This one picture shows so many things I'm thankful for...

Their love for each other
Cuddling
Gavin reading
Their eyes
My love for them
Family
Special time together
Our home
Being healthy
Photography
Testimony of Families being together forever

Love of the Triathlon

One post about many Triathletes...

Last month I did my first tri and loved loved loved it! Uncle Bo, Uncle Pal, Trey and Tressa also participated. It was a blast to be with family and have so much fun. We all placed in our divisions (except uncle pal who got his own ER bed for a broken collar bone...it was very scary but he is healing well).


I told Gavin I was going to do another triathlon and he said he wanted to do the kids distance. I couldn't believe it (I wanted to talk him out of it...but didn't). He had his mind made up and so we ended up on Saturday at the Turkey Tri together.


He was so excited as he swam, biked and ran his little heart out. And, he stole my heart in the process. Nana and I cried and cried...We were so proud of this "big boy" who was growing up right before our eyes.

The scary part was he crashed into a parked truck while riding his bike. It was amazing that he didn't cry but just wanted to go park his bike and start the run so he could finish the race. What a boy...My Boy!

BOO!

They are way too cute to be scary! I'm so glad they still want to wear fun costumes. Gavin picked Ironman last year at Halloween and Ty loves loves loves Buzz...That worked out well for our pocketbook since Gavin had the costume a few years ago.

They have a truck load of candy that I will put up in the cupboard. They will forget about it in a week and then Trav and I will cherish it for months to come. (Thanks boys for all your hard work. We will think of you every time we sneak to get a candy and try ever so hard not to make any noise with the wrapper so we don't have to share)

The world of potty training...

me - "Ty will you please go to the potty before we leave"
ty - "Sure mom"

next scene...Ty standing over potty...

me - "Ty please hurry we need to go"
ty - "K, hurry"
me - "Are you going to go pee"
ty - "Mom...'it' broken"

Fade out to black as mom and dad laugh until their bellies hurt...

A Family of Fish

Zion!

Zion is one of our favorite places to go. Its natural beauty is overwhelming and we can never get enough of it and all the different places to explore.

Gavin was really excited to go across the river and wanted us to follow...Which is usually fine but on this chilly day I'm pretty sure I got hypothermia of the feet! It was freezing...but fun too!

Ty ran the whole hike and he got mad when we tried to make him settle down. It wasn't long after this grumpy picture that he fell asleep on Trav's arm on the way back down the trail.

(iPhone pictures)

Home Girls!

Who knew we would have soooooo much fun?
We left 8 husband and 24 kids to spend the evening in Teresa's cabin. Fondu, games, questions, the cutest little puppy (who snuggled me and chewed on Karen), Rock Band, Dance Dance Revolution, Twilight, laughing, sleepwalking, more laughing, wonderful bunch of girls, and I can't wait for our next outing with my home girls.

Oh, Son!

His only words during all the tears and blood...

"Why didn't you tell me that was going to happen"?

What the...Why didn't I tell you you were going to face plant on the skateboard and get a screw in your head...I'm sorry I didn't foresee that future episode!



That happened last night at grandpa Steve's house. Grandma only had baby aspirin that had to be swallowed...Well, he has never swallowed pills before so that was another traumatic experience and took at least 10 minutes before it finally dissolved in his mouth. He kept drinking lots of water but for some reason that little bitty pill wouldn't go down. I was laughing pretty hard by that point.

He is doing much better this morning as you can see by the smile on his face. I'm sure he'll get lots of attention at school and he'll love that!

This little cowboy loves his dirt...We have a wonderful yard with lawn and toys and shade but it's not for him. He asks if he can go to the open lots next to our home so he can sit in the sun and play with his tractors in the dirt. He loves to roll in it, swim in it, lay in it... He just loves it and I love him because he loves it!

My Cowboys

We had our RODEO last week...It was great. I love dressing the boys up (and they love it too...they know they look good). We were there with Nana and we can't wait until the next rodeo.

It took me forever to get a decent picture of Ty. He wanted to do everything Gavin was doing and it made it hard to get a picture of him by himself. (and the photographer might have gotten a little angry!)

This picture is all Ty...The look on his face is one we see often and totally his personality.

I LOVE IT!

My Life

It seems I always have someone asking me either "What's new" or "What have you been doing"? Two very interesting questions if you are interested in -
1. The Triathlon 2. Photography 3. Potty training
If you know anything about any one of these subjects you know that it takes a lot of time...let alone all three of them at one time...So, that's what I've been up to. And, I can prove it...



The triathlon is in one month and I'm so excited. And photography...Well, that never ends and I'm very grateful for all the business. It's so fun and part of me!
As for potty training the sooner that ends the better...I love this little dude but spending endless hours thinking of his bum isn't what I call 'fun'. He is doing great and hopefully we can stop having mommy/son time in the bathroom (there are better places to spend quality time).

The Mountain!

We were lucky enough to spend Labor Day Weekend with some great friends. At the last minute we all packed our bags and headed for the cabin. It was F-U-N! (Brooke and Jake, there are no excuses next time...We want you there!)


The boys hopped right in the rhino and went exploring...


We went to church with 450 other people that were on Brianhead in one small little tinny building. It was nice to hear testimonies from people who were from all different places.
After lunch we played lots of "easy" games...It was so nice to be outside and enjoy the peace and calming influence of nature.


Genevieve is wrapped up in a huge sweat shirt during an evening camp fire. I love her cute little face.
We had tons and tons and tons of fun in a few days. It was wonderful...and it made it hard to go home. Thanks Evans for a great time...



After we left the cabin we went to the other side of Cedar Mountain and enjoyed an afternoon with Trav's family. We played in the dirt and then we were ready to go home and get clean.

6 years and counting...

Gav had a very fun for me to plan Dr Seuss birthday party...But, that's what it was... just planned and not put into action. All the games and the decorations went out the window when the rain and wind came. Regardless of the lack of decorations and games we still had a really good time with friends and loved ones. As usual the bad weather only lasted minutes and Gavin got to do what he cared about the most...swimming.

1st Grade!

He started 1st grade on the 13th of August. He was brave! Me - not so brave! I've been volunteering in his class and love being able to participate. He also loves having me there (lots of hugs and kisses while I'm there. Why isn't he that excited to see me when he's home - strange). I love this boy and love seeing him learn and grow!

The Book Of Mormon

"I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness."

By, Pres. Marion G. Romney - 1980 Ensign

I really needed to be reminded of these great promised today. Can you believe all the blessings we can recieve for doing something so simple? Amazing!

Lake Powell 2009

Sharing more joy from our trip to California...Oh, how we miss the sand in our toes.

If I "have to go" geocaching this is the only place I want go do it! It it so beautiful. I miss it already! You can see how Travis is loving the treasure hunt...he is looking at his new iPhone to see which direction to go next.

(and when I say new I mean BRAN-NEW! He got it the day we arrived in Laguna. I was lucky he looked at me once it was in his hot little hands)

From Wikipedia ~ Geocaching is an outdoor activity in which the participants use a GPS or other navigational techniquest to hide and seek containers anywhere in the world...

Just a few things

These are just a "few" of the creepy crawlies that we have around our home. I don't have pictures of the squirrel and chipmunks that have found our garden...or the most enormous mouse ever that we ran over as we pulled away and found it when we got home...it was still half alive :-(...or ALL the thousands of little bunnies that we've fenced out of our garden but they continue to eat our plants in the front yard...

I love living out of town and the wild life. I do wish that Heaven's Little Creatures would eat the food we put out for them and stop eating my stuff...Oh well they're still fun!

Rough'n It

A Great Weekend With...

...All of us enjoying some of this



...This great view from our camp



...No matter how many times we wiped this it would stay dirty


...Lots of this special time together


...Just happy to be there



...And this thing freaked us out