Fun With Cousins

This past weekend we got a surprise call on Friday letting us know our Idaho cousins would be coming down for the weekend. My kids were very excited as they haven't got to see these cousins for a very long time. We made the most of our Saturday together and had so much fun. We started out with a trip to Pineview to play on the beach, which was a lot of fun but short lived thanks to a HORRIBLE wind that blew everything away and blasted sand at us. We did get to play in the water and have a fun time, just wasn't as long as I would have liked.

Since the weather wasn't really cooperating we decided we had better find something indoors to do and remembered how much my kids love the Aerospace Museum at Hill Air Force Base (which is FREE and I highly recommend to anyone). This was a GREAT idea. They have made it even better than it already was and we had so much fun.


Each kid had a "buddy" they were in charge of (a must when you have 6 kids)

The best part of the museum is the ACE learning center. It is centered around kids and has so many fun things to do. Look at all these awesome looking future air and space men/women. TOO CUTE!!!

I got the kids pictures done in one of those old fashion photo booths and they laughed and laughed. The pictures are so cute and it was just a priceless moment.

A bunch of goofs...but so much fun. After the museum as a reward for being so good, we went to CHUCK-E-CHEESE'S! My kids have never been and it was SO much fun. Then on our way home the HOT NOW light was on at Krispie Kreme and I figured they were all hyped up already as it was, why not get a free donut too. :) It was an incredibly fun day. We love our Idaho cousins and are so glad they made the long trip down to see us.

As usual I have way more pictures on facebook (what can I say, it's easier to upload them there). If we aren't friends on facebook...why the heck not?

An Angel's Prayer

Tonight's family prayer was probably one of the sweetest (and longest) I have ever heard. Kylee said it all by herself and I seriously ran right to the computer (after giving her the biggest hug possible) so I could capture what I could remember right away. (As I am still wiping tears from my eyes)

"Heavenly Father, thank you for this fun day. Thank you for Grandma and Grandpa to watch us why mommy works and thank you for a fun world to play. Please bless mommy won't have to work or go to school and please bless mom to stay home with her kids. Please bless Grandma Helen to be happy. Please bless Axel and please bless Emilee can take good care of Axel. Please bless Donny and Cody and Shantell and Chris and Cody's friends. Please bless Uncle Carson on his mission and please bless Uncle Corey to come see me. Please bless Aunt Tonya will come to my birthday party. Please bless Cannon will listen to mom and help us to obey. Thank you for our blessings and thank you for our family."

I am SO glad this angel is in my life.

Back To School

Summer is officially over and school starts back up for me on Monday. I have a really tough semester ahead of me and am not looking forward to trying to do both work and school full time again. It makes me feel like the worst mom but I am so grateful for all the love and support and HELP I have to accomplish these goals and know that it is all worth the hard work. Kylee has been cheering me up...literally. She got this WAY cute cheerleader outfit from Grandpa Cosper and she even knows a few WSU cheers.

I know that my kids make a lot of sacrifices for me to be able to do what I should have done a long time ago. That is most definitely the worst part of it all...knowing that my kids suffer because of my bad decisions. I just hope they can learn from my mistakes as much as I have. I love the quote on my sidebar that says "It's never to late to be what you might have been." and would just like to add...but it's much easier if you just do things right the first time. I put a lot of my faith and love in the wrong people and have learned there is really only ONE person you can always rely on. I should have been putting my faith in Him all along and am grateful for repentance and mercy. I am so grateful for the chance I have to go to school and to learn.

The County Fair

Last night we went to the Davis County Fair and had such a great time. My kids loved petting all the animals and listening to the music and walking around. The weather wasn't the best as it was very windy, but we had a wild time.

But the main reason we went was to go to the Demolition Derby. I LOVE them and haven't been to one in years. I knew Cannon would love it, but I wasn't expecting Kylee to love it too. They both laughed and laughed and cheered and just enjoyed every second.

All the way home they both talked and talked about what cars were their favorites and which ones crashed or broke. They just make everything so much more fun.

Cannon is still talking about it today, and it will be a night I will never forget.

I couldn't get that boy to look away for nothing. He was glued to the action and it was so much fun to watch him. I'm so glad I have such great kids I can go do so many fun things with.

Thank You Summer

You are probably sick of hearing this, but we have had the best summer this year. We have had so many fun times and have really taken advantage of mom not being in school. Sadly those days are coming to an end, but man have they been fun.

Hope you have had a fun summer too! :) Thank you Summer for being one of the best summers ever!

Pineview

My kids and I are really missing the beach!!! So a couple Saturday's ago we headed up the canyon and spent the day on the closest thing to the beach we have close to our house.

We played in the sand and water and although we didn't have any boats or jet skis, and although it wasn't nearly as beautiful as the ocean, we still had a very fun time.

We all took turns burying each other in the sand.

Even mommy got buried.

The water was a little cold, but we had a great time.

Sure made us miss the beaches of Oregon though. On the way home Kylee even said "that was fun, but I like Aunt Tonya's ocean better."

Swimming

This summer we got to do a LOT of swimming and my kids both have the tan lines to prove it. Never did any of us get sun burned though YAY! It is so nice of my aunt and uncle to let us come swim all the time. They have an awesome pool and it is always a lot of fun.

I can't keep these guys out of the water. They love it.

Celebrating Grandma's birthday

Cannon just relaxing

Happy Birthday Grandma

My Grandma Hebdon is one of my most favorite people in the world. She is seriously one of the most amazing women I have ever met. She has been a widow for almost 19 years and has had to endure some really trying times in her life, yet she never complains and NEVER gives up. She always has a smile on her face and makes you feel like you are the most important person in the world. She is the perfect example to me of unconditional love, faith, and what enduring really means. It's not just about making it through every day, it's about making the best of every day. She is so talented, so loving, SO funny, and just so awesome.

I love you grandma!!! I hope I am nearly as pretty as you when I am 77 and that I still love life as much as you do. Thank you for all you do for me and everyone around you. You are such a great example to me and I don't know what I would do without you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!

Fun with the Eisenbarth's

My cousin Aaron and his family live super close to me and yet we hardly ever get to see them. Thanks to facebook we have been able to reconnect and he even invited us over for a BBQ and swim party. His kids are a bit older than mine, but they were so cute to play with my kids and share their slip and slide and pool.

Ashley showing us how the slip and slide works.

Cute Cannon thinks he can do anything anyone else does.

Ethan giving wagon rides.

Thanks Eisenbarth's for the fun time.

Hope we can do it again soon. Love you guys!

Happy Birthday Daddy

My Dad is seriously one of the greatest men I know. I'm sure every girl feels this way about her father, and if you don't, I am very sad for you. I know there are A LOT of dad's out there who aren't the men they should be. This world is getting to be a scary place and my recent trials in life have had me questioning a lot about what I believe and what is right. My dad has ALWAYS been an awesome example of what is right. He is amazing. The only member of the LDS Church in his family, he takes a lot of flack for his beliefs but never stops loving anyone and never questions what is right. He has quiet strength and amazing patience. He is the world's best grandpa and my kids absolutely adore him, and I love him even more for how good he is to my kids. He is always playing with them and making them laugh and I am so glad they get to make so many fun memories with him.

He always has us singing a song and having a good time. He has so much talent and has never been professionally taught in anything. He is so unselfish and loving.
I have so many fond memories and favorite things about my dad. He is really good at making each one of his 7 kids feel special. He has nick names for us all and we each have our own ride at Lagoon that is designated just for us to be his "buddy" on.

He has taught me so many things and I have learned to love so many new things because of him. Never in my life did I think I would be a golfer, but now it is one of my favorite things to do, thanks to my dad. (I got my own clubs and everything!)

He is such a great example of how a husband should be. He always treats my mom with such kindness, respect, and love no matter what. He is just AWESOME!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!

Thank you for all you do for me, my kids, and our family.

You deserve the best birthday ever and I hope there are many more birthdays to come.

I LOVE YOU DAD!