Pan Am

My son thinks he is a world traveler. At least domestically right now:) Parker flew out with my dad to St.Louis to visit my brother and his family. My SIL Rachel was so great to take Parker around and show him the sights. Parker had such a great time and didn't want to come back:) He really loved all the time he got to spend with his cousin Annalyn. Luckily school is in his life still so he had to make it back for class. He got a good taste of what its like to travel standby over UEA weekend. He went to Dallas, St. Louis, Dallas, Chicago, and finally made it to SLC in a first class seat! Lucky kid!

I can do hard things

Here is goes. Day 1 of my kick-off to a healthier, happier, well balanced me. Thanks Paige for telling me about it:)

What is it you ask?
Here is what you need to accomplish each day for 8 weeks.

1. Exercise 45 mins a day.
2. Drink 8 glasses of water.
3. Eat 2 servings each of fruits and vegetables.
4. Get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.
5. No sugars/white flour.
6. No soda, fast food, or junk food.
7. No eating after 8.
8. Write in your journal every day.(blogging:)
9. 15 mins of uplifting reading or scripture study.
10. Complete an act of service or random act of kindness.

Why do I love the challenge even though it goes through Halloween, Thanksgiving, and ends right before Christmas? Because it will make me a better person inside and out. And I get one free day a week:)

Check it out if you would like to at 8weekstoabetteryou.blogspot.com

What really matters.

My friend Emily posted this video and it really had an effect on me today. I often get caught up in being too busy. I work, do homework, clean the house, cook, do laundry, run the kids around, shop....the list goes on and on. How many times do I slow down and just enjoy the moment? How often do I look around at my surrounding and enjoy everything around me? No matter what your beliefs are, we all can believe in taking the time to make memories. Little snapshots that we will never want to forget. I know I want that with my family. I never want to forget what I have been blessed with.

Boy/Girl Party. I am too young for that!!

Parker is in 6th grade this year and turned 11 last Friday. Say what??
When did my little home skillet grow up to be old enough to have a boy/girl party?
Just plain crazy sauce I tell you. Parker had his close peeps over for a movie night. Hot dogs were on the menu straight from the fire pit. It was pretty funny to watch all the kids interact. They boys talked alot more to the girls than I remember boys doing when I was his age. His "girlfriend" Katie was there and is so cute! Cracks me up to even type that he has one:) We brought out a mattress that we were getting rid of, set up some chairs, and watched a movie under the stars. We served popcorn buckets with a box of candy. They seemed to have a really great time. Matt and I enjoyed every minute getting to watch Parker that night. He really is such a great kid. He works hard at school. He is so responsible. He rarely ever complains about anything. I really have enjoyed watching him grow up:)

It's back to school time!!!

How sad is it that my last post was about the end of the year!?! I fail at writing on my blog:)

We have had a great summer! We stayed up in Logan with Matt for a few days(we missed you Jenny and family),we had season passes to Classic Fun Center where we spent many days. We went to Cowabunga Bay, Boondocks, and played with friends. I started a new job at American Airlines. This summer has just flown by with lots of fun and exciting things happening!

Oakley is now in 2nd grade. She has one of Taylor's previous teachers and she is excited to have her friend Maddy in her class again. She is still not a morning person and struggled to get up this morning, but I think in a few weeks she will be able to get up easier. (Let's hope and pray!!!!)

Taylor is in 4th grade. She has a great teacher this year also. She doesn't have her two closest friends in her class with her this year so it will be interesting to watch her make new friends in her class. She was our most excited child about school starting! She could not wait!! I think it's because she is excited to see all the boys in her grade:) Yes, she is SO into boys!! We even had the conversation about shaving legs. I had to tell her she has a few years before that nightmare will start!

Parker, Parker, Parker. What to say about my 6th grader? He is my easiest child. He just plays everything cool. He has a teacher who is young and pretty which Matt and I found very funny since Parker picked her as his teacher this year. He has 3 out of 4 of his closest friends in his class. He said he hopes this year his teacher won't get irritated at him for being quiet like his last teacher did:) It's in the genes! And we all know not mine!!

I have loved the summer with my kids, buy I am glad they are now back in school. I love seeing them learn new things.

Part one of June

What makes the last day of school super cool? If your birthday is on that day! My sweet/crazy/funny Oakley turned the big 7 on June 3rd which happened to be the last day of school. Can't you see in her face below that she is super excited to be done with school??? She did have the coolest teacher Mrs.Buttars. If you went to High School with me then you just might know that cool chick!

Oakley was spoiled on her birthday, and the whole weekend! I made Hello Kitty pops for her class. She had not one, but 2 birthday cakes. My favorite was the kit kat cake. Super easy to make!!! She loves Justin Bieber (although she will never admit it in front of her brother). Our family spoiled her like crazy! Some of my favorite things about Oakley are: she is so loving, she likes to sleep in like her mommy, she always gives hugs and tells us she loves us all the time. She is a great kid! She had a friend birthday party at the pool and we were so excited that Matt was in town for her birthday!!

Parker and Taylor were also excited to finish up school and start their summer break. I can't believe that next year I will have a 2nd, 4th, and 6th grader. Ack! I am feeling like I should be old!

June has been a great month for us. Lots of change, lots of running around. I love all the exciting things that are in store for our family!!

Part two of June

I love when the weather FINALLY warms up and we are able to get out and enjoy what Utah has to offer. We took the kids up to Donut Falls for a hike. It was beautiful, but we didn't expect to see snow up there in the end of June!!! Only in Utah:) There was so much water from the snow coming down that it had flooded the trail. So we weren't able to make it up all the way, but it was beautiful!

Then we continued up the canyon to Silver Lake. The kids planned on doing a little fishing. Again, SNOW!! This time it was covering the path around the lake. Crazy stuff to see people wearing flip flops and sliding and falling in the snow. The kids had a great time fishing and I had a fabulous time catching some rays:)