4th of July cont...last one!

After all the yummy food and treats were consumed, we all settled into PJ's and watched a movie until dark. We can see two fireworks shows from our deck so the kids eagerly watched to see when they would start. Marshall spotted them first and screamed and we all ran out to the deck. Sadie thought they were scary at first but then loved them by the end. We couldn't really here them so I put on my America CD and it was perfect. Poor Daddy had allergies so bad that day he could only stand to be outside with us for about 5 minutes and had to go back inside. He was miserable that day! But again we tried to make the best of it!

We gave the kiddos glow sticks and they twirled them around to the music. They were a hit. But, of course they soon turned into "light sabers" and Jenna made a circle, put it on her head and said "Look mommy, I'm an angel!" Yes you are Jenna!

After the kids tired of watching we went downstairs on the patio and exploded about 5000 pop its! Plus shot off those little things that spray out confetti. The kids had so much fun with this and Sadie found it was much more efficient to just dump the whole bag and stomp on them! We ended the night off with a bang for sure! We missed being with family this year but how can you not have fun with 4 kids and 5000 pop its! (not really that many but close!) Mom didn't know that Daddy already bought some and she bought some too! The kids did not mind!

4th of July cont....

For Marshall's scout requirements he needed to plan, prepare and clean up a meal. So we told him the 4th was all his to plan. So we decided to have grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, chicken pasta salad, watermelon, chips, squirt/gingerale to drink, and home made ice cream for dessert.(which we had never attempted before)


We made home made mint chocolate chip ice cream...mmmmm.....it turned out so good and now is going to be a new family tradition! I am already recieving requests to make icecream for the kids birthdays!

We then grilled with Marshall's assistance and he helped me make the pasta salad. Everything turned out so yummy!

Let Freedom Ring!

We had a interesting 4th this year. 80 percent of our family had colds which made most very kranky! We tried to make the best of the weekend though and went and saw Ice Age 3, which is very funny! Took the kids bowling, I think Brigham creamed us! And then made a much needed stop to our favorite Burger and Milk shake place! YUMMY!
But what topped off Friday night was the biggest and craziest storm we had ever seen since moving here! The rain was flying in every direction and the wind was crazy! Lightning and thunder ended the night and entertained the kids through their windows as they fell asleep.
Saturday we started the day off with a run and a trip to the store. On the way home from running the kids found some brand new baby birds in the grass that had been blown out of their nest during the strom the night before. We went back to save them but the mama had found them and was huddled over them to keep them out of the sun and heat. Good mama bird!

Too bad it's not Christmas!

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth right? Brigham's a few months too soon for that! But what a cutie! He is having fun trying to spit out the space where his teeth were, and making funny sounds while he talks. He's so funny!

pool fun AND Brigham lost a tooth!

The kids were keeping cool and killing time while daddy was cooking dinner. They were so cute! They eventually started playing baseball and using the pool as home plate. It's so fun to see there imaginations in use. It's amazing how much fun they have with a little water! They were having so much fun they did not want to stop, even to eat dinner!

Pennsylvania!

Scott and I had the opportunity to go and stay in Pennsylvania for a few days. He's starting a new job. So, we went there to meet everyone in the companies main office and for him to get some training. After you put aside the fact that we started off in the wrong terminal, missed bag check in, had to throw half our toiletries away so we could do gate check in, all our flights were delayed or cancelled, one of our airplanes was 100 degrees and that my suitcase was lost...it was a great trip! It is such a beautiful place and s stop on the map (I beieve) for everyone! It is so beautiful and rich with history. The weather is so nice and we had a great time there. We saw dear, squirrels and rabbits running around everywhere.

Our first night there, we were spoiled and his boss took us to there beautiful cabin. They fed us a delicious dinner and we got aquainted. What a fun family. It is such a green and peaceful area. We also drove passed a little Amish community and were able to see the kids out working in the fields with there dad. There horse drawn buggies, the mule pulled plows and a sweet lady walking down the street bare foot! She turned and waved to us as we drove by. What a neat and interesting way of life.

Scott was in the office most of the time but I was spoiled and was able to go site seeing. I went to Hershey, PA. which is every womans dream town. A whole city dedicated to chocolate. Smells like chocolate. Everything is made out of chocolate....okay not really but close! Even the street lights are shaped like Hershey kisses! We brought the kids back Hershey and Reeses icecream bowls, factory worker hats, pins, chocolate lip gloss, magnets and some yummy treats! They loved every bit of it!
The next day I went to Gettysburg. What a humbling place to be. When you step out on to those battlefields and hear the stories of those brave soldiers, it just quiets you. It such a reverent place and it's so amazing to stand where they fought and try to imagine what the scene must have been like all those years ago....
There is still one farm house and barn that was right in the middle of the battle. Many Union soldiers were killed there. On the barn, there is still a huge whole in the side wall where a cannon ball smashed into it. It's things like that, that help the reality of it all sink in. When you are looking of a photograph taken during the battle times of a scene, then looking at it now. It's almost like you travel back in time for a moment. It is an experience I will never forget. I have always been so grateful for anyone who has fought to make our country what it is today. But now, I have an even deeper respect for them. It makes me want so much to help my kids learn and love our country, the constitution, to not take our freedom for granted and to appreciate what has taken place in history so that they could have the life they enjoy now. I hope someday to be able to take them to these places so they can experience it first hand.
We had a lot of good treats, food and great company!

It was such a great trip and one I will always remember! His new boss, wife and family were so nice and bent over backwards to make it a nice trip for us.

Marshall's Scout camp

Marshall had his first Scout Day Camp this summer and had a blast! He and his buddies were Pirates this year. They had so much fun shooting BB guns and bows and arrows. They swam, did crafts, obstacle courses, and all sorts of fun pirate themed activities. He learned a lot and it was fun as a mom to watch him push himself and learn to do things he didn't know he could do. He even got the top swimmer ranking which he didn't think he was going to get. There were things that were required that he had never done before, but he tried it and was able to do it! It wasn't easy either. Can you tell I'm a proud mom? It was a highlight of my life watching him the day I was able to go. What an amazing boy! Handsome too!

Fun in the sun!

The kids always have a blast when you mix a hot day with water balloons and a hose!

Get your motor runnin'!!!!

Marshall learned to ride a four wheeler all by himself! He loved it! Mom hated it! Dad was so proud! Brother thought it was awesome!

A Dream is a wish your heart makes.......

Of course Jenna would not rest until we met every princess in the world! And Tinkerbell! Not technically a princess, but just as important on a young girls checklist of must see's. Now "princess" is one of Sadie's favorite words. For a long time too, "Rella" for Cinderella was the name of every princess in Sadie's book. Sadie and Jenna love to dress up together and believe with all their hearts that they are princesses too! As they should....because in our book they are!

M-I-C-K-E-Y---M-O-U-S-E!!!

We had so much fun at Disneyland! Meeting Mickey was a huge highlight of the trip! The kiddos were so excited!

Happy Birthday Dad and Grandpa we miss you!

On Dads birthday this year, we decided to honor him with blue balloons filled with messages of love. We all went outside and let them go up to heaven. The kids loved this and it was very theraputic for us adults. We also had German chocolate cake.
We all love and miss you very much dad and grandpa!

Sadies 2!!!

One of our best anniversary presents ever has been little miss Sadie! She came 1 day after our anniversary. Boy does that girl know how to party! What a little dolly!

10 Year Anniversary

Scott and I had an amazing trip to Park City. I know it doesn't sound like an exciting destination. But when you are in love as much as we are....You can be anywhere and it is wonderful! It was beautiful and peaceful though. I would recommend it to anyone!