Fun at the Fountains!

We went downtown to Gateway yesterday with Wendy and her kids. When I told Jesse we were going to shop, eat lunch & play in the fountains, he laughed and said, "Oh you're joining in white trash Monday at the fountains?" Real funny! We had a great time there and didn't feel the least bit white trash! It's a good time for the kids and I was able to get a couple of things while we shopped, which was truly a miracle, because if you know me - I HATE to SHOP!

Pioneer Day Weekend Fun!

On Friday I worked all day doing hair, and at the end of the day I found out that we were heading out to Lagoon that night with Jesse's cousin Heather, her hubby Chris and their son Dylan. We had a fun time. Ty was worn out after the first hour, but Collin was going strong up until 11:00 when we finally left!

The Joys of Trees

We have a love-hate relationship with the trees in our yard. We love the shade that they provide, especially because our backyard faces west. But, we also hate the mess and maintenance that they require. We have 5 Locust trees and 5 pine trees on our property! They are tons of work because they are so messy! I got a few pics of Jesse today climbing up the tree to cut down some of the dead limbs. I was totally scared that he was going to fall! He was an impressive little monkey though, and he managed to maneuver around the tree quite nicely! Good job Jess! The trees look much better!

I took these pictures from on top of our deck. He is at least 20 feet up here! In the picture below he was trying to figure out how to get down! Collin was covering his ears and when Jesse asked him why he said, "So I don't hear your loud scream when you fall." So Funny!

The boys came out to help Dad pick up all the sticks!

Summer Memories Part 2

Sorry, I warned you all that this was a possibility. A few more memories have come to me. I have loved everyone's feedback. Yes, it's true, I was a girl that was always looking to fall in love. Wasn't everyone always looking for love in the summertime? Jami Suggested that I should have named my summer memories post "Summer Love". I felt I needed to add these additional memories because this blog is somewhat of a journal/scrapbook for me (for all to read), and then we'll be done with this for now - regardless of whether or not I come up with any more. Maybe we'll have to do a fall and winter memories post as well...we'll see.

• Hawaii was where I went with all of my friends for our Senior Trip in June 1997! We had so much fun. We learned the hula (which I got the "hula award" for on the trip - not because I was good at it, but more because I was awkward and funny to watch while I was doing it.) We also went para sailing over the ocean, which was honestly one of the coolest things I have ever done! One of the highlights was when all of us were in the boat watching Kriste up above us para sailing and peeing 40 feet in the air into the ocean because she was freaking out! We also went on a cruise one night which is now known to all of us as the "booze cruise". None of us drank any alcohol, but we sure had a great time dancing among all the drunks as the ship went out into the ocean rocking back and forth, and the drunks were all falling all over the place. They were actually lucky we were all there! They needed some sober folks on board that night! Also in Hawaii, one day when we were laying out on floaties in the ocean (and frying our skin off -particularly Valerie), a large sea turtle swam underneath us. Amber & I decided it would be a good idea to try to "surf" on the turtle's back. Fortunately, we didn't get our feet snapped off. Another quick memory of Hawaii, was at Hanama Bay when we went to go snorkeling. We all bought bags of fish food to attract fish, like the good tour guides suggested we do. As we went into the water (about 2 feet deep I might add), suddenly swarms of silver fish started attacking us wanting our bags of fish food. These fish were not afraid of humans! They were literally jumping out of the water and biting at us to get the bags of food. As you can imagine, 20 girls screaming at the top of their lungs, throwing their bags of food at the fish and running out of the water! It took us a few minutes to talk each other back into going into the water to snorkel! We finally did and had more adventures with getting caught in the current and getting cut all over our bodies on the coral! Needless to say, snorkeling was not my favorite thing! I think back on some of the things I've done in my life and wonder how me and my friends are alive today...which brings me to my next memory...
• Train Tracks! I'm still to this day terrified by this memory. Two days before graduating from High School (so yes, we were technically adults, but not very smart ones...) someone had the idea that all of us friends should go to some train tracks and wait for a train. I can assure you that it was not my idea. But, of course I went along, I'm like a sheep baaa, baaa! There was an overpass that the train went over and we were all told to line up along the walls of the overpass and have the train pass by us face to face for the ultimate adrenaline rush. The train was coming and we were all about 2 feet from the train tracks that the train was about to pass us on, with our bums resting on a cement wall. The train approached us, honking the horn non-stop - I can only imagine what that train conductor was thinking. I remember thinking that we were going to be the tragedy on the news that night. "Teenagers die two days before graduating high school." The train passed right by us going extremely fast, and I just remember screaming at the top of my lungs and feeling my hair whip all over the place. It lasted a good couple of minutes and then the train was gone. We all looked at each other amazed and then cheered and screamed that we had accomplished this difficult task. Obviously we lived through it, and it truly was an unbelievable adrenaline rush - But I will never get over the fear that was instilled in me that night! Stupidity at it's finest!
• The Redwood Drive-In was the place to be on a hot summer night! I went there so many times over the years. I'm ashamed to admit it now, but I was guilty of sneaking in a time or two! We would round up a couple of trucks and fill them with tons of blankets, then a few of us would hide under the blankets and hold extremely still until we got through the pay gate. The best part about the drive-in was rarely the movies. It was watching all the people who came to the drive-in. And yes, if you were lucky that summer, you would have a summer crush to share a kiss with at the drive-in as well. Last summer Jesse and I went to the drive-in and Jesse knew the police officer doing security there and he told us we could go in without paying. Jesse is the most honest person I know, and he insisted on paying to get in! I thought that it was a funny change of events. I felt somehow that all those years that I had cheated the drive-in had just been made up for by my husbands honesty.
• Bungee Jumping was something I always wanted to do as a kid. I think it had something to do with the fact that I'm terrified of heights, and I felt it was a fear that I needed to conquer in my life. And so it was, when I was 13 years old, I saved up all my money that summer to go bungee jumping at the tower that was conveniently set up in the Raging Waters parking lot! My parents were less than thrilled as they signed my life away on the release forms, but they were great, and always allowed me to reach for the stars - literally. I was a nervous wreck up on the jumping deck as I looked down below, but as I jumped, I felt like I was free as a bird! It was so much fun! I have no desire to ever do it again, but I'm glad that I did it when I was 13. I still hate heights!
  
  What are some of your summer memories? I would love to read some of your summer stories!

Summer Memories Through the Years

Last night I had a moment to myself after I put the kids to bed (Jesse was still at work). I went outside for some calming fresh air and just took in the beauty of a summer night! As I sat there, I began to remember all the wonderful summers I have enjoyed so far in my life. I am going to jot some of the memories down for posterity's sake. Feel free to skip over this post, it's just a lot of reminiscing with myself.

• Raging Waters was a huge part of my life every summer for several years growing up - probably from about 11-17 years old. My mom got our family season passes to help fill our summer days while she had to go to work. When I was younger, we would ride the bus all the way up to Raging Waters (this thought sounds crazy to me now, but we never thought twice about it then)- until I was old enough to drive us all up in my cherished "silver bullet" Chevy Malibu. (That car could be a post in and of itself...) Oh, the joys of "RAGE". Anyone who was anyone had a season pass there. Jami was usually by my side as we would watch all the hot older boys play volleyball. Every single one of my friends had a season pass and we all fell in love at least once during the summer thanks to a Raging Waters connection. At the end of a long day at Raging Waters I would go home and admire my tan/burn that I had received from wearing no sunscreen (which has since caused freckles and age spots) and look forward to going there again the next day!
• Lagoon has been a part of each summer as well! I fell in love with a kid named Nick at Lagoon the summer between 7th and 8th grade. I also had my heart broken at Lagoon by a different Nick (who was my "steady boyfriend") on 9th grade Lagoon Day, when all of my friends informed me he was riding the rides with another girl. Sad. I have many fond memories at Lagoon with family and cousins! When I was little I won a life size stuffed animal dog at Lagoon by throwing a ball into a milk can. My cousin Adria cried until my grandma basically paid off the Lagoon worker to let her win a dog as well. I love you Adria! Wendy bought me a season pass to Lagoon a couple of years ago and we had so much fun taking Collin and Cambree on all the kiddie rides! Good memories!
• Slip & Slide! When I was little, my mom rounded up some massive piece of plastic (probably like 10'x20') and staked it down in the backyard, put the hose on it, and we (and all the neighborhood kids) would all slip and slide away! She did this several summers in a row. My dad always freaked out that it was burning the lawn, but my mom didn't care about the lawn. My grandma always said, "I'm raising kids, not a lawn", to my grandpa who was also a lawn fanatic! My mom followed my grandma's advice and always let us kids just be kids!! Good Times!
• The Trampoline offered many fun summer memories with friends and siblings! We would sleep out on it and look up at the sky and watch for shooting stars. While we were sleeping we all would slowly slide down into the middle of the tramp and would all be laying on top of each other when we woke up in the morning. We also enjoyed putting the sprinklers under the tramp while we jumped on it!
• The 4th and 24th of July had many memories. I fell in love (again) on the 4th of July at the Murray fireworks! "Don't get me started" Anytime there are fireworks involved there is a lot of fun involved! Amber and I worked at a firework stand one summer! We enjoyed Baskin Robbins ice cream as we baked in the firework trailer.
• The Mountains are my favorite place to go in the summer! I love the fresh air, green pines and blowing quaking aspen trees! I also have so many memories of going to girls camp in the mountains. The testimony meeting around the campfire at girls camp was always one of the highlights of my summers during my teenage years. Other fun memories include many family picnics up in Big Cottonwood Canyon and overnight camp outs in my grandparents camper! I also enjoyed a fun trip with my friends to Jackson Hole when I was 16. We went white river rafting and had the time of our lives in the mountains!
• Bear Lake was a favorite for several years with all my girlfriends and the beloved Susaeta family! Kriste's grandparents have a cabin right on the lake, and Kriste would invite a few of us up every year over Raspberry Days. We had so many good times at the lake! During the days we would play on the lake, lay out, and enjoy Carolyn's yummy treats. At night we would get all dressed up to head out in search of boys! We had so many good laughs. One night, very late I might add, Kriste told me that the boy I liked his middle name was Bonnie. I know this will not sound funny to anyone else, but I'm sure Kriste is rolling laughing as she reads this.
• Road Trips in the BMW (Big Mormon Wagon, but my dad preferred to call it the BMW). We had many family vacations to Disneyland, St. George, Yellowstone, etc... that all 8 of us would pile in the station wagon to enjoy a long ride. This was of course before the seat belt laws. We had many-a-breakdowns. I recall one in particular, I must have been around 10 years old. We were on our way down to Lake Powell with the Alvord family. The wagon broke down in the middle of no-where. Some hick guy came along and volunteered to tow us! This was a scene right out of a movie. Our station wagon (with all of us still in it) was chained to the back of an old pick-up truck, going 70 miles an hour with all eight of us screaming at the top of our lungs. We were sure we were going to crash & burn! At 10 years old, I was ahead of my years, and yelled out "I knew we should have said a prayer!" My family still teases me about that to this day!
• I got Engaged on June 5, 1999. It was a strange engagement. Jesse proposed to me in the car, in the Trolley Square parking lot, while it was pouring rain outside! He had planned on taking me out to the Star Observatory, but with the rain, it didn't quite work out the way he had planned. But it didn't matter - More Summer Love - and this one actually lasted!

Well, that's enough memories for now! I love the summertime and look forward to many more fun memories with my own kids! I'm sure I'll think of a million more memories that I'll want to write down, so there may just be a part 2 to this post, unfortunately for all of you.

Independance Day Fun with the Fam!

More good times at Wendy's pool. The pool was such a great addition to our family. Here is the father of this crazy brood - Steve Clegg, survivor of all things. Cally & Me
Hot hubby & Baby Ty
Mom, Collin, Cambree, Kassidy & Brad
Brian with his girls Emelyn (in his arms) & Grace
Ty & Hailey
Mom & Grandma - They are the best aren't they? My grandma June still works out several times a week. She just turned 93 in June and is expecting her 100th great grandchild this summer! She is the ultimate role model on how to live your life to the fullest, and my mom Deanne is following right in her footsteps!
And last, but certainly not the least, Wendy - the "Lifeguard"

A Friendly Barbeque

Devin & Kristi hosted a great barbeque for all of my friends & their families, and also some oldie but goodie friends - the "Bingham Boys" from high school. It was fun to mingle with everyone. I really didn't get that great of pictures but, Jami is so photogenic, isn't she?Leesa is such a trooper! Is that baby girl here YET? Due any second!Lance and Jesse with our two boys watching fireworks. Some more friendly faces. Amber and cute Bella.

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Last night the Vincent's invited us to go with them up the canyon for a picnic. We were happy to get the kids out and enjoy the beautiful mountains! I meant to get a picture of their family...but it never happened. They are the cutest family, their link "Jaci & Jason" are on my blog. Jason has been such a good friend to Jesse. They were in the Police Academy together and have now worked at WVC together for 6 years. They also have played soccer together for the past couple of years. We love their family and had fun with them last night (even though Collin was feeling a little under the weather.) Thanks Vincent Crew!The river was running so high and fast! We freaked out Collin a little bit by telling him not to go by the water because he might fall in and get swept away. I guess that scared him pretty bad, because he kept obsessing about it. He was terrified to even take this picture because he thought he'd fall in the river, and "go down the waterfall and die" (The waterfall idea must have come from Dora...or something?) - We assured him we would never let that happen!

Happy Fathers Day!

I just wanted to put on here a little tribute to the Fathers in my life. I am so blessed to have such a great husband who is an AMAZING FATHER to our two boys. He is so cute with them. He is so good at getting on their level and playing with them and getting silly with them! I love you Jess, and I am so GRATEFUL that I married you. You are the best Dad to our kids!

I also need to say that I HAVE THE BEST DAD ever! My dad is awesome and I am so lucky to live right next door to him so that he can keep my yard up to par. My dad is so great with all his grandkids too. He and my mom are always putting their lives on hold to entertain and babysit grandkids and I want them to know how much that means to both me and my kids. I know my boys love their Grandpa Steve so much! And I LOVE YOU DAD!

My Father-in-law, Rick, is also a great father and grandfather. Even though he has lived across the country for the past several years (He is finally living back here in Utah), he always made an effort to be to every major event he could. He was here for both my boy's blessings, even though he had to travel across the country to be here. Grandpa Rick is so cute with all the kids. They LOVE their Grandpa Rick! - And Jesse and I have been so thankful to Rick for helping us out in so many ways! WE LOVE YOU!

Kick Off to JUNE!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Peace! I'm not sure where Collin learned this little gesture, but he did this pose anytime I asked him to smile for the camera. Summer Lovin' Baby!
Aahh...Summertime!

To celebrate the gateway to summer we pulled out the old (half deflated) kiddie pool for the boys to play in. They had so much fun splashing in the water and spraying the hose!


Collin watering the flowers with the squishy water ball

Ty learning to walk... He thinks he's so awesome! (And I think he is too!)

First Swim of the Season at Wendy's Pool!

Wendy had all of the preschool friends over to her house to swim after preschool the other day. The kids had so much fun! The water was so nice and warm. I enjoyed it as much as the kids did. I was the last one out of the pool! This was Ty's first time in a swimming pool. He absolutely LOVED it! Yes, it's true, I am the white trash mom that puts her baby only in a swim diaper! I thought we had a swimsuit for Ty, but I couldn't find one, so here he is in all his glory. I'm sure we will spend many more hours at Aunt Wendy's pool! Thanks Wend!


Cutie Pie Collin!