4 Wheel Fun

The night before leaving for home, Grandpa Bentley gave the kids rides on his 4-wheeler. They loved it. I was determined to not keep such late hours this summer, but when it's light out and everyone is having such a good time I always give in. Yeah, we may all be a little sleep deprived, but we're having fun and making memories:-)

On Monday, we went in to Heber to shop and have lunch with Tom. The kids enjoyed playing at our favorite park, and I enjoyed sitting and talking with my hubby after a week of being gone.

Summer daze

I can not believe how fast the summer is flying by. Needless to say, I'm not spending as much time on the computer, so the blog has been getting neglected. I feel like I'm always playing catch up, but here we go again.

On Friday the 13th ...ooo, my family came up for meetings my Dad had in the area. We hung out for the day then caravaned to Price with a much needed stop at Cafe Rio. (I had to insist with the braces off and all:-) Tom and my dad were forced to put in 9 holes before leaving the Valley, and my mom and I and the kids stopped on the way for some shopping. We all met at my parent's that night, but the guys beat us there, go figure. The only thing that takes longer than golf would have to be shopping.













Then on Saturday, we went to my class reunion. During the day we hung out at the Dinomine Park, and that night we had dinner at the Country Club. However, the highlight of my evening was getting to see Bentley and Grandpa coming up the walkway in their golf cart. As we were leaving the dinner we were kindly invited to head over to the local bar where the party would be moving. We politely declined, and as I walked out and saw my dad and son I don't think I've ever been so grateful for my life... such a contrast from where we had just been.


The next day was Father's Day. It was so fun to be able to spend it with my father, the father of my children, and the father of my future grandchildren... Bentley is really into numbers lately and just today was saying how when he's 29 I'm going to be 50, and he'll get to be the dad, and I get to be the grandma... sometimes he amazes me as to what he thinks about. Emma put in her two cents and said that she'll get to be Mom and Bentley will get to be Dad and I'll get to be Grandma... well, something like that, Em. To see life through the eyes of child again:-)





We had a fun weekend together. Then Tom had to leave to go to work for the week, but the kids and I stayed until the next Saturday. We enjoyed hanging out with Grandma, but when we finally arrived home I think Tom was really glad to see us again. These are picture of the kids playing show and tell at Grandma's, the kids and Grandma at Wally (we always have to hit it when we come to the big city, hehe), and Ali sitting on a stool. She's very into being like the big kids, so Emma set up the chairs (you can see all around her) so she wouldn't have to be in her high chair but would still be safe; what a good big sister!

Now you see them... now you don't

You know the feeling of anticipation that you felt as a child on Christmas Eve, or the excitement felt the day before you were to be married, tone that down a bit, and that's what I've been feeling for the past few days. What, may you ask, brought on this thrill? Well... yesterday I got my braces off! I know, I sound like I could be in Jr. High, still I'm ecstatic. I've had them on for what I thought was going to be 12-16 months but has turned into over two years! That's all of Ali's and half of Emma's lifetime! Did I mention how glad I am to have them off?

I think the best part is being able to eat and enjoy eating again. Observe a little bit of heaven from this morning: grapefruit, OJ, omelet, and banana waffles... mmm.

Week (or two) in review...

The past week and a half has been pretty busy, but really not too much busier than any other. The only difference would be that instead of spending time online/blogging I've been scrapbooking. I'm attempting to get caught up. I'm making slow progress, but I'm pleased to say that Emma is now in existence in our books:) This still puts me at over three years behind, but some progress is better than none. I'm hoping to get caught up by the end of the summer. I posted a while ago about going digital. I'm still excited about it, but currently I'm "paper" scrappin' because I'm so behind, I've got all the pictures printed, and basically I love it and can't give it up. Tom's a little disappointed and thinks I should go totally digital (I can't imagine why), but I've decided to do both. As Tom likes to point out... "Why have one, when you can have two for twice the price?"
To catch up a bit, here's a glance into our lazy days of summer:





On Monday the 2nd, Allen, Carson, Ellie and some of their friends came up to the cabin. They planned a trip to the fish hatchery in Kamas, so we decided to tag along. The kids loved it, and Emma is still talking about the big fish whose job was to splash her.





That night we went swimming at the Fitness Center for FHE. Our pass there has been one of our best investments this year. Although swimming for babies is now only with appropriate swim diapers and plastic pants, Ali doesn't seem to mind.







Bentley has been enjoying baseball. It has been fun to watch him but painful too because it feels like it could be February here.









Grandma Bentley came to visit before and after she had a fun get away with some of her friend. We were so happy to see her!










Grandma Christy came up on Tuesday and brought her new kitten, Oreo. The kids have loved playing with him and got a kick out of it when he fell asleep in the baby stroller.








Ali hasn't been going to bed very well as of late, so the other night after putting her in bed I gave her a massage with some Eucerin cream. It worked really well to calm her down and she drifted off. However, the next morning she apparently wanted some more cream and decided to help herself.







Emma has a new hairdo that she likes because it has "five ponies".











Then, on this past Tuesday we had to go to Heber for some car repairs. Tom was in SLC, so we were without wheels for about an hour and half. Not to worry though, we packed Bentley's bike and the stroller and were off to the nearest park. Well, the "nearest park" turned out to be about two miles away. I knew it was a ways, but we didn't have many other options. The kids were fabulous though. Bentley rode like a champ, and the girls were great in the stroller. Part of our walk was on a road without a sidewalk, so we all enjoyed chanting, "bumpy road, bumpy road... smooth road, smooth road... bumpy road, bumpy road..." as we would move off and onto the pavement with each passing car. Luckily we didn't fall in any of the "hole in the road"s as we did come across some with all the new houses under construction in the area. Who knows maybe someday we'll own one of them... These are some pictures of the kids after arriving at the park.

And some after arriving home.








The weather was nice that morning, windy but warm. However, it was soon to change. That evening at Bentley's game we just about froze, and the next morning, Wednesday, we woke to this...








That's right! SNOW! In the middle of June!

Goblin Valley

On Friday, May 30th we decided to venture down to Goblin Valley. It was a fabulous day. The ride was great thanks to the DVD player that KC and Brig gave us for Christmas. It is seriously the gift that keeps on giving. Every calm, straight through ride we take I am ever so grateful all over again. Thanks KC and Brig.
Once we arrived, we had lunch (always the key for us). We get everyone fed and feeling good, and then everything seems to go more smoothly. After our nice relaxing lunch we set out to discover the goblins. The kids loved it. Bentley was all over the place, climbing on... everything. Emma did a great job too. She tried to keep up and did pretty well for the first half hour to forty five minutes, but then she was done. Ali was fine to ride in the sling for the first little bit, but then insisted on getting down and running with kids. That made for pretty slow progress, but it didn't really matter because we weren't in a hurry. Finally when Emma was red in the face and Ali was starting to act fussy and out of character (I think she was over heating too.), we decided to head back. By the time we made it back to the car Ali was crying, Emma insisted on being carried and Bentley was saying how sweaty he was. I was amazed at how much hotter it was out on the rocks. We were actually a little chilly while eating lunch in the shade with a slight breeze, but after the hike we were anything but cold. We had everyone finish off their water bottles, started up the movie and were back to Price in no time. It was a great day trip. Sometimes short and sweet is best.

Not exotic, but definitely fun

Some people go on cruises, others to Mexico, Disneyland, Florida, Nauvoo... These are all fun vacation destinations that I dream of going. Last week we went on a vacation of our own. However, it wasn't to any of these. We spent the week in Price, and I can honestly say I don't think I would have had more fun sitting on a California beach. (OK, so maybe a little bit more, but we won't go there.) Tom took the week off, and we were set. As I am still working some in Price we had to throw in a little business with pleasure, but unlike other times when poor Tom ends up with the kids all week while I'm doing the speech thing we decided to try and have a little fun too. We arrived on Tuesday and enjoyed visiting with family, walking the streets of Price, and touring some new homes. Wednesday we had planned to swim. I bought a new swimming suit on the way up, the kids and Tom had theirs, and we bought new water shoes so we could hit the waves. Well, the pictures turned out cute, but as you can see we had the pool to ourselves. We almost didn't go but had promised the kids all day, so although it was cold we went for a short but memorable dunk in the pool. Also on Wednesday we drove out to Cleveland to see Lynae's new house. (I'm not into houses or anything right now;) Well, it was beautiful of course, and so fun to see her and visit for a few minutes. Thursday, Tom took the kids to the track (Bentley's request) and to the Dino-mine park which is always a good time. That night we went with my parents to their Stake Temple night in Manti and had a great experience doing sealings. Friday's adventures will be for another post (I know the anticipation is too much.) And Saturday we packed it up and headed for home. It was truly one of those vacations where you come home having had a blast, feeling a little heavier than when you left (Thanks Mom, you alway make the best spreads! mmm...), and ready to do better with every aspect of life! I think sometimes its not where you go, but who you're with that makes for great times. Would you agree?