Summer Summary. . . Part 1

After months of having to listen to complaints from my favorite biological sister, I guess it's about time I update my long neglected blog.

Here's the thing, SO many things have happened since I last posted that I get incredibly overwhelmed, and I just don't know where to begin. Even after typing that very sentence, I looked at all of the pictures I took this summer and darn near closed this tab without ever finishing the post. BUT, I guess if I don't start somewhere, I'll never get anywhere, and the truth is, I REALLY despise that first picture of me and the snake that I last posted. I'm getting sick of looking at it, so this just has to be done.

I am going to give you fair warning, this is going to be picture/information overload, but I am forbidding you to complain, because beggars can't be choosers, and this is just the way a post four months in the making has to be. I decided to break it up into two parts, because, well, I've got a lot of crap to post:).

Ute Stampede:

Our family has had the same Ute Stampede routine since I can remember. We always go to the rodeo on Thursday, and the the carnie on Friday. I'm excited I've been able to carry on that same tradition with my own kids. I have high hopes that someday they will be carnie employees and give us discounts so that we can ride the ring of fire all night with out paying a million dollars.

The rodeo is always intense, but somehow Tanner must have been getting a little bored because apparently he is trying to stimulate his brain through his nose :0).

This is Ellie's latest smile. You'll notice she continues to pull this lovely "princess smile" in nearly every picture I take of her. What a doll!

We wrapped up the Ute Stampede festivities with a little fun runnin'. Luke and Tanner ran in the kids' race, they both did a great job and have since gotten out of bed too darn early for my liking to train for next year.

Bampa's Farm:

Those of you who know my dad may be surprised to know that he has a farm. Well, ok, it's not really his farm, but the kids sure think it is. He works security at Young Living Farms in Mona which means that there are a few special occasions that we get a backstage V.I.P. pass to all the action.

At the farm there is a little western town that is the perfect setting for the imagination of two little "cowboys" to run wild! They got all suited up in their cowboy gear, which included a dinner napkin scarf for Luke, and a sideways pirate hat for Tanner. I always knew I'd raise me up some real cowboys!

Here the boys are busy being "The Law" and keeping their town in order.

Apparently order comes in the form of making their little sister keep the town clean.

After a hard days' work, they always make time to stop at the local pub for some good ole' fashioned saspirilla.

Here is my sweet little girl's lovely princess smile once again!

PS- I would like you to take a second look at the Ute Stampede photos. My boys were begging to wear these lovely cowboy outfits to the rodeo, and I was begging my mom for suggestions on how to get around it. Luckily she came through with some NEW cowboy clothes so the pirate hat and dinner napkin could have a little break. Thank goodness for grandparents!!

Since this little outing, I have had to convince Tanner multiple times that cowboys wear cool clothes too.

Yes, these outlaws even have their very own mother and father

Swimming:

We live only a few minutes from a nice little desert oasis, the Payson Pool. Just incase you weren't aware, I am one of the most paranoid mothers on the planet, so when I heard that my favorite Juab High School Alumnists were taking their kids to the pool, I nearly had a heart attack. My first thought was "NO WAY!" Then I began thinking of Meagan and Alisha who are also Matriarchs of their own three children, and I told myself, "if they can do it, I might as well attempt to do it too." I set a few ground rules for the kids, strapped a life-jacket on Tanner, and away we went. I am so glad I did because anytime I get together with these girls, it's always a good experience. I even made it home with all three of my children above water.

The pool check was made a little sweeter with slushies and pink cookies...Oh, and this is Ellie in her favorite pink robe which she lovingly refers to as her "butt"

July 4th.

On July 4, 2003, this handsome little devil made me a mother and stole my heart. I can't believe seven years has gone by since then. How blessed I am to have such a wonderful son. He has already taught me more about ambition, compaiton, and patience than I can express. I am so proud of him, and I feel it an honor to be called his mom.

Nephi's 3rd of July Celebration:

We certainly lucked out this year with the 4th being on a Sunday. We got to go to Nephi on the 3rd, celebrate Luke's birthday on the 4th, and head up to Provo on the 5th. We usually try to cram all three celebrations into one day, which makes for a crazy, utterly exhausting adventure, it's always worth it, but I kinda wish the 4th was on Sunday every year.

Luke got his face painted like Spiderman. Can you see the resemblance? I'm not going to lie, it took me a few minutes to guess what character he was meant to be.

My parents spent two hours working as the train operators. That meant two hours of free rides and entertained children for me. It was pure bliss!

Tanner was dying all day to try his hand, and feet, at rock climbing. I tried to convince him it was a waste of tickets, but needless to say, he used six of his tickets which is equivelant to two bucks to make it three feet up the wall then have a level 5 meltdown because he couldn't reach the top. After dragging my kicking and screaming 4-year-old away from the crowd, a kind doctor, who happened to be by the rock climbing wall at the time, tracked me down to see if he was seriously injured. I reassured him that only his pride as assulted but other than that, he was just fine. Best two bucks we've ever spent.

I am pretty confident that at this point, you are as tired of reading this as I am of writing it, so I will put the 2nd half on hold and simply say,

to be continued. . .