Lagoon 2012....

The Newton's talked us into spending the day at Lagoon and I'm so glad they did.  We had the best time and the crowds were great.  Kensie is my thrill seeker and loves all the fast rides.  I can't wait to take her back to disneyland! This year we also spent the afternoon in the water park and had a blast.

Summer Lovin...

It feels like our summer is slipping away and I haven't got anything done that I planned.  We have been busy with the kids and trying to keep up. 

Cael's new obsession is baseball.  I honestly think he would play 24/7 if we would let him.  At the end of the coach pitch season things had really started to click and with his desire to practice all the time he is becoming a really good player.  Casey, Dr. Rosenbeck, and my cousins Ryan & Tyson have put together a 8u fall baseball team that will start games on Aug 27.  We have been going to the ball field every night for a couple hours and practicing.  He loves to practice, but sometimes gets lazy and doesn't like to listen to what his dad is telling him.  Just like during wrestling season, we put our foot down and informed him that he will not be wasting our time.  We are there to help him in anyway, but he needs to give 100% and be appreciative of what is being done for him.  When he starts pouting and back talking we load him up and take him straight home.  It only took a few times for him to adjust his attitude.  He has been having a really good summer and loves it when I work so he can go to Mona and play with Gav and Taylor Newton.

My Kensie Lou has also been having a great summer.  She loves to play in my make-up and get "dressed up".  You never know what she will come up with and has us rolling all the time.  Lately she has been quite Sassy and I can't help but laugh when she bosses Cael around.  She has also picked up swearing and doesn't care who is around when she lets off her "oh Damn".  I have no idea where she would have heard this ?!?!  She still loves anything domestic...loves taking care of her babies, cooking, cleaning...Future housewife right here.  The American Girl magazine showed up and she has been obsessed with going to the "man" (American) store in New York.  There were several night she couldn't go to sleep because she wanted to plan our trip to go on the "a plaim"(airplane) to New York.  We might have to surprise her in Cali and take her to the store in LA.  She has started in with the "why" questions and I can tell she is always trying to figure things out.  She is a huge story teller and it about drives her brother crazy.  Yesterday i was in my bedroom folding clothes when I heard Cael yell "Kensie you weren't on Wipeout!"  She answered with a "Yay i wa Tael".  He doesn't fall for her lies, but we sure do get a laugh out of them.  Her stories usually consist of a "oh my gosh" or "I wa like...wha?" and a "it wa so funny" line.  Love this girl!

Girls Night Out to see "Brave".  The bears kind of scared her, but she loved it.

Cael and Gavyn were invited to go to the Owls game with Chad and Jessica.  They had the best time and came home with fun souvenirs.

Fathers Day weekend 2012...

We had a great Father's day Weekend this year up Nephi Canyon.  The only un-fun part was the heat, but it wasn't anything a little water couldn't fix.  At the first of the month Casey broke his ankle after he fell off of a ladder and landed down in a stair well so he has been icing his ankle every night.  Lucky for him we found a natural ice bath and he spent a good hour soaking every day.  The kids spent most of the weekend playing in this water hole and it was a great place for the adults to escape the sizzling temps.  I've said it before, but I have the best dad's in my life and am so thankful for all they do!

Princess Camp 2012....

Kensie has been looking forward to Princess camp for weeks.  I took her up over the weekend to let her pick out a new "Prin" dress at the Disney store.  They were really picked over and the only one she liked wasn't available in her size.  We were just about ready to leave the store when she spotted the Glittery Jessie Hat & Boots.  She was not leaving without them so I gave in and let her get them.  Luckily my friend Tina let us borrow her Jessie costume because I couldn't find one to buy on such short notice.  So yes she was the only cowgirl at Princess camp, but she didn't seem to care.  Oh this girls is full of it and keeps us laughing!  This year had an added bonus because my friend Jen and her daughter Maddie joined us.  It was so much fun to spend time with them and I already miss seeing them everyday. 

Halle, Maddie, & Kensie

Ariel came for the parade





Macy, Halle, & Maddie

Cowgirl Jessie

Proud to Serve...

My dad ended his service with the Utah National Guard today (finally) after 37 years of service.  I have been begging him for years to get out because I always feared he would be activated again.  He never would and kept insisting that he was going to stay in until they made him retire.  A couple of months ago my dad received a notice that he would be retiring on July 1, 2012.  When you are in the military you can retire after 20 years, but every year you stay in after that adds to your retirement.  My dad's Colonel told us that the military is mostly young people so for someone to be in as long as my dad is rare.  I am very proud of his service and desire to serve our country.  The military has given this small town farm boy a chance to see the world and I know he has friends and memories to last a lifetime.

My Mom surprised him with this cake from Amanda.  It was quite the hit with all the army guys.

The Colonel gave the kids a souvenir

Colonel Price presenting my mom flowers

He was given about a million mementos during the ceremony.  He also received a letter from Governor Herbert and President Obama.

This is the Utah 2 Star General of the National Guard.  General Tarbet and my dad have been friends and he was kind enough to come down on his day off to be there.

Harlo, Karen, Paul, Sharleen
Cael, & Halle



My dad's family is so awesome to support.
 Bart's family, Karen, & Bonnie



Sharleen, Glen, Dad, Clyde, & Virginia

This picture hangs in the head quarters.  My mom's dad is sitting on the front.  He served in both WWII with the Navy and then enlisted with the Nation Guard and then served in Korea.  I wish I could get a better photo of this.

This picture has my Dad and several other Nephites in it.

We found Casey's Grandpa Smith's name on the wall.  This wall only had the name of the soldiers who serve in each War for the National Guard.  My Grandpa Earl wasn't on here because he was drafted into the army.  So basically these are the people from Nephi who enlisted in the Guard before they were drafted.

Wrestling Camp....

Cael had the opportunity to attend a three day wrestling camp at Delta High School.  This was his first time going to anything like this and we really didn't know what to expect.  There were a lot of High School age boys there so the younger boys kind of got lost in the chaos on the first day.  When I took them on Tuesday I asked the Coach in this picture if he would help them and for the rest of the camp he kept an eye on them and made sure they were getting help.  Without him I think the camp would have been a waste of money so thank goodness he was willing to help them one on one.  It turned out to be a good experience and I'm glad we sent him.  Cael has really started to love wrestling and it's exciting to see him grow. 

Cael, Kaden Ercanbrack, & Cooper with their favorite Coach.

Cael doing a takedown

New York Yankee's 2012...

I've mentioned before that Cael has been obsessed with sports for the past year.  Baseball was no exception and he loved every minute of it.  He was good to practice and has improved every game.  Dr. Rosenbeck and Casey coach his team, the Yankees, and I helped in the dugout with the batting order and the caged animals... I mean boys.  For the most part they were a great group of boys (when they weren't hanging from the dugout) and had a lot of fun together.  The good thing with city league is Cael has a chance to meet kids that go to the other school.  He made some good friends and was sad to see the season come to an end.



Casey, Tyson Memmott, Jimmy Rosenbeck, Wesley Nielson, Conner White, Cael, Taylor Cowan, Jackson Stewart, Dr. Rosenbeck.  Front, Jaxton Painter, Breyer Wright, Cooper Blackett, Stratton Brown, Tanner Davis, & Odey Jeffs

 

The Team Manager...Braxten Blackett





They have done well all season so we were hoping they would play well in the tournament, but unfortunately it wasn't their night and they lost by one point to the Mets.  Cael had a great game with 2 good hits into right field.  He has been working on his catching and throwing all season and prefers to play 1st base.  They rotate the boys threw positions and some of the boys were struggling with over throwing to first base.  Rosenbeck put Cael between him (the pitcher) and first base being played by Wesley Nielson.  Cael wasn't happy about not playing a base but went out to his position.  During the last inning a pop fly was hit to the side of Cael.  Next thing i know Cael runs towards it, jumps up, and catches it!  I couldn't believe it, he then had a good throw to Wesley on first base to get out the boy who was running back from second base.  Double Play!! I was one proud momma and couldn't help but scream!



Casey and our Team Manager Braxten who was padded up in case of a line drive....he is so funny!

all business..

The Yankees had its share of injuries.  During their first practice Jackson let go of the bat while swinging and hit Tanner in the nose.  He ended up breaking his nose and needing stitches.  Then a few weeks later we were playing in Levan where Cael took a line drive to the eye.  He didn't start crying until he saw me and sat in the dugout for the rest of the inning.  I was worried he was going to be scared of the ball, but he went right out the next inning and had a good hit to left field and then played 1st base afterwards where he made some good plays. 
He was disappointed it didn't leave a bigger bruise....boys!?!