Elk, and Bison and a Bear, Oh My!

Although it wasn't Disneyland (last year's summer vacation), we had a great time in Yellowstone Park and Jackson Hole. I don't think our kids were excited about this family vacation, but they ended up having a great time. We saw a lot of beautiful and exciting things.

We saw quite a few elk.

This bison was right off the side of the road.

We were really hoping to see some bears and we saw one.

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone was amazing.

We shopped and took pictures in West Yellowstone and went to Footloose at the Playmill. It was fabulous. A huge highlight of the trip. We loved it.

We headed to Jackson Hole and got attacked by a bison (luckily it was fake). Aren't these guys great posers!

We rode the Alpine Slide and jumped on a Bungee Trampoline.

On the last day of our trip, Mom, Hollie and family, and Natalie and family, met us at this great indoor pool. We had a picnic and tons of fun in the pool. This was a great place for little kids. I think almost every person went on the slides. I was the only one with my camera so I added a couple of extra shots.McKell loved the slides, she is usually hesitant, but she had fun!

Justin and Rylee - I love Rylee's face in this picture. She loves the water.

Jayson and Ava

Braxton and Jace

We had a great time. I love spending time with Der and the kids and it was great to end our trip with some extended family.

Celebrating Forty

My parents were born the same day, the same year, in the same hospital. They grew up a few miles apart and dated through high school. My mom waited for my dad on his mission and today, they are celebrating FORTY years of marriage.

They raised 7 children. I don't know how we were so lucky to get them as parents. They have done so much for each one of us. In forty years this family of 9 has grown into 35!

You have both set such a great example of hard-work, compassion, and love. We love you. Happy Anniversary.

July Fourth

The Fourth of July weekend was full of fun. We went to the drive-in, a city parade, had a barbecue at my parents, played all afternoon in the water, watched a parade put on by some very creative kids, went to the Idaho Falls fireworks, made smores, and then did our own fireworks. So fun!!

McKell and Derek - This was McKell's first drive-in experience.

Raegan, Lauren, McKell, and Olivia at the parade.

My entire family (all 35) got together for a picnic.

The kids had a blast on this blow-up water toy.

Braxton and Haylie (my niece) even got in on the water fun. I can't believe how grown up these two are. They have always been close and still like being around each other. We watched Haylie in the parade with the drill team. Crazy! I still remember my drill team days.

Raegan, Lauren, Payton, Savanna, McKell, Olivia, Jace, and Justin (who got to be the driver), put on their own parade for us that evening. They even made up a cheer/dance to show us.

Everyone loves to make smores.

Dream to Dance

McKell had her dance reviews about 3 weeks ago and the theme was, "To Dream To Dance." They do a total of 3 shows. Seriously, the Saturday night show was fabulous. It is a showcase of all their competitive numbers. There were lots of great dancers. I dare say that McKell loves dance as much as I do. She has taken dance for just over 6 years and joined the competitive group 2 years ago. She loves the competitions and the dances that they learn. She has some amazing teachers. Dance is tons of fun and I love the confidence it has given McKell. I love to watch her perform and to watch her improve each time. She is a great little dancer. Her favorite dance this year was a specialty number, "Shake a Tailfeather." (pictured above)

"New Soul"

McKell and Meg backstage

The finale

So Much to Blog - So Little Time

I can't ever seem to keep up with this blogging thing. I take tons of cute pictures and have lots to post, but never seem to get around to it. You would think that since it is summer I would have much more time, but it is just as busy as ever around here even now that I don't have to go to work everyday. So much has happened, so here it is all at once or at least most of it.

Memorial Day 2009


We had a blast playing with cousins.










Playing basketball







Making smores

















Rocking out

Visiting the cemetery




Dad's Accident
Two days after Memorial Day my dad was in a serious motorcycle accident. Here are some details (I took this from my sister's blog, who I think took it from another sister. Isn't family great?) My dad was in an induced coma for a week after the accident to help expediate the healing of his ribs so he could start breathing on his own. They kept him in intensive care for 10 days and then moved him to the recovery floor for 3 or 4 days, where they kept him extremely and sometimes comically medicated. Can you say hallucinations? You wouldn't believe some of the stuff he was saying. He was released from the hospital on Tuesday, June 9th. Since then, my mom has become his full time nurse- helping him with everything from eating, getting up, bathroom, etc. His right hand is broken and has pins in it and his left side is practically debilitated right now with all the pain. He will be going to lots of therapy for his hand, is still a little beat up on his face- but got most of his stitches out, and his left side is painfully sore (with 7 broken ribs and a broken scapula.) He can get up and down really slowly and has been glad to be at home. He is still weak, but improving everyday. It's a miracle that he is still alive and still has full use of his brain and all his organs.

We made a quick trip down while he was still in the hospital right after school got out and I have been down since. It will be a pretty long recovery process. It is so different to see my dad this way. He is a person who never slows down and works all day and all night and right now he is moving pretty slow. It is great if he can make it out to the mailbox and back now. I have been so touched by all the phone calls, visitors, and seriously the stack of get well cards he has gotten. They live in a great little community.

Last Day of School


Last day of 3rd grade

I can't believe how fast the school year has gone. My kids have had a great year. Braxton survived (and loved) his first year of high school. He got all A's and one B this last semester. He got pretty involved and met lots of new people. He is doing great and looking forward to football, driving without his parents in the car, and turning 16 (I can't believe it either) in the next few months. McKell loved third grade, had a great teacher, made some fun new friends, learned to write in cursive, passed off all her multiplication and division facts and is ready to move on to fourth grade.

Happy Belated Birthday McKell

McKell celebrated her NINTH birthday on April 17. Here are NINE things you may or may not know about McKell.

1. McKell loves to dance. She has taken dance for 6 years and seriously can't wait for dance each week. She started competitive dance 2 years ago and just loves it. Her and her friend even make up dances at school to teach other girls at recess.

2. McKell is totally into clothes and fashion. This is a new thing, but it seems like everyday is a fashion show. She loves putting together outfits and loves matching shoes and accessories. Her favorite places to shop - Abercrombie and Gymboree.

3. McKell is kind to everyone. McKell's teacher told me that she just really appreciates how nice McKell is to all the students in her class. She includes everyone and tries to never hurt anyone's feelings. I hope she will always remember how important this is. She is also very kind to animals (a trait she did not get from me.)

4. McKell is creative. She loves to draw and decorate.

5. McKell is a good student. She loves school and does well on all her assignments. This year she has passed all her multiplication and division timings and learned how to write in cursive. She has loved her teacher.

6. McKell is a "daddy's girl." She likes to hang out and be with me, but loves to spend time with Derek. She loves to go on lunch dates with him and has even been helping him in the yard.

7. McKell loves babies. She always loves to hold brand new babies and now that she is getting bigger she wants to carry them around. She really likes all the baby nieces and nephews and wishes she had a baby sister. As for now when we go to grandma's she uses Halle (her cousin) as her baby. Luckily, Halle is a really good baby and lets McKell pack her around.


8. McKell is a girly girl. She loves pink, dance, gymnastics, shopping, jewelry, hair accessories, make up, and all that great girl stuff.


9. McKell is silly. She loves to make people laugh. When she gets together with friends they do the silliest things and just giggle.



McKell celebrated her birthday by having a fun, friends party. We went to see Hannah Montana, The Movie and then had presents, pizza, and cupcakes. We are so lucky to have McKell in our family.

Anniversary

Tomorrow is my one-year anniversary of joining CrossFit (http://www.crossfitcachevalley.com). Besides my marriage, I think that CF is the only thing I have consistently stuck with for so long. I have pretty much gone to CF three to four times a week, starting May 12 of last year. Here are some random thoughts/memories of CF.

My first WOD (workout of the day): Newbie
3 rounds of 10 pushups, 15 pullups, & 20 situps

Todays WOD:
5 rounds of 400 meter run, 7 kettlebell thrusters (35#), 14 pullups, & 7 burpees

My favorite WOD: Murph
1 mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats, & 1 mile run

My least favorite WOD: Fran
21 - 15 - 9 reps of thrusters (95#) & pullups

My favorite CF people: Dean and the original 4 PM class members
Least favorite CF person: I call him 'Grunt'

Number of people I have taken to CF: 7 (including Destry)
Number that still go to CF: 1 (yes, a little disheartening)

Longest WOD: Murph - 1 hour, 1 minute
Shortest WOD: Baseline - 4 minutes

First goal - be able to do eight pushups in a row, I did 25 in a row today
Latest goal - ten double unders in a row, I struggle to do two in row (lots of work to do)

Number of people in the 4 PM class on my first day: 1 (me)
Number of people in the 4 PM class today: 22

Number of CF t-shirts I have: 4
Number of weeks I wore only CF t-shirts to work: 1

It has been a great year. I look forward to the WOD tomorrow and those of the next year. A big thanks to Brad (the trainer/owner) for bringing CF to Logan and inspiring me, along with over 100 others, to change their lives.