Pioneer Trek

Right after we got home from Lake Powell, Quentin and Calli went on the Pioneer Trek. This is the only picture I have of them for right now. They said that they were going to get a CD to everyone of the actual Trek. The kids were to leave all electronics behind and to dress like a pioneer and pull a handcart like a pioneer and cook like a pioneer, you get the picture. Once they got there they were divided into families with numerous brothers and sisters and started walking. They had so much fun. They talked about it non stop once they got home and took a very needed shower. I am so glad that they had the chance to go and share that experience with each other. I am also grateful for the pioneers and the example that they set for all of us of sacrifice, endurance, and worship.

Lake Powell 2011

Lake Powell is so much fun when we have been able to go. We haven't been able to make it the last couple of times that everyone has gone so we were so excited to be able to go this year. It was a little bitter sweet because the last time we went, we were there with Jeff's dad and grandpa. He loved Lake Powell and so the rest of is loved it with him. We missed him so much but knew that he was so happy that we were all there together and having fun with one another. It was so early in the season and so the water was freezing! Go figure...it was coming straight from the snow on the mountains! The water raised so much everyday. It was the fullest that it had been since 1980. It was exciting that the Lake was going to be full this year, but kind of rotten for us who wanted to be in the water...The two times I actually got in it took my breath away! One of those times I got in was on accident. I was trying to get from the jet boat to the house boat and fell into the water in between...camera and all! Consequently losing my camera to moisture! Jeff tried to fix it after we tried to get the water out from putting it in a bowl of couscous, but it didn't work. The pictures that I did get are pictures that I had taken before the fall and then some that I have blog lifted! Here's my skeleton collection of photos from that fun week!

I don't mind roughing it a little bit, but don't ask me to go without my finger nail polish!! By the end of one afternoon, every female had their fingers or toes painted thanks to Calli and I. Even the littlest new addition Marlee got her nails painted too. Thanks to Uncle Jeff holding her down while I painted.

Even though it was freezing...some of them still got out to do a little water skiing and tubing. Greg, you still got it!

The girls and Brigg.

One afternoon, we had a little talent show. It was really fun and funny. Calli performed for everyone on her guitar. I could watch this girl all day play and sing! I just love it!! The little ones really got into it singing and dancing and doing some really cute skits! So much fun.

Mack wanting to drive the boat and his first mate Brigham...If these boys ever get old enough...watch out!

My kids at Rainbow Bridge. I am so glad that they got to go and see this amazing formation.

Jeff was the designated Jet Ski Shoufer. He was always taking the little ones out for rides.

Here's most of the clan. Missing a few...so much fun! Thanks to Grandma for providing us with such fun memories to have forever!

Calli's 6th Grade Graduation

Calli graduated from 6th Grade in May. It was a great ceremony..and to be completely honest, it was a ceremony totally revolved around her. Not just because I am her mom and was mostly watching her with every thing that they had planned, but because she pretty much was the program. I felt bad for other kids that could have had a chance, but grateful that she had the opportunities to do what she did. She was chosen to do the solo entertainment which was to play her guitar and sing "Never Grow Up" (Taylor Swift). Itw as a perfect song for these precious 6th graders that are moving onward and upward. There really wasn't a dry eye in the audience. It was such a cute song and she did such a great job! She was also chosen to give a graduation speech. There was one boy and one girl. I was so impressed with her and the way that she presented herself. She got a little emotional. She really loved her teacher this year and had a lot of fun with her in her classroom. Here we come 7th grade! I think she is ready..I'm not sure that I am though!

Solo performance.

Singing with all the 6th graders.

Both the grandmas were there and got really teary during her performance. I love that they were there to support her.

Calli with Hali and her teacher Mrs. Allen

Calli's Creation

Calli made this creation in the kitchen that is really amazing! One Sunday after church, as I was on the brink of a nap, she asked me if I knew of something that she could make with peanut butter...I told her to get the tortillas out and make something with peanut butter and tortillas and when I woke up, she had some samples of what she made and at first I was a little timid, but after the first bite, I couldn't wait to have more!! It was delicious! We told her that she should try to sell it to a restaurant and so she decided to do some market research first. She and some friends got together and made a huge batch, wrapped them up, and then took them around to neighbors with survey sheets about how well they liked the creations with even a spot for suggestions at the bottom. It was fun to read all of the cards and see what people had to say about them. They gave some great suggestions and I got a lot of comments from people in the neighborhood about how great it was and also about how adorable Calli is! Nothing that I didn't know already! She continues to amaze me with her incredible motivation and wonderful imagination and her way of executing her dreams. I admire her and need to be more like her.

By the way...I can't tell you what else she puts in her creation because she doesn't want me to tell everyone her secret ingredients for fear of copying!

Recently...

I haven't posted for a while so I thought I'd do a little catching up and let everyone know what we have been doing recently.

Calli has been taking some Boogaloo classes at the gym. I tried it once and hated it, but I'm glad that she likes it so much. She is in a kids class and they do a fun job getting the girls to learn the moves and do some fun dances with them. She has been doing it with her friend Hali and Hali's sisters. The instructors have been teaching them some dances for a performance that they were going to have to promote the boogaloo classes at the gym. They were doing Michael Jackson's "Beat it" and so she wanted to dress the part. They were so cute!

One day all of my boys ended up wearing their brown shirts...(Jeff's and Quentin's are exactly the same...good sale at Kohl's) and so I had to take the opportunity to take a photo of my cute boyz! Quentin came to us one day and told us that he was going to go out for Track! What?? I am so proud of this kid! Always trying new stuff and doing his best at whatever he does. Freshman year and trying to get the whole HS experience! We were heading to Boise for a little get a way and his first meet was in Pocatello and so we stopped to watch him. It was sooooooo long, but so fun too. He of coarse is running in two of the last events and so we waited three hours to see him run! He runs the 400 and the mile. What a kid! Mack, Calli, and I headed to Boise after the Track meet! It was such a super fun get-a-way! I usually try to get away and go there around my birthday! It is the most perfect way to celebrate my birthday and completely pamper myself. Actually, my friend Valerie pampers me! She really knows how to entertain guests, and there are a lot of people at the Ross's home and so there is not ever a dull moment there! I love this gal! She has been an amazing friend from the first day I met her!

We did lots of fun stuff! This picture was taken right before we left to go and see one of the lamest movies I have seen for a long time! Red Riding Hood. However, it is a great memory and always will be! We mostly hang out at her house and visit while the kids disappear and only reappear when they're hungry. They love each other so much!

The girls playing Ring-around-the-Rosie.

The girls at our mommy/daughter outing where we ate at the cheesecake factory and shopped until we dropped!

One of our stops was the beauty supply store where it is full of fun goodies that we always check out. One being nail polish. Val was so excited to try it out that she was painting while driving! I was shocked that at every stop light she whipped it out quick and painted a few nails! She is so talented!

Hot tub time is always a favorite there!

Val had seen these duct tape bows somewhere and so we tried to get some tape and recreate them! They were so fun and turned out so cute! A fun cheap craft.

After we got home, Calli and Jeff had a Daddy/Daughter date to go on to the Etiquette Dinner put on by the Activity Day girls/ leaders. Boutonnieres and crosages and everything! Calli even made Jeff wear his purple tie so that they could match their outfits. They were so cute and when they got home told me all about the activity and how much fun it was. Such a cute Daddy/Daughter!

My Stick!

So.... lately I have been finding these enormous sticks on my front porch. Just sitting there waiting to be a tripping hazard. I made the mistake of throwing one away one day and upon discovery, got immediately reprimanded by Mack when he informed that that was "HIS STICK"!! Evidently he walks with it to school, hides it somewhere on the school grounds while he is at school and then he grabs it for his walk home. Could it be used for a weapon-sure. Could it accidentally hurt him or someone else? Sure. However, I have let him walk with it everyday and let him store it on the front porch every evening. It's these random things that remind me that he is still so very little and a kid that has fun and an imagination. It also reminds me of my dad. It is so something that Dad would've done and did do as an adult. So every morning, I watch Mack walk out the door and pick up his walking stick to walk to school.

Love

The kids and I decorated sugar cookies on Monday night to deliver to a few of our neighbors. I love to do this with our kids. We do it for almost every holiday. They turned out cute and we had a really great time wrapping them up and delivering them to some of our neighbors.

So, I finished a book today and was sad that it was over. I even got "man tears" (a new term that we use frequently that my brother-in-law coined...it's when you get tears in your eyes, but they don't spill over) I was that sad. There are a lot of really great things that I learned about myself while I was reading that book which is probably why I loved it so much. One thing that the author says about herself is that for her to really be able to open her heart and love someone else, she needed to love herself first before she could love someone else. I have heard that before and understand it a little better this past year. I feel like we all love someone a little more as we get to know them better. Why shouldn't it be the same for ourselves? I am grateful for the things that I have learned about myself in the last little while and love myself more for it.

The other day, my instructor at the gym said that a New Years Resolution she made for herself was not to break promises to herself. I thought that that was kind of silly-but the more I thought about it and the more I have paid attention this past month, I realize that I make a lot of promises to other people and make some to myself. I never break my commitments to other people, but break them with myself sometimes. So-for this Valentine's Day, I have decided that to show the greater love to myself that I have gained recently, I am going to promise not to break promises that I make to myself. I have a feeling that it will be a good thing for me and for others that I am surrounded by as well. Happy Valentine's Day to me!