Beauty Is...

Beauty is Skating.
Feeling free like spinning wheels,
jumping like a kangaroo,
Grinding rails,
feeling free,
having fun.



Kyle entered this years reflection contest. The theme was beauty is...
He didn't win anything, but he made me proud!

Fall Break

For our Fall break this year we took a trip down South. We stayed in Cedar City at the Trammell's house. They are some very good friends of ours that treat us like we are their children. We love them dearly and it felt so good to stay in their home! We went to Bryce and Zions National Parks! It was so beautiful. I can't even describe how beautiful it was. The boys hiked all over and never complained. They absolutely loved every minute of it. If you haven't been...GO! It is worth the time and drive and energy to hike around a bit! I can't wait to go back and see some of the things that we didn't have time for.
On the bridge to go to the Emerald Pools


Weeping Rock! We didn't get a picture of how soaked the boys got!


On our way up the rocky paths to the upper Emerald Pool


Beautiful sight


The rest of the pictures are at Bryce Canyon. I had never been there before and was amazed. I think it was my favorite place!

Last week I had an old friend that I hadn't talk to in years until recently (to my great happiness) comment about my blog. She had very nice and positive things to say about it, which was very nice of her. But, since that time I have wondered about this whole blog thing. It seems to me that we only post the happy times. I guess that is because that is what we want to remember and we want to help and uplift others. But, I also think that we should know that there are a lot of days that are DANG hard. There are a lot of days that I go to bed feeling like a complete loser of a mother. I feel like I have yelled at my children all day long. There are a lot of days that I just feel lonely. There are a lot of days I just feel completely overwhelmed with all that I have to do and know there is no way I can get it all done.
Please, anyone that is reading this...don't take this the wrong way. I have good days even great days...but sometimes bad days just happen. I don't want your sympathy. I don't think that we need to be negative and bring anyone else down with us...but somedays it's nice to know that there may be someone else out there that isn't perfect. So here I am gals...very imperfect and looking forward to a better day tomorrow!

Summer Memories

I was just looking at some photos taken this summer and thought I would share a few fun memories!


This was at five mile. The boys hiked up a hill to see the sunset.


Kyle next to his new motorcycle. This was his first ride at 5 mile!


Landon and I ready to eat some hotdogs!


Jared helped Spencer drive the four wheeler. Spencer was a crazy driver!


This summer Laureesa Cook gave my boys private swim lessons. She is an amazing teacher! The boys loved it. She took Spencer down the slide on his last day!


She said Spencer could float longer than any of the boys!


Jared learning how to dive. This was not his favorite part of swim lessons!


Landon tried and tried to do a perfect dive!


This summer we hosted a neighborhood scavenger hunt. After the kids found treats, popcorn and prizes at each clue they were lead to our backyard where we set up a tent and watched a movie and had some glowstick fun!

Lake Powell 2009

I survived! Yes, I would do it again! We had such a great time in Lake Powell. It was all because of the Nordgren's. Chad trained Bill to be a private pilot several years ago and has kept in contact with him ever since. We had never met each other's families. I was very nervous to spend a week roughing it with people I didn't know. They were so gracious and kind and fun! We are so lucky and have made some lifelong friends and hopefully yearly Powell buddies. Here are just a few of the pictures from our trip. You can see more on my facebook. Facebook seems to load them faster, but I like to document here as well!


Beautiful Lake Powell Sunset


Jared on the knee board on the last day


Kyle mastered 180's and 360's on the knee board


Landon couldn't get enough


Chad learned how to do the air chair


I still like good old fashioned skiing


Our family at Rainbow Bridge! What a sight!


Couldn't get enough of the views!

Packing for Lake Powell

The boys are in bed, Chad is at work. It is 11:15 pm and I just started baking a batch of cookies to freeze for our Lake Powell trip. I am hoping that chocolate carmel cookies and a good book will help me get through the week. We are taking the kids to Lake Powell. We are leaving Monday morning and coming back Friday or Saturday. I am a little nervous because we are really going to be roughing it in a tent with no real toilet in sight! Ahhh! I used to love to camp, but I have been spoiled and now I like the comforts of home. I know we are going to have an enjoyable time and make a lot of fun memories! I am excited to see what the week brings! I am sure we will have a ton of pictures to share!

My Boys and their Toys

What's a girl to do? I thought the song was, "girls just wanna have fun!" They need to change it to boys just wanna have fun!