The Treehouse

We've decided that in our family we'll have big friend birthday parties every other year (if they want them) and just do something fun as a family on the year off. So when Tyler's birthday came up, we decided to go up to Ogden to a big dinosaur park. We got a hotel up there, and planned our fun trip, and then Brad's co-worker mentioned how scary the dinosaur park was in October, all decked out for Halloween. We decided not to scare the kids to death.

I'm so glad it didn't work out, though, because plan B was a children's museum up in Ogden called the Treehouse, and it was JUST PERFECT! We had so much fun! Other children's museums I've been to have been a little run down. But not this one! It was in tip-top shape, and had so much to see and do!

There were so many dress-up places.

They had a cute pioneer schoolroom that the children really enjoyed.

Moving on to the American West, they had a tee-pee.

And rodeo stuff.

This one was pretty funny. There was actual fluid coming out of the cow! The kids were grossed out and mesmerized at the same time.

They had a stage where they had a children's play. A worker narrated the story of the Princess and the Pea, while the children acted it out. Tyler was a guard.

Lauren didn't want to be in the play, but she got to play on the props afterward.

There was a fake oval office complete with the President.

Lots of science stuff.

Lincoln logs.

A hospital nursery.

And tons more that we didn't get pictures of. What a great place! We were there from opening to closing! If we lived closer, I would definitely want to become a member. The kids still talk about it and ask to go back.

Fall Family Night

In an effort to keep watch on the changing leaves, we took off on a Monday Family Night up to the canyon. Who knew it would be such a big adventure?! We started out enjoying the autumn colors as we climbed up the mountain.

About .6 miles after the pavement ended and gravel began, we saw two cars in a bend in the road. One of them, unfortunately, had driven off a little cliff and its nose was stuck in the creek. The other car was stopped to help the lady who was in the driver's seat of the first car, either hallucinating or in shock. She was breathing heavily and was not responding. Since we couldn't really help with first aid, we took off down the mountain to call 911 where there was reception.

We definitely wanted to make sure the lady made it okay, so after we saw the first responders headed up the mountain, we stopped in a little grove of trees to hang out until they came down.

The joys of being a boy.

Practicing spooky faces

After what seemed to be a long time, the ambulance came back down. We still wondered if she was even alive, so we safely followed it to the hospital. It didn't have its lights or sirens on so we figured either it wasn't too bad, or she was already gone!

We parked across the street from the hospital and saw her being brought out on a gurney with an IV, so we figured she must be fairly okay. Phew!

Another normal day for a Rescue Hero and his family!

Cookie Grandma

Sometimes I don't know why I am so blessed. Why I had such an idyllic childhood surrounded by people who loved me and wanted the best for me. People who unselfishly spent time with me and taught me important values and life lessons.

At the top of that list was my Grandma Dorothy. I never doubted her love for me. I always felt not just loved, not just appreciated--but adored! Between the chocolate crinkle cookies she always kept in the freezer, the clothes she sewed for me, and teaching me to sew, our special walks to Armatidge Park to get fall leaves, long camping trips every summer, watching duck games and an occasional Days of Our Lives, and later, trips between Ontario and Eugene, always stopping at the Shoe Tree, I always felt her love for me.

Grammy, as I called her, passed away Thursday evening. She had lost most of her memory by then, living only in the present. Even though towards the end she didn't know my name or my kids' names, we still felt her love.

Love like that is beautiful. It is a gift from God, and it is Eternal. There's not a lot we can take with us from this life to the next. While I hold on to and cherish and now ration the knitted washcloths she expertly made, eventually they will wear out. I'll never again have chocolate crinkles made by her. But her love for me goes on. It's what ties us together in a long line of generations loving and teaching and caring for each other. Love like that is why I look forward to Eternity, and why I don't fear death. Our earthly experience together has ended, but not our love. That is forever.

So I'll miss you, Grammy. But I know I will see you again. And I look forward to the day that we can go on Heavenly walks. Imagine the fall colors in Heaven!

Ophir Goodness Sakes!

On Labor Day, while we wanted to go out and do something, we didn't want to go too far because the kids had been acting whiny and we didn't want a long car ride with tired and cranky kids.

So, we explored the little mining town of Ophir, tucked up in a little canyon all by itself.

There were leftover mining things, and old railroads to play on.

You can't see it from this picture, but this whole pile of dirt and gravel sparkled! The kids loved finding little gold nuggets.






I've been working on the railroad, all the livelong day...





We thought this was funny.



Learning some history...



Our first taste of fall!



Skipping rocks.



All in all, a great day. And we got home right before the meltdowns began!

Growing Up...

Remember this little guy?

He's not so little anymore. He's a big Kindergartner now. Today was his first day and he LOVED it! I'm so excited for him. (And nervous and a little bit sad, too, but I keep that to myself).

When did he get so big and handsome?

I had to crack up at the mom that wouldn't leave her son, so she stood in the line and walked with them.

When I was in Arkansas as a missionary, we taught a lady who was in the advanced stages of MS. She didn't have a lot of control over her muscles. She decided to get baptized, and we worried about how she would do physically in the font. It turns out our worries were legitimate--it took seven times to finally get her baptized correctly. Each time that she came up and the witnesses had to shake their heads no, I felt worse and worse.

Only a little miracle occurred: when we were talking about it later, she mentioned that she was kinda happy it only took three times! Three times?!? Somehow she only remembered it being three times instead of seven. I think that was a blessing.

Fast forward thirteen years to a small soccer field in small-town Utah. Our soon-to-be-kindergartner and his team (the red dragons) were playing their hearts out. Only it was clear that they and the other team (the pirates) were not evenly matched. The parents stopped counting after the pirates had scored around ten goals to our none in the first few minutes! The other coach moved the cones to our goal closer together so his team wouldn't be able to score as easily. They stopped short of giving us an extra man on the field, but I'm not so sure that would have helped.

Tyler on one of the many kickoffs after the other team scored

After an excruciatingly long game where the other team's goals were probably well into the thirties, the final whistle blew, the kids gave their "good game" cheers, and got their Capri Suns and Teddy Grahams. On the way back to the car, we asked Ty how he felt about the game. With a big smile on his face, he lit up and said, "I think we won!"

Not quite sure what game he was at, but if he's happy, we'll keep up the illusion!

Summertime is...

...swimming lessons with friends...

...sunsets (this one is from our back yard--that's the Great Salt Lake in the distance)

...allergies, asthma, and breathing treatments...

...being silly...

...swinging at Grandma and Grandpa's...

...climbing trees with cousins...

...blowing up balloons...

...crying when balloons pop...

...summer school field trips to the Grocery store...

...playing at the park...

...mastering the scooter and riding bikes...

...taking a rest...

...making a wish...

...climbing to the top of the world (well, at least the top of Ensign Peak!)...

...Having Fun!!!

Blessings

One year ago today Brad came home around 11:30am. I thought he was home for lunch, but it turns out he had lost his job. Without warning, and without valid reasons. The shock and the betrayal still sting a little bit (I'll admit, I had a nightmare about it last night). But the overall feeling I get when I think about this past year is gratitude for a Heavenly Father who knows how to succor His children, and who keeps His promises. I'm amazed at all the intricate details the Lord worked out for our benefit.

I've learned that faith and fear really cannot coexist. As we spent all our energy trying to hang on to that little morsel of faith, we grew in ways we never thought possible. While I certainly don't want another trial anytime soon, I am learning that the Lord's tutorials are valuable and I don't need to be afraid.

God lives and he loves us. He has a plan for each of us. If we do what we should, and have faith in Him, everything will work out eventually. This I know.

"Be strong, and of a good courage. Be not afraid; neither be thou dismayed. For the Lord thy God is with thee, withersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9

Yum!

You know that song by Toby Maquire--no wait--Toby Keith that goes:

Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me me me me me. I wanna talk about me?

Well, I made up a new one tonight:

Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum yum yum yum yum.

I wanna talk about Yum!

I made these for Brad for Father's Day (along with some good pad thai, I might add!)

Anyway, yes, they taste as good as they look. My new favorite brownies!

Jenny over at picky-palate made these up and they are divine!

It's pretty self-explanatory, but click above for the recipe if you want.

The Graduate

Tyler graduated from preschool last week, and is officially on the road to Kindergarten! He was so excited to wear his mortar board hat, and show us all the fun things he's learned this year.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to my fun, thoughtful, optimistic, funny, insightful, loyal, encouraging, knowledgable, talented, spiritual, joyful, smart, with-it, beloved Mom!

I LOVE YOU!