Money Tires & Pizza

What a month...

Okay at the first of this month I was coming home on the freeway from recording a "Thank you blurb" at the 91.7ZHT radio station. My 4-H Kids won the seasons of service for July and we got a free pizza party from Little Ceasars. Well on the way home I got a flat tire, Gwampa Mike came and rescued me. THANKS DADDY!

So on the 10th we went to Les Scwhab to get a new one and much to our surprise (not really) we needed not 1 or 2 but 4 new tires and new brakes! So after just paying off all cc debt we had to dive back in. Some cash later we are doing good, riding smooth and having a good time. We put alot of miles on them as we went to Powell and numerous trips to Lehi.

Well this morning, the day of the actual Pizza Party, Jim was on his way to work and noticed my tire was flat. He got out and changed the tire for me, but noticed that someone had slashed it with a knife! How mean huh :( He was mad, so was I, but then we said, I guess it's good they didn't do all 4. Police took their report and he went to work.

So today after the pizza party, which was a good turn out and lots of fun I went back to Les Schwab to get a new tire. My kids love it there because they have this virtual wheels machine that you can select any type of car and chance it's wheels, tires, suspension and color. So Jo was entertained for a long time! I am afraid we have a computer nerd on our hands. :) As we were sitting and waiting I decided to pull out my camera and video tape their jibber jabber. It's long but kinda funny. 

So now, 1 more new tire and 100 bucks poorer we are cruisin free once again! Moral of this story... When you are going to do anything that has to do with FREE PIZZA don't; stay home and keep your cars in the garage hehe! (would help if you had a garage first)

LAKE POWELL 2008

Out Trip to Powell so many cute pics! 

Warning this slide show is wordy and 50 pics long. 

It's just faster that way and hey I am a scrapbooker!

Where have we been?

On Wed. July 16th we headed to Lake Powell. The kids did pretty good on the the road. We got to have grandma Joy ride with us the whole way and that was sooo helpful. Thanks grandma! 

Some highlights of our trip! While there we had some ups and downs. 

*The wind picked up 2 times, one time carrying the water weanie, trampoline, tubes and 2 small boys away. We all pulled together to rescue everything. It was quite funny to watch those kids dive off the tubes as the wind picked up. Thank goodness they were wearing life jackets. 

*Another time the night before we were to leave the wind picked up sooo bad that all the kids from up top had to crash downstairs, our houseboat came un-anchored and my dad, brother Jared, Jim and my new soon to  be brother in law Dan stayed up all night adding rocks to the anchor. What a wild night!

*Ryker got dehydrated and the flu the first day there and was a little sick the 2nd night but other than that all was good.

*We haven't been to Powell in 5 yrs so it was great to go with friends and family! 

*Dad splurged and surprised us all the week or so before with the purchase of the houseboat which made things easier on me. Ryker slept well as did Jo.  It even had a slide which was too fun!

*It was sooo hot but the water was lovely. 

*We got to go cliff jumping my favorite part!

*Jim got up on the kneeboard and almost the wakeboard! (Next time he will be there)

*JO swam in her jacket and little pink tube the whole time... without fear (thank goodness)

* Ryker didn't drown infact he didn't like the water much.  He LOVED the boat though!

*I got up on the wakeboard after 2 tries however I tried to ride it like skis, endo and had a very bad headache for the rest of the evening!

*We got to eat good food, great snacks pay cards, enjoy the water and be with the ones we love DIGGER and STACEE we sure missed you! JO wouldn't even brave the tube behind the boat because Dig wasn't there to do it with her. Ryker did though!

4th Family Favorites

What a great holiday weekend we have had!!

On Thursday we went to get the kids and Jims hair cut after a nice lunch in Provo. It was quite a traumatic experience for Ryker. He was terrified, but needed a haircut soooo bad. The nice girl kept him belted in his stroller and then she had him hug me while she quickly buzzed his head. It looks cute, he looks older too. She was good, she sang the songs he learned in nursery to keep him calm. I on the otherhand in the work up we both forgot to put the hair smocks on smoked and so we were both covered in his hair. YUCK and ITCHY!! I wasn't needing a shower when we arrived but after that ordeal I was the one who needed it the most so instead of going to the Freedom Festival we just came right home after.

On Independence Day  we went to the Innes household in Lehi for a nice BBQ. It was fun and we were with lots of family that we haven't seen in a LONG time. All the Innes siblings were able to come out to Utah for the 4th and it's been great. We even had family and friends from Arizona and Cali. We  did kareoke, play guitar hero, a few board games and just chit chatted. It was fun to have all the cousins together too, Jo being the oldest. It was great food and good times. 

Later that night we went to the Herbert household to light off our own fireworks and then watch the city and other cities fireworks from the roof. I wasn't so impressed with them this year. They were really low, and too long. I was a bit terrified about taking Ryker up there, but he insisted and did pretty good. I held on soooo tight! He took a minute to warm up to the fireworks and was scared but soon he was saying "oooh pretty, yeah  (as he clapped)" He is just so cute!

The next day we went boating with Mom and Dad Herbert and Dig and Stacee. It was just what I needed. The water was rough and our time on the Lake was cut short with a storm but we had  a good time. Ryker and Jo both rode behind the boat in the tube. I was so proud of them, they loved it too especially Ryker. He didn't want to get off. Jim, Dig, and I had some pretty wild rides on the tube and it was a good time. We r feeling it today though!

Sat night we went to the Innes and ate leftovers, to the Lewis wedding and then to Liberty Land in Lehi to go mini golfing with all the married couples of Jim siblings. It was really fun to get together, we took Jo and she loved being w/the older kids. What a great family we have!

Sunday was the blessing of Ali so beautiful. The kids did well at church and we had a very nice lunch afterwards at moms and some Boggle. It was great to catch up with family and friends.

Sunday for dinner we went to Mama Herberts to surprise Cortney for her birthday. We kinda ruined the surprise as we didn't hear the honking for the warning or her arrival but oh well. It was good mom made cafe rio pork, ice cream cake roll and we had a german chocolate cake. It was really fun to be with family and eat and visit but more exciting was she got to show off her brand spanking new ENGAGEMENT RING!!! Oh we are soo excited for her and Dan to get married they are soo cute and happy together! Congrats!

PHew long post! It was fun, tiring, exhausting, emotional and crazy all at the same time. AND the family isn't gone yet so more fun too come! WAHOO!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOO.....

I just wanted to shout out HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Cortney my sister! She turns the big 30 today and is enjoying it in Chicago with Dan and his family. She is the bestest sister ever! She is always there.... when I need to talk, to play cards with, vent and sometimes cry with,  to have a laugh and just a hug. She helped mold me into who I am today. She was my caretaker while mom and dad were working. We had alot of fun together and still do.  I spend many nights in her bed, since I had bad dreams even after I had my own new room. She took me to my first concert when I was 12 and I nearly died in the moshpit as a big very BIG man fell from crowd surfing on top me. 

What a memory!! She is always willing to babysit my kids and is gonna be an AWESOME mom someday. I love you CORT!!

OH and I can't forget to say Happy Birthday to this awesome country! Even with all the problems we have and how incredibly wicked it is becoming I AM grateful to live here! I love the USA!! I love this time of year when people are soo patriotic and hope comes out from hiding. 

I am so thankful that so many men and women fought and still fight everyday to protect our freedom, especially to my cousin Erick, his dad Uncle Tim, my friend Josh, Mr. Keel and many others! Happy Birthday America WE love thee!

My Family

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

What have we been up to .

Can you believe it is July 1st??? I can't, time is just slipping by too fast! School will be back in anyday now it seems but first we have to play a bit more!

We took our kids to "Horton hears a Who?" last weekend. It was a great movie. The kids did well in the theatre. As long as Ryker has food he is pretty good anywhere. That movie was really cute! I love Dr. Suess I totally recommend it. Aunt MiMi (AMY) was able to meet us there, see the movie, do lunch and then she took Jo to Lehi with her to go swimming and to the Lehi Parade. That was nice of her, what a good aunt. JO had a blast!

Jim and I got to go the temple that night. We arrived just in the nick of time thanks to mother Joy meeting us there to grab Ryker and Go literally. THANKS MOM!! Isn't family awesome?!! It was a very peaceful and settling time for us.

SAT.. Jim got up and went flying and I took the kids to Lehi to the Grande Parade. It was way tooo long. 2.5 hours is too long to sit with 2 kids and watch floats, marching bands, and karate clubs. Ryker HATED it! At least I was in the shade thanks for a nice old neighbor from my old 2nd ward.

Later Jim joined us for the Carnival in the park. This is not a carnival with HUGE $$$ rides and that is why I LOVE IT! There were many big blow up toys, slides, obstacle courses and a small train. It is cheap only .25-75cents a ride and it was fun to see old friends. There is a free kids corner with free crafts and jo made some stylin glasses and ryker colored a paddle ball game. Then the Bones came and Jo loved to play with Aiden. Most the time Ryker was not happy he hated everything, he liked the swings once, and the train when he wasn't on it.

Sunday was Sunday we went to church, and then to Lehi. Mom Innes had the best roast I have had in a LONG time. It was sooo good! Then Ang, Ross, Ali, Jo and  I all went to Arts in the Park. It was past Miss Lehi night so I got to see alot of old friends from highschool always fun stuff but I feel older and older the more I go to Lehi functions. 

Last night Jim and I got to go to Euphoria UVU's celebration of becoming a university. I liked it as I love country music and Jim was supportive. It was very long and hot. 15000 people turned out just for the concert and there had been stuff to do all day. My favorite star was Collin Raye, he even played a song that my friend Tobby sang at our wedding (One boy, One Girl) and then(( (Love Me) which is very very sentimental for me as it was sang at my grandma Lareus funeral.

As I tried to boogie down, Jim said I was aging myself hehe! But it was fun and the fireworks were good too, better than the city ones. Nice Night out for me and thanks to both sets of family that helped take on my kiddos.

Today Jim got to go to the ribbon cutting ceremony of the school and he got to listen to and shake President Thomas S. Monsons hand. That was a neat experience for him wish I was there!

Work has been fun, today we made homemade lava lamps and got to experience UV color changing beads. The kids made bracelettes with them and hemp. It was a great time!  I LOVE MY JOB!

On the schedule now.. THE FOURTH OF JULY!!! Wahoo I love this time of year, fireworks, the smell of gunpowder, sparklers, bbqs, camping and family!!! Happy Days!

Lagoon Anyone

Anyone

I have 2 separate tickets that will get 8 people into Lagoon on July 5th for adults $27.00 a piece it is State 4-H Day. Anyone want to go?  

For those of you who are scrap-bookers, card makers or even paper craft fanatics...

I just want you to know I am still a consultant for Close To My Heart. If you love the My Acrylix stamp sets, now is the time to buy they are Buy 2 get 1 Free with the less expensive one being free. All stamps available.....well except E size, stamp of the month, and custom stamps! 

I will be putting in an order this weekend so just let me know! 

You can go to the website www.closetomyheart.com and view both the spring and summer catalogs by clicking on the product button on the left side! All orders are at my cost, that is 10% off the total order every penny saved helps right!

What have we been up to?

Summer is here and we are busy. We have been trying to have lots of fun this summer.

Here is what we have been up to....

We had a nice baby shower for Stacee and baby Mac on SAt. It was nice, lots of people came. There was awesome food and she got great stuff! My mom makes the best homemade rolls!

Fathers day was a nice dinner and cards at Mom Herberts and I made awesome oreo truffles sooo good! Then to the Innes to catch dad at the end of his BB game. I made Jim Innes Kid Air Freshners. Cute Eh? Now he can take them where ever he goes the kids I mean.

 

I took the kids swimming to the Scera along with Shelby. It was a great time. I am so ready for Lake Powell! The kids love the water!

I have been doing a Fun w/ Science Club with my mentoring kids every Wed. I get to bring my own kid and do it all outside soo fun and they are great kids. Last week we shot of mentos with Diet Coke anyone ever done that? If not try it, it's AWESOME!!! Just open soda, dump a whole package of mint mentos in the Diet Sode (warm works best) and WATCH out!

We took a day and went to SLC looking for cars and then to the Chalk Festival at the Gateway. It was fun, they gave us chalk and we got to draw in the Kids Corner, they had free stuff, face painting and then Jo tried out the fountain. It was neat to see the art and there were some really really young artists participating. The festival is free but is put on by Utah Foster Care!

We have also been to different work functions. Here is the Family Night Out at Canyon Glen Park up Provo Canyon, a good food and fun! I even made it to the top of the rock wall with lots of screaming. Jo however only made it up one step and then was done. I have to say thanks to Jim for coming along to all my work things and watchin the kids and taking great pics! I love you!

We are free of credit card debt. Thanks to Jim again! He has worked so hard, pulling money into savings before I could spend it :) and selling all sorts of RC heli stuff to get us out of CC Debt! Feels good.. Thanks babe!

Then some awesome news....Jim has been offered a new job working for California but here in Utah. If he accepts it will be a BIG change for us... more to come later.

Last we just went camping to a little lake called Redcreek in Eastern Ut with my family. IT WAS SO FUN!!!  I liked just sitting around, playing cards, playing with kids, and taking an occasoinal four wheeler ride. The kids had a blast riding wheelers,  getting dirty making forts, and eating sugar all weekend long. We didn't think we were going to make it on this trip as JO was ill with a 102 temp and then was vomiting just 2 days before AND we broke down in the Tioga Moterhome 2 times before we made it there. Poor things, it's getting soo old. Jim had to drive with the heat on.. no fun but it was worth it! Thanks to all who made it happen!

 

  
  

Now back to the grind, and man isn't it hot!

We hope you all are doing great, now stop reading blogs and get out and enjoy the sun!!!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

I just wanted to give a shout out to all the great dads in my life! Happy Fathers Day!

 First of all to my hubby and a great daddy to Jo and Ryker, We Lub YOU!!  Jim amazes me more each day with his determination to always do better. Whether it’s making more money to make life better, learning to fly better, being a better dad, or bettering himself he has some strong will power. He has been working 3 jobs, often 12 hour days, serving as the Sunday School President in church, running the heli club all while being an awesome husband and a great daddy too.  When I am working or at school and he is with the kids I sometimes come home to a “not so picked up” house. He says “we were just having too much fun!” I am grateful that he takes time to bond and play with the kids as I regretfully don’t as much as I should.  One thing I love about Jim is he is very good about still believing in his dreams. He never gives up on the future! Jim is a very intelligent, strong willed, understanding and very loving man. I am grateful I found him 5 1/2 years ago and look forward to many more!

 

My father in-law also named Jim is a great man too. He makes me laugh with his silly corny puns or jokes. He writes great signature poems for occasion cards that always make us giggle. He always has a smile on his face. He loves to play with the grandkids and is willing to give up a TV show or ball game to let Jo watch her shows even though he doesn’t always want to. He is just a big kid so he plays like one too. I like that he isn’t afraid to rough house, give horsy rides, let the kids jump on him and that sort of stuff.  He is great about making sure we are doing ok, healthy and happy and takes time to talk. I really admire that he can’t say anything bad about anybody that is a true characteristics I wish I could have. I most admire his testimony of the gospel and the way he leads and guides everything by the spirit. Love you Bumpa!

 

My own father Mike is an incredible person! He would give you the shirt off his back without receiving anything in return. Both my parents love to serve and sometimes wear themselves out in doing so but NEVER COMPLAIN! My daddy has done so much for me in my life that I couldn’t possibly repay him or tell him how much I love him. He is very talented and can do just about anything and he puts his mind to. He has taught me about hard work, setting goals, not being afraid to learn new things, respect, love and understanding. He is always willing to learn something new if it will help someone out. He is very kind, and giving. My dad loves his grandkids and it shows. He just grins ear to ear when he sees the smiles on their face or even when he hears their voice. He spoils them rotten but does know to get after them when they are doing something they shouldn’t be. They love him too! One thing I like about my dad is he’s a pretty relaxed person and I am pretty uptight and very high maintenance, which is probably why we get along so well. He just helps me see life as it is, tells me to keep dreaming and follow my heart and if he has to he puts me in my place. I need that every once in a while. Gwampa Spike as JO first called him is the

 

My last living daddy would be my Grandpa Blair. He is one amazing person. After losing his eyesight when my dad was 13 over 40 years ago he hasn’t ever used it as a crutch. He is very driven. Heck he is a lawn mower mechanic, a farmer, he fixes his own cars and he is a retired judge. He is also a very given person and has never let his family down. He has always supported me in my decisions but made sure if I was making a bad one that it was a bad one. He is prime example of determination as he has had to deal with a lot in this life. He has never seen me, nor my siblings, yet alone my mom but he knows me. He takes time to get to know us and makes sure things are going ok. He is always willing to give advice, tell stories or just BS. I spent many weekends in his home with him, grandma and my Auntie Dana as a child. He can tells all sorts of stories. One thing I admire about him is I have really never seen him mad, not even when I drove his lawnmower/tractor into the fence. Love you gramps!

 

My Grandpa Dean passed away 2 months before I met Jim.  We got to live in his house after. It was fun to reminisce and think about all the great times we had. I love Grandpa Dean he was a prime example of a hard worker. He would work out on his farm, in his shop, in the yard until his hands would bleed. He always taught me to choose the right and to be nice to my mother. He loved his 2 daughters with all his might. He was a family man. He always made the rounds on Sunday to visit all his kids and either play cards or just say hi. Grandpa Dean loved to sing and dance and after he married Noreen, his second wife he would go to dances with her and dance all night long. He was a very happy charming man with a great smile! The thing I loved most  bout this man was no matter what  NO job was too hard for him, and he would get it done right the first time even if it took longer. Love you gramps!

To all the father figures in my life, bros, uncles, cousins... Happy Dad Day! 

I also have to say sorry to the moms in my life that didn't get this tribute for Mothers Day. I was really busy.. you saw the strawberries,... but still that isn't an excuse! I still love you all though and couldn't imagine life without you!

 

JO loves herself~!

So the other day I came down and noticed JO and Ryker on the computer. I wasn't happy  but  still laughed when I had saw they had open photo booth and were taking pics of themselves. At first JO acted like she didn't know it was open and what she was doing but later I looked at the pics and...What a crazy girl!