We kick it old school at our house

Yes, that is the original nintendo power pad from circa 1985 and yes, I have saved it this long. I got it for Christmas when I was eight and decided it was time to bust it out for my kids. I am still trying to convince Tate that this is the original WI. I am not suceeding. But he does now call this his "exercise" I think he is just trying to get more video game time in by putting a positive twist on it. That boy is a genius.

Is Summer Over Already?

It must be, because I was greeted early today by this most ecstatic 1st grader.
Tate has been so excited for school to start. The idea of going to school all day and eating lunch in the cafeteria has riddled his talks with me lately. He was so cute this morning and I swear I didn't cry. Ok, so I did cry. I love that little guy with all my heart and the thought of him being old enough to be in school all day got me all choked up. I know he is going to have a blast today his teacher totally rocks and the Tate attends is top notch. Here's to the first day of school and the first day to my baby being in school ALL DAY!! Alright I am crying again.

The yearly hike

Each year, Tommy and his two best friends from high school, hike one of the highest peaks in each of the states. This year was Wheeler peak in New Mexico. This particular hike was 16 miles round trip with an elevation of 13,000. Last year Tommy got Cryptosporidium right as they set out on their drive. Needless to say Tommy can tell you every gas station stop from here to Arizona and whether or not they have a nice restroom. This year we were joking that he was not allowed to go near any swimming pools a month before the hike. As luck would have it, this year, he ate something that did not sit well and got sick again. Lucky for Tommy he just had to throw up and he felt much better. Here are some pics from the big hike.

Here is Tommy and Mark at the begining of the hike (yeah don't ask)

All three of the guys at the timberline. (tommy told me that I have to write "at the timberline", I don't even know what "at the timberline" means. So don't feel bad if you don't either)

At the summit. Yeah!

**Wierd tradition alert.** They always brush their teeth at the summit. Mark claims that it feels more refreshing at a higher altitude.

And last, Tommy trying to kill his self. Yes, I wouldn't mind the insurance money, but I sure love the guy. Mark and Ryan it is your responsibility to keep this guy in check!!

Motherhood - the good the bad and then the down right embarassing

The other day I decided to be a nice mommy and take the kids to get ice cream. We are sitting outside of Baskin Robbins enjoying the sheer goodness that is ice cream. Next to us is a mother with her three children. She is a larger woman, well that is putting it nicely, she was quite obese. She and the children get up to leave and Hudson starts chanting. Hey Mommy that is a fat mommy, hey mommy that is a fat mommy. I am trying to do the sushhh thing, which by the way never works, they never shussh. I finally grab her leg and start ticking her to get her to focus on something else. Which makes her dump her ice cream, which then leads to the onslaught of tears. Motherhood - can we ever win?

Bear Lake

My parents have a house up at Bear Lake and it is one of mine and my kids favorite places to go each summer. They have a boat and wave runners and 4 wheelers, which is probably why it is our favorite place to go. I am a total beach bum and love just sitting on the beach all day while the kids play in the sand. I also love cruising the lake on the boat. This year we were lucky to have some close friends come up with us which made it even more fun. We were also super excited that my niece Laney was staying up their with my parents. She is the most helpful, sweet little girl. My kids adore her, especially Hudson, she thinks Laney is some sort of Queen. And I just love how much she helps me out with my kids. Thanks Laney!!
Here are some fun pics from our trip:

I totally love this picture of Laney and Tate I can't remember what they were laughing about but their expressions are priceless

This is one of the kids favorite things to do - ride on the back of the truck from the beach up to the house

Here is our friends super cute daughter Cambell (like you couldn't figure that one out). She is just three weeks younger then Harper. We are hoping they will be best friends.

Here is Laney on the floating water trampoline.

This was Harper's absolute favorite thing to do. This is a slide attached to the water tramp. She would pull herself up the tramp and slide down the slide. (pretty ambitious - I know). She is 1 1/2 going on 6. Anything Tate can do, she wants to try and do better.

Laney with the girls (she was always helping with the girls) Until the poor thing got the flu and missed out on the last beach day. She was so sick it was sad. During lunch Tate said wait stop eating we need to pray for Laney so that she will get better.

My mom was sweet enough to watch the babies while we headed off to do some serious hiking. Here is the family before we went down in the cave. It was like 400 and some odd stairs up and down. I must admit I was feeling the burn about 10 mins into this hike. I was sure that I was going to have to barter with Tommy to carry me out. Lucky I some how made it on my own.

Here is my friends daughter Tatum. She is so photogenic and she loved me taking her pictures, which is so opposite of Hudson. Side note - our friends have twins whose names are Tatum and Hudson (this is where we got Hudson from). It was the only name that Tommy and I could agree on. But, now we see the error of our ways, it is not so cute when we are all together and we have Tatum and Tate, Hudson and Hudson. Tate wanted to know if he could marry Tatum when he gets big and Hudson could marry Hudson. Call me crazy but I don't think that is going to pan out.

Here is Tommy with his girls clinging for life. Hudson was very scared of the water and Harper was doing whatever Hudson did. She is not scared of the water - in fact the exact opposite. She was constantly testing her limits to see how far out in the water she could go without drowning

i heart Stephanie Meyer

Ok Stephanie Meyer, you are my hero. You have brought completeness to my world. Thank you for putting a giant bow on all things Twilight. I am forever indebted to you. ; )

Handcart Days

I know this is way over now - but I am playing catch up. One of my favorite things about living in Utah is that we get to have not one, but two, 4th of Julyish celebrations. Who doesn't want double the action on parades, fireworks, BBQs and Carnie food? Well maybe Tommy could do without all that twice, but I say "sign me up!" Here are some pictures from the 24th of July festivities down here in our neck of the woods.

This the kind of response I get almost everytime I try to take Hudson's picture

Tate is a boy after my own heart. He loves parades. Harper is not pictured because she is a girl after Tommy's heart and would rather chew wood than sit through a parade.

I totally got a kick out of this entry. Where can I pick me up one of those?