Bo and Lauren's Wedding

Congratulations Bo and Lauren! I know this post is a few weeks late,(they were married on May, 2 in the Mt. Timpanogas Temple) but I didn't have any pictures until yesterday. We are all so happy for you two. You are an amazing couple, and I know you will be successful in you life together! We are so happy to have Lauren a part of our family, she fits right in and has the cutest personality~ not to mention is absolutely beautiful. You did good Bo! We love you Lauren! Congrats!

"In my free time...."

I am so relieved my Relief Society lesson is over...at least until next month when the nerves start all over again. It was so nice to just relax and work on some things I enjoy in my spare time. After church I was hankering for something chocolaty, so I made these bad boys Texas Sheet Cake Brownies!http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,166,154164-247199,00.html They are so yummy! I felt so guilty after eating two of these I decided I better do....

..... This


While living in Montana I became a certified pilates instructor. This is my studio I have at my home. I was taking clients until I had Maverick, life is too crazy right now to add training sessions to my schedule~ I'm lucky to find time to squeeze in a workout myself. I absolutely love the work, the way my body feels after I am done~ energized, leaner, stronger, my mind is much more centered and focused after a session. Okay enough of that, I could go on all day about the benefits of pilates, but for those of you who want more info. on the background of pilates here is a link for you. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilates

Wunda Chair

Reformer

I thought I would include some of the handiwork I enjoy making for my girls in my free time.

I stitched this flower (by hand) onto this jacket for Tyra. I am in the process of making one for Kennedi! It is a fun way to jazz up plain old boring clothes.

I have recently started making Tyra's flower barrettes you see in most of her pictures, She loves them, they are so fun for spring. I've seen them in the stores and they wanted like 10$ for one barrette, needless to say I wasn't going to pay that, i figured out how to make them. They are so easy. I have tons of colors and all kinds of flowers, I made some for my friends baby that go on the headbands with interchangeable flowers.

These are some of the latest barrettes.

Tyra loves these beaded socks. She loves to pick out the beads and hand them to me so I can crochet them on. We have a pair to match almost all of her outfits. She wouldn't let me take a picture of them on her so this is Mavericks foot~hehehe.

So that is some of what keeps me busy in my spare time ~since I have so much of it with 4 kids under eight! Ha

Triathalon!

Kennedi Rocks!!!!

Instead of field day, at the end of the year, our elementary does a modified triathlon. Our P.E. teacher is so intense and competitive, he does a great job! Kennedi was so nervous she couldn't sleep, and wouldn't even eat breakfast.

Right before the big race!

" On your mark, get set, go!"

First they run, I would guess, about a half mile (or more). Kennedi did so good. She improved her speed and endurance tremendously since last year (thanks to soccer)! After the run she was in about 6th place out of 80 girls. YOU GO GIRL!


Next, they run to the gym and ride these little scooters around 1 lap. These replace the bike leg of the race. These scooters are so awkward and lame. She got passed by a few girls here, but was still giving it her all!



Lastly, they swam the length of the pool (not very far, and not a true test of swimming speed or she would have really kicked some butt!)
She came in 11th place out of about 80-90 girls!




She did an awesome job! We are so proud of her. This has been her best year yet! She improved immensely from last year. All that conditioning in soccer is so good for her. Oh, by the way, she won her last soccer game against Cedar City. She was a team captain and played the entire game. She even had an awesome header! Way to go Kennedi!!!!! We love you.

Love Ya Mom!

( sorry. not the picture I wanted and having trouble with blogger posting a different one.)

I have been thinking a lot about my mom this week and decided to create my top ten list of why I love my mom.

10. She has the best sense of humor! She is always playing practical jokes on people. I think April Fools Day is one of her favorite holidays. I will never forget her putting a For Sale sign up in her Mom and Dads yard; or the time when she put fliers up for a free carnival and pony rides at Grandpas farm and even had some friends show up asking for rides, or the toothpaste in the oreo cookies, or the Roy T Mercer prank calls she conned my Dad into making to her boss. The list is endless, and there is never a dull moment when Mom is around.

9. For teaching me to love life! And live each day to it's fullest.

8. Being the worlds best grandma to my children! She is always willing to play any game with the kids, weather it's a board game, running through the sprinklers, narbles (marbles), or stacking mattresses down the stairs and sliding down them in sleeping bags.

7. For her amazing creative mind.

6. For her testimony. I can never put into words how grateful I am that I was raised in the gospel and taught right from wrong.

5. For being the best cheerleader I could have. Weather it was supporting me at cheer leading try-outs, or drill team, driving me to dance classes, or planning my wedding down to every last detail while my head was in the clouds. Now that I have my own kids I can appreciate how much time, commitment, energy, love, and patience went in to helping me achieve my goals. Thank You.

4. For loving Dad and giving me an example of how an eternal marriage should be.

3. For always knowing the right answer to all of the thousands of questions I call her with. If I don't know what to do, then I know Mom does. She is full of wisdom and knowledge.

2. For doing fun things with us girls growing up and creating such a close relationship with me. You are truly my best friend. I will always remember the girls trips to Heber for Swiss days, and staying in the Swiss Alps Inn while the boys were hunting. Or getting the giggles for no apparent reason and laughing until my stomach hurt! I loved the mother /daughter outings we went on together. You always made me feel loved and important. I will always treasure these memories.

1. You are the most unselfish person I know. You are always thinking of others, and what you can do to help them. You would give anyone the shirt off your back if they asked for it. You give so freely of your time and talents without ever giving it a second thought or expecting anything in return. Thank you for being a good example to me and teaching me so many wonderful lessons. I will be forever indebted to you. Love you !

A Mothers Mid-Summer Prayer

I came across this little verse a few years ago and have saved it because I can relate to it so well. For all of you young mothers out there this one is for you. Enjoy! Happy Mothers Day!

A Mothers Mid-Summer Prayer

Dear God,

Grant me the strength to last until back to school night. Give me the energy to drive the swim team carpool, take knots out of wet shoelaces with my teeth and untangle the dog from the sprinkler hose,

Grant me the wisdom to remember the name of the redheaded kid from down the street who hasn't left our house since July.

Walk with me through the backyard over piles of wet bathing suits and empty ice cream cups, to rescue my good lipstick from the bottom of the wading pool.

Give me the courage to accept that everything in the refrigerator either has a bite out of it, had a finger stuck in it, or is reproducing in the vegetable crisper underneath the expensive cheese.

Guide me down the hallway to the laundry room, where I can experience five minutes of peace and quiet by turning the lights out and climbing on the dryer so the kids can't see my feet underneath the door.

Help me accept the fact that even if I take the kids to the circus, go on a safari, and carve a redwood tree into a canoe and sail down the Congo, my children will end each day with "I'm bored."

Grant me the serenity to smile when my husband insits on tossing the Hamburger Helper on the gas grill because, "everything tastes better barbecued."

In your infinite wisdom, show me how to disconnect the video game console that hasn't been turned of since June, 22.

Comfort me when I realize the the color of my earth-tone carpet has changed into a mixture of melted blue popsicle, and the remains of somebody's purple slushy.

And if I ask to much, God, just give me the foresight to know that one day-not to many years from now- the barbecue, television, and sprinkle hose will be off; the refrigerator, front door and garage will be closed, and I will wonder where my children-and the little red-headed boy with glasses-went.

If you are interested in reading another cute one called Wet Oatmeal Kisses by Erma Bombeck, this is the link. http://home.att.net/~scorh3/Oatmeal.html

Tuacahn Summer Line Up

I am getting ready to purchase our tickets to the Tuacahn summer productions. I have been to several show here (last year they did Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, South Pacific), and every one of them has been amazing. The setting of the amphitheatre is so beautiful. There is just something grand about the red rock backdrop, and the beauty of the starry night sky, to watch such amazing productions. I would suggest going early in the summer, otherwise it is pretty hot. Here is their website for schedules and ticket pricing. http://www.tuacahn.org/

Happy Birthday Cami!

Happy Belated Birthday (it was yesterday) to my younger sister Cami! You are such an amazing person. You are so patient, loving, unselfish, calm, beautiful, and fun loving, just to name a few. You are the most dedicated mother and the greatest example to me! I love you Cami. Hope you had a great day!

Jenny made her this yummy strawberry shortcake (the one off Heather's blog)!http://stiroccasionally.blogspot.com/search/label/Cakes

Love You!!

Kngaroo Zoo!!!

Tyra, Oaklie, Maverick, Mary, Dalton, Kennedi, Sage, Stetson.

Quite a slew of grandkids my mom and dad have . Only missing Will (he was home with grandma!)

We had such a fun time in Utah. Cami. Jenny and I took all of the kids to Kangaroo Zoo http://www.kangaroozoo.net/, to burn off a little extra energy. It is a kids paradise. There are bunch of blow, up soft play activities, for kids of all ages. They played so hard, everyone was red cheeked and sweating by the end. Maverick came home and took a 4 hour nap! I love that. Stetson said, "it was his most awesome day ever!"

This is the biggest slide they have. That is our whole crew making their way to the top! Maverick who is almost 2 could climb up this giant with ease. He out climbed the older kids, and wasn't afraid to fly down all by himself. (I think he is part monkey)

Tyra is my little model. She loves to take pictures and gives me the greatest poses every time.

Mary was able to burn off a little extra energy! She sure does keep Cami on her toes.