I Love my Calling

I absolutely love my calling!! I get to do the funnest things and all in the name of serving my Heavenly Father. How great can that be? I was called as the Young Woman's President about 6 months ago and it has been hard trying to get things to run smoothly and just figure out what I am doing but. . . through much prayer and work things are starting to run well. I have a great presidency and advisors as well as terrific YW who send me messages, scare me in the middle of the night with their pranks and they even help me early in the morning to get the activities pulled of. Now don't get me wrong it is very time consuming and stressful at times but I love it.

This week seemed really busy. . .well every week is really busy but this one was extremely with two birthday parties, the usual lessons, a holiday and our combined YW/YM activity. We took the youth up Provo canyon (yes, even with the fire at Bridal Veil Falls) and tubed down. It was a blast. I was a little skeptical at first but I put my game face on and I loaded in the van. Now for you "out of towners" this river comes straight off of ice and it was FREEZING!!! My feet were numb. I say this when the temperate outside was over 100 degrees today. We tubed about a mile down where we hung a rope off a bridge at Vivan Park. You had to grab the rope and hope the current didn't sweep you down with it. Luckily we only had 2 youth who went under the the bridge and needed extra assistant. While some of us were coming down the river the others were at the park playing football, eating the sack lunches (we got up at the crack of dawn to make for them), visiting, playing at the park and tanning. Luckily we came back with all the youth but we did lose 2 of the tubes in the process and I have one very nasty bruise on my leg to show for the day but we all had a blast.

Birthday Parties

Conner's and Kelsey's birthday parties went great this past week. They both had a great time and all their little friends were able to come. It was really fun to see them individually with their own party. I throw them together in so many things it was nice to give them their own day and their own party. Here are a few pictures of the parties.

Family Weekend

We spent the weekend with my aunt and cousins and their families and had so much fun. We went to seven peaks on Friday and took some family pictures Saturday. After the pictures my ward called and wondered if we were up for a little soft ball. We went to the game and played in the 100 degree weather. We left the game and enjoyed the air conditioner of the local movie theater and headed for home. They all left on Sunday and we were left again with a semi-quiet house and will wait for next year when we will all do it again.

I was so good. . .they let me watch all the kids!!

Conner was able to catch a ride with the bishop after the game.

Then they were "5"

Conner and Kelsey celebrated their 5th birthday!!! Conner wanted everything 'Cars' and Kelsey just wanted everything fancy, fancy, fancy. I didn't think there was anything 'Cars' that Conner didn't already own but I did happen to find a few things and with the help of both grandmas he got everything he wanted.
I made the little tutu Kelsey is wearing (with the help from a great friend). It was a lot of fun and I was wanting to make them for her birthday party but the fabric store ran out of the different color tulle. I have cute orange tulle to make one for Kamryn's birthday next month.

It is hard to believe they have already turned 5 but this has, by far, been the funnest birthday for them. They counted down the days and even had their first birthday party. Conner had one today and helped planned the games we played. Kelsey's is tomorrow and she is having a very fancy party with all the little girls coming in their favorite dress ups. It has been so fun celebrating with them.

Our Visit with Grandma

We had so much fun the last 4 days with grandma. We went to an animal sanctuary on Thursday and literally roasted outside. They gave the kids a back pack (each with a different subject) to carry while we walked. Kylie's was on birds and she helped to identify all the birds we were seeing. McKenna keep us up to date on the tracks and scat. Once we defined what a scat was we then identified the scat of--a dog. She wasn't real thrilled. Conner was over the insects and was too enthusiastic about being the leader. We saw a lot of little red bugs we never did identify even with the magnifying glass we had. We came indoors to enjoy the cooler temperatures and explore the hands on activities they provided.

We went to 7 peaks one day and luckily no one needed rescuing. We did a little. . .OK a LOT of shopping while Marc took the kids to the zoo (it was sweetness when he asked me how I take 5 kids anywhere). And ended the few days with a trip to the dinosaur museum where we lunched on dino nuggets.

We watch a 3D movie while I held Kamryn who surprisingly kept her glasses on the entire show.

It was funny to feel her jump every time a dolphin would swim toward us. We then went over to the children's garden and let the kids get wet as they played at Noah's Ark. A trip wouldn't have been complete if we didn't end it with a little ice cream and then we headed for home. We were sad to say good bye but we will see her and grandpa in a few months for Kylie's baptism. Thanks for the fun trip Mom. XOXO

Not Once. . . but Twice

We love going to seven peaks during the summer. It gives us something to do on a hot summer day. We love packing a lunch and meeting friends there. We were at seven peaks until the Saturday before I had the twins and the doctor finally told me it wasn't a good idea to go anymore. I took a few years off and then we had Kami. I lovingly call them my"triplets" and I waited until they were all potty trained and walking on their own uunil we decided to get the passes again this year. Well McKenna and Kylie are able to go out on their own to whichever slide they desire as long as they check in. I stay in the alligator pool with the "triplets" and we play.

Well we went on Tuseday and the usual was going on. I literally stood at the alligator pool for over an hour just catching Kami as she went up and down the slide for over an hour. We went through 3 different life guards and she just kept on going. I finally got her to have lunch and we all met back at the blanket and umbrella. After lunch Kylie decided she wanted to try something she hasn't before and go off the rope swing. I was telling her I didn't think it was a good idea then finally gave in. I went to watch her with my other children and the first time she chicken-ed out and the second time she did it even though she was visably scared. Well she grabed the rope and let go at the right time and when she came up there was no way she was swimming to the edge. The life guard blew her whistle one long blow and jumped in. She got Kylie to the edge and the supervisors (hearing the whistle blow) came running. They took us to the first aid station where they documented the episode and I signed her out. We started again on our way when McKenna and Kylie wanted to do the lilly pads which again we never have done but with only 4 feet of water I gave in. They waited in line and when it was Kylie's turn she couldn't quite reach the rope to which I replied "well you are too small" only to have the sweet girl behind her offer to hold it down for her. Kylie started and got on the first lilly pad and then slipped off the rope. She couldn't seem to get her footing and the wistle was blown again and another life guard dived in to save her. The supervisors came running again with all their gear-life floats, back boards etc-and took us again to the first aid station. So in all our years going to seven peaks Kylie was rescued by a life guard not once. . . but twice in 10 minutes.

Happy Birthday America!!

We celebrated the 4th like I am sure everyone else in the country. We started by going to Thanksgiving Point where the kids got pony rides and saw all the animals.

We then had a good BBQ and watched lots of fireworks and got a little grumpy toward the end of the night.