Family Fun Day

Friday was Family Fun Day at This Is the Place Heritage Park.
What does that mean?
It means there were tons of things to do and it was all for freeeeeeee...
The kids had tons of fun and remembered to both bring my camera and actually pull it out and take pictures. So snaps for me.
This is supposedly an annual thing so pencil it in for next year because it was awesome. Free water bottles, free popsicles, free pony rides, free crafts, free kids game with prizes, free train rides. It was tons of fun. We spent a good 5 hours there and still didn't do everything! Thanks to my awesome neighbor for cluing me in on the fun!

Panning for gold...can you see it? We found four pieces!

Pip-squeak: "I love these cute animals."
Little Guy: "Yah, but if you were a pioneer you would have to eat them for dinner, and that would suck."

Look at my cute kids! I know it's hard because you're instantly drawn to the nice picture of the over-all butt in the background. I should probably apologize to that train conductor...

If potato sack racing was an Olympic sport this kid would have the gold medal in the bag!

FREEEEEDOM!!!

No? Could it be? From the bowels of the world wide web re-emerges the most entertaining blog in all blogdom. OK so the last part is overkill but let it be known (to the two of you who read this...one of whom is my mom) that from this point on I promise to try to commit to updating the blog on a more semi-regular basis. How's that for a guarantee?

First on the list of things to blog about. Gratitude. I am so thankful for the blessing we all have of living in this wonderful country. I know I sometimes take for granted the privilege of living how I want, worshiping how I want, playing what I want, and working how I want when in reality people around the world are willing to die to find the same freedoms I sometimes don't even recognize as blessings. I can't even begin to express my gratitude for those who so willingly put themselves in harms way to fight for freedom for our country and for countries around the world. Thank you for all you do. Truly. Thank you to family members and friends who have risked their lives, or are doing so right now, to serve our country a world away from the comforts you are used to. I love you and thank you and pray for a speedy return for all of you.

It was a nice long weekend at our house. Nothing to exciting but a fun Fourth all the same. Saturday we woke up EARLY to go and see the balloon festival down in Provo.
The wind decided to whip up and we only saw a couple of balloons fill up and none take off but the kids had fun watching the balloons crash into each other and into innocent bystanders, cars, etc.

The balloons were blowing into each other and it took a lot of people to keep them on the ground once they were filled with air.
The pig just couldn't stay up. The wind was getting pretty strong and it was blowing into the truck and the people walking by.

Since we were up bright and early we took advantage of going out to breakfast before the Saturday morning crowds rushed in for pancakes. Then we were off to Home Depot. Yes, Home Depot. The first Saturday of every month kids can go and build a little project for free. My kids love it. The pip-squeak loves to "bam" the nails in with her "bammer"...then mom has to just finish up. This month: a periscope.

The little guy practically builds these all by himself now. Jon sticks around wishing he had his own kit to work on.

Saturday night we went to the fireworks at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. I love showing up when it's still light, getting a great spot, and then just playing with the fam until firework time. Jon's younger brother tagged along and the kids LOVED playing frisbee with him while it was still light. My sweet little pip-squeak was a little distracted by the noise but overall it was great. Plus we got a great spot and didn't have to wait forever to get out of the parking lot and on our way home.

Sunday was a nice lazy day with a great BBQ of all the thing just our family likes to eat. That is SO much easier to do when you have a BBQ by yourself! Monday we were off to hike Stewart Falls. It was gorgeous weather and the mountains were so green and pretty. The kids did great. The little guy hiked the entire way and my pip-squeak was a trooper and did a big part of the hike on her own! I was pleasantly surprised. We should definitely go hiking more often. The waterfall was fun. Jon and his brother Nick were brave enough to go stand under it. Looks like Jon got the better spot...

Can you spot Jon's younger brother behind that wall of water?

No this is not Jon's entire family. In fact, it is only a smattering of the entire clan. Jon's dad, brother and younger sister and fam joined in.

I love that our kids are old enough to enjoy the outdoors now. I guess I should rephrase. I'm glad they're old enough that now Jon and I can enjoy the outdoors with them. I'm not the type to brave camping our or hiking with tiny babies or kiddo's so it will be fun to start enjoying our mountains a little bit more. When we got home I thought they'd be wiped out, but the first thing the little guy said after getting cleaned up was, "Can we hike timp tomorrow?" Looks like I need to work out a little bit more if I'm going to keep up with him!

Well, there you have it. A long overdue blog post on a long weekend. A very happy (albeit belated) Independence Day to all of you!! I promise to try and post more...if you promise to try and read more...

It's not My Fault: My Kids Stopped Being Interesting

I've been in blogging limbo the past few months. I'm not sure why, except that maybe the cold winter worked it's way into my bones and put me into a semi-freeze. Spring is finally here and with it the promise of heat, sunshine and air-conditioning. My heart rejoiceth! In celebration of the new warmer weather the trampoline that has been sitting in our garage since Christmas finally worked itself out of the cardboard cocoon it was hibernating in and is now happily residing in our backyard.

Already supplying hours of childhood entertainment I would say that it has fulfilled it's purpose nicely. (Even Jon couldn't stay away.)
There's nothing like the feeling of completely freaking your kids out all in the name of fun!

Look at these sick moves!

A Conversation with My Sister

My baby sister has learned a lot from me over the years. Her wit and cleverness has all been acquired by my skillful hand. You could call me a great mentor, a sarcasm coach, or a professor of facetiousness. Wait...I might be building this up too much. On facebook today my sister and I had the following "conversation" I thought it was funny and since this is my blog and I determine its content you (my faithful, yet few readers) have the privilege of wondering if my sister and I ate paint chips as a child. The answer to that riddle is no…we ate cheesies.

(Note: Names have not been changed to protect the innocent because she is so not innocent.)

Tenette to Harmony: Harmony, here are some reasons I have decided that in any form of combat with you, I would win: 1) My insane arm muscles, 2) Mere flesh wounds have become "boo-boos" since the birth of your first child, 3) I'm sneaky and clever, two key factors you possess but do not know how to use when needed, 4) I have a bowstaff and…mad skills with it, 5) I have a victory dance and when you have a good one the Gods align things so they can watch. And not to brag but mine is awesome.

Harmony to Tenette: Tenette, you are completely wrong for the following reasons: 1) Your arm muscles don't have a chance against the wushu finger hold, of which I have perfected; 2) My hair is more red than yours and it is a proven fact that red heads have a higher tolerance for pain; 3) You may be sneaky and clever but I have stealth and…you are…well…clumsy; 4) I have ESP and thus will be able to foresee your next move before even you can; 5) Your victory dance can't hold a candle to my theme song. You'll have to win before you can express your awesomeness, but I can define my awesomeness throughout the battle. I rest my case.

Tenette to Harmony: 1) I have a Chinese finger trap and I am not afraid to lock that Wushu finger up, 2) You are a higher level of ginger, therefore genetically weaker (its a medical fact), 3) Clumsy…or artistically off balanced? Yeah blows the mind a little to change the perspective, 4) ESP doesn't work on me. I eat carrots. Have you…ever read a rabbits mind? Yeah, it works. and 5) I come pre-packaged with action fighting sound effects and an ultimate punch that is lethal in 8 countries. Harmony I'm a new breed of ama-za-zing. I don't need to define my "awesome" level, its just a fact.

Harmony to Tenette: 1) I know the secret of the Chinese Finger trap so boo to you. 2) Seeing as my AUBURN hair only comes in highlights I would argue that said highlights are a supporting factor to my awesomeness…highlighting it, if you will. 3) Let's count the number of fights "artistic" people have won…0. 4) I have a rabbit and have been working on reading his mind for the past 3 minutes. I can honestly say I can read rabbits minds so your carrot eating does not deter my ESP prowess. AND 5) Your sound effects can't even bare comparison to my onomatopoeias. So I'm sorry. You may as well give up. My "awesome" level is lightyears beyond yours. Check out the article in the quarterly astronomical journal of science.

Tenette to Harmony: # 5 is moot point. You can't read. You can't fool me!

Harmony to Tenette: You can't moot my point without evidentiary support. sorry.

Tenette to Harmony: Stupid American legislative laws.