The Slider Story

2010-12-25T16:00:00.001-08:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Halloween Fun

2010-10-30T19:51:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween!

The girls love the tradition of the Halloween Parade at school! It means they get another chance to wear their costumes: Kynlee was a beautiful princess, Karley was a brave knight, and Kenzie was a cute 50's girl!

Mom and Dad went to a Halloween Party the night before. I thought of the most simplest costume idea...Mr. and Mrs. "Smartie" Pants! We taped smarties all over our pants!

These girls are ready to load their baskets with yummy treats! Matthew didn't start off in a costume, but when he realized he was missing out on candy, he hurried and put on stuff from last year and trick-or-treated the rest of the night!:)

Kenzie was so darling as a 50's girl!

Cute princesses!

Only the girls carved pumpkins this year...they turned out great!

They always like to sort and count their stash...it was a ton!

Fall Canning

2010-10-22T12:27:00.001-07:00

I don't know what possessed me, but I was super excited to attempt canning apples! People do it all the time and love it, so why not me? We have three apple trees that were bursting full of apples that I did not want to go to waste...they are a bit tart for the eating. After talking with "canning" experts from the Ward, borrowing the proper machines needed, and gathering the yummiest recipes, I was good to go on making apple pie filling and applesauce. Luckily, the two days that I started these projects were days that Matt was home to help...it was definitely not a "do it yourself" project and so I'm grateful for the help I had. It was a lot of work and very time consuming! The most exciting part was hearing the jars "pop" as they were cooling off, letting me know that they had sealed...music to my ears!:) I absolutely love the taste of both, but of course the kids don't! Maybe sometime in the future when that's all they have to eat, they'll be grateful and love it!:)

We had our work cut out for us just trying to make a dent in all these apples!

My beautiful apple pie filling! It has made the best crisp, dump cake and cobbler!

Holy applesauce!:)

My beautiful applesauce! It totally beats store bought!

A Visit We've Been Waiting For

2010-10-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

After much convincing, I was able to talk Grandmama into a visit to Utah! I know that she needed a break and we always love the company...especially when it's my own amazing Mom! It worked out to be the perfect time, because of Fall Break for her. My kids didn't have time off school until the end of the week, so I got her all to myself a whole bunch...shopping, laughing, eating out, talking, and watching a movie! It was so wonderful to have her here...we all enjoyed her!

I surprised my Mom with a G.N.O. to Witchapalooza - Dinner Theater! We bought hats to dress the part and were ready for a night of fun! We enjoyed the yummiest dinner and the most entertaining program...amazing singing and acting! My Mom even participated when the microphone was placed in front of her and she sung a line on the spot...it was hilarious! We had the best time and were singing the catchy songs the rest of the week!

Gardner Village was decorated so festive...there were lots of witch displays that my Mom loved! The weather was just too nice to not enjoy a Sunday walk to the park!

Kenzie having fun on the rope swing!

Love you Mom!

Bowling was fun for Family Night!

We had to head to our favorite place in AF Canyon! The girls had fun exploring and kept posing for pictures...it was so funny!:)

The Slider Crew

This rock was perfect for a picture with Grandmama! We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows...when the sun went down it got pretty cold, but we had a blast!

On Grandmama's last day we headed back to the AF Canyon to hang out for the afternoon before taking her to the airport! The weather was gorgeous!

Having fun by the river!

The kids had a blast climbing trees...little monkeys!:) Matthew was brave and climbed super high one time...it was funny to watch him try to get down!:)

Kenzie blends right in...cutie!

The fun never ended in the canyon!

We love Grandmama and will miss her so much! Thank you Mom for taking a break from your busy schedule to spend time with us...it means so much! We hope you had as much fun as we did! XOXO!

Birthday Boy

2010-10-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

I just can't believe Matthew is 14! Actually, the growth spurt he has had is proof that he is getting older...he's 5' 7", which is only an inch shorter than me! One Sunday recently we were measuring our hands and sure enough Matthew's are bigger than mine...so crazy! Matthew's morning started off with a delicious breakfast made to order and a few gifts! His sweet sisters even woke up early to wish him a Happy Birthday!

I picked Matthew up from school and took him to lunch at Beto's...yummy Super Nachos!
No cake this year...he had me make a delicious Mint Oreo pie instead!

We had a fun family celebration for Matthew that night. Grandmama came into town, Grandpa and Grandma Slider, Ryann and Corbin, Uncle Steve and crew, and our neighbor friend, Justin, joined in the celebration. Thanks so much for helping us celebrate Matthew's Birthday!

One year older and more handsome too!:)Matthew was set apart and ordained to the office of a Teacher on Sunday...he had a great support group there! You are growing up too fast Matthew! Thanks for being so wonderful! Keep making good choices...you are a great example to your younger sisters! Mom and Dad love you so much and are so very proud of the righteous young man you are becoming!

General Conference Weekend

2010-10-03T18:42:00.001-07:00

I really look forward to General Conference more and more each year! One of the perks of living near Salt Lake City, is conveniently being able to attend a session of Conference. I have taken both Matthew and Kynlee in years past. Karley has waited patiently for her turn to watch it in the Conference Center. I was thrilled to get 2 tickets to the Sunday afternoon session...it sure brought a smile to Karley's face! The spirit was so strong when President Monson walked in...it's an amazing feeling to see him in person, even if it is from far away! It was such a joy to spend one on one time with Karley as we listened to the wonderful messages that were shared. I am thankful for a living prophet and leaders who guide us and teach us the things that Heavenly Father would have us do. I hope Karley will always remember this experience!

Our seats were directly in the middle on the 1st tier...Karley loved the view!

I sure love this silly girl!:)

Someday Karley will enter this beautiful temple!

Prepare No More

2010-09-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I received a message from the Stake Executive Secretary who was calling on behalf of the Stake President. Yikes! When I called him back I said, "I'm not sure I want to be calling you back!" He set up an appointment for me to meet with Pres. Wilkinson that Sunday. The first thing that came to my mind was that Stake Conference was in 2 weeks...please don't ask me to speak!:) I knew before I went in that that was going to be the case and I knew what he wanted me to speak about...our fire experience that happened the month before. I willingly accepted the assignment, grateful that all I had to do was share my story at the adult session. Ha! I stressed big time, but I prepared and prayed like crazy. A couple days before the big night, I was getting real nervous, so I called my sweet Dad for advice and comfort. He said so many wonderful things to uplift me and told me to "Prepare No More", that I was ready, to not write another thing. Even though he is 700 miles away, when I got off the phone with him, I felt like I had just received the most powerful father's blessing and my nerves were calmed! Thank you so much Dad! I followed his council! I was able to enjoy the weekend with Karissa, Jesse and Harlow, who visited us. I felt comfortable as I spoke and know that the spirit was felt. Stake President even said that I hit it out of the park! I'm truly grateful for the experience, but hope it doesn't come around again too soon!:) We had so much fun playing with Harlow...cute girls!

Taking Harlow on a walk.
Uncle Jesse and Aunt Karissa spoiled my kids with gifts! The girls got "Twinkle Toe" shoes!
So cute! Thanks for your visit...it was so wonderful!

I love my gorgeous sister!

BSA Life Rank

2010-09-08T20:53:00.000-07:00

Matthew has been working hard in Scouts since May. Between Pow Wow's, summer Scout Camp, and YM activities, he has been able to earn a ton of Merit Badges. It was a proud moment for me when the Scoutmaster awarded Matthew with his many achievements at Court of Honor. I am so very proud of you son!

Matthew earned his Life Rank and 10 Merit Badges: Personal Management, Art, Camping, First Aid, Environmental Science, Lifesaving, Wood Carving, Fire Safety, Canoeing, and Backpacking.

Matthew only needs to earn 4 Merit Badges, and complete an Eagle Project to qualify for the Eagle Rank...he's so close! Keep up the hard work Matthew!

Backyard Camp Out

2010-09-06T15:49:00.001-07:00

Over Labor Day weekend, Matt made the kids very happy by putting up the tent in our backyard for them to sleep in! By popular demand, we set it up a little different this time. We actually used the room dividers (curtains) so that each of them had their own space. They had fun making their beds as comfy as they wanted them. I originally did not intend on participating in this outdoor adventure, since camping gets lower and lower each year on my "Favorite Things To Do" list, but I figured I'm safe in my own backyard. It was fun!

The kids were nice and snugly in their very own sections of the tent! Gotta love camping close to home!:)

The Big Day

2010-08-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

Another school year has begun! All of the kids were really looking forward to it, and deep down I was too! They loved meeting their teachers and Matthew was excited about being at a new Jr. High. I am really looking forward to watching each of them learn and grow this year!

The girls had fun designing a paper to make their plain binders look cute! Kynlee stenciled the flower pot on hers and Karley wrote, "4th Grade is a Ball!"

Matthew - 8th grader, handsome as can be!Kynlee - 6th grader, Queen of the school! Karley - 4th grader, sweet and super cute!Beautiful sisters! Kenzie ate her lunch fast...she could hardly wait for her turn to go to school!I couldn't take enough pictures of Kenzie's first day of Kindergarten! I think as Mom's, we look forward to the day when all of our kids are in school, but it is actually quite sad...I didn't want to let my baby go, but I know it will be so great for her! Kenzie loved her 1st bus ride! She was nervous while we waited for it, but when it got there she got right on, with no tears! Matt and I beat the bus to the school and watched as she ran off the bus just filled with excitement! One of Kenzie's best buds, Jaylee, is in her class...cute girls!Everyone had the best day, so all of my worries faded away! I love my cute school kids and pray for a great year!I had to throw in this darling picture of the girls just off the bus on the 2nd day...love the shirts!

Summertime Athletes

2010-08-23T15:33:00.001-07:00

I was lucky enough to develop a passion for playing sports at a young age. Now I get to see it developing in my kids. Each of them love to be active. Matthew and Karley had a chance this summer to participate in activities that they love and I am so proud of them both!

Matthew and a couple of his basketball buddies entered the Murray 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament. It was exciting! They didn't win, but they played well together and it gave them great experience!
Matthew in action! The knowledge he has of basketball just blows me away! He gets better all the time!

Karley entered a summer "Run For Fun" program. She likes running and is good at it! We kept track of her mileage each week and by the end of the summer she had ran the distance of a full marathon - 26.2 miles!

Karley is so proud of her shirt that says she ran 26.2 miles...what an accomplishment!

Kennecott Perks

2010-08-22T16:07:00.000-07:00

Towards the end of every summer we look forward to the perks that Kennecott offers all their employees. It's a great time to squeeze in some extra fun activities for free or at a price that we can't pass up. We are thankful for Dad's job and the hard worker that he is! One of our favorites is going to the REAL Soccer Stadium! Rio Tinto (Kennecott) sponsors the stadium and so they have a night dedicated to the employees and their families. They opened all of the concessions and everything on the menu was FREE! It was so fun to ask for whatever and however much we wanted without having to pay a dime for it! Then we loaded up with ice cream, popcorn, cookies, and drinks for the movie we watched down on the field.

It was fun watching "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" on the jumbo tron!

The girls and I enjoyed the Dinosaur Museum...it never gets old!:)
LAGOON
GETS BETTER
EVERY YEAR!

Our family loves going to Lagoon! This year was the most fun, because Miss Kenzie, who is 5, was tall enough and without any question, brave enough to go on all of our favorite rides: WICKED, COLOSSUS, and SPIDER to name a few! One of the last pictures is of her posing like a Rock Star just after she got off Wicked...she's a big kid now! I kept asking her if she was sure she wanted to go on all of the big rides and she just kept saying, "Ya!". When I sat by her, it was so cute to hear her little scream on the scary parts. We hope she has the same excitement next year!

Yellowstone Experience

2010-08-14T14:05:00.001-07:00

We finally did it! Since we have lived in UT, we have talked about going to Yellowstone each summer. We decided last minute that we were going to make it happen and boy howdy are we glad we did! Uncle Fred suggested a few extra stops on our way up to Yellowstone from his house. Our first stop was at Warm Creek where we fed trout Cheese Balls...Uncle Fred said that's what they like best and he was right!:) When they casually came out of the water to eat the Cheese Balls we could see their enormous size...2-3 feet long and 6-8 inches wide...awesome!

Next, we headed to the Mesa Falls. In this picture, the Lower Falls are in the distance behind us. It was still quite the site until we saw...
...the Upper Falls! We were so close...the bright rainbow made the view breathtaking!

The family
I just had to get individual shots of my beauties with nature's beauty behind them!
Dad's and Mom's pose

It really was mesmerizing and picture perfect!
Our last stop before arriving at Yellowstone was to see the actual starting point of a river. It literally bubbled up from the ground!

The water was so clear that we could see the fish really well, but they were not as interested in the Cheese Balls as the birds were. Thanks to Uncle Fred for highlighting on our map all of these great stops!

There was no way I was going to sleep in a tent while in Bear Country! The kids loved our cute, safe cabin and the porch swing that we rented in West Yellowstone! It was such a great set up and we wish we could have stayed longer than one night!

These two are ready for the adventure that Yellowstone has to offer! These are some of my favorite shots of the hot springs, paint and mud pots (or stink pots as we liked to call them), and geysers!

The colors were gorgeous!

The long walking paths got to Kenzie right away...she was much more comfy on Dad's shoulders!:)

We were excited to experience the most famous feature of the park...Old Faithful!

After patiently waiting for over an hour, and a few sputtering false alarms, Old Faithful stayed true to its name! The powerful geyser only lasted a few minutes, but was definitely the highlight of the day!

This lonely Bison was our first, up close look at the wildlife in Yellowstone!

Our pepperoni quesadillas, cooked in the fire, turned out yummy!

Where there's a camp fire, there are kids roasting marshmallows, eating 'Smores, and...

...making popcorn!

The kids loved the bunk beds!

Luckily the ONLY bear we saw was the one at the KOA Gift Shop!:)

Elk

These cute girls loved the Paint Pots!

The force of the Yellowstone River was incredible just before it went over the Upper Falls!

Kynlee looking down at the Lower Falls.Deer

I love this picture of the kids looking at a Bison herd spread out in the distance!

This stop was "Dragon's Mouth Spring". It sounded and looked as if a dragon could have been inside the cave!

We came upon a massive herd of Bison that were much closer to the road! It was amazing to see so many at a time and was another highlight!

Many of them strolled across the road, oblivious to the cars.

This cracks me up! We thought it would be cool if one walked in front of us. Well, sure enough one did...the SKINNY, UGLY, SCRAGGLY one!:) It looked like it was probably the one the other Bison picked on!:(

The massive Yellowstone Lake

Matthew and Kenzie were wiped out by the end!

Our trip ended with a drive through The Grand Tetons National Park.

What a trip! It was a lot to see in a short amount of time...lots of driving. But, so very glad that we went and so grateful for the wonderful memories we have made together as a family!

Idaho Falls Tour

2010-08-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

We really spiced up our Summer vacation this year with an extra trip! The kids have been wanting to go to Yellowstone, so we made arrangements and headed North. We stayed with Matt's Uncle Fred and Aunt Teddy in Idaho Falls the 1st night and because the kids had so much fun and it was super late on the way back home, we stayed with them again. It was wonderful and we are so grateful to them! They showed us around the BEAUTIFUL city our 1st night. We saw the falls, which were amazing and totally impressive! We then went to the Visitor's Center to see unbelievable pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope that were on display. It was called "Heavenly Majesty, Images of Creation"...what wonders are out there that our eyes can't see! We ended the night with the best, fresh ice cream in town, or "cow stuff", as Uncle Fred teasingly called it. We instantly fell in love with Idaho Falls and will visit again, thanks to great company!

The beautiful setting of the Idaho Falls Temple!
My sweet kids!

The view was gorgeous!

In front of the Idaho Falls Temple!

Fun With Company

2010-08-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

We were so lucky to have the Jones Family come and visit us last weekend! What a treat! They're our good friends all the way from Queen Creek, Arizona. When we moved from AZ, they had 5 boys in their family, each around the same age as one of our kids, plus one in the gap between Karley and Kenzie. Fun boys! I got a phone call early on in the year from Sara announcing that she was pregnant with a little GIRL! While we were visiting this summer, Sara had Aitana, and I made it a point to see them in the hospital...so precious! Well, I was so excited to receive a phone call from Sara saying they wanted to plan their only summer vacation to drive up and see us...we were thrilled! It was a long journey with 5 boys and a 6 week old little girl. Even though their time here was short, we were able to do some fun things and enjoyed every minute! I am so thankful for friendships that never fade and for their sacrifice that enriched our lives. We love the Jones Family! Enjoying their picnic lunch!Our families in front of Bridal Veil Falls! All the kiddos at the incredible Bean Museum!

Brace Face

2010-07-27T20:35:00.000-07:00

Well, Matthew has a whole new look! He has joined the many other kids his age who have braces! Matthew's teeth are pretty straight to begin with, so he got braces for other reasons - overbite, protruding front teeth, alignment of upper vs. lower jaw, and repositioning of molar teeth to help with bite and wear and tear. It's amazing what braces can do! Matthew was a little nervous, but he had time to calm his nerves during the 2 hour process. His teeth were tender the first 5 days. He said they felt like jello, not strong at all. He made it through with a good attitude. Other than the initial shock of braces on his teeth, it didn't take long for all of us to be use to seeing him with them on. He's still a stud...smile away!

Garbage Can Fireball

2010-07-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

Well, our 24th of July Celebration started out pretty normal, but by the end of the night, it ended up being one of the most amazing experiences of my life! All of the neighbors on our loop got together for an Ice Cream Social and fireworks. Everyone had a great time and the kids had a blast watching the fireworks. After cleaning up the big mess the fireworks made, we headed inside to get the kids ready for bed. After our family prayer, I kindly reminded Matthew about paying his tithing the next day at church. He went to get what he owed and realized that his wallet was missing. Instantly, I remembered seeing him with it a couple days earlier when we were at Wal-Mart trying on basketball shorts. While Matt continued to help Matthew look everywhere (the van, his room, his laundry) for his wallet, I went into my bedroom to say a prayer. I knew that losing this wallet would be devastating, because it had $108 of Matthew's hard earned money in it. Not long after, I was lying in bed to go to sleep and I kept thinking, "Could his wallet have fallen out of his pocket when he was trying on shorts?" If so, there was no way we were going to get it back. All of a sudden, I had a strong feeling to get out of bed and call Wal-Mart to see if a wallet had been turned in. Although it was well after 11:00 pm, I went and found my receipt and called. I said, "I know this is a long shot, but we are just retracing steps. My son lost his wallet and we are wondering if, by chance, it got turned in." After describing the wallet to him, the Wal-Mart employee let me know that it had been turned in and the cash was still in it...I was shocked! He continued to say that we could pick the wallet up tonight, tomorrow, or whenever...it would be locked up until Matthew came to identify it. I said, "Thank you so much!" and hung up the phone. What a blessing! Matthew was totally happy and relieved of course. We decided that there was no hurry to go get it, so I went and got in bed a second time. Shortly after, I had a strong feeling that Matthew and I needed to go and get his wallet tonight! I knew that we wouldn't go to Wal-Mart on Sunday and plus Matthew wanted to pay his tithing tomorrow. So, I grabbed Matthew a little after 11:30 pm and we headed up the road to Wal-Mart. We retrieved the wallet and got back in the van. It was 11:53 pm and I remember telling Matthew, "We got to get home before midnight, because we don't want to be out on Sunday." and he said, "O.K., you better hurry Mom!" When we turned onto our street, right away I noticed smoke and an orange glow coming from the side of our next door neighbor's house. At first I thought that maybe they were doing more fireworks, but as I drove past our house out of curiosity, I realized that we were seeing a raging fire! The fire was behind their gate, so I wasn't able to see what was in flames. Speaking of flames, they were huge and shooting well above the gate and were getting higher each second. I put my van in park right in the middle of the road and told Matthew to go call 911. I ran up to the Smith's door and started pounding...keep in mind that it's close to mid-night now. I pounded until Bro. Smith answered the door - in his garments, bent over, trying to put on pants.:) I told him there was a huge fire on the side of his house.

He headed out back and started putting out the flames with a hose. Matthew had gotten Matt and he headed over to help. Come to find out, it was their garbage can that was on fire. The same garbage can that all of the fireworks got put in from earlier that evening. Bro. Smith said that he had dumped buckets of water over the garbage to prevent this very thing from happening, but there was an ember that did not get put out and it continued smoldering for hours, eventually causing the garbage can to ignite. The fire caused major damage to the gate, but no damage to the house! The garbage can became a show piece for those that drove by the next few days...what a site! The Smith's were very grateful to us and once they heard the story of why we were out so late they said, "Matthew paying his tithing was our Fire Insurance!"
I had a hard time going to sleep that night!:) I kept thinking of everything that played a key part in the events that happened. One of the thoughts that hit me really hard was something I remembered saying in my prayer earlier that evening. Among many things I said and asked Heavenly Father for, I distinctively remember saying, "Please bless me with opportunities to serve others." My prayer was answered! The Spirit prompted me two different times and what I felt was right and so I acted. The wallet was meant to be found; otherwise, we would have had no reason to be out that late! If we weren't rushing to be home before Sunday, I know that arriving minutes later we might have come home to a totally different seen! Heavenly Father is in every detail of our lives. I know that we are blessed when we pay our tithing and keep the Sabbath Day holy. I know that through the Holy Ghost, as taught in D&C 46:9-11, we can receive gifts of the Spirit for our benefit and for the benefit of those we love and serve. I am forever grateful for this experience and that Matthew was able to be a part of it!

The Thompson Clan

2010-07-17T22:13:00.002-07:00

The Thompson's came up for their Summer vacation and did some fun things! We were glad that we got to do a couple of those things with them. Kenzie had a little crush on Kortney's boyfriend, Chase. She would light up when he played with her...it was cute! I'm going to have to keep a close eye on her in the years to come!:) Thanks Thompson's for sharing some fun times with us. We love Uncle Kirt, Aunt Carolyn, Kylie, Kortney, Kaej, and even Chase!:) The beautiful Bridal Veil Falls and the determined hikers!Kylie helped me get Kenzie up to the falls. On the way up, I told Kenzie she was doing awesome. Her reply was, "My shoes are awesome!" Kylie and I laughed...she says the funniest things! We made it up there! What a gorgeous site! The mist from the falls was freezing, but felt good after the hike up.The next night we went to the AF Canyon for pizza, campfire and S'mores. We were glad that Matt and Matthew made it back from Scout Camp to join the fun. These cute grand kids are so silly!:)Proud Grandparents The Family I love these pictures! They are lined up from shortest to tallest, but not necessarily youngest to oldest!:)Everyone had a great time! Kynlee sure loves her cousin! We think she looks a lot like Kortney...what cute girls!

When The Boys Are Away The Girls Will Play

2010-07-17T22:13:00.001-07:00

Matthew was at Scout Camp this week and Matt went for the last couple of nights, so I had to do a couple of fun things with just the girls! We had tickets to the Children's Museum, which is "hands on" fun stuff, and individually I took them to a place of their choice to eat dinner. I missed Matthew like crazy...it was sure quiet around here!:) But, I loved spending time with my girlies!

Learning To Swim

2010-07-15T09:26:00.001-07:00

While down in Arizona, Kenzie took swimming lessons with her cousin Tate. Until this year she had been wearing a life jacket when she swam. I thought it was time for her to learn to swim on her own. I'm thankful that Karissa invited us to sign up with the instructor she's been using. Kenzie was very nervous in the beginning, but with the repetition of each lesson she grew brave by the end of the session. She learned big arms and fast kicks. I know that the lessons have helped and that she will continue to get better as she swims the rest of the summer. Good job Kenzie!

Kenzie waiting on the step for her turn.
Practicing her kicks. I love her smile!

Showing how many rings she picked up off the bottom of the pool...way to go!

Practicing her backstroke.
Kenzie and Tate are little buds! After each class they picked a licorice piece and ate it while they dried off.

This video shows how much Kenzie learned at swim lessons! It's a lot of work to swim across the length of the pool...I am so proud of you sweetie!

Fun In The Arizona Sun

2010-07-15T09:25:00.001-07:00

Our weather has been cold and rainy, so I've been looking forward to the hot sun in Arizona! It is always a countdown here on how many days are left until we go to Arizona. For the most part, time goes by pretty quick in between trips. Well, it was hot alright! We got our fill of swimming and soaking up the sun. When we weren't swimming, we were doing other fun things. We are grateful for the family and friends that we were able to see and spend time with. We love Arizona...our favorite summer vacation! We stopped in Show Low first for an extended Nikolaus Family Reunion. It was nice spending time with relatives, although the kids claimed they were bored because they didn't know as many people. Luckily, they had a few fun things for the kids to do!

Karley helped Grandpa do the finger toss in his amazing and hilarious "Magic" act. She caught the finger Grandpa tossed her in her nose! When she threw it back, he caught it in his mouth...it was a riot!:)

In this picture with my Grandma Nikolaus we are standing by a Cultivator that my Grandpa used in the field when he was a little boy. The story behind it is, when he went in to get a drink, the horse that was pulling the Cultivator got spooked by firecrackers and took off through the corn fields. The Cultivator crashed into a tree and was left there for years. My Grandma is proud to have it at her house now! I miss him!
I am proud of my family and where I came from!
Swimming at Grandpa's!

Aunt Kristy painted the girls' toes...so cute!

Uncle Nathan and Deacon took Matthew and Brigg to the skate park!

They shredded it up! Uncle Nathan has still got it!:)

All the grand kids...love the funny faces!:)

My sun bathing beauty!

Karissa, Natalie, and I took the kids to an Aquatics Center in Gilbert. It was an awesome place and it only cost .75 per kid! We stayed a few hours and had a good time!

Natalie is doing so well at Cosmetology school. I took Kynlee and Kenzie in for haircuts. Natalie did awesome! She gave Kynlee some layers in the back and around her face...an official 6th grade look!

Natalie cut 5 inches off Kenzie's hair...all the curls, but it was dry and needed it! She also gave her some layers around the face.

They look beautiful!

The kids got to pick out a craft from Hobby Lobby to decorate. They love this tradition with Grandmama!

"Eclipse" came out and I was so excited to see it with my sisters! We loved it! Natalie got a little too into it!:) Gotta love sister time!

We continued the bowling tradition...so fun!

My little niece Harlow is the cutest thing! I loved playing with her!

Grandpa took us to swim at the Jr. High pool. We had fun!

It was the first time Matthew, Karley, and Kynlee had jumped off a high dive...they were brave and loved it!

We had our 4th of July celebration at Grandmama's. She made the best Chili Beans/Indian Fry Bread ever...my favorite! Kylie and Kaej came over to celebrate! We swam in the pool while we watched the fireworks, which were lame, and lit sparklers. I am thankful for this free country we live in and to celebrate that freedom with loved ones!

We celebrated Aunt Natalie's B-day at Amazing Jake's! Happy Birthday to Uncle Nathan also, who was in Vegas with his family!

We had so much fun on the carousel, tea cups, miniature golf, arcades, laser tag...

...rock wall (Matthew made it to the top), coaster, frog hopper, bumper cars, race cars, and not to mention the all you can eat, whenever you want to eat, buffet! We stayed and played all day!

Happy 21st Birthday Natalina...love you baby sis!

Grandpa took us to lunch and then we went to Grandma Debbie's work to say goodbye. Grandpa and Karley are so much alike...GOOFY...I love it!:) We love you both and thanks for everything!

Our last evening there we went to "Wing Night" at Native New Yorker. It was hard for the kids and I to tell everyone goodbye...major tears! Thanks for putting up with us for almost 3 weeks. We had a blast and will miss each of you like crazy! We love all of you so much!

Manti Pageant

2010-06-23T17:49:00.001-07:00

We were all excited that our AZ trip was earlier this summer! We thought we would jazz up our drive down with a stop in Manti to see the Pageant. The gorgeous Manti Temple is the backdrop for the Pageant. The story of the Pageant is based on the pioneers, Joseph Smith, and events from The Book of Mormon. It was impressive to watch hundreds of participants run all over the hill. It was long, because it covered so much, but we loved it!We got their a few hours before it started, so we were able to save some great seats while we enjoyed the little town!

Matthew bought himself a new shirt and wore it proudly!
Kenzie sure loved her ice cream!
We hung out at the park near the Temple for a while. The kids had fun racing each other!

The Slider Girls

I love this picture! It never takes much for Kenzie to convince Matt that she is too tired to walk. She always ends up in her favorite spot! I think the ice cream made her a little goofy, because this was her intended pose when I told her to smile...hilarious!:)

We patiently waited until 9:30 for the Pageant to start. We were told that it gets pretty cold, so we were sure glad we brought sweatshirts and blankets. Kenzie fell asleep almost 1/2 way through. It was about 2 hours long, so by the time we drove to our Motel it was super late, but we had a great time!

Since we were headed to Show Low, the route we were taking brought us within 40 miles of Four Corners. We journeyed over there to find that the site was under construction! This picture shows our "happy" family as close to the Four Corners site as we could get, but this is how we really felt...

...disappointed that we drove out of our way for it to be under construction!:)

Summer Is Officially Here

2010-06-15T08:02:00.001-07:00

My first couple of weeks of Summer have been busy, but I have loved being on a "spiritual high" from attending Girls Camp, Youth Conference, and not to mention speaking in church. Ya, I didn't have much time to prepare, which was stressful, but I know I had the spirit with me. I spoke on "How A Testimony Anchors Our Souls", which in it, I incorporated our Testimony Walk experience from Girls Camp. The talk went great! I got lots of compliments, and felt like it was the perfect ending to the past couple of weeks and really longer if you include the months of preparation!:) What a good looking, silly bunch of youth! Youth Conference was amazing! We had a great experience doing Baptisms in the historical Manti Temple. We stayed at a gorgeous cabin in Fairview for a couple of days. The rain didn't stop us from having fun! The leaders put together group games like: Fear Factor, Where's The Warrior/Capture The Flag, and The Amazing Race. The youth had a blast and got along so well with each other!

So, now it feels like Summer is officially here and I am looking forward to doing some fun things with the kids! After many cold and rainy days I couldn't wait to soak up the sun on a picnic in the park with family! The kids love the rope swing hung from an enormous Cottonwood tree at the park! Matthew loves having his cousin, Kaej, up here. They were determined to make a raft to float out in the lake. They cut pieces of rope and tied several bunches of dry reeds together. These boys worked hard! The next morning they took their raft to the dock to test it out. Preparing to launch! Will it sink or float? It floats...just not so well when someone was on it!:) The cold water didn't keep Matthew from having fun!What a stud! Warming up their cold bodies in the hot tub...oh ya! Thanks, Carolyn and Kaej, for coming up and visiting...we love you!

First Sprint Triathlon

2010-06-05T21:03:00.002-07:00

I got home from Girls Camp the day before my Triathlon, and I was tired. I prayed that night that I would sleep well to have the energy I needed for the race...my prayer was answered! I felt fully rested that morning! Will, a veteran triathlete from my Ward, offered to pick me up and help me arrange my Transition area. With everything in place I was ready to go! The race consisted of a 600 meter swim, 12 mile bike ride, and 3.1 mile run. I finished in 1 hour and 35 minutes; 64th out of 100 contestants, but 14th out of 37 women! I'm happy with the outcome and hope to have a chance to participate in more Sprint Triathlons in the future!

Matt worked the night before, so I was grateful to him for coming with the kids to support me. They got there just before it started and gave me the "Go Mom" cheers that I needed!
The swim was in the cold Utah Lake. I prepared for this by renting a wet suit, which was a chore getting on and not flattering at all. I was most nervous about this leg of the race. First of all, I hadn't trained in open, dirty, cold water. Secondly, I was afraid of swimming with a lot of people near me. Thankfully, the swim was done in waves of about 20 people...I was in the 4th wave. Adrenaline helped me get right in! The wet suit worked great with protecting my body from the cold and also making me buoyant, but the cold water on my face was a shock. Every time the water splashed my face it took my breath away. I struggled to control my breathing, so I swam the best I could while alternating the side and back stroke (which I got the idea from many others around me), instead of freestyle like I had trained. I was frustrated and exhausted when I finished, but thrilled that I wasn't the last one out!:) Plus, my time was just under 16 minutes, which was right in my target zone...yay me!

My 1st Transition took me about 2 1/2 minutes, which is long for those who are pro, but I was happy with it being my first time. I had to take off the wet suit, slightly dry off with a towel, put on my clothes, socks, shoes, and helmet, and get the bike off the rack.

The biking leg was my favorite part! I finished it in about 46 minutes and was thankful that I didn't get a flat. I rented a road bike and picked it up the night before. I could tell in the little bit I rode it that night that it was going to make a huge difference in my time compared to my mountain bike I'd been training on. Having a road bike knocked off nearly 15 minutes, which made it worth it! It was light and rode smoothly. There were some tough hills, but for the most part, I felt like I was flying during the race!

My 2nd Transition was fast. I hung my bike up, and replaced my helmet with a hat...bam!
I was so surprised at how good I felt when I started the run. Running is my least favorite of the three legs, but I have built up the endurance for it. Although, a little ways into the race there was a long, gradual hill that kicked my butt by the time I got to the top! I was barely moving, but I kept going and ran the entire way in just under 31 minutes. I sprinted to the Finish Line, never being so excited to cross one. What an accomplishment!

Now let me paint a picture that was only taken with my eyes. I was so grateful for my cheering squad - Matt, Matthew, Kynlee, Karley, Kenzie, Tim, Donna, and Carolyn - who were rooting for me at the beginning and end of each leg. When I ran around the last corner, heading for the Finish Line, and saw my loved ones cheering me on, I had this amazing spiritual experience. I pictured my loved ones who have gone before me, who are cheering me on in the Race of Life that we are all a part of. They want me to train hard, finish, and make it back home! The Savior said in Matthew 10:22, "He that endureth to the end shall be saved." I will continue to build my spiritual endurance, so that someday I will cross the eternal Finish Line. I am thankful for my support group here on Earth and in Heaven!

Step By Step

2010-06-05T21:03:00.001-07:00

I feel so lucky to have been able to attend another Girls Camp! Life has been crazy, busy, and stressful with getting ready, but well worth it in the end. Each Ward was given one of the YW values to base camp off of. Ours was the value "Faith". We learned a song, "Plant A Seed In Your Heart", and sang it acapella in front of the Stake during a morning devotional. The girls harmonized beautifully! My favorite line from the song was: Watch and wait patiently, till your faith grows mighty as a tree...plant a seed. I love each of these sweet girls and have learned so much from them! There is nothing like the bonding of friendships and spiritual growth that Girls Camp has to offer! Since it was a Stake Girls Camp, the leaders each had a Stake assignment...mine was to ride on the bus with the girls. Yay me!:) These girls were ready to have some fun!Angie and I were "Bunk Buddies" and had 12 YW in our cabin with us...we were goofy and laughed the whole time! I love her and I am so thankful for our friendship! I was over the craft and since the theme was "Step By Step", decorating flip flops was the perfect idea. We scored by hitting the Old Navy $1 flip flop sale. This is a picture of what the girls could choose to do: tie on strips of fabric, assemble flowers and gems to glue on, or tie on water balloons. The girls loved it and they all turned out cute and unique! My decorated pair are the purple ones with fabric...love them!:) Each YW had a secret sister that she got fun things from everyday...I just had to try on these fun purple glasses that one of the girls received!:)One afternoon, the girls went through the Challenge Course. Afterwards, the leaders were able to try. With the girls chanting "Slider", I tried to be brave as I climbed up the rope ladder, crossed the ladder bridge, and raced across on the zip-line. It was scary, but a blast!So many fun memories are made at Girls Camp! My favorite one this year was our "Testimony Hike". The setting for our hike was gorgeous! Periodically along our hike, we would stop and one of the leaders would discuss a foundation point of a testimony. The girls would then quietly write their thoughts and feelings in their journals. The spirit was strong and I know the girls felt it. As we progressed on our hike the talking of the girls got quieter and quieter and the spirit noticeably got stronger and stronger. By the time it was my turn, I was overcome with emotion as I bore testimony of our prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

Later that evening, we had our Testimony meeting around the campfire. It was so neat to watch each Young Woman, some of whom it was their very first time, bravely stand among their peers and bear witness the things that they knew were true. The spirit was felt and it testified to us individually the truthfulness of each testimony that was born. The girls found that when they share their testimonies, it becomes stronger. I am forever grateful for the experience of Girls Camp!