Camping with Grandpa and Grandma

My dad grew up in Payson and his family would go camping up Payson Canyon all the time. So he took us up there while Matt was out of town. The kids LOVED going out in the raft!!!
Tay and Oakley enjoying roasted marshmallows.
Parker likes his extra crispy!!

I am so glad we were able to make it up there this year. It is so beautiful and quiet. We slept great and really enjoyed the time with my parents!! Thanks Mom and Dad!!!

Amazing Article

Check out this article about our Bishop/Neighbor and his wife. They are amazing! Also the article was written by our neighbor.

Deseret News Bountiful couple finds fresh challenge in the Wasatch 100

Things to come!!

I promise there are posts to come! We are still getting used to 3 in school, 3 doing homework, softball, my church callings, Matt being out of town.....we are just plain busy!! Posts will come soon:)

School's Back!!!! Yay!!

School is back in session and we couldn't be any happier! The kids have had a great summer with alot of adventures, but they are ready to go back!

Parker is going into 4th grade. I was trying to help him pick out his clothes last night and mentioned that he should wear a certain pair of shorts that are "cute". Parker set me straight by telling me, "Mom, I don't want to be cute! I want to look COOL!" My bad!

Taylor is in 2nd grade. She is so excited that her classroom is upstairs! I guess that's how you know you have it made when you are upstairs!!

Oakley is starting Kindergarten and couldn't be more ready. This girl was made for school! She loves the excitement that going to school for the first time brings. She will going in the afternoon. If she had is her way, she would go all day!

What do you think?

I enjoy reading blogs on Deseret News. What can I say? I am a blog freak! I have a neighbor who writes a blog for Deseret News and so often I am reading his or other blogs on there. One of them is a "Mom" Blog. Today I read hers because the title interested me. It said"No More Slumber Parties". Hmmm. Really? The world is that bad? I am very intrigued so I read her article and then read the comments readers have posted. The consensus? Most parents are not doing sleepovers anymore. They feel that too many "bad choices" , "problems", or even "molestation" can happen. So parents now opt for "late nights".

My son (8) has a friend (9) who has late nights all the time. Parker even had one last night at this kid's house. Late night for him was 9:30 p.m. because he has a bball camp at 7:30 the next morning. Parker has had sleepovers before. He has camped out in our neighbor's back yard too.

Taylor (7) has had sleepovers too. She had her first one when she was around 3 or 4. My best-friends daughter spent the night at our house. Since then she has had a few more.

Oakley (5) has only had sleepovers at the grandparents.

So what is the right choice when it comes to our kids? They were o.k. for us to go to as kids, but the world has changed so much that we can only trust ourselves and not other families? Should they only be allowed to sleep over at grandparents? Do we not allow them to go while they are younger, but allow them when they are teenagers? Or do we never allow them and think of sleepovers as the past and late nights as our children's future? I am really curious to know what you "my friends" think or believe. I have to say I really didn't have a problem with it before, now I am starting to think late nights are the way to go.

Bear Lake

Bear Lake!!! How fun right!?! Well a week before we went, my parents and I had been talking about going on a camping trip together. I was only able to find a spot at the Idaho State Park in Bear Lake and we decided that we would go the following week for 4 days 3 nights. The next week my dad informed me that he would not be able to go, but my mom (who was sick) said she would still go. She packed up and then called me a few hours later to let me know she couldn't make it! So it was just the kids and I!!! We left and made our way up there. It was quite the drive since we had to go to the Idaho side!! Parker and I set up our camp and then we went down to the beach. The water was SO warm! The dogs loved it and so did the kids! That night the dogs slept great! I was so worried that they would bark all night at the creatures, but they didn't . Bella even slept in Parker's sleeping bag with him! The next day we spent at the beach again. It was hot, hot , hot. Later we played card games in the tent, but could not cool off! We were dripping!!! There was NO shade anywhere down there! Not even under our shade tent! So we decided we were done and wanted to go home. I know. It's sad. Only 2 days instead of 4! We started packing up at 7:30 p.m. and Parker said "Mom, we are never going camping again without dad!" I agree! We totally take all he does for us for granted!! We made it home about 11 p.m. (thanks to 1 lane traffic on the freeway!!!) My cold shower never felt so good! Oakley and I are sunburned, but it was still alot of fun!! Next time I will go with Matt, on the Utah side:)

Family Reunion

We had our Peck family reunion a few weeks ago. Lots of fun!!

The kids did relay races in the 105 degree sun!!!

Craft time for Parker!

Oakley loves to get her hands on glue!

Tay making her craft! It was a yarn picture of Grandma Peck!

We had so much fun visiting with family! My dad comes from a family of 10 children, and a bazillion grandkids! We had fun doing crafts, games, eating potluck, and visiting! I am glad my children get to make memories with their extended family!