Fun times with Dad

Its nice to have a Dad around.  He does fun things.  He took the kids to Farmington one Saturday with his parents and brother Nolan.  They rode trains around in a mans backyard... the backyard being many acres big with many many trains.  

He also took Tyler and Ella to watch the tour of Utah.  I had hoped to go but had a small problem with some motion sickness medicine I took the day before.  We had gone to Lagoon on Friday. And I was so worried about getting sick like the Vertigo that I had several months prior (that required me to be in the hospital with an IV in my arm) So in order to avoid that scary situation again, I popped two Dramamine in my mouth.  Well, I didn't read the label, it says only take one at a time.  Then it was very hot and I didn't drink much. So by about 10 o'clock I was so tired.  So tired I couldn't keep my eyes open.  I woke up at 8 AM and feed Abby some food and told the kids they had to babysit her because I couldn't keep my eyes open.  I told them I needed to take a quick nap.  Darren came home from his ride and I told him I was so tired.  He took the kids and I slept until 1:30.  This went on and on until at 5:00 Darren said I need to get up out of bed so he could take me to the ER.  We called Doctor Eric Allen :)  thankful for a good brother in law.  He pointed out the obvious.  I was dehydrated.  So the Dramamine wasn't leaving my body.   I had been sleeping and not drinking.... So the meds were still in my body.  THANKFULLY but 7 I was hydrated and able to think and keep my eyes open.  

So I missed the Tour of Utah this year.  

But here are some pictures of that fun Savage Lagoon Day.  My kids look forward to it every year!

Hikes with Julie

This is our 6 year hiking.  Julie, my cousin, and I have been going for 6 summers.  Thats pretty good. We did some trails this year that we have never done too.  There are just so many trails.  One day I hope to look at those canyons and say I have started all the hikes.  but It will be a while until we say we have finished all the hikes.  Some are awfully long.  

This was a hike up Bell Canyon.  We almost made it to the first waterfall.  Next year.... Next year....

This hike was Mill D North Fork to Dog Lake in Millcreek.  We didn't make it to Dog Lake but we made it 4 miles.  Chad and his 2 younger kids joined us.  He needed some extra calorie burn so he carried out Julie's 30 lb kid.  After the hike we played in the water and ate snow cones.  

We did a great hike to Red Pine Lake.  We didn't make it to the lake but we did 5 miles.  It was STEEP!!!!  Abby just thinks she is so big all the time.  

Our last hike got rained out 3 weeks  in a row.  But we got up to Lake Catherine the last possible week even though it was cold and half the kids were wearing Candaces maternity clothes that she had in her car.  Lake Catherine is one of those special places in Utah for me.  It is so peaceful and calm there.  Amazing.  We did do several other hikes but no pictures.  So I have my list of hikes ready for 2015!!!

Summer fun

This summer was rainy.  I think back to many cancelled hikes.  Several good thunderstorms.  Playing in the rain.  Even races around the house to see who was the fastest runner in the rain.  

We pitted some cherries.  I wish we had more times so we could have bottled them. We love bottled cherries.  We have had a few tomatoes.  And Tyler and Ella picked a handful of green peppers for me the other day.  We had to talk about green peppers after that.  

My friends Andy and Shawn had an addition to their family.  Lots of love when I look at this photo.  I climbed mountains with Andy and I adore his wife Shawn.  Talk about a strong woman!

We took a tour of the Ogden Temple before its dedication.  My children have been very lucky to go in the Oquirrh Mountain temple, the Darper Temple, the Brigham city Temple and now the Ogden.  We will go to the Payson temple soon.  Very neat that anyone in the whole world can go in the temple before its dedicated.  Beautiful.   

And I think at some points in my life I look back and realize I am getting older.  This was one of those moments.  Great friends.  From our Grant Thornton days.  The Lewis, Hardys and Gagons.  But we have been doing dinners for 7 years now.  This was our first group photo.  Good friends.  People you can see once or twice a year and just visit with.  

We did fit in a few fun slow, relaxing times.  FHE is amazing because it always helps us slow down and play together.  

We have loved our little "Day Family Compound" we live on.  Journey girl had a birthday and Ella loved it.  I imagine these two running around a lot together over the years.  

Trip to Pocatello

The kids and I took a quick trip up to Pocatello before the 4th of July.  Its kind of a little slice of Heaven up at my sisters house.  Our kids play together so well and I just get to sit and talk to my sister Jenny- AKA Jonnn.  We went swimming at a pool.  Played outside.  Jonnn and I went for a bike ride, in the which she threw up all over the road!  (She did swallow a bug and she was pregnant, so I guess throwing up is ok!)  

My siblings came to town July

When my siblings come to town we tend to drop things and just have fun.  Dinners, swimming, cabin time.  on and on... I just love it.  This year we also did family pictures.  We were missing one person ... in the whole family.  Rachels Husband, Rob.  But I know he can be photoshopped into anything!  I put the photos in order of age so you can tell who is who!

We always have a great time with cousins!

Spotlight on Tyler

Tyler loves his piano.  He loves music.  He really always has.  This is him 5 years ago.  He just loved to stand by the piano while Aunt Nellie played so he could hear it vibrate.  He would ask her to play Battle Hymn of the Republic because it was really loud!

He had only taken lessons from a teacher for 11 months and he was amazing.  He played two songs, memorized.  He also won the most points of all the students.  You get points for practice time and songs passed off.  He almost double the average in points.  Ella is eager to play like him!

Tyler is still our star reader!  He has set such a good example of the love reading that his two sisters copy him all the time.   He still loves his legos and his pokemon cards.  But he is happy to read.  

Tyler is a lot like me in being clean and organized.  He spent an hour the other day organizing his closet.  I smiled when I saw the section that he labeled.... Collared shirts.  He would wear a collared shirt every day if I let him!

Tylers report cards are always really good.  His teacher wrote- Tyler is strong in all areas.  He is a fine student and you may be proud of the way you have raised him.  It is a real pleasure to work with such a conscientious, bright and well mannered child.