back to school bash

Cousins, aunts+uncles, and grandparents gathered to celebrate going back to school!  Inspired by this family---we decided to have a "cafeteria fear factor."  Although I can't imagine any of these items being served in a school cafeteria, my girls and I roamed the grocery store filling our cart with what we imagined the most difficult things to swallow---

dragon fruit and spiny melon

chicken+waffles potato chips

seaweed biscuits

shrimp chips

goats milk (unflavored)

pork rinds

chicken, rice + vegetable baby food

tofurkey

marinated mushrooms

green olives

smoked oysters

pickled okra

marinated spicy bean curd

marinated cactus

creamed corn

sardines (in water +louisanna hot sauce)

Grandma Sally, Cameron, Dede and Randy!!!!

 THE WINNERS!!!!!!!!!
(looks like it will be just kids next year!)

a back to school white elephant gift exchange!
loved this!

LOVE all of these kids even more!!!!!!!
I hope they have a FABULOUS school year!!!

edge of sleep

"We can write down, and act upon, more of those accumulating resolutions for self improvement that we so often leave, unrecovered, at the edge of sleep."  -Neal A. Maxwell

There is so much that I want to do, learn, read, organize and experience.  Sunday I decided (for the 1,000,000 time) I was going to rise early this week (month....year) and begin my day.  I was motivated by books, goals and a desire for greater order in my life.  Yet, when my head hits the pillow at 12 or 1, instead of the 10 p.m. I had planned, I choose not to set the alarm.  Instead, I wake up with the sun...and my day begins.  I am studying the New Testament right now, and this message from Neal A. Maxwell was referenced (I love Citation Index from BYU).   So here it goes (the 1,000,001 time) I am setting my alarm tonight.   

Happy 70th birthday Papa!!!!

Bear Lake

There is nothing quite like a day by the water...

Bear Lake with friends might have been one of our very favorite days of the summer.

one end of this continent to the other...

This year our fireworks were experienced low to the ground.  We spent the 4th of July weekend at Bear Lake.  Although the fireworks were a bit less dramatic, the get away was just what we all needed.  We were there relaxing and celebrating with the Passey family.  Kelly recommended we see- Bandito Rides Again!  Although an unconventional activity for the 4th...it was hilariously funny!  We all (including the kids) LOVED it!  Sitting in the theater...filled with spectators wearing red.white.blue...it felt just right.

We love our country and were grateful to be part, in our own way, of a celebration that spans from "one end of this continent to the other."  Before we settled in, to rest for the night...we filled the backyard with our own illuminations---so grateful for the land on which we live.

an escape

We are headed north for a get away...

away from the valley heat and to the beautiful vistas of Bear Lake-

grateful to be with wonderful friends.

Along the way we explored a natural spring off the road.

We live in a BEAUTIFUL state!!!!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

institute

We attended the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute this summer!

It was Kate's second year and Ellie's first!

It was SO FUN having them together!

Ellie loved every second of it…Kate would like it better if it was held fewer days :)

Ellie said after day four I think…

"I wish school was like this!"

They were both stretched and encouraged.

I admire their bravery…trying new and different situations and making the very best of them!

We love ISSI!

father's day

He spends everyday helping others...

we are the greatest recipients of his hard work.

We adore him...

and are always happier when he is home with us.

His favorite part of father's day...sleeping in!!!

And a few cat naps in the afternoon!

Some say he is outnumbered in our house...

but really...he is man enough to balance it all out.

We love you Big D...happy father's day!!!!!!!!

his phone book

My dad has a love for personal history.  I inherited that from him.  He laboriously wrote his life history, which he completed in 2007.  It took him years to finish it.  Although he prefers the comforts of his own home, he loves to reach out to friends and family, generally by phone.  On Father's day, as soon as he realized he missed Annie's call he grabbed his phone book, to call her back.  As he sat at the table looking up her number it reminded me of the many times he called Granny...or one of his sisters--- as soon as he heard their voice he would say, "hey kid!"



From his history, the day he became a father-

"It was about one in the morning on January 11, 1971 when Mom woke me up and said it was time to go to the hospital and check into the maternity ward.  The hospital was only a few blocks from our house and we got there in a hurry.  Mom was in labor for several hours and then our little "Dolly" Carin was born in the early morning hours.  I can remember Dr. Miller coming in the waiting room and informing me that I had a baby girl.  They did not have sonograms in those days to tell the gender of a baby but neither Mom nor I had expressed and preferences as to a boy or girl.  We were delighted to just have a child.  Mom was just glowing and I couldn't stop smiling."

Thanks for writing this for us dad....
I feel so lucky to have you as a guiding influence in my life.
Happy Father's day!

nine

the last day of school
the yard back in bloom
family and friends gathered for dinner and a backyard movie

lots of reasons to celebrate...
but you turning nine years old tops the list

happy birthday sweet Kate~