the backyard

side view

The front

Yard picture

And the fun begins... part 2

Well it's been a while since we've done much in the yard. Mostly because it's been too darn hot!
We learned something pretty cool the last time we rented a bobcat. If you rent it over a long weekend, you get to keep it longer and still pay the price of one day! That's how we did it over the 4th of July so we decided to do it again for Labor Day weekend.
The people behind us got the back fence put up this morning. It looks so good! I am so happy to have it up for both privacy reasons and for the fact that it finally looks like we have a yard! YEAH! And what a big yard it is. I didn't realize just how big it is until be saw the lenght of the fence.
We are getting our sprinkler system in within the next week or two and the grass comes shortly after that. HOORAY! Of couse we won't get to enjoy it much this year, but I keep thinking about how nice it will be next spring. I'm actuallylooking forward to mowing it! We probably won't do much as far as trees and flowers yet, but soon enough.
Here are some pictures to give you an idea of what's happening here.

Week One

Well, one week down and we all survived!
Actually, I can't believe it's already Friday. This week has flown by pretty fast.

The kids like school, for the most part.
Kelsey is still getting used to all of her classes and getting up at the crack of dawn to catch the bus. And Zack had early day the first 3 days of school, so the past two have been a little rough. But all in all, they are adjusting well and making lots of new friends.


I've been asked by numerous people how our talks went on Sunday.
Humpf. Does that sum it up?! Ha.
OKay really, it was quite funny actually. They had two quick speakers before me. One was a return missionary that was explaining that he was only back for a while, I guess he was only 8 months into his mission-not quite sure what happened I was too busy shaking uncontrolably to listen, and the second was a youth recapping about the youth conference from the day before. Then it was my turn. The dreaded moment had come! I stood up somehow, but barely, and started speaking. I could hear my voice so loud it was scary. I was shaking so bad I thought for sure I was going to fall on my face. I moved the microphone out of the way (I truely hoped by doing so nobody would be able to hear me)and continued on introducing my family. I had it all written down on paper, just incase. But for some reason, I decided to add something. Well, because of this, I lost my place on my paper! I didn't want to just stand there looking for my place, so I turned the paper over, where I new I had a whole new paragraph (it was also the end!) and I just finished from there. It was actually a good move for me because it was only about 10 seconds long and I was done! The funny part was that the Relief Society was scheduled to sing after my talk, but they weren't expecting my talk to be over in less then 30 seconds, so it took them a minute to get situated. Once they were finished it was Mike's turn. He did a wonderful job, even got teary eyed, which of course set me off! Oh, I should mention, as he was speaking, I went down and sat by Zack. Zack had been sitting alone since Kelsey left him to sit with her friend in the back. Lucky her. Anyway, as I said, his talk was wonderful. But it was short too. Not 30 seconds short, but about 10 minutes short, which left about a half an hour of no talks! Whoops! Thankfully we have a very prepared Bishop and the Stake President was there as well, and they were able to fill the time up nicely. In our old ward we would have been heros. Sacrament was last and if the talks fell short we just went home early. Not the case here. Sacrament is first. Tough luck. anyway, I am SOOOOO glad that horrifying experience is over and I can almost guarantee we will never be asked to speak in sacrament again!
I guess since I am already speaking on church related topics I can tell you that Mike and I were called this week to be Primary Workers. Until they know what class we will be teaching, they will call us workers. We are very excited and know that this is a good place for us. I'm just glad we get to do it together!

Back to school

School days

Yesterday the kids both had their back-to-school orientations.
Kelsey's began at 3:00 and did not end until 5:30. Holy cow, that was an ordeal!
We had to go to each of her classes in order for 15 minutes for instruction about the school and the class. She seems to have great teachers and some really fun classes. Apparently her choir teacher is one of the best in the state and has won many different awards. He was by far my favorite!
We found her locker and met her locker partner and found out she has first lunch with her 2 best friends Cassidy and Kaisha. Exciting!

Zack's back-to-school night was much easier. We walked into his classroom and the teacher knew right away who he was. Strange, since we are new. But I could tell that she did her homework. She knew he was new to the school and told him how excited she was to have him in her class. She was very welcoming and sweet. She told us about all the fun things they do, and we are both very excited! I get to help in the classroom-that's why I am so happy! I love to volunteer in my kids classes. I think Kelsey would have a heart attack if I were to do anything at her school, so I will mostly focus on Zack this year. But little does Kelsey know, Cassidy's mom already roped me into helping with the bookfair during conferences! Hehehe!!!

It still seems strange to be going to these new schools after attending Sandy for so long. I miss my school dearly, but I think we will adjust just fine here too. I've never heard Kelsey talk so positively and be so happy. I know we did the right thing with this move.

A little stressed out

Well, it's definitely a Monday.
The day started out early. I had to take Kelsey to her school to get her ID card. We were told to be there early or wait for hours. We were there early and still had about an hours wait. It gave me a chance to look around at all of the kids and staff to get an idea what my daughter was in for though. Seems like a good school, good kids. We don't know many people here yet, but we did run into the few we do know. It's so nice to know some of the other parents are as worried as I am! Anyway, the ID card turned out cute, but they couldn't fully process it because I waited until last Friday to register her and they don't have her ID number yet. It figures. But it was a good thing that we went anyway, turns out she needed the card for the Stomp they held today. Yes, a stomp, a school dance/get together. I was NOT prepared for this. Of course she just HAD to go. So I dropped her off and told her NOT to dance with any boys. I think she thought I was joking. I guess I thought she still thought boys had cooties. O-dear. When I picked her up she told me that she danced with a couple of different guys! YIKES! Okay, stress. So not only is my daughter grown up and going to Jr. High, but she likes REAL boys, not just the teen-bop magazine boys. AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
I've decided to lock her up and home school her. Really.

So, that just adds to my stress I forgot to mention that happened yesterday. Well, first of all, I have not loved our new ward. We constantly have new members coming in every week. Everyone is new and nobody knows anybody unless they are their direct neighbors. So, I had been dreading Sundays up to yesterday because I always have to sit alone. Well, yesterday I decided to take a new approach, thanks to my friend Kerri (from my old school)and my husband, and I decided that I would approach someone and make a friend. It worked. I made a few new friends and actually had someone to sit with in Relief Society. HOORAY FOR ME!
Wait, this is the good news, back to the stress...
Okay, so in Sacrament we are listening to yet another newbie in the ward. (Wonderful speakers though) As I listen, I am thinking "wow, we are so lucky to have been over-looked on giving a talk. We've been here just over 2 months now and it seems like they grab the new people right as they move in! Good for us. I would totally say no if they asked anyway". Really, that's what I was thinking. So, after Sunday School one of the Bishopric called us in to talk to him. I figured we were getting a calling. Oh, no. Not a calling. We were asked to speak next Sunday in Sacrament! Darn my thoughts! AHHHH!!!! My heart is beating rapidly, and I'm thinking I just may pass out or worse-DIE. I flat out told him NO. I most definitely do not give talks. No way-no way-no way. Sorry dude. He looks at Mike and asks him what he thought. Of course he dosen't exactly want to, but wasn't about to say no. So, bishopric guy, I think his name is Ray, say's to me, how about if you just introduce your family and have Mike give the actual talk. Hum.....still NO! He begs and pleads and Mike tells me it won't be so bad. So, guess what? I SOMEWHAT agree. I told Mike that I MIGHT, only if he writes the talk, buys me a new outfit, including shoes, and is my back-up incase I chicken out. And if I chicken out, I still get the outfit. He agreed, so I agreed. WAHT HAVE I DONE?????
I guess check back next Sunday to see if I live though this. In the mean time, I have 5 days left to completely stress out about this. I may be hospitalized by the end of the week if things don't stop coming at me like this. One thing at a time. Geesh!

A week to go and SO much to do!

Whoa. Only one week left. Have I mentioned how sad I am that summer vacation is almost over?! I really, truely am NOT ready!!!
So I have been thinking about all the fun activities we have done this summer; Lagoon, Water Parks, Vacations, sleeping in, going on bike rides and long walks, rodeos, visits to Sandy, sleepovers, etc...and although that seems like alot, I have so many other fun things I want to do with my kids before they go back to school!

Yesterday we took a drive over to Antelope Island. That was an interesting adventure. It's a big island in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. Maybe it's not exactly in the middle, but it's located somewhere in the lake. Thankfully you can drive to it. It has lots of Buffalo that roam about. We were able to tour an old ranch while we were there. It dates back to when the pioneers settled here. It was a fun hands-on farm with tractors and old tools, an old house to roam around in-complete with bloomers hanging out to dry on the clothes line! We went in old cellars and sheep herders quarters, and even got up and close with some of those buffalo. IT made for a fun Sunday family day.

There's one activity checked off my list at least. We better get moving!

I'm not old enough!

Am I really old enough to have a daughter in Jr. High? Apparently.
Today we registered Kelsey for middle school. I can't believe this day has come. School doesn't actually start for another week, but I cried today. My baby is growing up so fast. Everytime I blink she is an inch taller. Yes, she is taller than me.
I have put off registering the kids for school until what seems like the last minute. But only because I LOVE having them home with me. It's been especially nice since we are in this new home in a new world. I really dread them going back to school. I am not finished having a fun summer!!!
So, the school is great. It's a newer school in the middle of corn fields of course. And the best part is their school colors are Maroon and Grey-good ol' Jordan High School colors! YEAH! They have a lot of different electives to choose from, which is so different from Mt. Jordan. She is most excited about the drama class. That was always my favorite class too! Maybe we are more alike than we think. Hum.....
I registered Zack this past week too. His school is a little older. It kind of reminded me of Sandy Elementary back when I went there. Kind of funny. I guess we were just spoiled with all of the upgrades after the fire there.
I have to say how fun it is driving to his school though. We pass a herd of Bulls, then there are the fields and right next door to the school is a big farm with tons of cows that graze at the fence! It's so different.
They will both ride the bus, which I am freaking out about, but will get over. Especially with gas prices the way they are. Neither of them seem to be nervous-just me! So, I am now a mom of a 7th and 3rd grader. Well, not really, I still have 9 days! Hehe.

River rafting

For those of you who know me well, you know that I am NOT a big fan of water sports. So, for me to go river rafting, well let's just say that's a HUGE step for me! This is a quick video of Mike and the kids in Idaho. I went 4 or 5 times so I figured it was okay to sit this one out so I could get pictures and video. It kind of looks and sounds like its raining but it's really not! The river is loud and the sun was glaring through the tree's making it look like rain on the camera. Oh yea, I forgot to mention-there was a huge water snake in the river. You know how I feel about snakes. I only had a small heart attack and cried only for a minute. But I was feeling brave and as long as I didn't have to get in the water I was fine. I even went again! Whoa.

A mini-vacation to Idaho

Awww, back to real-life. Sad.
We had the best time this weekend up in Idaho at Lava Hot Springs. The weather was absolutely perfect and the scenery was beautiful. We spent 4 days realxing by the pool, river rafting, camping, soaking in the hot mineral pools and enjoying family time together.
Mike's dad loaned us his brand new trailer(thanks!) and we stayed about a mile from the little town, Lava. Lava is a cute, but quaint, old-fashioned town that consists of a small grocery store, a few restraunts, an ice cream shop that serves square ice cream, a couple of souvioner shops and a river that runs right through the middle of town. It is a great thrill ride tubing down the river! They also have a huge olympic size pool complete with water slides and 50 foot diving platforms. It's a great place to take a mini-vacation. At night, when the temperature cools down, you can soak in the naturally heated mineral pools. They are so hot and relaxing, you can't help but sleep well.
Of course, we were curious about the square ice cream so we stopped in before hitting the hot pools. And, just as promised, we were served square blocks of ice cream! I just had to try the famous fresh Huckleberry-and it was delicious!
This will be one of those places we just have to go every year. It was close enough to home (only 2 hours) and had the relaxation we need along with the thrills. Definitely fun for the whole family!

Lava Hot Springs 2008