Spring Break

We went on a hike down the canyon (my parents backyard basically). This is one of my kids favorite things to do when we visit my parents take hikes with grandpa.

All the kids, Ann, and my dad.

The canyon. We hike down to the river and then back up at least a couple times each trip. Different routes down and up every time.

Makenzie and Hannah at the top.

Brody, Bailey, Makenzie, Hannah, Nyah, Kaitlyn, and Spencer. These kids have a lot of fun together. We are so glad to have cousins so close in age and fun to be around.

So on Sunday my dad was put in as Bishop for his ward. I can not believe that he did not want to tell us until he was put in. I want to say that it was a neat experience being there with him last week and to have his kids and grand kids there for him on Sunday to watch was an awesome experience. One that we will never forget. My father is an amazing guy and I know that he will do a wonderful job. I love my family and am so grateful for their constant examples to be better and do better. The whole gang at the church.

Way more stuff happened last week like my sister-in-law Amber and her two kids were passing through on her way home so she stopped and played for a couple hours. We also did a couple of projects like made a ton of bows and a picture frame and of course the zip line. I of course did not get pictures of those things so just know we had fun.

Spring Break

We also went to my Grandparents house and helped them do some Spring cleaning. We washed walls, cleaned windows, moved furniture to vacuum. When you have a crew this big you can get it done pretty fast. My grandpa who has Alzheimer's kept asking my brother what company we were with. Troy would say we are with you your grand kids and a couple minutes later he would get the same question. When I was vacuuming the dining room Ann and I were moving the table and chairs around and he kept telling us you guys do good work, and some one has taught you ladies well on how to clean. It was good for my kids to do this for them and to see how by doing little things like that can make them feel so good.
My Family with my Grandparents.

Troy and Ann's family.

We took everyone swimming Saturday morning. My cousin manages a hotel and let us go swimming.

Brett, Troy, and Josh had a contest to see how many laps they could swim under water with out coming up for a breath. My brother Brett won.

Josh decided to put on Kaitlyn's floaties and go for a swim.

Kaitlyn when we were done swimming. Only in Idaho can you where snow boots with a swimming suit and get away with it.

Spring Break

We did a service project for a lady in my parents ward. We went over and cleaned up her yard. Started a fire to burn all the branches that had fallen off the trees or that we ended up cutting.

Makenzie carrying branches to the fire.

Ann cutting off branches and Grandpa and Spencer picking them up.

Kaitlyn, Ann, Grandma, and Spencer shooting BB Guns in the back yard.

Troy and Makenzie shooting.

Hannah shooting.

The nice thing about where my parents live is that you can shoot in their back yard and its not a big deal. Of course they were shooting at targets but the big open field behind was a plus.

Spring Break

We went to my parents house for spring break because Josh had his finals the same week and finals and spring break do not mix. Josh was lucky to come spend the weekends with us. We started the week off with a dance off. My brother started off on the couch because he didn't want to dance but soon realized to get any scores you have to actually move.

Josh, Ann, and Troy

Kaylin, Josh, and Ann someones not like the others:)

Josh, Ann, and Troy he finally got up and got into it.

All of us.  Josh kept getting first place when he was in the middle so I made him switch me spots and controls and look who came in first after that. It was great entertainment for my parents.

The kids had a fun time dancing as well. Kaitlyn, Makenzie, Bailey, Rylee, and Brody

Everyone had a lot of fun with this game and it was played often.

Confessions

Sometimes being a mom is hard. I know I know, nothing is ever supposed to be easy but sometimes I wish it could be. Like when you have to do sharing time with the Stake Primary visiting and your three year old son wants nothing to do with his Sunbeam teacher, so you end up holding him the entire time. Or like when his hair has gotten way past the "I need a hair cut" stage because he hates getting it cut so you let it grow out and now you can't stand it. Or the fact that he is past three and wanted nothing to do with wearing big boy underwear. So what is a mom left to do when you have tried every thing in the book. You BRIBE him. Let me just say I was skeptical at first but I tell you that it has made ALL the difference in the world.

He got his haircut and was given this helicopter. I have since had to trim up by his ears and he was excited to hop up on the counter for it.

For staying in his class with his teacher for the whole class, he received these dinosaurs. it came with a game and book also. He loves them and plays with them all the time. He knows if he doesn't stay with his class he will get them taken away and he will not let that happen.

I can now officially say that he is potty trained and its all thanks to the little Robbin Egg candies. I know it's a horrible thing to do but for him it has worked magic. I know he knows what he is doing and he knows he will get a prize of some sort but for now this is what I am left to do and NO it will not keep happening. But we have gotten through these big things and he truly is happier.

Girls Weekend

We have wanted to go on a girls weekend for a while now we just never set it down on paper. Well girls we finally did it. We really missed Amber but we had a lot of fun. We headed out of town on Friday and came home Sunday evening. We ate and shopped till our hearts content. I had so much fun with these ladies I am glad to call them family.

Lynette, Stefanie, me, and Kenna (the mom) after a long day of shopping in park city we had to try the melting pot and it was delicious.

A look at our first course. Sad to say I don't know why I stopped taking pictures of the rest of our meal. Probably because I was to busy eating good food. After the cheese fondue we had salads, meat, and then chocolate fondue. So good.

Sunday morning we went to The Spoken Word. Beautiful music and fun to sit and listen to.  The last time I went to this was when I was in Young Women's (a long time a go).

After they finished we were looking around and Kenna saw this cute couple. Sean and Lauren her nephew and his wife. It was fun to see them for a few minutes. After we walked over to the Church Museum and walked around for a couple of hours. It was a nice get a way for a couple of days and so much fun. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!

From our house to yours we hope you had a fun St.Patrick's  Day. Hope you were all wearing green and you ate lots of green things. Today we are having a traditional Irish dinner of Corned Beef and Cabbage and Carmel pull aparts for desert (pull aparts not really Irish just really good).  The dinner has been cooking in the crockpot all day, the house has been cleaned, all of the laundry in my house has been done and folded (can you believe it), and we are all happy.  Hope you enjoy your day.