Boating at East Canyon

I know it is already the middle of July, but we just barely got the boat de-winterized a couple weeks ago and this is our first trip to the lake. This was also the first trip that we were able to have with two happy kids. They are finally old enough to enjoy the boat and not freak out about the life jackets.
We were going to go to Jordanelle, but we did not have the insurance info on the boat, so they turned us away, but only after they collected their entrance fee into the park. Anyway we took another hour in the car to drive to East Canyon, both kids got their naps in during the drive. It was amazing. The water was great temperature and the water was at max capacity. I have not seen the water level this high in years.

We had an amazing tube ready for this trip. It was the size of our car and had to be tied down on the boat because a huge air compressor took 2 hours to blow the thing up. Unfortunately the key word is HAD. We filled the tube entirely up at home the night before, not thinking about how as air temp rises it expands. Right as we got to the boat dock we the whole thing ripped apart, we filled it up a little too high for this trip. The water was choppy so it would have been a great time tubing. I have high hopes that we can fix it and go tubing next time.

We decided to knee board and wake board instead. We even got Trent to try, unfortunately I did not get my camera out in time to catch this extraordinary event. Thad went knee boarding for the first time and of course had to show off to the rest of us who could barely get up.

Annie and I both got up on wake boarding, even though I only lasted a few wonderful moments. I am determined to be great before the end of the season. We had a great day at the lake. Thanks Trent and Annie for coming with us!

Happy Birthday America!

We had an amazing Fourth of July Weekend, good food, good friend and family and a good time! To explain why we celebrate the fourth, we told the kids that is was America's birthday. Taylor spent the whole weekend singing "Happy Birthday" to America.

Friday evening, we had a pre-party where we put everyone to work helping clean up the yard, making the cake and decorations, and just enjoying spending time with each other. The kids loved it too. Nana brought over a purple porcupine sprinkler and a blow-up plastic pool. Add a little slide to the pool and we've got trouble.

Annie and I decided to make a two-tier stripped cake covered in red, white and blue fondant. In order to make the cake it took four days and countless hours, but it was worth it. We made our own marshmallow fondant, dyed the cake and decorated it ourselves. Plus the cake was delicious as well as beautiful.I can't wait until the next party to see what we can up with. I think Aiden has already asked for a Spiderman cake for his 5th birthday party, even though he has vowed never to have another birthday again. This is entirely another story, but somehow he is picked up that getting older is not all that it is cracked up to be.

For the last few years, I have banned having the 4th at my house due to the firework display that takes place. We have a tradition on making "box of fires" or "box of doom". depending on who you talk to, which includes dismantling the fireworks to create one large firework. The is great until a mortar shell or other large exploding firework, that is meant to shoot up in the air, ends up blowing up on the ground right next to the kids and hitting my neighbors cars or houses. However, this year turned out really tame. We had only one box of fire, and it was really nice, no large explosions. I have not looked out front yet, so who nows what kind a mess we have.

Thanks everyone for your help putting on this amazing party!

Daddy Day

Aiden did not have school this week, so Thad took the entire week off to spend with his son. They had a lot of plans which, unfortunately had to be post-poned due to my surgery. However, they did get to spend an entire day with Alan and Alexander in Park City.

Due to the rain they decided not to go camping, but went fishing instead. Aiden got a brand new fishing pole, compliments of Nana, for this event. They had quite a few bites but no fish to bring home, phew! I have no idea what to do with a fish if they caught it.

They also went down the Alpine Coaster, not the alpine slide. This is a new tobaggon style coaster. Thad and Aiden had to hold on tight as they went whizzing down the mountain on nearly 4,000 feet of curves, bends and loops. Aiden wanted to go again, he has no fear. This is a picture of Aiden and Alexander after getting off the Alpine Coaster.

It turned out to be a very fun day for the boys! Next time the girls want to come too.

Sewing Projects

Three years ago, I got a sewing machine for Christmas, but never used it (I did not know how). So last month, I started sewing classes and I loved it. My first project was pajama pants for Aiden and Taylor. I just finished both of their pants. Can you believe that I made these? I am so proud of myself!!!

Aiden picked out Transformer fabric and Taylor got Elmo. I was so suprised on how quickly they go together.

My cute little babies!

On Wednesday I am learning on how to make the tops. Also, Taylor's birthday is on Saturday and I want to make her a tutu. We will see how that goes.

The Beach

I love the beach and kids had fun too! Except that Taylor hated the sand, again! She stayed on the towels the entire time. On the other hand, Aiden was so busy. He was building sand castles, running away from the waves, occasionally getting his feet wet, and digging a big hole. Aiden running away from the waves. Everytime a wave would come, he would run all the way back to the towels. He wanted to make sure the waves would not get him.

At the beach Taylor wore her cover-up the entire time, but that night she would only wear her swimming suit and shoes to get ice cream. She is one determined child about her clothing.

DISNEYLAND

We went to Disneyland two days, luckily not in a row. The kids loved it. We got to go on a lot of rides too. Aiden's favorite was Pirates of the Carribean, which that ride scared Taylor, and the kids rollercoaster in toon town. Taylor loved seeing Tinker Bell, she refers to her as "Bell".

Trying to get that many people looking at the camera is impossible. Thanks Meg, at least your smiling.

Taylor loved Donald Ducks boat. She did not want to leave. Toon town is a great place for the kids to run around and play. All of us on Nemo's submarine. What a fun ride.

California 2009 - Day One

We had an amazing trip to California with the cousins. Aiden had spring break from Challenger, so we decided it would be fun for all the sisters and kids to go to California. Five kids under the age of 5 and a 12 hour drive to California, what were we thinking. Overall the trip went very well, and the kids loved it.

On the way down to California, there was a gas station next to a train and an army tank. Aiden, Jaxson and Taylor loved it. The only way we got back on the road again was to promise that we would stop there again on the way back.

Look at those strong guys showing their muscles!!

Conductor Taylor!

The first day there we decided to go to the park around the corner from the condo. The weather was amazing. I would love to move there!

Aiden, Alexander and Suzanne on the swings.

Taylor had a difficult time at the park. She hated the feeling of sand on her feet, so she kept her shoes on the entire time. Every few steps she would get upset. I would have to take her shoes off, wipe off her feet and put her shoes back on. We repeated this at least 5 times on the walk from this elephant to the slide. Oh, and she never leaves home without her phone and toothbrush, important accessories.

Boys and their clubhouse!