New Callings....

Reed: Elder's Quorum 1st Counselor

Natilie: Relief Society 2nd Counselor

Taylor: Beehive Class President

Torey: Stake Primary Choir

Jake: Stake Primary Choir

Needless to say we are feeling a bit overexposed...

In the Quest...

to become the most decorated Cub Scout in the history of mankind, we set out to earn the Conservation Merit Badge. The reason having less to do with conservation and more to do with the cute little panda on the patch. Since our yard is a desolate wasteland right now, we chose to tackle the fishing and bird section. Anyone catch that pun? (tackle - fishing) Anyone?

So we loaded up the truck and went to the Adventure and Learning Park pond. We even caught a fish. It is pictured below. Look hard, it's kind of in the middle. We are catch and release fishers because a certain someone with initials JRT cannot harm any living creature. In fact he was yelling at the ducks all night to leave the fish alone. Reed will have to find a different hunting/fishing partner if this keeps up.
So with that little teeny fish we fulfilled our requirement and were able to go home.
Wishing us better luck next time.....

Steel Days....

Steel Days has come and gone and with it summer is half over. Torey and Jake ran in the kids fun-run along with some of their cousins. Torey came in eighth place, which we didn't think was too bad considering she was just coming off of Strep throat. Jake did a little better and took fifth place in his age group.

Here he is with his spiffy new trophy. Reed claims that he only has one pace, but he showed him.
After the parade we took the kids to the carnival and they rode a few rides. Not so many this year as we didn't pre-purchase the tickets. We won't make that mistake again. Easton came with us, although he was on a ride when this picture was taken.
Later that evening we went to Grandma Glenda's for her annual party and fireworks show. It was a great time. We love spending the night with all of the cousins playing games and having races. Little Brett also led us in the Pledge of Allegiance which was probably the cutest thing I have ever seen.
Taylor and Torey are in an age category all their own so Trent was kind enough to run with them.
Right after this race, Reed decided to join, and let's just say after clipping a small boy, running into some chairs, and barrel rolling out of a major fall, he is feeling like he has just been in a car accident. This is only Reed's second year joining us, so he didn't really know any better. Next year will be better.
Thanks Grandma for a fantastic time!

Ladies Night....

Last night I went to see "Eclipse" with some of my best friends. Caroline and Alisa really stepped it up a notch and made these awesome t-shirts for us. We started the night at the quilt show, then dinner at Zupa's, and then the movie, and lots of talking. There isn't much better than a night spent with those you love.

Fourth of July weekend...

We started our 4th of July weekend with the traditional breakfast at my dad's fire station. The food was good, the company was better. We then went and got our hair cuts by the best beautician around, and then on the way home from that we stopped at an Insta-Care and had two of the three diagnosed with Strep throat. Good times. Later that evening we traveled to Thanksgiving Point, to watch the best fireworks show around. The wind decided to make an unwelcome and quickly turned into a tempest. It was crazy windy, and Reed offered me his sunglasses to protect my contacts from all of the dust. Lucky for me, I was wearing them when a fiery ball of firework shrapnel hit me in the eye. Because of the wind, the fireworks show quickly became a firestorm of burning cardboard. It was intense. The blankets were burning, the kids were screaming, babies crying. I think it was one of the best shows I have seen, or worst. Anyway, the show was short, due to the wind pushing the fuse or something, but it was still good, and quick, which I was thankful for because of the wind.

On Sunday, Reed and Taylor went to church and then we all went to Grandpa Mark's and Grandma Debra's. We took our leftover fireworks from John Adam's Day and let the rest of them off. It was a fun time. As you can tell from the picture the kids look horribly ill...

Monday we watched the Patriot, which Reed firmly believes should be required watching on every 4th of July. It really makes you think about the sacrifice those poor people made for us, and in turn makes you eternally grateful.

Lady Liberty!

Happy Independence Day!

John Adams Day...

For John Adams Day this year we had to travel back to the UC and light our fireworks. Word on the street was that the Battalion Chief was afraid his town would start on fire, and that his kids would become Burn Camp attendees in the process. So, I took them back to our summer home and let them play with matches and lighters, as this is the only day of the year it is allowed. Niki and her girls were kind enough to join us. We snacked and lit fireworks and had a great time celebrating the declaring of our nation's independence. We were sorry that the wind decided to invite itself, as it made it a little harder to light our fireworks. This is why we went through one and a half boxes of matches. Other than that it was a fantastic time. Next year we may have to have it at our new home, if we get permission that is.