We love to hike Stewart Falls every summer and this year we invited the Opfars, Thomas, and Waldron families to hike it with us. It is such a perfect hike that his not to long for the little ones and they get to cool off under the water when you get there. It is perfect summer fun.
Picture this: It's Wednesday night and I am staring at a pile of laundry higher than the empire state building and trying to find some bit of energy or motivation to tackle the huge overwhelming task when suddenly I get a phone call from my little sister who happens to work for Delta Airlines. She asks me what I was doing tomorrow and I start thinking of all of my exciting plans like grocery shopping, cleaning toilets, washing markers off the walls ect. She then asks, "How would you like to fly to Lagoona Beach for the day?" Are you serious, are you serious??? The next thing I know I am packing my swim suit in a over night bag and setting my alarm for a 6:00 flight. The fun started from the minute I picked her up at her house. We had VIP treatment at the airport because she was an employee and we sat in first class on the plane. When we went to pick up the car and she had reserved the cutest little red convertible. We drove to the beach with the wind blowing in our hair and not a care in the world. Our hotel room faced the ocean and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I felt like I haden't seen the ocean forever so it was such a joy for me. We had the best girl time shopping, getting massages, sitting on the beach, going out for sushi, then ice cream, then got in the jacuzzi, then fell asleep listening to the ocean. The next morning that cute little red convertible was turned in to the car rental return and we were back on a plane home to my little ones. I can't thank Sheri enough for giving me the perfect little mom break. Now somehow that load of laundry doesn't look so bad.
Follow this link to read about a terrible tragedy that happen to some dear friends of ours from our old neighborhood in Orem. Their family was vacationing up in Bear Lake when Melissa backed up the truck to the shade tent that her family was sitting under. She went to stop and hit the accelerator instead of the brake hitting 5 members of her family including her mom, dad, 2 sisters and her 1 year old baby girl. All were flown to a hospital but unfortunately her mother did not make it. Just a horrible horrible accident that has an very unfortunate ending. Our heart is full of love and goes out to Melissa and their family. Their funeral is today and I am sure that if you could take a minute to remember them in your prayers it could help them to get through this extremely hard time. Life is so precious and we should never take anyone for granted because we just don't know how long we will have them. Every day is a gift and we should all live our lives like that.
Here is the link:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=3803108
We haven't been to Lagoon in about 10 years so we thought it was time. Sweet Tiffany took Wyatt and London for the day and we took our older boys to Lagoon. We went with our good friends the Masons who's children are the same age. All the kids were tall enough to ride everything there was no holding back! I love all ages of children but it is such a great day when your kids become so fun to hang out with that they are better than friends your own age. We made a lot of great memories that day from the River Rafting ride to the upside down roller coaster to the nauseous headache on the way home, it was all great fun.
We love to have kids play at our house but if they come, no matter how hard I try to watch and protect, they might get hurt. This was poor Chandler after he got to close to Brayden's golf swing. The coolest part about Chandler is he didn't really even cry. I on the other hand about had a heart attack! I quickly grabbed the ice and my camera because I know that his mom likes to blog more than I do!!
Everyone has heard of the Garden of Eden but I didn't know it still existed. That is where we spent the 4th of July in Eden Utah with Chris and Lisa Opfar and Heather and Cy Waldren. Eden is a small town nestled in the mountains lined with pine trees and a lake as the center piece. It must be one of Utah best kept secrets because it is not over populated and so picturesque. I felt like we had gone back in time to experience a small town celebration. From the main street parade filled with antique tractors in a line to the arm wrestling match that Chris signed Tyson and I up for. I wish I could say that we did the Packer family name justice but I did not match strength to those hay bailing farm girls. Chris and Christian represented Draper well by both placing first. We rented one big condo so all the kids could just play together but the best part had to be sneaking up the the golf course on the hill that over saw 3 small towns so we enjoyed 3 firework shows one after the other and we were the only ones around. The funny thing is we had tickets to Miley Cyrus Stadium of Fire and the last minute we sold them so we could go, one of the best choices this year!
Baby London feel asleep in her Bombo. She is the best baby- almost too good because she never throws a fit and sometimes just puts herself to sleep where ever and when ever she needs. I love this baby girl.
I have never really converted anyone to anything but this summer it has changed. I think I converted my friends Lisa and Heather who are Ute fans through and through from the dark side to the light and right side. I took my Salt Lake friends down to BYU to experience what real fun is like. We took all 11 kids to the BYU creamery to experience the worlds best ice cream then went to the Bean Museum, which was started by Grandpa Bean on Chips side. I was throwing around my star power and even told them they got in free because they were with me but the truth is everyone gets in free! After the encounters with wild animals we were off to the bowling ally where the kids real skill came out. There were so many other fun things to show them but we were exhausted by then and so were the kids but as we drove home they looked at BYU in a different brighter light. So that is 2 down and about 9,998 Ute fans to go!
My sweet Tyson has the biggest heart ever. He has always been my sensitive little one. Last night around 5:30 I was laying on the ground exhausted from a cousin sleepover the night before. I was asking everyone what they wanted for dinner. He said, "I will make you dinner tonight Mom!" He went straight to work in the kitchen opening cupboards and the fridge. About 15 minutes latter I was invited to the table for a gourmet meal complete with 5 Ritz crackers covered in peanut butter mixed with chocolate chips and topped with small square of Hershey's chocolate bar, 4 large pieces of beef jerky, a piece of left over corn on the cob, 2 gram crackers, and a glob of peanut butter in the middle of the plate with honey dribbled on top. The presentation was amazing with a napkin, full set of utensils, place mat and a large glass of water. It had so much love oozing out of it that it was the best dinner I've ever had.
So it's a hot summer day and we decide to go to the splash pad with Opfars and Waldrens. In my mind I though it would be a relaxing event. There I was enjoying the summer sun with London and to my horror I see Wyatt on his hands and knees guppy lipping the drain pipe of the splash pad and all 10,000 germs that just washed off the other hot and sweaty 50 kids playing at the splash pad. I decided that Wyatt was sent to me as part of my therapy for my OCD and issues with germs. If there is a gathering place for germs he will find it. I have learned that he has not died or become critically ill so maybe I will relax a little but still this moment was a bit much for me. Picture courtesy of Lisa Opfar (I was yelling and running too fast to have taken a picture)
This was my city kids first Rodeo ever and I think they loved it, especially when they called out all the kids in the audience to chase a calf with money duck taped to it's body. They looked at us like we were kidding but they were smiling ear to ear when they both came back with money in their hand. Brayden almost lost his life for the $100.00 bill but let it go when the 15 year old had him in a death grip. Besides the almost losing his life experience my boys have turned in their city slickers to be cowboys- at least for a little while. Thanks Dave and Cindy for coming with us and letting us steal the Opfar boys!
For those of you who have known me for a long time you know that I started this special thing when I was in college called "Friend of the Month" for all of my "special" friends. It was created when I noticed an overwhelming amount of hideous pictures of my friends taken at odd hours in there not so special moments of life. When a particularly odd picture surfaces I can't hold in the laughter all to my self- that would be selfish. Instead I am sharing it with all fellow bloggers. This here is Wendy who is a great friend of mine. I can't take the credit for taking the picture myself. I actually found this on the Internet on that website, "Are you hot or not" I can't remember which she had the most votes for but I know Wendy and she is hot. So friends beware because you never know when you might be choice enough to be Friend of the Month.
I am speechless- which is so rare on my blog. She picked Jesse, she picked Jesse and I actually felt it about 10 minutes before the last rose ceremony. It was just that way that she looked at him, it was love. The thing is Jesse is not a bad guy- in fact he pretty sweet and I love the fact that he is so genuine but I just couldn't stand to see Jason get hurt again. I can't believe how good this season was. I laughed, I cried, and I loved every minute of it. Chip just loves the fact that he was right and knew it all along. And now it is back to reality of the dishes, laundry, and the reality that I am lucky enough to be that in love. That was great T.V.
AND THE STUPIDEST MOM OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO....... ME FOR INVITING 17 LITTLE BOYS OVER TO OUR HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HOT SUMMER DAY TO HAVE A FOOD FIGHT. TYSON WANTED A FOOD FIGHT FOR HIS BIRTHDAY PARTY. NOW I DID TRY AND PERSUADE HIM DIFFERENTLY BUT HE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS PARTY FOR ABOUT A YEAR SO I THOUGHT WE COULD PULL THIS OFF. I'M NOT SURE HOW 17 KIDS WERE INVITED BUT I WOKE UP EARLY LAST SATURDAY AND BEGIN COOKING. I MADE MASHED POTATOES, SPAGHETTI, JELL-O, A CAKE, AND WHIPPING CREAM ALL MORNING LONG. I FELT LIKE IT WAS THANKSGIVING DINNER. WHEN THE KIDS CAME OVER WE STARTED WITH A BALLOON FIGHT, DONUTS ON A STRING, STEEL THE FLAG IN JELL-O, THE BUCKET DUNK, FOOD FIGHT AND ENDED UP WITH A TUG A WAR FIGHT OVER ALL THE FOOD. IT WAS CRAZY BUT REALLY FUN. THE KIDS WERE SO DIRTY AND THE 100 DEGREE TEMPERATURES DIDN'T HELP BUT OVER ALL I THINK TYSON LOVED IT. IT WAS A ONCE IN A LIFE TIME EVEN LET ME TELL YOU. I WANTED TO THANK CINDY, LISA AND CHRIS FOR HELPING CHIP AND I. WE COULDN'T HAVE SURVIVED WITHOUT THEM. MY ONE PIECE OF ADVICE- DON'T TRY THIS AT YOUR HOME, I AM STILL CLEANING UP!
Does anyone else use T.V. as there motherhood drug to get through those really really long days? OK I am women enough to admit it but I am not necessarily proud of my T.V. addiction. It's actually not to bad in the summer because there are so many fun things to do outside but I have one show that I can't get enough of. That show is the Bachelorette. Where else can you watch people fall in love? Did anyone see it tonight? Holy cow I don't think I have ever loved TV more than I have love this season. I love Deanna - she is the best the show has ever seen and I want her to end up Jason so bad I can't stand it. I was so worried tonight that she would cut Jason for Jeremy but to my pure happiness he is still in there. I think it just might be sealed (only here on earth) and the real question is what am I going to do for a full week until next Monday night when I get to see it again? I never thought T.V. could get this good. I love it!!! The best part is my friend Kara dated Jason before she was married. She says he is just as nice in real life as he looks in the show. I feel like I know him through Kara. I think Chip thinks I'm a little crazy and I am but he does sit next to me to watch the whole thing. His money is on Jessie because the whole show has been so unpredictable but I sill want Jason to win. Oh I can't wait until Monday but what will I do when it's all over?
