ARGG MATEY.. NOw Walk the PlanK

We had a great time at this new Pirate Island Pizza place by our house. We went with the Tippets. It was the “soft opening” so we got lots of special treatment including extra tokens for the arcade and refills on our kiddos chocolate milks which is always a plus. Our waiter was really good and the food was pretty tasty. They had the best mini corn dog nuggets I have ever had!

This pirate theme pizza place is much like Chuck E Cheese only way better food. The games were a little more expensive token wise but they had a cool shooting range! The kids loved it and so did the daddys as you can see below. One of the funniest parts of the place is in the Mens bathroom it says above the urinal “You miss you walk the plank” and of course Jen sent Gary in with camera in hand to give us a god laugh. Love that girl!

The place really puts on a good show. They have a large ship in it and pretend to fire off cannons, small private tiki rooms and love caves for those on dates, a pirate ship that is made into a play place, the arcade and some cool special effects. We can’t wait to go back!

Happy Day at the Zoo... but first SAD day at the dentist!

To celebrate Brennon Tippets 3^rd birthday we tagged along with them to the zoo but not before a awful morning at the dentist. Jo would NOT cooperate this time. She wouldn’t let the dentist touch her. She was awful and the reason, she didn’t like the taste of the numbing gel they put on a q-tip to put in your mouth!!!

He Dr. Pearson was really good with her last time. He helped her feel comfortable and gave her fives and several stickers and bracelet’s throughout the whole ordeal. He made her feel brave and special! This time he was frustrated, and told me not to let her go to the zoo, not to reward her poor behavior and that next appt they would have to sedate her. I left VERY sad, frustrated and worried. After much talk Jim and I decided that we would not sedate and if they insisted we wouldn’t go back. It was like $500 bucks to have her sedated. I don’t want to sedate my 6yr old if I don’t have to. I take very well to drugs and was worried about her doing the same... So on to the zoo

We had a great time at the zoo. It was great weather. Jen was able to get us in at a discount with her membership and we were grateful. Ryker really liked the zoo, but he didn’t like walking and wanted to be in a stroller the whole time. He also ran away a few times which caused panic. This life with Ryker he is always on the go and he NEVER slows down. The kids runs everywhere. We didn’t have a stroller as he has broke it so the Tippets shared theirs.

Jo and Kya loved the monkeys, tigers, bears… It’s a zoo. They had several animal babies there too and that was fun to see them. The baby elephant was still in bonding time with her momma so we only saw video and picturess.

The kids liked posing for pictures on several different statues. They loved riding on the carousel, AKA merry go round, the zoo train and playing with the water ball. It was a good day! The only thing JO was upset about was the fact that the Zoo did not have Lions or Polar Bears.

That night we had cake and ice cream and it was delish. WE love the Tippets and are soo glad we found them in our ward and made friends. It’s sad they have been in the ward for over 4 years now and just this year we go to know them.

SUDFEST 2009

Isn't it soo sad that when your having soo much fun you don't have time to blog...yes but NO!

Because I plan to print out my blog someday and use it as a journal/scrapbook I have to keep going. I think I can I think I can....

So my posts will be super old news to you because I want to stay in chronological order.

Over the 24^th of July we headed to Lehi to the 2^nd annual “Sudfest.” It’s free, it’s fun and it’s different. The Lehi Fire Dept Sponsers this awesome event! Basically they spray a large area, in our case the baseball fields, with the foam that they used to put out fires till its about a foot high and then we get to play in it. Afterwards we rinse off in the outdoor fire truck shower.

When we arrived there were so many people, mostly children, all adorned in swimsuits and goggles just playing in the foam. Jo jumped right in!!

Ryker on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with it. There were several fire trucks parked in the parking lot and he just wanted to see them and only them. So he and Jim walked from truck to truck and ate some watermelon at the park nearby.

We brought along our awesome friends The Tippets, Jen, Gary, Kya and Brennon. The kids loved swimming in the foam. While Jim stayed with Ryker on the outer edge of the field and took him to get some watermelon at a nearby pavilion I played with Jo. Gary was swirling the girls and spinning them in the foam and they were having a ball. Then Jim and I switched kid duty and He got to experience the clean bubbly feeling of foam.

Soon the foam started to disappear, turn brown, get thinner, and show grass clippings. We headed over to the shower to wait for them to turn it on. Well after a lot waiting we were told that the trucks were out of water and out of foam. After much debate, lots of waiting, lots of pictures and swirling around we decided it was faster to head to G’ma Innes’ to wash off.

We arrived at momma Innes and tried to rinse off in the hose BRRRRR!!! Yeah right no way would be kids have anything to do with it. So Grandma was gracious and let us go into her bathroom in the house.

After we were clean, mostly of grass clippings mud and foam, we headed to Wingers for dinner. It was an okay dinner and the kids were kids. All in all is was a pretty good day.

One scary that happened while we were playing in the suds, we lost Jo. She ran off to go get rinsed off in the shower but we couldn’t see her then she was on the other side of the crowd. I totally went into panic mode, there were hundreds of people there where could she be? Someone could take her soo quick? Someone creepy could have her! She is probably soo scared looking for us right now!!

Gary started helping me look while Jen took care of the kids. Ryker was with Jim looking too. When we found her I cried. It wasn’t for very long but it felt like FOREVER!!! It is so scary to lose a child, even for just a split second, my life without her flashed before me and I started to cry. So glad there was a happy ending to this story and once again we were being watched over by our gracious Heavenly Father.

Thinking back I can remember the days when Jo would have never wanted to step foot near the shower that was about to douse her with water. She hated water. She especially hated water on her head man have times changed and my little girl is growin up!

Fourth of July!!!

OK so Its past the 24th of July which is a BIG holiday in UTAH and I haven't even posted about the 4th of July. Here goes, pics to come later.

On Thursday morning mom called and said SURPRISE we are going to the cabin lot this weekend for the 4th of July!!! I knew all along we were gonna do something. WE just didn't know what, when, or with who. SO Friday morning we loaded up the swimsuits, camping clothes, jackets... oh and the kids and set out for Fairview Utah.

We had a good time just hanging out and enjoying Gods creations!!!

* Swimming in a pool that seemed like it was 30 below.!!! Ryker couldn't go because there were NO diapers allowed in the pools so Mom and Pa took care of him. It was fun!!!

* Singing on a rope swing that swung out over a little valley. Ryker LOVED it!!!

* Riding the 4-wheelers and exploring the mountain side was so fun!

* WE only had cellphone service at the bottom of the mountain so that was NICE!

* Playing dominoes, barbies, driving toy cars, and checking out the old Ephraim Walmart.

I will say that we went down to Mt. Pleasant to watch the fireworks. It was incredible!!! Thye BLEW Lehis out of the water! They were soooo good. I thought "man this city just blew their whole years budget on this one night."

We had a great time. Mom and Dad kept us well fed and entertained the whole time. It was soo fun to just get away!

The evening of our return I headed to Lehi to pick up Ryker since he insisted on riding home in Grandpas truck. There we saw family, played outside, rode bikes, ate some yummy food. It was just really a good weekend!!!

4th of July at the Cabin Lot in Fairview Utah

I know there are NO actual fireworks in these layouts which is one of my favorite parts of this month but this is what we did on te 4th of July weekend. It was a great time!

WE are alive and kickin!

Hey I just wanted to post that we ARE still alive but not really into the blogging world right now because we are busy and having fun!

We have been pretty busy around here with Jims three jobs, being parents, both our mutual church callings, and just life in general! We have enjoyed most of it though and tried to keep a smile on our face!

Jims has been working soooo hard with a third job, doing some programming stuff. Its tedious work, there are issues with the projects, he complains some but he is still sticking in there! I love him soo much! He works soo hard for us and I am really getting to enjoy this stay at home mom business. BUT.. I know come August.. I will be ready to be back to work.

This job pays well and we owe Amber his sister a ton for hooking us up. It has been great to not have to worry so much about living without my paycheck. AND He has already earned enough for us to take our family vacation this summer to SAn DIeGo WOOT!! and pay off some debt. Thanks Jim and Daddy we love you!

WE have been doing some fun stuff. My friend Jen and I took our kids to The Museum of Ancient life.. AKA the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. WE had a good time. We hadn't been in a while so it was nice. Ryker of course hated everything even the water table. He didn't like the feel of the sand on his fingers and speaking of sand... in the quarry, YEAH all he would do it THROW dirt!!! That caused probs, especially later in the bath since he throw a knock down drag out fit to wash his hair.. Yeah stupid ear problems.. oh well thank goodness for ear tubes and modern medicine.

*His favorite part of the trip. There is a steering wheel that changes the skin of a dinosaur to match its surrounding environment. He was in heaven thought he was driving! I swear all this kid eats, drinks and sleeps is CARS.

We also went to the UTa LAke BOat ShOw with some other friends the Rutherfords. We got to make fish hats, play some games, ride in a wagon and such. I was a little dissapointed that they closed some booths down 1 hour early to closing of the show. There were alot of people there. The kids wanted to fish but the line was sooooo long and I wouldn't have minded going on a canoe ride but... again the lines! It was fun what we got to do but I think we will skip it next year. Oh AND they ran out of food so we were starving when we arrived home at 3ish. It was FREE though so what can I expect!

Check out Rykers hat, he HAD to have it at the Dino Musuem but he loves it and wears it everywhere.

One Sunday mom Innes called to cancelled dinner and told us of illness in the home. I had already made a large dessert and had a salad so we invited Jen and Gary over for dinner after church. We had such a great time eating yummy food, and playing Metallic guitar hero. Thanks for coming on such short notice guys! It was a blast!

Orem Summerfest was fun we like to call it the Orem Stupidfest (we learned that from friends that work for the city) because of the stupid things people do, say, wear ... you get my point. At the park there are real rides, (if you can call them that they are rickety, old and scare me to death) booths, entertainment, a helicopter fly in, and more! We took the kids and they had a blast on Friday. We had to leave early with plans to return on Saturday to spend our 10 tickets but the carnival got rained out. It was amazing the thunderstorm we had that day. The water was racing up the roads and driveways! Jim was coming home from flying and there were chairs (that people had set up for the parade) and flags flying into the road into his car INTENSE!

*PS reason we left early on Friday was to meet up with Annaca and Aubrey my first year college roomies and their families at a park to play and catch up. I was soo excited to see them. I love those girls.!!! We have AweSOMe memories together and went through some great trials. It was soo good to see them. The following day they were running the Utah Valley Marathon( I wish ...sorta) and we were suppose to do lunch afterwards but they cancelled not feeling up to it and I TOTALLY understand.

H0wever, we weathered the storm and later that night it calmed down in time for a fun BBQ at at Jen and Garys house. GREAT FOOD and FRIENDS!!! Our kids play well with theirs, Kya and Brennon and other kids. Gary makes awesome steaks so we ate, gorged, chatted and we watched the parade. It was a good time however it made me grateful for the Lehi Parade. It's just a great parade with the miniature floats they are soo cute!

Girls Camp was alot of fun! It was alot of work getting it all planned and we were just going as a ward. We headed South to Manti and Mt Pleasant. The adventure started with breakfast at the church at 6AM. I volunteered to cook crepes for the girls. Jen Tippets helped me at last minute. Lets just say I was tired the first day with only getting 45 mins of sleep good thing I wasn't driving. So we went to the beautiful Manti temple to perform baptisms for the dead. I lost my recommend and so I stayed out with the other girls that weren't participating. I was sad as I haven't been in that temple but I did get to take a nice nap in the waiting house.

Girl camp was great! The first 2 days we had a lot of harsh rain and even hail. It was so bad we moved into the cabin that we were using the first night. It was nice to be warm. We just weren't prepared for that wet weather and many of the girls, including mine, feet were soaking wet and soo cold. Jim sent me up boots the next day thank goodness! LOOOOVE HIM!!!!

So I was the craft person for camp and we made some fun stuff. We made magnet boards with lil stands and the girls use them to put post-it notes on for their secret sisters. WE also made the clear jewel magnets to go with. We made Fathers Day cards and my favorite was we did freezer paper painting on shirts. These girls are soo creative and soo fun! Alot of them free handed the most beautiful artwork or funny sayings onto their shirts. It was my all time favorite craft. The crafts were ALOT of prep work and such but I was soo excited to see them all turn out. The weather turned up for us and we enjoyed the Manti pageant, some great service projects at the cabin and the lot we were on and more! It was all in all a good ward bonding experience no schedule, no stake activities, just relaxing and enjoyable.

I love my calling it's been soo much fun to learn and take in all I can from these awesome girls!

what a pretty site?

all the YW after baptisms

waiting out the rain

the beehive tent was soo cute all made up then it flooded

Blu and I tried to set up and old fashioned tent and just when we got it figured out... he ripped a hole in it. It's a good thing we didn't need it huh?

Doing Crafts... don't laugh at my hat it's too high I know I know...

The next week Jim was suppose to go to scout camp from M-W and be a leader for his deacons. He was excited HOWEVER on Sunday morning he woke with the flu and wasn't allowed to go. He was soo sad and has been stressing out over the scouting part of his calling forever now. He was excited to go and see it all in action, have the work be done and just enjoy time with his boys but that didn't happy. BUT he got lots of work done for us. We got to spend some time together. I got to take him out to dinner, since he didn't get a Fathers Day Dinner, to Tepanyaki Steakhouse one of our favs. It was sooo yummy! AND on Thur-Sat he got to go to a LOGAN HELICOPTER FUNFLY. He really needed that break and flying and bs'ing with the budddies is a great break for him!

I try to survive without Jim. It was hard. I gained more respect for my single mom friends out there. While he was gone I went to Youth Conference, Lehi Parade and Family Fun Day, started some home projects, tried to sleep, didn't happen, slept at moms house, and just was a mom.

I went to Youth Conference out at Camp Williams on Friday thanks for my sis in law AMy for watching the kiddos. She is such a great aunt, took them to McDs, and swam outside LOVE IT!~

At youth conference I got the chance to repel down a 45 ft wall and 45 ft free side! It was soo fun and scary. We also were fed well and got to participate in some other leadership action courses where we had to use certain equipment to complete a mission. That evening I enjoyed learning how to and MAKING A HUGE FOOL OUT OF MYSELF while doing so a game of outside volleyball. It was all in all a good time!!!

Afterwards I flew home to Lehi. (it will always be home) to watch the parade with my kiddos. They got soo much candy it was great! We enjoyed setting with the Humes they are the best Auntie and Uncle I have and their girls are like nieces not cuzzins.

* I have this thing about cheerleaders and flag girls though. I don' t really want Jo to ever be one but my Uncle Brett was being a punk about it all. He was saying things like "Hey JO doesn't that look fun, why don't you go out there and cheer with them. Aren't their dresses so cute? You want to be a cheerleader huh?" silly uncle brett!

After the Parade I took my kiddos up to see my mom and dad. I haven' t seen them in a few weeks as mom has been at girls camp ad youth conference too HOWEVER my AWESOME dad took 2 days off work to have my kids while I went to Girls CAMP. They were good for him too!! YEAH!! LOve you DADDY!

ANYWAY... we went to see gpa and gma herbert and played. They ordered pizza and we even slept over. It was a good time to sit and chat with my mom while the kids entertained themselves, or g'pa entertained them. I had alot to tell mom and miss those chats.

The next morning I worked out on the treadmill. HATE THOSE THINGS!!! and then we all went to the Parade again. It was 2 hours long, hot and muggy, BUT soo cute! And we sat with the Humes again so that was fun for mom to chat with her sister.

After the Parade I tried to be Worlds Best MOM and take my kids to FAmily Fun Day at the park. It was soo hard. Ryker was a whiner butt the whole time and would just randomly run off. So when I saw Shelby Humes, Aunt Shelli, Sis In LAw Staci and Baby MaCade I was soo relieved. Shelbs took JO on hte big inflatable toys, which were only like .25-.50 each CHEAP LOVE IT! and I took Ryker on the train, to the petting zoo and stuff. It was soo hot and crazy and by the time we headed home about 3ish Ryker was very mean. He was throwin all sorts of crazy fits and before we even got to PG he was out in the car THANK GOODNESS!!

JIm arrived home that night! It was soooo good to see him. I missed him a ton. I miss him more when he leaves me then when I leave him. I think this is because when I leave I am usually sooo busy doing stuff that I don't have as much time to sit and think. BUT when he leaves me the night is much longer and the bed is empty and you know I miss him.

I hope he knows how much I love and adore him. He really does do a TON for our lil family. I am a spoiled BRAT and he keeps me HAPPY!

WOW that was alot of news huh!

dentist trip and funny things jo says

Some more funny Joisms

So we have been prepping Jo lately for a change in dentist. We have been going to one that Alyssha our cousin  assists at and it's been nice.  Now, Jo has been referred to a pediatric dentist because 1- she was scared and wouldn't let the dentist even "count" her teeth and 2-lots of work to do!!! Too much sugar combined with Herbert teeth not a good combo there. ;(

So her new dentist Mountainland Pediatric is in Lehi next to Dr. Brown. Now I personally haven't been to see Brown ever but many people I know have and word is he is mean and grouchy and has done lots of unnecessary work. So we point at this place where the "mean" dentist works and it happens to be in the same building as Mtld. So obvoiusly she was scared. She kept saying which one is the mean dentist? Am I going to him? We kept assuring her no she was going to a kid dentist and he is nice and that Ali in the ward goes to him. 

Then the kicker

"why is he mean?  does he just pull all your teeth out so you can't eat?"  :) where she got that I dunno but soo funny

Tonight...

She cut her leg on something at my moms. While my dad was helping her get a band-aid, I was eating bless his heart LOVE HIM!, he said "I am glad we didn't have to cut your leg off" She said

"me too it's my favorite leg" she then went on to say "because it has my lil black dot" aka mole!

Love it! We did go for the dental consultation yesterday. She needs lots of work done! We have since minimized her sugar intake but most of her cavities are between teeth so I have to be a better mom and floss her teeth. She has like 8 cavities but the visit went well. She loved it! She loved the dentist. He talked to her lots, told her what he was doing while doing it, shook her hand, gave her a prize. She loved the "nice" dentist!

I am thinking this is a good thing. NOT that the other dentist was bad at all. It could have just been b/c the appt was at 6pm as she was in ALOT of pain so they squeezed her in. They have been really good too us.  I just wanted someone who specialized with kids and did sedation if needed. However, AFTER talking to her and the dentist we have decided to just try to do the work with the gas only. Her last work was nothing but numbing and the shot and she did great that time only cried a little. The no drugs will save us $300, some major mula and I won't be freaking out the whole time she is under. That is just scary to put your 5 yr old under right?

Kids are 2 Qt!

I don't think I will ever catch up on with all the fun stuff we have did this summer so far. We have been busy enjoying the sun, rain, friends and more! Soon I will do a photo log of all our outings and such. HOWEVER here are some funny things Jo has said lately

The other day "she said I am glad I am human because I can do stuff and have friends, animals don't get to do stuff"

Today.. watching HeMan.. "mom you know heman is 2 people, I wish he was like 180 people" random

Me yelling at my MacBook...."Mom we don't say stupid that is not a nice word, don't worry I won't tell dad!"

Happy Dads Day 2009

Today is a SAD day.. It's Fathers Day 2009 and Jim is pretty sick. 

He got Guitar Hero Metallica for Fathers Day along time ago and hasn't even got to play it today.  :( I love that he is such a big kid! He loves toys, and has a hard time waiting to open his gifts and HE has to have a new toy every time we go to the store. :) SOO CUTE!

I have been at girls camp all week long and am still exhausted so I am a crappy wife today. He didn't get breakfast in bed because, 1- he wakes up earlier than me and had already had a slim fast, and 2- he was worshipping the porcelain god when I FINALLY awoke.  I didn't get him a cookie @ church because I was too late getting to the people since I had a potty break. sorry :(  I will make it up to you I promise!

He has had a hard week and he even had to miss BBQ steaks at his mom house tonight. He is still a trooper though. HE  is a really good dad. When I stay home I tend to worry about being a mom and wife too much with the cleaning, cooking, working... ANd when he is home with the kids he PLAYS and PLAYs and PLays some more!  I LOVE IT! 

Now he was suppose to leave for scout camp tomorrow and was really looking forward to it but now because he is sick he has to stay home. He is heart broken!

He is tough though and not a whiner. He will get better and I hope sooner than later.  If he is not better he will also miss his Helicopter Fun Fly in Logan this weekend. That would be a shame since we had to miss St George one in April and he lives for them.  I hope he gets better. He deserves this break. He now has 3 jobs, and works soo hard for us and our family. We don't go without and are doing fine and it's all because of him. 

I love you Jim you are a great hubby and father. I mean what father plays barbies with his little girl and likes it or at least pretends  to? There may be some out there but I don't know many.

Ang took some pics of him for a head shot for one of his jobs  a few weeks ago. They are taken in front of his NOVA that is sadly rotting away in his parents drive way. It was a young boy project that he accomplished. It's a good car but needs some work. If we had some extra dough and a place to store it I am sure he would make it even better than it was. He always does good at setting a goal and getting it done. Anyway Ang is an awesome photographer and we really appreciated this quick shoot she did for us. Sorry for stealing the photo from your blog ang... I just was on the wrong computer.

*** I also have to say I LOVE both my other dads too. I am so blessed to have them in my life. My dad, AKA Gpa Mike, took time off work to watch the kiddos last week so I could go to girls camp. The kids were good for him and he even took them to McDs. He loves the grandkids and is such an awesome grandpa. He also makes me great things for my house and kids and is always willing to help out. I love you DAD!

I am blessed  to have such an awesome Father in Law. Gpa Jim is the bomb! His dry sense of humor just kills me.  :) He is soo good with my kids and makes us all feel so special. He lives the gospel to the fullest and is a great example of patience and unconditional love.  He really knows how to make someone smile and even though I hate sports, and watching them, being with him at this time brings a smile to me face. He is sooo funny! I lOVE his energy!

I am so very blessed to still have a grandpa alive. My grandpa Herbert is a great old man! He became blind from a mining accident when my dad was a teen so he hasn't ever seen me but I know he knows who I am. He is a great conversationalist and really helps one to define who they are. He doesn't let the little things in life bug him and is an incredible person, nonjudgmental and so caring. He is a lawn mower mechanic,  fixes cars, raises some animals, fixes his own meals, and all by the sense of touch. He inspires me to not let the handicaps in life slow us down. He is a hard worker and I admire his ambition in life!

Our First Preschool Graduate