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!

Jet Skiing with Aunt Ally!

My sister came up this past week, hence all the fun activities. She wanted to rent a jet ski when she was here, so we headed out to Jordenelle Lake after staying the night at the cabin. We had a blast and the kids couldn't get enough of going out on the Lake! It even got Zac hooked and started thinking about owning one! (I've been telling him for awhile how much I would love to have one!) We'll see...it's probably just going to be a dream!


My sister's friend Sheila came up with her kids. It was fun for Ben and Lucas to have someone to play with!

Thanks again Aunt Ally....we had fun!

Cabin Fun

After going to the parade, we went up to Park City and shopped for awhile, then headed on up to Oakley where we stayed at my sister in law's grandpa's cabin! We had a little get together with Erika and her twins and mom, my sister Ally, and my brother Danny and his two kids. Ben and Lucas thought it was fun to sleep in a cabin, and we enjoyed a nice barbeque and evening in the great outdoors! It was fun and beautiful there!

Pioneer Day!

We had never been to the Pioneer Day parade in Salt Lake. We decided to give it a shot this year. We didn't sleep over or do anything crazy like that. We did kind of sneak in with my sister's friends family...and our seats were just fine! Here are a few highlights!

Lot's of cute floats!
Seeing President Monson was definitely a highlight. Notice all the body guards around him! He was cute waving to everybody!
The boys handled the heat and loved seeing the parade!



Now we can say we've been to the big parade! Now we don't have to go again for awhile!

"I am getting bigger!"................by Rachel!

I can't believe I'm 4 1/2 months old! The time is going by fast. I can't wait till I'm bigger, but my Mom just wants to me to stay a baby! Here are some of my latest adventures!

My mom fed my some different food for the first time. I wasn't so sure about it. I don't think I liked it too much. I hope she doesn't give that to me again. I think I'll just stick with my milk!
Although it didn't taste very good....it was fun getting it all over my face!
My mom keeps trying out all these new toys now that I'm a little bigger. I guess she wants to keep me happy so she can get things done. I'm not so sure about this one yet. It kind of scares me! Maybe I'll have to wait to grow a little bit more!
I've been bumboed! My mom pulled the bumbo out so I can sit all on my own! I like this one all right because I can see so much. I don't like to sit in it for too long.

I'm not sure that I should show this picture. It's pretty gross! My mom says that sometimes I have blowouts! It grosses my mom out, but it makes my brothers laugh! I guess it's just part of being a baby!
My favorite thing to do is hang out in my bouncer. I still like to sleep a lot. I think my life so far is good!

Bike Parade, Breakfast, and Water Fun???

Our ward had a bike parade and breakfast. Here is the group coming around for the 2nd time ( I missed the first!) The boys bikes were decked out in a BYU theme...they are die hard cougar fans..at least Ben is and Lucas just follows along with big brother!






We had a nice breakfast and the primary planned fun water games for the kids. This is where it started out innocent.


Then....things turned a little crazy. Who would of thought the leader of the pack was none other than our Bishop Child! Here he is dousing an innocent 11 yr old...poor Riley!
Holly Thompson in the distance getting drenched!

Bishop armed and ready for his next victim. I played the baby card and camera in hand...so nobody had dared get me wet!Does the city need to know about all the water waste?????


We had a fun time. Zac, Ben, and Lucas went away drenched...while Rachel and I escaped in time to make it home dry! It is fun seeing everyone else's pictures on their blogs!