Getting together with family!

This past Saturday we went to a potluck and family gathering with Zac's family. We enjoyed the afternoon with Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins, 3rd cousins...etc! It was a lovely afternoon as the weather has been so nice and the kids had fun playing in the huge yard.

Football fun!

Lucas tire swinging with cousins!

Rachel hanging out and enjoying all the attention of being the cutest baby girl!

The mini John Deer was a hit with all the kids!

Lucas could have stayed all day and played on the tractor!

Quiz

I saw this fun quiz on my sister in law's blog and thought it would be fun to try with Ben (8) and Lucas (5..almost 6). They were both not too thrilled to be answering these questions and thought it was weird that I was asking them. Ben also didn't want them posted on my blog. I had to coach them a little but these are their true answers.

1. What is something that mom always says to you?
Lucas: go clean your room
Ben: empty the dishwasher
2. What makes mom happy?
Lucas: When I clean my room and do things the 1st time.
Ben: I don't know....Reese's Peanut Butter Cups?
3. What makes mom sad?
Lucas: fighting with you
Ben: When I hit my brother.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Lucas: tickling me
Ben: tickling me
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Lucas: cried a lot
Ben: smart
6. How old is your mom?
Lucas: 55
Ben: 35
7. How tall is your mom?
Lucas: 6 inches
Ben: I don't know...how tall are you?
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Lucas: go to the store and eat ice cream (he actually said steel ice cream but since he was just being silly and it's not actually true I changed it!)

Ben: Read...play volleyball
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Lucas: play with Rachel
Ben: clean the house
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Lucas: to be a rock star!
Ben: nothing (thanks a lot Ben!)
11. What is your mom really good at?
Lucas: Running on the treadmill and running
Ben: Volleyball
12. What is your mom not so good at?
Lucas: soccer
Ben: mowing the lawn
13. What does your mom do for her job?
Lucas: clean the house
Ben: work at a hospital and make dinner
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Lucas: Ritzy chicken
Ben: Hawaiian Haystack...wait that's my favorite. I don't know...ice cream?
15. What makes your mom proud?
Lucas: when I unload the dishwasher
Ben: us helping out
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Lucas: John and Kate plus eight (I informed him that they were not cartoon characters...but it is his favorite show.)..No....Phineas and Ferb
Ben: Isabel from Phineas and Ferb
17. What do you and your mom do together?
Lucas: go shopping
Ben: make food
18.How are you and your mom the same?
Lucas: we are both wearing blue
Ben: we have the same eye color
19. How are you and your mom different?
Lucas: we have different hair
Ben: born in a different state
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Lucas: she gives me kisses
Ben: she gives me hugs

Great...now my husband wants to buy a paintball gun!

Our friend Kevin just celebrated a birthday and his only wish was to get all his friends together for some paintballing fun! I normally would never subject myself to that kind of torture and call it fun...but I guess that's what you do for friends! Here's a run down of the evening:

It started out just lovely when we got there and I went to put my shoes on (I of course was running late and walked out the house with my flip-flops) and I realized that I had grabbed 2 right shoes. I wanted to grab some old shoes so I went to this bag that had D.I. shoes in them and was excited to find my old running shoes. I didn't realize that there were 2 old pairs in the bag (I always buy the same running shoes and just get rid of them after 6 months!) So...my choices were flip-flops or 2 right shoes. I guess you can tell what I chose and clumsily ran around and hurt my big toe in these shoes. At least I provided the comic relief for the evening!
This was our girls team.....we totally rocked! Who would of thought I would secretly like shooting people....as long as I didn't get hit!
I think the girls had more fun just hanging out, talking, and eating while the boys had their fun running, hiding, and shooting!

Do I look scary or what?

What is it with guys and guns? They think they are so cool!

I'm sorry I didn't get this guys name....but check out the wound on his neck...that is REAL blood! That is why I didn't want to play with the guys.....they are out for the kill!

So all in all it was a fun night. The funnest part was ganging up with Nicole and watching her back while she took out 3 of the other team! I only got hit once and it had hit something else first so the blow wasn't too bad. I secretly liked shooting at other people....I was just afraid of getting hit! Zac of course already wants to buy a paintball gun so he can make it his new hobby. Thanks Kevin for a fun night and Happy Birthday!

It's a curse!

I swear I have the curse of Thrush! I have gotten this awful infection while nursing all 3 of my kids. It is the most painful thing I've ever experienced....next to labor! And..the medicine that's prescribed by the doctor doesn't usually seem to help me. The only thing I've found to work is the purple staining Gentian Violet...too bad it's so messy and stains everything it comes in contact with. Anyways...I somehow will get through it and hopefully will get rid of it soon. In the meantime...I feel like I have a part-Smurf child and am afraid to take her out it public!

TAGGED

I've noticed that since summer vacation is over and school is back in we don't do very many interesting things and I don't really have anything to blog about. Plus...my friend Amber keeps bugging me because I haven't updated my blog...she's my blog stalker and really gets mad when I don't put anything on! So , since I was tagged awhile ago but have never gotten around to doing it (sorry Lindsey!)..and to please Amber...here I go!

ALSO...I must foolishly admit that I just realized the questions go along with the alphabet...I never got it before! I'm such a retard.

A. ATTACHED OR SINGLE? Attached, just celebrated 11 years!
B. BEST FRIEND? Zac..( I have to say that, right?) JK...I'm so glad I get to share this life with him....and eternity!
C. CAKE OR PIE? cake..definately chocolate..I don't love pie crust or cooked fruit..however, does that stop me from eating it???

D. DAY OF THE WEEK? Saturday..I love having Zac there for re-enforcement..and I like to go shopping by myself!

E. ESSENTIAL ITEM? books on a long trip, contacts (I hate wearing glasses and I'm totally blind!), and ice cream..I love it!
F. FAVORITE COLOR? I don't really have one...black maybe? I think it makes you look slimmer!
G. GUMMY BEARS OR WORMS? Neither...but if I had to choose...bears
H. HOMETOWN? Vista, CA (I'm still a Cali-girl at heart!)
I. INDULGENCE? ice cream before bed...I feel like it gives me sanity!
J. JANUARY OR JULY? July for sure. We usually end up in San Diego and get to enjoy the beach!
K. KIDS? 3...2 boys and 1 baby girl!

L. LIFE ISN'T COMPLETE WITHOUT? family, faith, friends

M. MARRIAGE DATE? August 23, 1997

N. NUMBER OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS? 1 Sister and 6 Brothers

O. ORANGES OR APPLES? Oranges...I love them when they are really sweet!

P. PHOBIAS OR FEARS? Finding a dead person, having close family members die.

Q. QUOTE? "Never suppress a kind thought" - It was the last thing my Dad ever said before he passed away...I know have it hanging in my kitchen.

R. REASONS TO SMILE? A cute and fun baby, funny kid sayings, laughs with my friends

S. SUPERMAN OR WONDERWOMAN? Superman..I guess..don't ask me why!

T. TAG 5 PEOPLE? I'm sure everyone's already been tagged

U. UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME? I like to read LDS Fiction Romance Novels...sappy romance, but good and clean.

V. VEGETABLES? yuck..only corn, green beans, or carrots

W. WORST HABIT? too many sweets....they are like a basic food group for me

X. X-RAY OR ULTRASOUND? I've never had an x-ray...but ultrasounds have been 50/50 for me....3 good and 3 bad.

Y. YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? roast beef, mashed potatoes, and my mom's homemade rolls

Z. ZODIAC SIGN? Taurus

11 Years of Bliss!

Zac and I just celebrated our 11th anniversary on the 23rd. I would be lying if I said it was all bliss, but we've definitely had 11 great years! He continues to amaze me with his kindness, hard work and dedication, his ability to calm my frazzled nerves, and his love for me despite my many weaknesses!
He also is very thoughtful and always gives great presents...like the one he gave me for our anniversary. On Friday, he sent me away for the whole day while he worked on some secret project. I willingly obliged to spend the day shopping, until I finally told him I was coming home whether he liked it or not! I come home and find his whole family at my house...and I'm still not able to go upstairs anywhere. So finally, at about 9:30 pm...he takes me upstairs for my gift. I was kind of nervous to go in...not sure if I would like what he'd done. So....he picked out a new bed set and painted our whole bedroom...all without my knowing! We had white walls before and nothing really fancy in our room....so it is a much needed improvement. I'd love to get a king size bed and get new bedroom furniture...but until the budget allows.....this is a lovely change that gives our room a whole new feel! He was pretty daring to tackle this on his own (well, he did have his mom help his shop and his dad helped him paint!), but he did I good job and I totally love it!


Now he says I get to go shopping to find new things to put on the walls, which will be fun! He's a great husband and I'm so thankful I married him.

Thought this might be fun

Everyone needs to play...This is Fun!

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember--it can be funny, weird, awkward, random, etc.!...(but hopefully not bad!)

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Just Because

Look at these flowers Zac sent me when I was at work the other day:




I was surprised when I got a message saying that I had a delivery waiting for me in the front lobby. It made me wonder if I'd forgotten our anniversary, but it is still a week away! Come to find out, he'd sent me these just because I'd had a crummy morning. I was on my way to work and had to drive to North Ogden to drop the kids of at my mother in laws. There is a road that is notorious for being a speed trap, and I know that you have to drive slow and there are always police officers just sitting there...waiting for their next prey! Well, sure enough I was just driving along....not even thinking about how fast I was going and just when I see him....he drives up behind me and pulls me over..and yes...I got a ticket! I was so mad.....mostly because I know that it is my own dumb fault...I just wasn't even thinking about it (in my defense...you practically have to coast to not speed because the speed limit is only 30 mph and should be at least 40 mph!) Anyways....it was so dumb on my part...but I was still mad!
I'm grateful that Zac is so thoughtful and took the time to do something nice to cheer me up. He'll be embarrassed that I put this on my blog....but I have to brag at how great I think he is!

First Day of School

I survived the summer and the first day of school finally came! We had a great summer and actually did more than I thought we would with having a new baby and all.....but what a relief it is to have those kids back in school! Lucas started Kindergarten this year so that's exciting for him. My favorite quote from the day was from Lucas when he said..."I can't believe I'm going to this school now!"

Lucas had fun in his first day of class. It's a bummer he doesn't start up for real until next week!
This is Ben with his good friend Cooper.....are they really both in the 3rd grade?

Bear Lake

Last weekend, we went to Bear Lake and had our last fun getaway before school started. We went with Zac's family and camped in Montpelier, ID. I'd never been to the Bear Lake area before, so it was fun to go. I loved the Lake with it's sandy beach and clear blue water. It was a great weekend, minus the stormy nights with lots of rain, thunder, and lightening! Here are some highlights from the trip! (sorry for the long post!)


The legend of Old Ephraim (or 3 toes as he was called!): He used to roam around Bear Lake and they knew it was him because his tracks only showed three toes. When he began eating cattle and lambs....they hunted him down..and his story remains a legend...he even has his own statue!


I'm not sure these are the bears they are talking about...but they are definitely wild animals!
What do when you are tent camping, trying to make dinner, and it's starts pouring rain???? You head into town and find the only restaurant there is and buy dinner! Luckily for us this was a great family restaurant, with great prices and great food (they had the best onion rings)! We stayed as long as we could to outlast the rain and lightening, but decided to leave when there was no sign of it letting up and our welcome was wearing thin! So, if you're ever in Montpelier, ID and need a place to eat....go to Timbers!

Grandpa and Rachel!

Innovative camping games....throw a pool ring onto a wooden spoon!

Zac, Ben, and Lucas on the jet ski! Lucas was a little leary of going with his Dad again because the last time Zac tipped the boys into the Lake. Ben could not get enough and always wanted a turn!

Zac's sister Lezlee and her daughter Lydee

Lucas loves to play on the beach

The gang

We went to this museum in Montpelier. They had this nice tour that takes you through the steps of getting ready for a pioneer trek, a simulated wagon ride, and life along the trail. It was pretty cool!
This lady was real nice to to talk to the kids and explain about all the things in the museum. They especially loved to see how this old cash register worked!

We went to the Minnetonka cave. It was fun to go with the kids because they thought it was so cool and had never been in a cave before They complained about it being too cold though!

Rachel did pretty good on the trek. She only cried when our tour guide turned off the lights and it was completely dark. We felt bad because no one could hear what the guide was trying to say...but what can you do in the pitch dark!

Stalactites or Stalagmites? I can never remember which one comes from the ground or hangs from above!

Ben enjoying the cave!

We had a great weekend. We are already planning to go back next year...let us know if you want to come join the fun!