Summer Fun

We have been so busy having fun the past few weeks that I haven't wanted to sit down and blog about it. (although I should have just for better memories.)

June 2nd we got to go to the open house for the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It was beautiful! The kids were very well behaved, and could feel the reverence and peace that we feel as we go there on our Monthly dates to the temple. Hopefully it helped them understand a little why Mommy and Daddy love to go there!

Josh got both of our families together for a bbq for my birthday(June 5th). It was great to have everyone together, I felt very loved! These are the gifts that my kiddo's picked out for me from the dollar store. Lovely huh?

The following day(June 6th) was the air show at Hill Air Force Base. We had been hiking on Monday and on the way down the trail we had a big plane with 4 fighter jets on it's wings fly by. It was loud, and beautiful! I kinda begged Josh into going to the airshow after we saw that, and it actually was a great time! Lots of walking, and tons of people, but so worth it.

Last Thursday we received a phone call from Select Health, letting Josh know he'd been accepted into their RN nursing program that will start on August 26th! We were/and are so excited about this! This means that instead of being reimbursed for school- they pay up front, and we will be provided with an allowance for books too. It also means that instead of taking 3 classes+clinical each semester, Josh will be taking 2 classes a semester+clinical(although he will have to go to school through the summer). This makes it a lot more possible for Josh to work full time through the program, since we don't really have any other options. We are feeling showered with blessings right now.

Then on Friday my cousins Matt and Shaye were coming to visit Grandma, so luckily that meant we got to spend time with them too! We headed up to the Zoo on Saturday- and were having a great time.... and then it started raining, and thundering, and lightening, then pouring! It was definitely an adventure and a visit to the zoo that I won't forget! We were all soaked! The animals were all wide awake and so active- they were just waiting for the lovely storm to come.

Saturday evening the storm had cleared out so we decided to try out the drive in theatre. We saw Night at the Museum 2, and then Wolverine. It was a bit chilly and we all ended up in our cars, but it was fun none the less. I fell asleep during Wolverine because I was cuddling the boys trying to distract them from watching it... it was a little intense for a little 2 and almost 4 year old.

Monday... the 15th was Josh and my 7th wedding anniversary. It's strange to me that it's been that long already, but when I look at all we have accomplished it's very fulfilling!

*3 beautiful children

*Josh got his associates degree

*2.5 years waiting to get into the nursing program

*several moves from home to home.

*many church callings

*LOTS of lessons learned.

*obviously this list could go on and on-

Monday Josh and I finally used his birthday present and went to the indoor climbing gym called Momentum. I was proud to make it to the top a couple times, even if it was on the easiest climbs. Josh did a great job too, and we plan to try and go more often(than once every 7 years;))

Yesterday we got a few things done for the prep for the RN nursing program.. then headed up to Lagoon. Wicked was a new favorite ride! After a few hours, we really just started missing our kids, and sharing the fun with them. Josh's parents were kind enough to take the kids for both days, and even over night! Thanks so much!! It's crazy how kids can make you so crazy, but then a short time without them makes you so anxious to see them.

It was a lovely anniversary- we are so grateful for our marriage and for the many blessings it has brought to us. I love you Josh!

Disconnected- and lovely. :)

We had the opportunity to go spend some time with my cousin for Memorial Day. We honestly had one of the best weekend's we have had for a VERY long time. The cabin we stayed at was not close enough to a cell phone tower, so we were totally disconnected: no phone, no computer, no Internet. This is something I need to do more often. As you can see this cabin is still in the works. They bought the land several years ago, and as a family have been working on it. Josh is ready to pack up and go help them work as often as they'd let us be up there. :)

For "Date Night" our hubby's arranged for us to shoot shotguns at clay pigeon's- and miraculously I even hit a couple! (Josh and Chuck are pictured here.. they were way better than Katie and I.)

We had a few pretty intense rain/thunder storms. Lightning actually struck close enough to the cabin that we saw sparks. :S And we lost our generator power for a few minutes too. It was a bit tense for a couple minutes, but we were all safe!

We got several rides on the 4-wheelers. The rest of date night with the boys was them taking us for a ride on the 4 wheelers. I have a really bad impression of 4 wheelers due to a past experience, but I was brave. And had a great time riding with my very responsible, and not crazy Husband. :) (This picture was of Chuck's Dad- my kids are still calling him Grandpa Bert)

Grandpa Bert was kind enough to bring a friend snake for us to observe for the duration of our trip. The kids were kind enough to try and feed him some goldfish crackers. I'm not sure the snake appreciated them, but at least the kids were trying!

Here is a cute picture of Katie's youngest. I LOVE his red hair!

(sorry it's sideways... not sure why it's like that. )

These girls had so much fun, and I know that my big helper is lonely and bored without her cousins. :)

The kids all got along really well! It was so fun to have them get to know each other better. My kids keep asking when we'll get to see them again.

Another 4 wheeler ride. :) Tenderheart and his double-mallow cookie smore. :)
Our cute dragonfly friend.
She found him out on the pond.
Tenderheart's favorite activity was rowing in the pond. He and an 8 year old snuck away into a canoe- and lucky for us they navigated the pond without tipping it!
Home made teeter totter. :)

We had a GREAT weekend- and are grateful to those who helped us have a weekend away from our stresses. We feel very refreshed and want Katie and Chuck to know how much we love and appreciate them! We are already looking forward to our next get together- whenever that may be.

65 degrees and Sunny

The past few weeks have been the most ideal weather! I had a few opportunities stack on top of each other, and have been insanely busy. Somehow, I've mustered up the energy to keep up with all the life has handed me- which has been a huge blessing. In the past, I would have caved under the pressure.

My Mom's yard has been blossoming!

(yes, I do realize this is a weedy dandilion- but they are vibrant and pretty in a way!)

Josh and I have been being more diligent about going to the Temple. Thanks to our good friends, for going with us. It's something we really look forward to, and have felt blessed for being there! We are excited about the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple that will soon be finished. We both are scheduled to help at least one night with the open house, which should be a neat experience.

We took a day trip to my Grandparents home up in Idaho. Leaving the valley for a day was a needed break. While it was nice to be in thier home again, it made me miss my Grandpa. Although my Grandma has suffered a stroke and isn't able to communicate as well as she used to, she is a strong woman, and I admire her strength, and faith- she knows that Grandpa is in a better place. I'm so glad that they were able to live a long good life together.

One of our dear friends from high school recently lost his wife to cancer. She was only 29. He's aching miserably- and I can't blame him. It's just hard to know how to help him, or if anyone really can help him hurt less. I know time supposedly helps, but really that's not much for consolation is it? Luckily, he seems to have strong faith. That there is a bigger plan than just life here on earth. I pray that is faith can carry him through the rough time he is experiencing.

We are STILL waiting to hear if we got accepted to the Nursing program through Josh's work. But we think that we may have been approved for a small pell-grant that will cover at least some of our expenses this fall if we just go with SLCC's program. Either way, we are couting down the time until we don't see each other much. We are going on at least two little trips this summer, and hoping it is just a relaxed very quality-family-filled few months.

Let's go fly a kite.

It seems that EVERYONE has already flown kites and posted pictures of thier cute kids flying them, so I thought I'd be original.. (ha ha) and post some of our adventure this past Sunday flying them. These kites were awesome. Even my 2 year old was doing pretty good flying it! (although he and my 3 year old kept letting go. ) Tenderheart was so excited that his kite would keep flying even when he'd let go of it!

I decided it was time to cut the boys hair shorter for the summer. I had been putting it off becuase I had never let it grow as long before, and I kinda liked it! But it's been getting warm, so I figured it will always grow... right? So Tenderheart wouldn't look at me or smile, but he was quite proud of his crazy upset face picture and gave me permission to post it on here. :) It's got to be rough being a 3.75 year old...

Spring is really here, and it's TRYING to be warm outside. But we could still handle a few degree's warmer.
I wish you chould see his eyes better in this picture, they are a cool color. :)

Me playing with depth of field.

Loving playing on bikes outside!

Spray painting the pink and purple bike camo khaki(by tenderheart's choice)- so it's not too girly for a boy to ride. :)

Studying something.

Just before we took her beloved earrings out. We(she included)decided it just wasn't worth the battles to clean them, and tears to keep them in. She was happy to know she's just as pretty without them. I was proud of her!