At the Lake with Uncle Dave...

More pictures from the lake.  We got a new tube--since tube wars were SO fun at Lake Powell, and we need another way to hurt people at the lake!  We took Uncle Dave & kids to try this baby out!  The verdict?  I'll pass--it jarred my back & I had a MAJOR wipeout that really hurt!  The rest of the kids, Todd and David--well?  They LOVED it!  (I am really a wimp at heart you know!)  Check out some of these pics!

TPing...

Because we have teenagers--I'm quite sure we deserved this.  And because we have teenagers--it was SO fun to wake them up in the morning to go out into the hot sun and pick it ALL up (especially the confetti--which the pictures don't do justice to how much confetti there actually was)!  Oh the joys! 

Roosevelt Lake!...

Todd's cousins Mark & Debbie let us take a little vacation to Roosevelt Lake & stay on their beautiful houseboat!  We had Sooooo much fun!  I can't get enough of the lake--and the houseboat just makes it that much more convenient to play a few days.  Here are a few pics of our fun time:

Twas the Week Before School Starts...

I'm ready--and I think the kids are too! This poem is a little tradition--Enjoy!...

Is it time yet???

'Twas the week before school starts, and all through my house,

There was no rest for the weary--namely me or my spouse.

The new backpacks were hung by the back door with care,

With Mom and Dad hoping Aug. 11th soon would be there.

The children weren't spending much time in their beds.

Visions of video games danced in their heads.

And mom in her sweatpants and I in my cap,

Couldn't remember the last time we had a nap!

When in the family room there arose such a clatter,

I rose wearily from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away from my sight children flew like a flash

I didn't do it" I heard them say in a mad dash.

When what to my wondering eyes should I see,

This HUGE MESS staring back at me!

Someone must be responsible--this is so lame!

I yelled and I screamed, and I called them by name:

Hey ABBY, Hey JOSH, come here ASHLIE SUE!

Yes EMIE, and ERIN, and JACK come here too!

From the front room door to the downstairs hall,

Clean it up, clean it up, clean it up ALL!

I'm tired of this house always being a dive,

If it's not cleaned in five minutes, you might not be ALIVE!

Your Mom is too tired, and your Dad is worn out,

Torturing parents is what summer is about!

So we are hanging in there, just one more week,

It's peace and quiet, and solitude that we seek!

So parents everywhere--it's a call to UNITE!

Let's get the kids back to school--

and then we'll

PARTY ALL NIGHT!!!!!!

24th of July...

This year, for the 24th of July we went up north to Snowflake to go to the 24th of July celebration.  We decided it would be fun to celebrate the 24th where it wasn't 120 degrees, and we were not disappointed!  The weather was absolutely beautiful, and it is so fun to celebrate a Mormon holiday in a mostly Mormon town!  We had so much fun!  This is Todd on our first night at the cabin--when we got there there was this horrible LOUD noise coming from the pond out front of the cabin.  We figured out that they were bullfrogs--sending out a mating call or something--but no one could stand the awful noise...  Anyway, Todd set out to do what he LOVES to do at the cabin and HUNT!  I heard him shooting the air soft gun & had to go up and take a look for myself.  He picked those frogs off one by one & we had a quiet night!  Too funny!  Even Ashlie & Jack got in on the fun!  Awww...poor little frogs...R.I.P!

The other reason we went up to Snowflake was because we heard that they have a great arts & crafts show during the 24th celebration that draws hundreds of people--and we thought it would be fun to take some of our stuff and do a booth for Old Jerusalem Treasures.  Todd & I sat down there all day on Friday, and it was fun to talk to people and hang out together!  Saturday was super busy, and we feel like it was a good showcase for the store.  However, I left that morning & didn't realize that my camera didn't have a memory card so I have NO pictures except for these few!    I have to tell you though, we got rained out on Saturday, and it was like a few sprinkles then a torrential DOWNPOUR!  We really weren't prepared for it--so all of the wood was getting wet & we had to hurry up and tear down our booth & load the stuff in the truck before it was all destroyed.  I can't tell you how grateful we were for our friend's the Tippetts, who happened to be sitting & visiting with us when the rain started.  They were kind and gracious enough to get SOAKED while trying to help us get our stuff out of the rain & into our cars.  We really can't thank them enough!  You guys ROCK!  It was a great day--and we sold a bunch of these, so it was a success!

Meanwhile back at the cabin--this looks like safe fun play doesn't it??  Erin was in charge here...good times!

 Saturday night there was a good old fashioned rodeo--it was SO much fun!  I had forgotten how much fun a rodeo is!  We used to go all the time when I was a kid, and my sisters used to ride in them.  Because of all the rain it was a muddy, mucky mess out there!  That didn't stop our boys however from being a part of the cow chasing!  They were out for the $80 whether moms liked it or not!  Check out all these kids whose parents let them go out into the mud & chase a poor calf!  I bet that is a memory they will have all their lives!  If you must know--Abby & Josh sat this one out...I'm not as nice as those moms & told them they would have to ride on the roof back home if they went out into that mess...

 We'll definiely be back next year & I promise to get more pics next time!  Family--if you have pics--send them to me!!!

Big Ideas...

My big idea for the summer was to have the girls each cook one dinner a week for the family so that they could each work on a Divine Nature value project--and learn to cook at the same time.  As with most big ideas I have--this one worked better in my mind than it worked in the reality that is my every day chaotic life.  However, Emie learned to make sloppy joes, and Erin learned to make lasagna (the hard way--not out of the freezer aisle) and I even got this picture of Erin and her finished product to go in her little scrapbook that she can someday put together of her value project for YW in Excellence after she cooks 9 other meals (to add up to the 10 hours) someday!  See--it's all worked out in my mind...too bad there's so much other junk crowding the good stuff out every day!  Oh well, cute picture anyway--and her lasagna was good too!  Love you girlies!

Reason #181

That I WILL miss having a precious 2 year old:

Because what could be more ADORABLE than this baby?

Old Jerusalem Treasures...

We opened up this store in April, and let me tell you, it's an interesting time to be in the retail business, especially the religious aspect of it.  Opening the store has been quite a learning experience for both Todd and I.  We have had so many different reactions to our store in the mall.  Most of them have been positive, however, I think that some of the things we have heard are just so interesting, I wanted to write them down so we can look back at them and laugh in a few years from now. 
First, you wouldn't believe how many people come by the store and say angry things about the "Jews".  Most of them are young people, and it's crazy how "anti-Jew" they are.  Where are they getting this from?  We kinda think it's funny that they think that Jews own the store just because it says Jerusalem in the name, like that's all there is in Israel are Jews--hello?  Almost everything in the store is Christian in nature--including most of the window displays.  I guess they just think the Jews are trying to make money off of the crazy Christians.  Whatever.  Pay attention to your kids--and ask them their attitudes toward "Jews"--I wonder what they would say?  Do they know about the Holocaust?  About Hitler?  About what these people have been through?  If not, take the time to tell them--you might be surprised how little they actually know...I was.
Second, you wouldn't believe how many people are so blatantly "anti-Mormon".  We had one guy after seeing a bust of Joseph Smith made from olive wood on a wall with sculptures of the Savior, say, "I can't believe someone would put THAT MAN on a wall with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ".  Like he was some sort of human vermin or something.  We have also had people who find out the employees are LDS and walk out of the store all together.  What is that about?  Do you ask what religion the person who owns JC Penney is before you buy something--I mean really?  Something I find interesting is that some Christians sure don't have a very Christian-like attitude when it comes to Mormons.  It's very sad I think.  We are LDS, but in setting up the store, we put a lot of thought into making the store very friendly to every religion.  You can find Christian, Catholic, Baptist, LDS, Jewish, even Muslim items in our store.  In this way, we think it resembles the feelings we had while in the Holy Land.  People from every religion live there, and worship in their own way, and yet find ways to live in peace and get along with each other.  Sometimes, I realize there are conflicts, and there is certainly much to disagree on when it comes to doctrine and the like--but we are really shooting ourselves in the foot when we only see the bad in a religion, any religion. 
Third, when you are born and raised in a religion, and it's the only religion that you know, it's really hard to talk to people that are in a different religion when you don't know the language.  Yes, we Mormons have our own language--it includes words and phrases that others wouldn't have a clue about, like "mutual", or "lengthen your stride" etc...  I could go on and on, and so could you if you think about it.  Todd came home one day and says, "What is the rapture?".  I had no idea.  We had to google it and learn about it since he had so many people who would come in and talk to him about it.  He, and the employees have been making an effort to learn the "lingo" of other religions if you will.  Along with being respectful of other religions, I think it also helps to make an effort to learn all you can about them.  It helps to try to understand people, and where they are coming from.  We have actually enjoyed that aspect of the business, and learning that there are MANY good, God fearing people from all religions out there!  That is a good thing--(even if they hate Mormons)!
Fourth--what a nice thing it has been to see our friends and neighbors at the store!  Thank you for your support, and your kindness!  It has been fun, especially for Todd, to have a business where people can come in on a HAPPY day and talk and visit!  He was so tired of only seeing people at work when someone had died--and it was under such sad circumstances.  This business has been a breath of fresh air I think for all involved.  Although the economy isn't the best, we are holding our head above water, and hoping for a good Christmas season like every other retailer out there!  Hope to see you there--we sure have some fun stuff!

Playing Catch Up...

Man, it's been a busy few months over here!  Summer has FLOWN by, and I haven't really been able to catch my breath, much less sit down and blog!  I decided to stay true to my goal this year (see that post HERE) and "CHOOSE" the good part this summer.  Instead of worrying about whether the house was clean all the time, or whether I had taken enough pictures, or blogged every day, I let some things go, and I think we were all better off!  Sometimes with this blog, I think I am too apt to be in "compose" mode--always thinking of what I can blog about rather than what is actually going on around me.  This summer I wanted to focus on my family, and I think I accomplished that.  That being said, I am SO ready for playing catch up & getting this blog back on track.  As I look at what I blogged about this summer, I realize that I failed to document some of our favorite memories, and some of my thoughts and feelings that went along with them.  While I think that sometimes I spend too much time on this blog--I hate that those memories may fade away if I don't write them down somewhere--and I am NOT a journal person, so those thoughts need to be put here.  The next few posts will be catch-up posts, about our summer, and all the things I hope to remember about my kids and the fun we had this summer!  Starting with our awesome summer sunflowers that Abby planted again this year & boy did they GROW!  Love those sunflowers--they are hearty flowers!  Enjoy...

Missing you...

Came across this picture today, as I was reading my sister's blog.  We were in Utah with the kids earlier this summer, but for some reason, I don't have a copy of this picture.  When I saw it today, I just had a little pain in my heart.  My girls don't believe me when I tell them that someday, their sister will be their best friend.  When you're growing up, your sister is sometimes a pain in the butt, and a little annoying, especially your LITTLE sister...like Wendy.  But when you're all grown up--your sister is anything but that.  And you LOVE her--and you miss her like crazy--especially when she is over 1000 miles away, and you know her life is hard, and that she struggles.  I wish I could be there more often, and stay up late, and talk, and give her a hug, and eat chocolate.  And oh man, I wish I was nicer to her when we were growing up!  Trust me girls, the time will come that your sisters will truly be your best friends!  Love you Wendy, & boy do I miss you!Hang in there!