April Snowstorm

Well, we woke up to a lot of snow! It is heavy, wet snow too. Several branches broke off of our tree out front. Just yesterday Mike commented on how beautiful that tree was. I wish I took pictures of what our yard looked like at the end of the day because all the snow was gone. It was warm and felt like spring. So crazy!

Of course we just set up the batting cage, you can kind of see it in this picture.

Hopefully it's okay. Mike went out and tried to knock all of the snow off of it.

 Outside our bedroom door, where all the limbs from the apple tree trimming are stacked.

 Our poor bushes. They did not take this snow well.

I Love it Here!

Seriously, Utah is awesome.  I went for a run about 5:30 this morning. The weather was beautiful.  I took Maysen to school around 7:00 this morning . . . still beautiful.  I parked the car, walked in the house, looked out the window and it was snowing!  Oh man!  I laughed so hard.  I literally had walked inside from a lovely spring day and within seconds snow came.  How can you not love that!  By the time I took Stockton and Jorja to school it was snowing pretty hard.  It snowed off and on for the rest of the day.  Utah sure loves to mess with people!

Mike and I went and picked up Bubs' kids from their baseball game.  We were too late to see any of the game though.  Traffic is not fun.  Bubs had to go help someone move and Ange can't move her hand.  She got bit by a stray cat.  Weird things always happen to Ange.

Happy New Year!

Today was a great way to start 2011 - except for Jorja who kept hurting herself. We had yummy scones for breakfast, stayed in our pajamas all day, played in the snow and played lots and lots of games of course. It is so beautiful here, the pictures don't do it any justice. Have I mentioned I LOVE living in Utah?

Jorja & Weston

Maysen
Brandon & Jacob

Preston, Weston & Jorja

Maysen, Stockton, Brandon, Jacob, Weston, Shannon

Preston

Jorja

Steve trying to make a chair/sled

Jorja

Erica & Maysen

Jorja, Preston, Maysen, Erica

Marshmallow World

Today started with a Dominion game. Maysen dominated. What's up with that? Jorja wasn't far behind her. I put up a very poor showing. At least I made up for it with Ticket to Ride at the end of the day.

Steve and Shannon and their family came up to enjoy the snow. Boy did we have a lot. It is so beautiful! We sledded down the driveway and Mike picked us up with the 4-wheeler. I couldn't get going as fast as the cabin, but Jorja was hauling. Even with Preston. They loved it. Mike tied sleds to the back and that worked out really well. Preston LOVED riding on the sleds up the driveway. He felt so big!

Maysen & Erica

Heated driveway = Good idea

Mike + extras

Mike & Preston

Preston wearing Jorja's old snow clothes

Steve & Brandon

Shannon

Jorja

Preston & Jorja

Preston yelling "FASTOR"

HOME

So..... things have been happening here this past week that I haven't wanted to blog about. Mike has now accepted a job offer and we will be moving to UTAH! We are so excited! Well, Jorja is a little sad, but we told her she could have an early birthday party before we moved, so that made her feel a little better. Preston & Stockton keep talking about how we should teleport our house. It is going to be hard to leave it behind. We love it.

We are excited, sad, anxious, happy, nervous and a whole bunch of different emotions all at the same time. Mike flew down to Utah last weekend. He had interviews at overstock.com. They went really well. They actually work at a building that everytime we have driven by it for the last ten years I have said something like, "That would be the greatest place to work".....or "I wish you worked there"..... etc. The pay is a little less then he has here, but it would be less pay in UTAH! So we're okay with that.

Mike came home on Monday night. He was sent an offer letter on Thursday I think. We fasted and prayed and feel really peaceful about the entire situation. Our ward isn't excited to see us go. Just in the last two months we have lost our bishop, executive secretary, ward clerk, and now elders quorum president (besides three primary teachers and a primary counselor).

Mike is planning on giving his two week notice the first of September and hopefully starting work at the end of September. That way we will always be covered by insurance. We don't know many more details at this point and are hoping a lot of things fall into place. Is it a perfect plan? No, but I think that's what I like about it.

Sticky Oven

We are now back in the hot, hot, hot Georgia weather. I feel so gross and sticky. I think the kids are use to it and it doesn't bother them, but it sure bothers me! We got back home without incident . . . except if you count Stockton causing a pileup on the escalator when he tried to get a penny or the fact that Preston got off on the wrong train stop . . . I ran out and got him back before the doors shut. Anyway, it is nice to be back with Mike again, everyone was so happy to see him.

Today is my grandpa and my brother Matt's birthday. I hope they had a great one . . . sorry I forgot to call . . . .

Seven Peaks

I started this morning by playing racquetball with my brothers. Each of them had to have a turn with me. I declare Brett the winner because he is the only one who won a game with me as a partner. It's got to be harder having me on a team then it would be to face two people by yourself. I was more obstacle than teammate. It was really, really fun though.

I came home and got the kids ready for Seven Peaks. It was funny, Jorja packed the cooler. She did the entire thing. She put chocolate milk bottles and water bottles in it. Then she got some ice out of the freezer in the garage, filled it up and started dragging it to the car. Scoop saw her and helped her get it in. What a cutie.

Right as we were leaving, Shannon called and was taking Jacob to the doctor. Weston had jumped on him and his mouth was bleeding. We were suppose to meet them there. I asked the kids what they wanted to do. They decided to go to the Smith's and wait for Jacob, even if it meant not going to Seven Peaks at all. Luckily when we were almost at the freeway, Shannon called and they were on their way.

I think everyone had a fun time. Stockton and Brandon went down the steep drop off slide. They didn't realize what they were in line for until they got there. I asked Stockton what he was thinking when he saw the slide. He said, "This is the worse idea of my life" or something like that. They both went down the slide though. Preston and I went down the slides over and over. We were headed to go on them again when I realized Preston was stinky. I had told him before we left that I only had one swimming diaper (I was not going to buy an entire pack) and that he needed to tell me if he needed to go potty. So, that was the end of Preston's swimming day. He teared up and kept saying, "Just one more slide?" I really wanted to take him, but I didn't. I went home with my kids and left Stockton with Shannon to bring home.

Jorja, Brandon, Weston,

Stockton, Erica, Maysen, Preston & Jacob

Jorja, Maysen, Preston

We had dinner up here tonight. Stockton took forever to eat 1/4 of a hamburger. Over an hour. Why is meat so hard for Maysen and Stockton to eat? I don't get it....it's delicious.

Rylee is here now. Her uncle dropped her off this evening. Erica is also staying over. She traded places with Stockton. I hope he has a fun night. Jorja felt like the odd one out. I hope she gets a good night sleep.

July Birthdays

We celebrated the July birthdays in my family today. Matt's is on the 20th (the day we leave), Marie's is on the 27th (the day after she gets to Japan), and Ange's in on the 31st. (We celebrated Bubs' birthday at the cabin, so he didn't get a double dose.) I dropped Maysen off early at my dad's house, and she helped Rachel make Marie's birthday cake. This was the first cake with fondant Maysen has made. It turned out really cute.

Rachel & Maysen

Marie, Maysen & birthday cake
Ange, Matt & Marie
Irresistible Marie

Rachel, Marie & Brett

Marie opening cute little scriptures with her name on it

Princess Marie

After dinner, cake and presents, we played Scum. I won. I almost choked and lost to John, but I did not. It was pretty impressive since I started the game as Scum. Nicely done.

Free Fry Day

Cassie had her baby shower today. Rachel, Ange & Shannon (Jex) were all able to go. It was fun except I was annoyed that I left my camera card in my laptop.

When I got back to Steve & Shannon's house, Preston was so sore. He had been swimming and his swimsuit rubbed his legs raw. He has been walking around like a cowboy the rest of the day. I held him until he fell asleep, then Maysen, Erica and I went shopping. First, I spent a ton of money at Deseret Book. Maysen has wanted a quad, so I decided to get one for her birthday - but I wanted her to pick it out. Later in the day, I realized I forgot about the gift card in my wallet! Now that's more annoying then leaving a camera card. Anyway, after Barnes & Noble I stopped at Khols. Maysen hates Khols, so she waited in the car. I had the most amazing find there! Feet jammies! The kind Maysen loves and just her size! I was so happy!

Okay, enough about shopping. When we got home, Steve was getting ready to grill hamburgers and hotdogs. Arctic Circle has free fry day on Saturdays (why they didn't do it on Fridays I'll never know). I called for all kids who wanted free fries to come and load up. I got all of my kids and all of Steve & Shannon's kids in the car (except Spencer). At the drive through I asked for 9 free fries. When I told the server I didn't want anything else, they asked if we wanted complimentary cones. I told her I didn't want to take advantage of them. The kids were teasing me about it, so when we got to the window I said I changed my mind and we wanted to take complete advantage of them. They were super nice there. Stockton thinks we need one in Georgia.

Easy Day

This afternoon I went shopping with Rachel while the kids played at Steve & Shannon's house. That made everyone happy. We had a relaxing day. The kids actually went swimming at a neighbor's house. Hope the neighbor didn't mind the invasion. Shannon got me a Zuppa salad and sandwich. (Not sure if I spelled it right, but it was very yummy.) Then I played Ticket to Ride with Maysen, Erica and Steve. It was Erica's first time playing and she creamed us! I love having the girls this age. They are so fun to be around. PLUS, added bonus....they found SHIVER!!! Preston is so happy!

Jorja & Oscar

Cowabunga!

On the way back from Idaho yesterday, Jorja was asking what day her baptism would be. She said her birthday was on a Tuesday. Preston said, "Your birthday is on garbage day?" I thought that was funny.

This afternoon we went to Cowabunga Bay with my family. We had a really good time, even though I was cold! The weather was suppose to be in the 90's, but when you are standing in line up high for those water slides, it's cold! I guess the wind didn't help. Stockton was pretty funny in the lazy river. He would sit on a tube with his feet inside. These kids kept trying to dunk him. They would flip up the tube. Stockton would dive inside and end up sitting exactly how he had been before the tip. He was undunkable!

One of the fun things about the water park was they let me take Preston down the slides while I was holding him. I've never been anywhere like that before. He thought he was pretty hot stuff to be big enough for those slides. (Hot stuff's my mom's phrase. I like it, so I'm going to use it.)

After the water park, and after I found Jorja (scared me to death), we went to the Mayan. I had never been there before. The kids weren't too happy to be going to a Mexican restaurant, but they were good sports about it. They loved it when we got there. Not the food, but the atmosphere. They had diving shows you could watch during dinner. The divers came around to the table afterwards, Preston told them they were crazy.

Maysen, Jorja, Stephanie, Preston, Stockton

Maysen, Stockton, Preston, Jorja watching the show
Crazy divers with Stephanie, Preston & Stockton

One diver name Celeste talked to us for awhile. She asked us if we would like to go behind the scenes. The kids were really curious what the tunnel looked like. We talked to the divers for about fifteen minutes back there. It was pretty neat.

Celeste & Jorja backstage

Top: Jorja, Maysen, Stockton

Bottom: Rachel, Preston, Max, Grandpa, Cassie & Marie, John

After dinner, against my better judgement, I went to my dad's house to play Ticket to Ride. Maysen wanted to play. It was already almost an hour past bedtime, but Maysen wanted to play. The other kids were patient with me. Stockton did try to carry me out after the game. Guess I was taking to long. At least I won! Maysen came in second, just a few points behind me. Pretty good showing for us!

Borrow a Name

Grandma told me an interesting story about her mom, Harriett Larkin Borrowman. She said the Borrowman last name was made up. Their last name (a long, long time ago) was McGregor. Back when they were living in Scotland (I think). Anyway, their was an order to kill all the McGregors, so the McGregors sat around trying to think of a name to change theirs to. Someone suggested Borrow-man, because they were borrowing a name. I'm not sure if I got all of the story right, but it was kind of fun. Hope no one decides to get rid of Smiths. That would cause chaos.

We are back in Utah at Mike's house. The girls are happy that Scoop and Cori are here with their dogs. After the kids got to bed (super late), we played cards.

Loving Palisades

We spent the morning cleaning the cabin. The water behind us is Palisades Reservoir. I love it up here. It is so pretty. Especially with the reservoir full. I had such a great time with my brothers. Hopefully I'll be able to see them lots when we get back to Utah. It's harder though. Before we left, my kids were all able to have a ride on the 4-wheeler. They all really enjoyed that. I can't believe it's time to leave already!

Jorja, Stockton, Maysen, Stephanie, Preston

Maysen & John
Brett & Preston

Stockton & John
Jorja, Brett & Marie

Lincoln, Jorja & Cassie

Brett & Marie

Marie driving!

Seriously? Jorja can hold Marie, but she won't let me? What's up with that?

Marie & Jorja

The Cousins (missing Skye, Larkin & Abby)

Front: Marie & Preston

Back: Jorja, Stockton, Maysen, Lincoln & Ella

We stayed the rest of the night at my Grandma & Grandpa Parry's. Preston was asleep when we got there. He walked inside, grabbed a cookie and zonked himself out on the couch for another few hours.

Preston

Stockton & Jorja running to the playground

Grandpa & the flag he used to cover his fox hole in the war.

Grandpa with some of his medals.

My Uncle Steve was singing tonight by the river with his group The Not Brothers. It was time to go, and I couldn't find my keys. I searched and searched. I walked outside wondering if I lost them when I was cleaning the mud off of Stockton's shoes. I said a quick prayer, looked down and there were my keys. I was standing in the middle of the backyard. I guess when I ran outside to take the picture of Stockton and Jorja running to the park, my keys must have dropped. Thank goodness for answered prayers.

Steve & his group were great! I loved listening to them. Stockton and Maysen were even laughing a few times. Especially on the song about life being hard if you're dumb. They also sang one of Maysen's favorite songs from when she was little. The Marvelous Toy....or something like that. I was so glad I was there.

Uncle Steve

When we got home, my grandma & grandpa showed me old movies & slides that Uncle John had put on a DVD for them. It was so amazing watching my mom when she was little. I liked seeing my mom best, but it was also cool to see a younger grandma & grandpa....and seeing my mom with Sue & Kris. Bet they're having a great time together now.