT TO BE MUNCHED!

Seriously though... am I the only one with this problem?  I sure hope not otherwise I may be forced to seek professional help.

Anyway, though I failed miserably in the shopping department, it was an over all good day because it was time spent with some awesome littles.  

Sunday offered up some more good weekend times as well with time spent with my Mom and siblings in celebration of her Birthday.  She is the most amazing 33 year old I know.  HA!  No joke though, she is an amazing woman and I think she deserves to be celebrated everyday, not just her birthday.  I'm blessed with a beautiful mother and I'm grateful for the sacrifices she has made for  my personal happiness.  I know from experience that as a mother nothing means more than knowing that your children love you and appreciate you.  So Mom, I want you to know just that.  I want you feel that wonderful feeling a mother feels when her child tells her she is loved and appreciated.  You know that feeling when you heart feels like it might burst out of your chest, your cheeks warm, and those happy tears start welling in your eyes...

I love you Mom. 

I appreciate you Mom.

I am grateful you chose to give me life...

And I'm so grateful for you.

Happy 33rd Birthday.

xoxo

(You have that feeling yet?  K. Good.)

Sam and Bill unfortunately missed out on this celebration because of Sam's being sick.  

That was pretty much the extent of my long holiday weekend...

Pretty exciting huh?

Tuesday Bill took the day off to stay home with Sam and play Mommy nurse as best he could with Sam while I went to work.  I had to take Wednesday duty with Sam (yet another doctors appointment to attend to) so we both had to take a day.  We all know how hard it is to go back to school and work after a long weekend.  Preschoolers are no exception.  They were antsy as was I.  It wasn't a terribly rough day, but it was obvious that not a single person who walked through our classroom door was happy to be there.  Those days are just always rough even if there isn't any stand out moments to blame the roughness on.  

Wednesday Sam and I were off to the doctors again...

This time to the ENT to have that unknown object removed from his ear.  Upon arrival it was made known that that unknown object wasn't just secluded to one ear... rather there were now unknown objects to talk about.  One in each ear.  Both deep inside, sitting on his ear drums.  This was NOT a fun experience.  It hurt. He cried.  I had to be strong and sit back as the doctor hurt my baby. Again, NOT FUN!  The ordeal was over quickly and we walked out that door in very minimal time, but not after forking out another $60+ in co-pays and prescriptions along with a scheduled hearing test and follow up visit for next week.  Ugh.  

Thursday brought with it freezing rain.  It was very unwelcome and much unappreciated.  I'm so over winter.  In case you missed it, refer back to my last post HERE. At this point, I just think it is all a very cruel joke.  Ice skating is meant for a rink... NOT the streets, parking lots, and sidewalks thank you very much.  Thursday at work didn't prove to be any easier than Tuesday.  I think this is a result of the unforgiving weather we have had here.  Everyone is anxious and board with having to be indoors ALL the time.  The lack of Vitamin D isn't helping things either.  I'm almost certain that every person living in this state is not far from being admitted to psych wards.  We are all going absolutely crazy.  Wonder if we can get  discounts on straight jackets if we order in bulk?  It's a thought. 

Before I go on another long rant about how miserable I am with our Alaskan like weather I'll stop here.  

Thursday also brought with it report cards...

I'm proud.

VERY PROUD.  

Both kids are excelling in school and I am so very pleased.  Sam has begun to read.  Though I'm proud this does make me a little sad to see my baby pick up a book and read it.  Brenna just flies through her work without much effort.  I'm have still yet to see the day that one of my children are faced with a bit of an academic struggle, and  I'm okay with that.  I'd be completely content if I never have to witness that struggle.  I personally had a love/hate relationship with school and Bill just flat out hated it so I am happy to see that my kids love it.  They love to learn and enjoy every moment doing so.

It's Friday.  Thank GOD for Friday.  I went and got coffee alone today.  Had a conversation with a friend that I haven't had much time to chat with. Then went and helped with reading in Sam's class.  Yes, I love teaching so much that I volunteer my time on my day's off.  Nice thing about volunteering my time is that I get to leave when I decide.  Today's volunteer work was short and sweet.  An hour is all, but Sam was happy.  That's what mattered.  We even managed to reach temperatures above freezing today.  Though that 35 degrees didn't last long... I was VERY grateful for that heat wave.  I almost busted out the flip flops!

Right.......

This weekend we have BIG plans.  Because the kids did so well on their report cards they are being rewarded for their hard efforts at school.  Sam and Bill are headed off to the Monster Trucks tomorrow night and Brenna and I are going to go get our creativity on at ColorMeMine.  I am SO excited for the day I have planned for Brenna and I.  A friend of mine did this with her girls and I have been wanting to experience this with Brenna ever since I saw how much fun they had.  I was just waiting for the right time.  No better time than now!  An added benefit of doing this with her tomorrow is that they are hosting a pajama night so now Brenna and I get to go out and buy some matching jammies to wear.  FUN!  

(It also helps that if we come in jammies we get in for a VERY discounted rate... BONUS!)

What will your weekend bring?  Sure hope it's good...

Before I go I must say this...

My sister is having a giveaway over at her blog.  If you love blogging and reading blogs as much as I do this is a giveaway that I'm sure you'll want to get in on.  AND this giveaway will give you something to do while we all continue to hide away from the nasty winter that lingers outside... What better past time than reading? 

She is giving away a book over at her blog this week.  

This book is about blogging... not HOW TO blog, but rather funny stories from the blogging world.  Learn more about these books HERE. Then head on over to my sister's blog HERE to enter to win! 

Happy Weekend everyone!

Independence Day 2012

Okay, I get it...

I'M SLACKIN'

In my defense, I have just been enjoying this past month so much that I frankly just haven't had the desire to get on the computer much nor have I really had the time to.  

This year we had an extra special 4th of July celebration.  Our Brenna participated in her very first parade.  

In all honesty, I felt as though I was living through her for a moment.  I always wanted to be in a parade.  I remember watching them as a kid and thinking how awesome it would be to participate in such a fun event and show off my perfected parade wave...

"Elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist, wrist..."

I would secretly practice that wave in the mirror and pretend that I was standing on a float in a beautiful dress, representing something larger than myself... Royalty.  

When I got to see my little girl so poised, smiling, and thoroughly enjoying every second that the eyes of Magna's people were on her.  I could tell that in that moment she was experiencing that dream I had as a child and I couldn't have been more proud.

I even had to discretely wipe away a few tears that we welling up in my eyes.

Is it lame that I cry?  

I thought it might be so I did my best to hide it.

I WAS SO PROUD!

We were joined by several friends and family at the parade, all just as excited to see our Brenna as I was.  

Once Brenna passed us by I had to rush to pick her and her friends up.  They were fortunate enough to be able to catch the last 20 minutes of the parade. They were happy about that. 

After the parade we relaxed a little at home then headed off to Grandma and Grandpa T's house for a BBQ, where the kids met Baby Wyatt for the first time.

You can read a bit more about that Here.

I was also left with some surprise pictures on my camera from Sister Steph

Thanks Steph!

We ended the night rushing to Magna after out BBQ to catch our local firework display.  It's really perfect.  We just park out butts at a church up the street from our house.  Perfect view and far less people.

May Photo Day 7: Inspires me...

Man! 

This was a hard one.  

I have so many amazing, wonderful, talented, exciting, fun people in my life who inspire me and I can only pick ONE?  

Yeah, That's not gonna happen.

May Photo Day 7: Someone who Inspires me...

I tried really hard to pick just one, but in all honestly I couldn't.

For obvious reasons my children and my husband inspire me everyday to be a better mother, person, and wife.  I talk about them constantly... It probably gets old. 

 I am proud of them.  

I love them. 

They complete me. 

They are my reason and purpose in this life.

They deserve the very best, which inspires me to give them the very best me that I am capable of giving them.  I know I have a great deal of room for improvement, which leads me to my next source of inspiration.

SISTER STEPH

To me she represents everything a mother, wife, sister, friend, and person should be.

She is kind, strong, devoted, loyal, funny, creative, successful, committed, humble and really just AMAZING.

I look up to her more than she will probably ever comprehend.  I am sure her response to this would be, really? Me?  Why?

(Again, cause she is humble)

But really, anyone that can stay organized, focused, and committed to raising 6 kids...

And having all 6 of those kids turn out to be pretty darn amazing individuals deserves an Inspirational label in my book.  

I really want to be like Sister Steph when I grow up...

But really though,

Mom, Dad, Sunney, Bronson, Alex, Jaime, Casey, Shania, Skylar...

The list goes on and on and on...

Every single person,

Friend, Family, even Enemy

Inspires in some way.  

XOXO

A Pre-Birthday Celebration

My birthday falls on Mother's Day this year.

This means I either get really spoiled or really jipped.

Julie/Mom decided to take me out to lunch and a pedicure accompanied by my fabulous, amazing, fun, beautiful sisters. 

I'm going with 

SPOILED

This year!

We all met up at Cafe Rio in Sandy for an early lunch.  The food was good, but the company was even better!  We sat, chatted, and just enjoyed one another.  

Sister Steph has a picture of us sisters, I'm waiting for that so I can steal a copy. (hint hint)

After lunch we headed over to the Walmart to get our DELUXE pedicures...

AND THEY WERE AWESOME!

(We missed having Kimmy with us for the pedicures, she had to head home after lunch to a hungry husband and lots of yard work)

Sister Steph, Mom/Julie getting started... Kristin just "soaking" her feet,
Little did she know, the soaking wasn't going to cut it with us!

Warming my feet in the blue water....

Question,

Is the water blue cause they put some kind of special foot stuff in it, or do they make it blue just cause it's pretty?  

I must say, nothing beats a good foot/leg massage...

I don't care who it is.

I don't have any weird phobias about people touching my feet.

I LOVE A FOOT RUB!

Now Kristin on the other hand was not having the whole someone touching her feet thing.  

She was NOT down for a pedicure, or anything that came with it.

Though the little lady at the nail place was hell bent and determined for Kristin to get her deluxe pedi too.

And she did...

AND OF COURSE SHE LIKED IT!

Kristin getting her pedi on...

We all got dipped in wax, rubbed up, and pretty fabulous toes!

Kristin and Sister Steph

I think it is safe to say that this will be a repeat event for us all... 

Including Kristin!

Me and Julie/Mom

THANK YOU
Julie/Mom and my sisters for spoiling me and spending the day with me!

It was so wonderful to have a day with you all.

I love you guys so very much and couldn't have been blessed with a better family.

XOXO

And aren't these some awesomely cute toes? 

A Pre-Welcome for new nephew Wyatt...

Bill's step-sister Kristin is expecting her first in June, though he has been attempting to make his debut early.  Though she has been put on bed rest, Grandma T. made the little celebration happen giving Kristin strict orders to park it and don't move.  So there she sat in the nice comfy living room chair surrounded by pillows while we all sat back and watched her open ALL the great gifts she got. 

First we played a little game.  The one where everyone guesses how much string it would take to to around her belly.  The one where everyone usually guesses wrong by use of WAY too much string.  

Sister Steph on the other hand got it nearly spot on... must be all the experience she has with pregnant belly's.  After four kids you MUST be and expert right? 

Now, like I said... Kristin got some great gifts and some MUCH NEEDED diapers.  She is a brave soul and is going to attempt using cloth diapers only aside from when the are out and about.  Then she will use disposable ones to avoid the hassle of toting around soiled cloth diapers in a diaper bag.  Ew.  She scored blankets GALORE and TONS of cute clothes for the little man.  She even got a few nursery decor items.  Nick and Sheri (Bill's step-brother and his wife) so kindly gifted a car seat stroller combo which was displayed at the shower, but I somehow forgot to take a picture.  VERY CUTE! 

Sister Step used all her amazing talent with these cute little cupcakes.  She really is a crafty thing. 

She even added a cute little duck to the blue milk...

Wait... Blue Milk?  

I'm still waiting for Sister Steph to post about where blue milk comes from.  She is the expert ya know.  She has already determined where pink milk comes from.  In case you're wondering... read HERE. 

I am going to have to say that blue milk comes from Elephants... What do you think?