Bustin Out!!!

I don't usually post pictures of my BEHIND.... but seeing as how I walked around Khols and Smiths this past Saturday for a couple of hours with my pants like this.... showing a few more people won't hurt, right??? Oh, the joys of life!!! HAHAHAHA!!!

Camping in the DESERT!!

We decided to go up to Southern Utah to camp for Memorial Day Weekend!  We went with some of our favorite people in the world and had lots of fun!! We haven't done much desert camping so it was a new experience for us. Even though it was only in the 80's... it seemed super hot on the sand without shade.  We are also mourning the loss (some of us more than others--) of our TENT!!! It was beaten and destroyed by the wind and will never be the same.  The first night was quite a joke-- the wind blew so hard that our tent turned into a parachute.  The stakes wouldn't stay down in the sand, and so with the slightest gust, it would topple on top of us.  We both ventured out into the bright moonlit night to stand it up again..... Shane, however forgot his pants- he did have on his g's---and looked like a glowing angle running around our tent trying to stablize it... I was left as a useless assistant trying not to wet my pants as I watched him hopping around barefoot and pantless in the wind...... After we took off the blowing rainfly and stood the poles up again.... we layed back down and attempted to sleep... That was quickly interrupted by the tent blowing down AGAIN!!!  So Shane decided we needed to open all of the windows so the wind would blow THROUGH the tent.  It was bad enough to have only a screen on the top (no rainfly, no roof) with the bright SPOTLIGHT MOON shining through... we had to then open ALL the windows and doors too.  It felt like sleeping in one of those screen houses.  Of course, we didn't get any sleep anyway.  I was mad, the two year old was crying, Shane was laughing, and the other kids just hid in their sleeping bags.  And the wind blew on....  Needless to say.... it was a LONG night and a very early morning.  The next morning after our futile attempts to shut one of the broken zippers on the door with masking tape-- which quickly proved to be a waste of good tape,  I actually SEWED the door zipper shut so that we could have the door shut.  That too was a waste of time because while we were at the lake during the day the tent poles completely broke and we abandoned the stupid tent anyway.  That night I slept in the suburban with #3,4 & 5 and Shane slept on the trailer with the big boys under the stars..... much like the night before, but without the whipping and thrashing of a CRAPPY tent overhead!!! I will mention that our friends "Eddie Bauer 12 Man Dome Tent" held up just fine in the gusty winds!!! (We will be purchasing one of those before we go camping again-I  think we should burn the old one!!!)  What good is a tent that can't handle a little wind!!! Come On???? Well, once again, a very memorable camping adventure was had!!! 

This was the MORNING AFTER....

We went down to play in the lake.... most of the kids still in jammies

Our friend Katie and her lovely hot chocolate dyed shirt... with her precious 7 week old... Now, she is a TROOPER!!! 

This is #1 tucker out after a day at the lake and NO sleep the night before!!

This is #2 seeking sleep in the shade!!

Repair #1 - masking tape

Repair #2- sewing the door shut from the inside

This is our shade tent... we had to keep it low so it wouldn't blow away...

Cortney-- the proud owner of the TENT THAT WITHSTOOD THE WIND!!!!

These are some big horned sheep we saw on our drive up to Zions!! Pretty Cool!! All in all, fun times lots of  memories!!!

Brag Time!!! #1 is #1!!

Its that time of year again, when we get to show off all of our children's accomplishments!! #1 had his awards ceremony today and we were both very happy with the awards he received!! He got the 'Quality Counts Award', the 'Presidential Award for Academic Excellence' and the 'Straight A Honor Roll '!!! These awards are great.... but every year the teachers each pick one student from each class that they recognize for 'Outstanding Performance'. We are both always hoping he will get one of those... but this year and last year... his name wasn't called. Oh well, he still got the other 3 GREAT awards!!! Right??!! After that award, they also pick ONE boy and ONE girl from each team (there are 3 different teams in each grade) that are nominated by ALL of the teachers to receive the coveted 'Standards of Saville' award. The highest award that is given!! Low and behold.... Kaden won that award!!! I am so proud of him!! He deserved it!! He works harder than any other kid I know at his school work!! This is what was written on the award that they read to the student body and parents!
"When asked what word best describes this student, a unanimous AWESOME was the result. This student is a leader in all his classes and an example to his peers. He turns in work that could be displayed as an example every time. He serves his community through church activities and Boy Scouts. This student puts a smile on our faces every day! What an awesome student!! This student exemplifies the Standards of Saville. Success: he has straight A's. Quality: he does his best with every assignment. Responsibility: he is prepared for each day. Respect: he appreciates his family, peers, and teachers. Reflection: he represents himself, his family and Saville to the best of his ability. Team 7-1 is proud to present the Standards of Saville award to Kaden Norman." They even gave him an engraved WOODEN plaque to hang on the wall!! WOWSERS!! PRETTY AWESOME!!! Way to Go #1!!

She's a Picker!!

Well, it all started the other day when our cute #5 decided to take a walk on the treadmill when no one else was around. We usually put the little magnetic key in one of the cup holders so she can't get to it... but I used the treadmill last and forgot to hide the key. I won't be repeating that mistake again any time soon. I was busy and didn't hear her but #2 heard her crying and went to rescue her... evidently she pushed the 'Go Way Too Fast For You' speed, crashed horribly and was scrambling to the door when #2 got to her. She was pretty scared and had a good rasberry on her arm and one on her nose... her upper lip swelled up really fast after that and she looked awful! Well we sat with ice on her lip for the next half hour until she felt better, then off she went... good as new. Well, the next morning, she had a lovely scab on her nose. She made it through the day fine, but later that night, while she was suppose to be going to sleep... she decided to pull off the scab.....EEEEWWWWWWWYYYYY!! Its gross, I know... But, she has proven to be a little picker in the past and I have been able to distract her or put long sleeves or pants on her until her wounds heal. But how do you hide a NOSE???? A bank robber mask, a lampshade- like the ones that they put on dogs, or just tell her not to do it...right!!! Well, I tried a bandaid last night and it was gone by morning... While we were running errands.. she decided to ... bug her poor little nose again.... I am really worried that she is going to have a yucky scar on her nose... so with the help of my Mom, I decided to tape some mittens on her hands during her nap.... WISH US LUCK!!! I will keep you posted!!

She is quite the site... I better not take her out in public like this!! I will get arrested!!

A Little Slice of Heaven!

We love to listen to music at our house and my #2 has come up with some pretty AWESOME MOVES!! He makes me laugh!! I hope you enjoy them too!! (make sure you scroll down and pause the blog music)

Things I have learned from my Mom!!

Here are some of the MANY COUNTLESS things my dear Mother has taught me!!
She has taught me....
-how to sew
-that a butter knife is the best tool in the world
-how to change a tire
-how to check the oil in a car
-how to cook
-how to fix a screen door
-how to do laundry
-how to take care of a baby
-how to fix a chain on a bike
-how to push back my cuticles
-how to be creative and make fun projects
-how to throw a party
-how to make napkins look really cool
-how to clean a bathroom
-how to be crafty
-how to spend money
-how details matter
-how to take care of sick people
-how to communicate
-how to forgive
-how to be resilient
-what NOT to do
-how to be Dr. Mom
-how to never give up
-how to laugh
-how to joke around
-how to put ice cream on someones face
-how to make a child/teenager feel special
-how to sneak out
-how to toilet paper someone's house
-how to support a child/teenager
-how to have a great water fight in the house
-how to make AWESOME chimychangas
-how to help a child through school
-how to have a huge shaving cream fight
-how to be the COOL Mom
-how to sacrifice
-how to be a SUPER SANTA, Easter bunny, tooth fairy, etc
-how to fix almost anything
-how to follow directions
-why you don't smoke, drink, etc
-how to ask questions
-how to pray
-why we should live the gospel
-where to turn in times of trial
-practically everything
And most of all she has taught me how to LOVE!!

Abraham Lincoln said,

"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother." I couldn't agree more!!

I LOVE YOU MOM!! Thanks for teaching me so much!!!

Grateful Sunday.....

I am so thankful that I have the blessing to be surrounded by people who strengthen and uplift me on a regular basis! What a blessing it is to go to church and hear the hearfelt testimonies of people who are dealing with trials and hardships, but who face them with courage and faith.  It makes me feel so GRATEFUL for the perspective and knowledge that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings into my life.  This perspective makes me feel so very thankful for all of the abundant blessings in my life!!  Watch this great video about trials and perspective...... Seek the Higher Ground  What a GRATEFUL SUNDAY!!!