Labor Day

We had a good time staying home for Labor Day weekend this year. I think we thought we were going to go do something really exciting, Chad even took some vacation days but we never really got around to making plans. But our last minute plans ended up being a good time!

We decided to go hiking. There is a good kid friendly hiking trail just a mile or two from our house, that leads to a waterfall. We made Craig and Kristi come along for the fun.

Our first sight of the water. Luke and Justin wanted to get close...this was their only option. Their dads are so funny...I was not a fan of this.

Blake and Savannah thought it was cool that we came across this cave.

Here is Craig and the kids at the top of the waterfall. Notice Craig pushed a stroller all the way there. I told them it was an easy trail, but it had been years since I have hiked up here so I was hoping I was not a liar!

Our view of Pleasant Grove from the top.
Blake at the bottom of the falls. By the time we hiked down this kid was soaked!
He couldn't resist the water.

Success!

To end the fun Blake and Chad camped out in our "backyard". Blake thought it was so cool that he and Chad got to sleep outside and Mom and Luke had to sleep inside. Yes, we are really adventurous like that.

Out of the Loop

Okay, I have a dirty little secret....I do not have a Facebook profile!! (gasp) This has never bothered me before. I get "invites" all the time from friends who are on "begging" me to join. I am just lazy...and kind of afraid that people will come out of the wood work that I am not sure I want to reconnect with. But Chad is cool like that and has a profile. So every once in a while I log on his account and check it out (never give me your passwords, I will use them).

Recently...okay today, I found out that even my Dad has an account!!! Seriously?? He is not the social type. He could care less what people are "doing right now" or would rather people not know what he is doing. I had to click the profile just to make sure it was him....sure enough he even has a handsome profile picture.

Then that leads me to questions...is my dad cooler than me...am I the last person on the planet over five who does not have a Facebook account?? What am I left to do? Join? Forget about it? Come to terms that yes, my dad, is cooler then me and has more friends? Wow, I'm not going to lie, kind of a blow!

Blake-san

Today Blake had his first Karate class and loved it! As soon as we walked out he said "I learned some sweet moves in there!" He could not wait to come home and show his friends how cool he looked in his new uniform. A few minutes later Chad and I looked out the window and noticed that he was giving "private lessons". This was too good, so I busted out my paparazzi skills and hid behind a tree and got these gems! Notice the one in the top left he is having her "break a board"...really a three ring binder! Wow, he did not even make it that far in his class today, but he knows it's coming up---Apparently, he had a really advanced student. So if anyone is interest in "private lessons" call now space is limited!!

Family Pictures

I have a love hate relationship with getting family pictures taken. I hate thinking about what to wear I start to over analyze everything!! Wondering if what I have picked out for clothes is too matchy matchy or if it does not go together at all. Then there is the day of, trying to make sure the kids are well fed, naps are taken and they are in the mood to cooperate. But I love getting the new photos up and the fact that they are done and I don't have to worry about doing them again for a few more years is a nice relief!

I was a bit nervous when I got home from this photo shoot thinking that we had been there an hour and half and I didn't have the feeling of "hurry get your one shot and get me out of here because my kids are having a melt down". I thought either these are going to turn out terrible because we were not paying attention to what was really going on or these are going to be great! Well, thanks to my friend Michelle at Rusty Bucket Photography they turned out amazing! Here are just a few of my favorites.

Splash Park

We made it out to the new splash park and had a blast! The boys loved it. I could not get them away...it even started raining on us and they were not leaving. We ended up being there for hours! I recommend taking your kids here, it a good change from the pool and the best part is that it's free!!

I'm...AMAZING

I have always wanted to make freezer jam...okay not always...but for the last two years. So the other night I busted out these gems! I used this fantastic "no cook" packet you mix with your fruit and sugar and tada!!! I was a little nervous how it would actually taste so I tested it out on Chad. The next day for lunch he got a gourmet peanut butter and jam sandwich and I have to tell ya I got rave reviews! It took no time at all...like 30 minutes max...and it actually tastes really good! My dad is going to be so proud he thinks I have zero domestic skills....I'm going to have to get him a sample.

Payback

I ended up pulling a few pranks on the girls at girls camp....which every cool leader would do right? A little ambesol on the cups never hurt anyone... I never got to do the "good stuff" I had planned because I was saving it for the last night...and it rained!! So they got off easy! I guess this has never happened to them before because they have been on a rampage trying to get us back--mainly nailing us with silly string every week at our activity, which turned into us grabbing the can from them and getting them--c'mon girls this is weak! The other morning I did wake up to find this:

I was a bit nervous when I got home at 10 p.m. and found about 20 of the girls from my ward hanging out in our commons area. I kept trying to spy on them but was too nervous to go outside. I'm glad this was all that was done. On Sunday they must have been afraid as to what might be heading their way and they all truce me and my partner in crime Shelly. I hope this is the end until next year at camp.