my kind of camping

Thursday night Shea asked me at about 5:45 if I wanted to go camping.  I was more than a little surprised and very hesitant with my answer.  Doesn't it take a little more preparation?  Is it worth all the work?  And laundry?  And bug bites?  What about bears?  

Here's a shocker, we didn't end up going that night.  

The next night we were supposed to feed the missionaries.  I say supposed to, and we did; we just had to take it to their home instead of having them eat at ours.  The young man from our ward who was scheduled to pick them up and go on splits with them didn't.  By the time we contacted them on their phone, they didn't have time to come over and sit down.  We made up for it though, by having them over Saturday night for dinner.  Apparently their member dinner canceled on them.  Who does that?  Anyway, sorry about the missionary tangent...

Friday night our plans were botched.  We were hanging out together outside after a great meal and the Conroys came over.  We love the Conroys.  They are great people with fantastic kids.  Our kids play extremely well together.  Night was falling and they were saying their goodbyes when Taryn mentioned that their dad was sleeping in the tent in their backyard with her and her sister, Shea.  Of course, they asked if the boys could sleep over.  I wouldn't let them go without my Shea, so we said we'd talk about it.  And they didn't want to hear "no" for an answer.  

The Conroys left our yard and the boys were ready to talk.  I looked at Shea, he looked at the boys and their huge brown eyes, and I knew he'd be pitching a tent.  He told the boys they could "probably" sleep outside.  They didn't want to get too excited and Camden asked, "Dad, what does 'probably' mean?"  It was pretty cute.  

We got everything situated and the kids in bed by 10:30.  Lucy and I then went home to bed.

In the morning, Jerianne made monkey bread--which my family devoured.    

We're lucky to have great friends and family.  I'm sure we'll have many more "camping" in the backyard experiences before the kids are grown.  If anyone wants to pitch a tent, I know of a good spot!

Ye haw and yum yum!

busy summer days

This week has been fun.  We've done so many fun things together, and I'm loving having the boys home with me.

Monday we went swimming at Riverside with Shannon and kids and then had my family's father's day celebration bbq.

Tuesday Shea was at girls' camp at Mutual Dell all day.  I took the kids to Del Taco for lunch.  (They have been begging to go since they came home with a free kids meal coupon from school.)  I let them play on the indoor playground for a while.  We came home and I rolled out the slip and slide and handed out popsicles to the neighborhood kids.  I enjoyed sitting on the deck in the shade and watching the kids enjoy themselves.

On Wednesday we met my friend Ramee and her kids for ice cream at Thanksgiving Point and let the kids play for a while.  That evening we went to the Strawberry Days rodeo with Ben and Olivia and Cam and Ashley.  My kids loved the $1 strawberries and cream--and so did Shea.  After the cowboys and the motorcycle stunt riding, Camden informed me that he was no longer saving his money for Heelys.  He is now saving for a dirt bike.  Yikes!  I hope it takes 20 years.

The boys went to see Kung Fu Panda again on Thursday with my parents.  Lucy and I ran errands.  I dropped her off at about 4:30 and headed up to meet Shea at girls' camp for bishopric night.  I enjoy going up--for a few hours.  He spent the night there and was home by 9:15 the next morning!

Yesterday we went to the AF pool with Olivia, Audrey and the Conroys.  My kids had a great time, and they really love the water.  Lucy loved being in an inner tube and spinning herself in a circle.  She giggled while she spun for 30 minutes!  My boys were in heaven with Little Shea (their friend, not their father) as they jumped off the side of the pool, swam, and slid into the water.  

We ended the day with a bbq and games.  I wanted to make the most out of the longest day of the year!  

In between all that I've been working on a photo book of our Israel trip.  It has been fun to photoshop the pictures and put them together.  We will have a great memoir of our trip to show anyone who asks to see! 

Happy 49th Dad!

Happy birthday to my wonderful father.  He has always been strong and I've always felt safe when he's around.  I love watching him as he plays with the tiny babies and as he teaches Cam, Coop, and Lucy new tricks.  He could hold a newborn forever--if he had milks.  He is loving, outspoken but very honest, hard-working, loyal, hilarious, a great cook, organized, and did I mention he knows how to work hard?  He is always bidding jobs that he thinks will take 2 weeks.  His work ethic kicks in and the jobs always get done early--by a week or more!  

I love you, dad.  Thank you for raising me, disciplining me, and loving me and my sweet little family.  

Happy Birthday Hannah Rose and Auntie Andrea!

To two beautiful and very loved girls...we hope your day was perfect!  (Thanks to Candace's awesome photography for the great picture of Jake and Andrea.)  I guess I need to take more pictures of you, Andrea!

What a difference a week makes!

Lucy has healed miraculously well.  We are so thankful for that.  

We've been back to normal this week.  The boys have been playing outside with friends, we've gone to a movie, and we've traveled to Midway to welcome Todd and Jane and kiddos back to Utah!  We're so excited they're here for two months.  

I'm still working on my Israel posts.  I'll have to upload pictures from my Mac and then edit the post on Shea's laptop, so I can move things where I want them.  So far I've enjoyed learning about my Mac and its programs.  I created a calendar last night in about 5 minutes.  I've spent a little time this morning going through all my pictures and fixing the red eye and blemishes.  It's the easiest thing ever.  I can't wait to have some real time to get things done that I've been wanting to do for a long time.

Still smiling

I couldn't bear to take a picture any sooner.  I can't believe how well her face is healing!  Her eye had been swollen until this morning, and now it's just a little bruised on the inside corner.  Despite the owies, she is the sweetest thing I've ever seen!  I love this girl.

"Owie, mama!"

Some of you have asked to see pictures of Lucy's owies.  She had a major crash on Sunday with her wiggle.  I know, you are asking why she was riding her wiggle on a Sunday.  Well, I was delivering my visiting teaching treats and I had the kids with me.  I told them we were going to walk, but they showed me those big, pleading, sparkly eyes and I let them ride instead.  The way Lulu says "wiggle" is so cute, so instead of fighting, I got them down from the hooks in the garage.  #1 reason for me to feel totally responsible and guilty.

We made it safely to the first house and were on our way down the unfamiliar hill (to Lulu) to the next home.  Lucy has ridden down our hill several times without incident.  I thought to warn her (mistake #2) but didn't.  It's hard to hear over the sound of three wiggles racing down the sidewalk.  I also thought one of the boys was in front leading the way (mistake #3.)  I think I had a feeling something might happen because I started running in tall shoes down the hill.  I didn't hear or see the crash, but when I saw Lucy's bloody face and her wobbling to me with outstretched arms, I knew.  I ran to get her, ordered the boys to walk the wiggles up to our house, called out to one of the young men in our ward to get Shea from the church, and sped up the hill to our house.  

Luckily Lucy was in shock and not crying hysterically.  I was also in shock which made me able to function and clean out her wounds.  I get sick at the sight of blood and gore--especially in my own children--but I have always been able to take care of them and help them when they need it most.  Shock is my friend that way.  

Shea came home and helped me clean up Lulu.  Miraculously, (and seriously, we feel so lucky) she only had road rash.  She didn't break anything; she didn't need any stitches; and she didn't cry very much at all considering the circumstances.  She has scratches on her forehead, above her eye, on her cheek and nose, on her shoulder, on her wrist, and on both hands.  She had some swelling but she is really healing quickly.  After I cleaned her up, she and I cuddled on the couch for most of the afternoon.   

We took advantage of this trial and taught the boys again about the power of the priesthood.  Shea and Steve Ruf came and gave Lucy a blessing.  Before they arrived the boys asked me if we could have a family prayer.  I told them I had said a prayer.  Cooper told me he had offered three and Camden had offered one.  So, I told them to kneel and we had one together.  It was a sweet experience as I spoke to our Heavenly Father and the boys listened and sobbed.  They were truly concerned with their little sister's well being.  They told me they would rather be hurt than see Lucy in pain.  They also kept asking me when she would be healed.  I told them that she'd start to look better in 6 or 7 days.  They both said, "well, I choose 6 days.  Do you, mom?"  

All of us have had our faith reaffirmed in the last two days.  

Thank you to all of you who have called or come to visit us!  We are so lucky to have loving family, friends and neighbors.  We feel so blessed.

Israel Day 10

Israel Day 9

Israel Day 8

Israel Day 5

Chorazin--1st century street wide enough for 2 laden donkeys to pass, 2nd city where Christ taught in Galilee, Christ prophesied that all three cities would be destroyed and not rebuilt because of the wickedness of the people, 

Mount of Beatitudes

Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee--
Synagogue at capernaum

Remains of Peter's house
Jordan River
1st century street in Chorazin

Tabgha--fishing spot, where Christ may have fed the disciples fishes and loaves, the calling of Peter to be a disciple



Capernaum--one of three cities that comprised most of the Savior's Galilean ministry, synagogue where he would have attended services, black, volcanic, basalt stone, octagonal church built over the traditional site of Peter's home (archaeologists found remains of several oil lamps suggesting that many people gathered there), Christ would have looked like any other Jewish Galilean man (no form nor comeliness)

Fireside with Dr. Holzapfel at our hotel

Israel Day 7