Out of the Mouth of Babes

The boys and I were visiting Aunt Jamie to help her with some color deciding with the remodeling on their new place. Afterwards we decided to go surprise the Hatchs with a visit. As we turned onto their street Jack squealed and then said "I so excited mom! I really like Emily. She is my best. She is my best girl ever." He and Emily sure to have fun together! He also squealed when we had to leave, but not out of excitement.

Last night in the tub, I told our Captain to lay on his back float to get the soap out of his hair. He laid back and with a huge smile said, "Like Jesus get baptized!" 

Simple Moments : The Things that Matter

The last few weeks I've felt really anxious and stressed. Heath has been needing to spend several nights a week over in Grantsville working at the barn on their fodder project. Our dishwasher stopped working and my lap top had a virus and the optical disc drive is completely done for. Jack's preschool group was scheduled at our house and I had been facing a few hiccups in some projects I was workng on. And most importantly, we were trying to schedule a day we could go to the temple. Definitely ordinary things, not the end of the world, but I was struggling dealing with it all. 

Hind sight, I realize Satan was doing his best to stress me out and hoped that I would use it as an excuse for not making the trip into the city. I think he knows I have a hard time leaving my boys when I'm stressed and anxious.  

It was a blessing he didn't win that battle because I got to spend a lovely afternoon in my favorite place, with my favorite person. It gave me a glimpse of and reminded me why I want to win the war against that evil one. The material things, like a lap top, dishwasher, or having a cute craft for a preschool group, really don't matter. I shouldn't let myself get worked up over them.

However this place, this guy, and our handsome boys are everything that matter.

Snapshots of Summer 2014

While I'm playing catch up on journaling, I'm falling farther behind! So here's my attempt completely get up to date by documenting with just a few words, loads of pictures, and a few short video clips.

7 Peaks with the Reasch's. No Kids. Best. Day. Ever. with our BFFs.

Our first paddle pool day on the new lawn....

FHE playing baseball and doing Jack's favorite "tricks"

This pic captures the many tranquil nights we spent at the field, while Heath moved sprinklers. 

This happened just before school got out, but I love this one and want to remember it...(yes, even though it has to do with cows...:)

Ice cream with our wonderful neighbors the Winsor's. Jack loves playing with Hunter.

Digging in the sand with buddy Kason at the K9 for Alvin Fundraiser.

I spent a few days at girls camp and youth conference this summer. I love the youth in our ward. 

Crazy. Fun. Silly. Spiritual giants.

The Blue Park. Over and over and over.

Lazy afternoons. Escaping the heat.

Boating with the Jordan and Mandi Wheeler. Mandi has become one of my closest friends out here in Stansbury. Her little girl Oakley and Brock are 4 months apart. Fun times on the lake. Minus Jack screaming and shaking in fear when Heath put him on the tube.

I'm finding I love gardening...

I love to see the green

And yellow corn husks

And juicy red tomatoes

Yum.

Too many ulcer causing races down the drive way...

We had a lot of fun going through two boxes of otter pops...

Shooting hoops. Practically every day.

       

Bike riding and wrestling with Alvin.

"Helping" dad work

Summer 2014, you've been good to us.

Grandma Kristy's Zoo Party

Grandma Kristy invited all her grand kiddies to a day at the zoo with her. What a fun day for the boys! Jack was a little disappointed the giraffes weren't out and about, but the lions and elephants made him feel a bit better. The best part for me was seeing Jack and Brockster have fun with their cousins. 

All the little tigers...

Lil' B LOVED the carosel. Jack... not so much.

See ya later alligators!

Project Green Grass = Complete!

I think one of my most favorite moments of this entire year is seeing this...

turn into this...

And this view go from yucky clay-brown....

to come roll on me luscious-green...

Project Green-Grass took longer than building our house. We finished our sprinkler system over a year ago, but with problems with our water pressure we had lots of investigating and digging to do before I would have my day with the lawn mower. Spring came and went and still couldn't figure out why we didn't have enough water pressure, so I prayed for solutions to come. I had been craving some outdoor play space for me and my boys. Sounds like a silly thing to pray for, but I know Heavenly Father cares because after a new main line was installed we had enough pressure to run a sprinkler zone and the kitchen sink! 

After clearing our weed jungle, planting a few more trees, spreading compost, and a little more waiting this beautiful load pulled up in front of our house on June 9th...

 

We ordered with our wonderful neighbors The Winsors and practically had the entire neighborhood helping us lay 20 pallets of sod. Tara and I started at 2:30 and with everyone's help we finished at 9. I went to bed exhausted and overwhelmed with gratitude.  Grateful for the color green and being surrounded by caring people. 

Let the playing begin!!