Cameras Don't Lie

Well my camera doesn't anyway. Adam and I have decided it is time for a change of body type. We both weigh more than we would like to admit and want to do something about it. So, the other night we took a "before" picture of each other, from all sides. EWE!!! All I can say is that this type of photo is not recommended for fun but highly recommended for motivation! Don't know how I will do it but I have some trimming to do. Good luck to me.

Less of this...
More of this...

Let Freedom Ring

July is a busy and exciting month! We have been running around crazy all month long. The 4th of July is one of our favorite holidays. Not only for the fireworks, but for the nature of the celebration. Adam and I often will contemplate the importance of that day in 1776 when we became a free nation. FREE. Free to choose who we will be and where we will go. How we want to raise our family, what religion we will follow, or if we want to follow one at all. Being able to vote for a President and other leaders. Choosing where we will live, what job we want ect. The list goes on and on you all know. I just love it. And I love our flag, it is so beautiful. And our anthem... so many great things we have.
And who doesn't love the celebrating. BBQ's, parades, carnivals, fireworks, picnics, and baseball games, swimming. We've been lucky to have done them all this year. It's been so fun. On the 4th Adam and I took the kids to the West Jordan parade and carnival. They had a great time gathering taffy thrown to them, watching the horses and other performers. The motorcycle brigade was a huge hit. That night Adam worked the Sugar House event and the kids and I went to my parents to celebrate my sister Kiersti's birthday.
Yes, my brother is always that goofy! There we are all together. Me, Tyler, Brynn and Kiersti. (In order even!) :)

Kaleb and I chilled in the back of the truck, while Grace preferred sitting on Papa's lap during fireworks. I couldn't tell if Kaleb was more concerned or intrigued by them. He was pretty tired too, just nestled right into me for most of the show.
The next night, July 5th, we had our friends Emily and Rob Palmer over for more fireworks. (They invited us to play in golf tournament with them and Adam won closest to the pin. The prize was a huge box of fireworks.) It was a lot of fun watching the kids play with their little friends. Some of our other neighbors (the Wooton's) came by as well. Of course the teenage boys were being naughty with some bottle rockets they came across.... But it was a fun night.

Grace was really getting into the role of dancing in the strobe lights. I love that we are surrounded in a cloud of smoke in the other picture. (Me, the kids, with Emily, Halle and Chloe)

Hey, another picture of the two of us together... we're getting better at that. :)

So there many other things that happened between then and the 24th of July (some I've posted) but I am going to skip ahead...

Of course this celebration is for the Pioneers who came across the country and settled Salt Lake City in 1847. To whom I totally give huge props!! I've been on a couple of the Pioneer Treks that they simulate, once as a Ma and Pa. Not easy in the least bit. And it's nothing like the real thing. I don't think I would have been strong enough. I really love this day. Remembering all the strength and courage those people had. And it is fun to watch the parade in the morning and see some of the modern pioneer acts that they portray on the floats.

Well after watching the parade, Adam and I took the kids to the Olympic Oval swimming pool in Kearns. It was fantastic. They have the best kids area there! Slides, water guns, ropes, fountains to dance in, and a GIANT bucket that fills up and dumps on a huge crowd at the bottom. I was too chicken to get under it, I think I would have gotten knocked on my butt. Grace did it with Adam though. I wish I had brought my camera, very cool place. That night we joined Adam's family at the Bee's game. It has become a tradition now that we all go to the game together on this day. It is so fun. The ball game, cotton candy, snowies, popcorn (sugar, sugar, SUGAR). We had great seats, just to the side of first base. Once the kids were all sugared up (big thanks to Meme and Papa J for supplying some of that!) we took them over to a huge hill where they ran around with other kids and rolled down the hill 'til they were dizzy. It was such a good night. The firework show was awesome. Kaleb nestled into me again, but wouldn't take his eyes off the action.

GO BEES!!
Grace was SURE she was going to catch a ball!
See, I told you we were getting better at this...
Adam's little (ha ha) brothers and significant others: Jonathan and Carissa, Ethan and Kyler

I love how the mountains provide a perfect backdrop to the flag.

So that is a bit of what we've enjoyed this month, it's a lot for you all to read, but I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Keeping It Cool...

Today started out a bit interesting... I was totally excited because I had finally gotten myself geared up enough to go to the gym. I had an appointment for my kids to be watched and everything. Got the kids loaded and everything in order, but Kaleb's shoes were no where to be found. I figured he would take them off when we got there anyway. Ha ha, little did I know, they don't allow them to stay without shoes! Some hand, foot and mouth rule. But I could have sworn they had them take them off before when we had gone. Well anyway, I was pretty upset, you have no idea what it takes to get me to exercise. Sad, I know. So on the way home I decided that I wasn't going to let that spoil my work out. I have my sister Kiersti staying with me this week to babysit when I am working, so I woke her up and told her she was watching my kids at the park while I ran on the path. (There is a walking path around the neighborhood across from ours and a park) So I did get a 30 min run/walk in. So much better than I've been doing. I will have to work my way up to more.
Then the day got better or so I thought it would. There were still a few quirks. My sister Brynn, AKA Minh Po, called to see if we would like to go to the pool. I decided since I would have help it would be good to get out. So I took my babies, and Kiersti to the Taylorsville Pool. Kaleb got sunscreen in his eye because he didn't want me to put it on his face, it was a fun fight and I won. So when we first got to the pool he just clung to me like a chimp and kept his eye on my shoulder. So the next "quirk", we had to pay cash, which I just so happen to have, usually don't, whew. That was a close one, I almost threw another fit!
Then...after we showered everyone off, like we were told, we were headed for the pool and a kid stops me and says (after he called me ma'am) that they don't allow arm floats! Now I wasn't mad because I thought it would keep them safe but just for the fact that I was being told "NO" AGAIN!! UGH! So Grace reluctantly gave up hers, and Kaleb, well he naturally had to put up a fight about it. But eventually everything started going A.O.K. Grace was a fish as always. That girl really has no fear. She and Kiersti took off to the deep dunking their heads and jumping off the side and going down the twisty slide. I don't know how she always manages to come down backwards when she starts forward. I was finally able to pry Kaleb from my shoulder (it was nap time too) and he was jumping in and out as well. We all had a great time.I also got some sun that I was well overdue, that was nice.

The rest of the day was just fine, thank goodness. Except, even as I type, Kiersti is pestering me.... AHHH, kids. Good thing I work tomorrow. I need a break, atleast those are someone elses kids :)

Millsite Resevoir

So, like I mentioned in my last post, my family and I went camping again last weekend. Every year my dad's side of the family, the Carlson's, go on a big campout. Now, I'll admit, Millsite is nice but it's not our favorite site. It's a bit too deserty for us and the wind blows a lot at night. Not good for those of us who still have a tent. But on the flip side, I love going with all my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents etc. It was a lot of fun. Scorching hot, but we cooled off in the VERY cold lake. The kids didn't seem to mind. They were blue in the face and shivering but didn't want to get out.

In the photos with my babies is my little sister Kiersti.

On Saturday Adam and I and a bunch of the other adults went golfing. Yep, there is a golf course in the little town of Ferron. A nice one too, very hard. I caught a lizard while I was waiting my turn to putt. But had no where to put it so I didn't get to share it with the kids. I was very bummed about that.

We also got to take the kids out on some wave runners my Aunt Lori and Uncle Danny brought along. It was so fun. Kaleb and Adam were cruising! Grace was a bit nervous for some reason, which surprised me because she is usually so brave. So we mostly had a princess ride. She got braver toward the end of the ride. Above we have some random pictures. From left to right: My daddy, Thomas; his Daddy, Don and Grace; Kaleb hanging out in his bed; Adam being silly, I think he's hot; Kaleb and my nephew Tommy pretending; Grace showing off her glowies we bought so we could see them at night. We even put one on the dog so we wouldn't lose her :)

Kismet surprised us all. Generally she wants nothing to do with water.... but when she spotted Grace out in the lake with Kiersti, she wasted no time trying her skills at the doggy paddle. It was very cute. Later she got on a raft with Kaleb and I and just floated around for a while.
It was a great trip. I love playing with the family. Everyone was SO beat and our house is still being put back together :) Thanks Grandpa for arranging everything!

Spontaneity

Our family loves camping so a couple weeks ago, June 26th, we decided to take off for the mountains. We chose the Spruces because it is close and very nice. When we got there, to our surprise, it was a bit crowded but there were still plenty of nice sites since it was Thursday night, and we were only staying the one night. We loved the site we got. It was large with a stream running just off to the side. First thing is first though, we sat the kids on a rock and layed down the rules.
1. No playing in the water. (thankfully that is a rule in the canyon anyway, took the pressure off us.)
2. Don't wander without one of us
3. Don't play too close to the fire
4. HAVE FUN!
And you know, they obeyed them all! I couldn't believe how well behaved they were. So after we got them settled throwing rocks in the water, Adam and I proceeded to set up camp. It was so pretty up there, the trees were so tall and there were so many birds singing and flying by... close by. There were a lot of humming birds too and they had no problem doing quick fly-bys right over our heads. We also saw a bat. Not something we often see.
Well I won't bore you will all the details, we got some fun pictures though....

So, at the top you can see we did give into feeding the little squirrels, couldn't help ourselves. And yes, that one is biting my finger. Well not really biting, just put its teeth on me, then found the nut. Roasted shoe anyone?? The Kaleb did manage to trip into the water a little, so Adam decided to hurry the drying process along. It worked pretty well. The picture in the bottom middle is just one of many taken during Adam's "tall tales". He was telling stories about cougars and cougar cubs living there and protecting the land etc... GO COUGARS :) The last picture is part of the stream next to our camp.

Well it was a great trip and this last weekend we got to go camping with my dads side of the family. I will post pics and info about that later. But it's so nice to be able to get away from the hussel of everyday life and just enjoy the things the Lord has created for us. There are so many wonderful things to see, we try to enjoy as much of it as we can. The best part is having a family to share it with.

A Tag By Grace

What does Mommy always say to you?
Grace: Thank you
What makes Mommy happy?
Grace: Hugs
What makes Mommy sad?
Grace: Kaleb hitting
How does Mommy make you laugh?
Grace: Tickles
How old is Mommy?
Grace: 7
How tall is Mommy?
Grace: Like this big (holding hands about 10 inches apart)
What doesn't Mommy like to do?
Grace: Not really be sick
What is Mommy's job?
Grace: to clean up and sleep, help people clean their teeth
What is Mommy's favorite food?
Grace: vegetables
How do you know Mom loves you?
Grace: Like this big (stretching arms way out) Gives me hugs