Dad

Happy Birthday!

I was inspired by a great friend to give you a tribute



I wish you were here. I wish so bad that you could meet my three boys. I have a wonderful husband who reminds me a lot of you actually. My little boys are amazing. Andrew has your excitement for life and Jackson has your dark brown eyes. They are fun and perfect and they want to meet their Grandpa Roger. I wish they could know you rather than only know stories. We talk about you and visit your grave often. I wish I could hug you and that you could let me know that you are proud of me. I wish cancer didn't take you away from us.

I miss you. I miss you in Lake Powell. I miss working with you. I miss your hugs and your laugh. I miss your optimism about everyone and everything. I miss Saturday trips to Costco for a hot dog. I miss the comfort that I had knowing you were a phone call away. I miss sunday night popcorn and orange julius. I miss your laugh. I miss your council. I miss your sure testimony of the gospel.

I love you. I have learned things from you that I will always cherish. You are such and example to me of how I want to live my life. I can't wait till you get to meet my three boys and until I get to see you again.

"Love surrounds your every thought...I'll meet you there"

Chicken Pot Pie

I have not always been the best cook but I try and have actually made a few things that I am now famous for...
* On Sunday dinners I always make the rolls
* When people help us out they usually expect my cinnamon rolls
* I have a great recipe for ham
* And for some reason my bread sticks have become famous.

Anyway, I am not trying to toot my own horn I just know many of you think I don't cook. I want to share some recipes and now since you know I do okay cooking you can take my recipes and expect something decent. :) I do have a great Cheesy Pot Pie Recipe I made last night. I try to make our food fun so the kids will eat it. Last night the pot pie had Jackson's face on it. Take a look.




Do you see the resemblance?.....Ya neither did Kevin. Kevin just likes to laugh at me. That's okay though because Andrew and Jackson ate it really well. If you want the recipe here it is....not including the wonderful face I made on top.

Crust
2 c flour
1 t salt
1/2 c cold water
1 c butter Crisco

Cream sauce
3 T butter, melt
1/4 c. flour, stir in, cook 2 min
1 1/2 c milk, whisk smooth

Chicken
enough to get 4 cups, cooked in broth with bay leaves
Veggies
1/2 c onion, saute
1/2 c celery
2 c potatoes
1 c carrots

1 1/2 c broth and boil til tender, add chicken and cream sauce

roll out lower crust. Pour in veggies, top with 2 c cheese
then top with crust....design how you want
Brush top crust with milk and sprinkle sugar over

bake at 425 for 40 min.

Enjoy...My kids loved it

24th of July

We had such a great day on the 24th of July. I got Kevin all to myself so that was big. (No school, No work, No applications, No apartments) We started the day off by grabbing some bagels and heading to the parade. We had a great time and a good laugh. (Check our funny stories)


I had to take a picture of the float for my great school. We had a bunch of diehard U fans by us and they freaked out. It was funny because they looked like fools :)

After the parade we came back and met up with all my family for a hike. We hiked to Donut Falls. It was a really fun hike. Thank goodness it was only about 2 miles because I was carring Jackson in a backpack and after about 1/2 mile Andrew also wanted to be carried.

Next we went over to Grandma Tricia's for a BBQ which is always lots of fun.

Last but not least we had a fun firework show. I wish Andrew would have taken a nap because then we would have headed down to Liberty Park but it just didn't happen. Notice how our firework show is in the daylight. All the kids were tired and cranky.

"I look really hot"

I bought Andrew a hat a few weeks ago for Lake Powell. Of course he wouldn't keep it on his head for more than 2 minutes. Now he has discovered it and for the last 2 days hasn't wanted to take it off. This morning he finally let me get him dressed and he wanted his hat and sunglasses on. He turned to me and said " I look really hot." I was laughing hysterically but mortified at the same time thinking...where in the world has he heard or picked up on THAT... AAAAAHHHHHHH! Here are a few highlights....of course with the hat.


We had a fun time going to the children's Days of 47 Parade this morning.


Andrew woke up the other morning, put on his hat and said "Look mommy, I am a cowboy." When I saw pony rides we had to let him be a real cowboy and ride his horse. He was in heaven. Getting him off was the problem.


Driving tractors at Wheeler Farm


I finally got him to take his hat off for one picture but look how tight he is holding on to it.


Playing in the rivers down at Liberty Park.


Where we spend much of out time....at the playground.

Memories

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together (either with just me, just Kevin, or the both of us!). It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

American Idol Concert

My mom decided the girls needed a Girls Night Out. She was able to get tickets to the American Idol Concert last night. I felt like I was in Jr. High all over again. We were so excited and screaming and were totally acting like teeny boppers. It was great! I was a nerd pulling out my camera and calling my husband....who thought I was a total dork. Brooke was great. When she first came out she yelled " this is the place" It was great. Everyone got a kick out of it. I of course loved David Archuletta. He was so everwhelmed by the reaction from the crowd he started crying and yelled "Look what you are doing go me." He was so cute. David Cook was also amazing. I love how he changes songs to fit his style. Anyway, If you can't tell I really enjoyed the concert and really want the CD. If you ever get the chance I would go!

PS Heidi, I didn't have a shirt for everyone to sign and I also couldn't grab David Archuletta's or David Cooks hand...although I would have enjoyed that. Great times at the Backstreet Boys Concert!!

Greatest Place on Earth

Most people have a spot that they might consider the greatest place on earth....mine is Lake Powell. No trip tops it. We were lucky enough to head down there this past week. It is for sure different with kids but fun in a different way. I tell Kevin one of our first big purchases must be a boat. I can do without furniture or without a really nice car, but I can't do without a boat. Growing up my family always had a boat and I have such great memories from it. I know that my family grew closer from it. I want that for my kids.

Here is Andrew trying out the kneeboard. He was so willing to try everything new. When older kids were scared to do the tubes or the slide he jumped at the chance.

Adam launching water balloons to the swimmers. Of course Andrew was hit but thought it was the funnest thing ever. He wanted to do it again.

Kevin preparing for an early morning ski run.

Nightly tubs in the very clean lake.

Andrew jumping off the houseboat. He spent about 75% of his time doing just that.

St George

We headed down to St. George about a week ago to spend some time there before heading to Lake Powell. We had the best time full of swimming, scooter rides Bacci Ball (totally don't know how to spell it), and golfing... or hunts for golf balls and then rolling them into the holes.

Hand Foot Mouth

Okay so weirdest thing ever.... We have been with family a lot lately and it seems that when there are a lot of kids together they get sick right? Okay so anyway I watched my brothers kids on Monday as well as had a big family party. Today my brother called and said I am so sorry by Collin was so sick and has Hand Food Mouth Disease." We were going to a family reunion and then to Lake Powell so I was a bit worried. Later in the day Jackson had a crazy fever and so I called the Dr. Because he had been exposed to the Virus they wanted to see him right away. Anyway, we went in and HE HAS HAND FOOT MOUTH DISEASE OR VIRUS OR WHATEVER. So how weird is that?(I thought it was weird when I got ecoli.)

We are so sad because had to skip the Ray family reunion that would have been so much fun...even if it was in Vernal, Utah. It would have been just great if we would have spread it to like 200 kids. We are going to get the kids well rested and ready for some fun in Lake Powell next week.

One more thing I am super excited for.....MY MOM JUST ANNOUNCED SHE IS TAKING US ON A GIRLS NIGHT TO THE AMERICAN IDOL CONCERT on the 14th. I am super excited- I know i am a total dork.... O ya and babe I will give Brook a big hug for ya! ;)

Girls Week

One of my best friends got married today. Heather Back Harmon was married in the Salt Lake Temple. She looked so pretty and I absolutly loved her dress. I wish I could have enjoyed the amazing day with her....Kids are priority




Becca was in town for Heathers wedding and has been staying with me. We have had so much fun watching shows and playing games. It feels like old times I love it. The problem is that we stay up late and I have to get up early with kids while she gets to sleep in. I am jealous. We were able to get some of the girls together to have lunch. It was so fun to see Elisa, Heather, Becca, and Abby (Abby is missing in the pic)

Wii Fit

Andrew doing the downhill ski jump.

Kevin using his hip action to do an amazing job at the hoola hoop. (Now babe I can't remember who holds the high score... o-ya I think it might be me :)


A bunch of my family got together tonight and had a party. We let the kids swim, had some dinner, and pulled out the Wii Fit. Now I don't know if many of you have played it but we had a blast. I do realize there are no pictures of me. I looked so cool that I didn't want to make anyone else feel dumb...actually I looked totally stupid and I refuse to put them on here. THe funnies game to watch was deffinitly the hoola hoop. We were just rolling. I haven't cried that hard in a long time. I hope you all get a chance to try it sometime.

Run...walk....okay neither

So exercise has been a bit of a struggle lately. Kevin has been studying like crazy so we have been a bit on our own. That means I get to take the boys to exercise. First I try to run with them...then Andrew wants to walk and so I decide to walk instead. Our walk then turns into finding rocks to toss into the river and making boats to float down the gutters and finding any and every animal to pet and feed if possible. I shouldn't complain because walks are some of the boys favorite things to do and they get so excited. I guess I will just have to wait until after Sat. and I can get my exercise in.

Opposites

Our two boys look completely different. One blonde one brown...one fair one olive...one blue eyed one brown eyed...one was bald one with enough hair for pigtails. And yes they are both mine and Kevins if anyone was wondering. Anyway, I find this so funny because depending on who you talk to they think each of them looks EXACTLY like both of us. I will be with Andrew and one person thinks he looks just like me. The next person think he looks just like Kevin and Jackson looks just like me. I thought it might be fun to see what you think

My Boys

This is a great picture of my boys at the Zoo. Life is great. We have been loving the great weather and hope to have more. We spend every day outside finding playgrounds, going to the Zoo, playing with friends, swimming and going for walks. I didn't realize how much I love good weather until you have a kid that loves it and lives to be outside.

My Boys

Well now I have now realized that I am not a very great blogger. I try but it just seems like time passes to quickly and once again I have not blogged for a month or two. Our life is great. I love that I get to be with my three amazing boys. Andrew and Jackson look completely different and also have very different personalities. Andrew was easy. He always slept never really had too many tantrums but also we had a hard time getting him to smile and laugh. Jackson on the other hand has been a stink about sleeping and about tantrums. He does smile all the time and is laughing at everything. I just sove that Jackson and Andrew are responding to each other and get eachother laughing all the time. We have had some fun trips to St George and we had Andrews birthday party which was a lot of fun. Other than that we are just excited for the warm weather that will hopefully soon stick around for more than one day at a time.

Okay well pictures will happen soon. Once again they won't download.