Gotta love those rocks

Hello to any fellow rock climbers! Yes, it is true. Only 5 or so years after buying all of our rock climbing equipment we actually got it out of the bag. I was only slightly embarrassed when I had to remove numerous tags before I could slide my rope out of its shiny black bag. Shoes...not a smudge of dirt on them. All was in tip top shape. You see, Troy and I took a rock climbing class about 5 years ago and loved it! I bought him all the stuff for an anniversary or birthday (some sort of celebratory occasion). After the class ended, we never went again. After a few months we were too scared that we would kill ourselves. We couldn't remember if the knot had to go left or right through the gripper thinger. Also couldn't remember which clicker went through which loop. All a bit too complicated for us. Thus, the 5 years of storing our various items. But ALAS, some friends took pity on us and invited us to join them. They thought we would actually be an asset to their little outing. They had no idea how totally useless we truly were. Nevertheless, we managed to get a few shots of us looking stellar. Can you use the word "stellar" when talking about rock climbing? Again, an obvious beginner at the sport. Still like it though.

Here we have the girls checking out the various angles and hand holds on the rocks.

...or maybe just seeing if the rocks will hold them up.

Aeva thinks she may be strong enough to lift the rock up on her back.

Here we have Ms. Gracie climbing the wall. I am still now sure how she does it without using her hands (thanks, Zac).

This is actually a pretty impressive shot. Gracie is hanging from a small cliff and doesn't look the least bit concerned. On the right we have Aimee. She got the highest of anyone. My idol.

Lunch, which consisted of whatever the kids could find in the backpack. They look pretty happy with craisins and gummy bears.

This shot is a bit blurry due to the high speed in which Maddie climbs.

Maddie looks to have the potential of a professional climber. Following in her mother's foot steps.

Here I am acting as "Ms. Boule." I am glad I don't have to wear a harness on a daily basis. Too "sinchy" if you know what I mean.

And finally, me! Thank you, Troy for making me look official. In this picture I am 800 feet above the hard, hard ground below. Good thing we had a camera with a very powerful zoom in lens or we wouldn't have been able to get this lovely shot.

Sorry, no pictures of Troy. He took the day off from climbing. Maybe next time.

The Bee and the Bear (Not to be confused with the Birds and the Bees).

This summer we got to go to our annual Bee's game. This is a picture of us riding the train (the girls true #1 reason for wanting to attend a Bee's game). Basically you stand in line for 45 minutes (Literally. I timed it). Then you hop on this tiny train with a bunch of other people and go for a 3 minute train ride around the outfield. The girls must love it. We keep doing it. Funny, I don't have any pictures of Troy on the train, hmmmm. Oh yeah, he was sitting in the shade and actually watching the game. Now I remember. He is eternally indebted to me. Then again, I get to see all the happy faces. I guess I am indebted to him. Thank you, Troy, for the opportunity to ride on the Bee Train. It is a past time I will always remember.

Now for the #2 reason to attend a Bee's game. Mascot stalking. Another favorite of my oldest girls. Aeva is still not impressed with having fuzzy Bees and Bears get anywhere close to her. Usually we only have one mascot to stalk. On this lucky night there were two! Oh the excitement! Yes, that is the Jazz Bear. I wonder if he recognized us from the Jazz games. We stalk him there too.

Aeva and I on the train.
And yet again, the train. I am getting pretty good at taking picures of us all by myself. That skill will come in handy.

We finally caught up to the Bee. "Hello, Mr. Bee. Thank you for stopping in the middle of a crowded section of people. That made it possible for us to climb over 100 unhappy people to get to you." It was a pleasure and an honor. We will do it again.

Go Bees!

Sensei Darby

Anyone recognize this sweaty girl? If you do, you should now be calling her Sensei Darby. Yup, she has completed her black belt in karate. She can now go on any date (when 16, of course) and be fully protected. I would suggest that no boy attempt a "move" on Darbus (unless she likes you). Said boy could lose an appendage. I am a proud aunt once again.

Cammie will not appreciate this picture but I had to take it. She is having issues with having to braid Darby's sweaty hair. A true motherly moment.

Why are there so many.....

We were driving home from Sunday dinner a few weeks ago and saw this...(if you look closely you will see two of them).

I immediately began to sing,

"Why are there so many
songs about rainbows.
And what's on the other side.
Rainbows are visions
but only illusions.
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told
and some choose to believe it.
I know their wrong
wait and see.
Someday I'll find it.
The rainbow connection.
The lovers,
The Dreamers,
and me!"

As soon as I finished my beautiful solo I began to wonder...how do I know that song? Why do I know every word of that song? Who taught it to me? I have narrowed it down to 3 people.

1 - Kermit the Frog (I vaguely remember him sitting on a log with his legs crossed).
2 - John Denver (I believe he also sang with Kermit the Frog on several occasions).
3 - Lavar Burton (from the show Reading Rainbow. You know, the black guy that read you books on TV).

Anyone else know that song? Where did it come from? Why can I sing it all the way through and yet I don't know all the words to "God bless America?" I sing that song and I often end up with the mountains running into the oceans instead of the prairies, and I just recently learned that the oceans are white with foam and not home. Which would make absolutely no sense and yet that is how I have sang it for years. At least it rhymes.
I am known for mixing up titles, stories, names, etc.
For example:
The black tap dancer named Sammy Sosa (everyone else knows him as Sammy Davis Junior)....
Anyone ever heard of Handicap Jim? (I thought that was the name for Tiny Tim - think Christmas time).
Dear me. How do I make it through life?

Balloon Festival 2009

Another great year at the balloon festival! We decided not to go up until Sunday morning. You know, less crowds, easy parking, and all of the cow deposits had already been discovered and stepped in by someone else. All in all, a much safer trip for the fam.

We must have really, really liked the Energizer bunny balloon. Got lots of photos.

Here are some of the other balloons. By the time we got there most of the balloons had flown off. It was hard to get a picture with all of them together.


My camera was malfunctioning. We had to try numerous times to get any photos taken. Oh well, I guess you get the idea. Do we look hungry? We were about to head home for some yummy sticky buns! Hmmm, maybe I need a sticky bun right now! Too bad it is so late. Don't want any of them landing on my hips. I will have to show some restraint and eat a celery stick (with yummy cheese whiz on it. He He).

Toad Party

Maddie took golf lessons this summer. At the end of the two week class they got to have a Toad's party. You know, the party where they give you a $5 gift card to the arcade and then by the time each of your children have played "a few" games you have spent an additional $20. AND the real treat is that each game spits out tiny little tickets so that you can buy a fabulous prize at the end of your visit. So, here are the results...

Fabulous! Don't you agree? 2 pair of dollar store glasses for only $20! But the smiles... priceless! By the way...I have no idea why there are not pictures of Maddie. It was her golf class, after all. Oh yeah, Aeva stole Maddie's glasses from her. Now I remember. What a good big sister she is.

And the cycle continues...

Yes, school has begun again. Maddie is now in 2nd grade.

Ms. Gracie has started afternoon Kindergarten. A true blessing as this allows her to sleep in and me to only have to get one child ready at a time.

Aeva, though all pretty and ready to go will be staying at home with her loving mother. Don't tell her. She thinks she is doing everything the other two are doing.

Happy 405th Month Birthday, Troy

Troy and I got a fabulous idea from one of our favorite blogs. Happy 26 month birthday to Aeva and happy 405 month birthday to Troy! You are both getting so big!

Thanks Matt, Karen, and Baby Noah! What a great idea for our little blog.

Steak anyone?

Anyone ever eat at Texas Roadhouse? One of our favorites. Where else can you get an awesome steak, some yummy rolls and anything else you want? Well, Maddox is another favorite for pretty much the same reasons. Yummy food...we are there!

We were also lucky enough to get some plastic cowboy hats just because we were cute (or lucky). Any guesses about who has the most abundant (biggest) head in our family?

The girls thought the hats were better than Christmas. They haven't taken them off yet. In fact, when we got home they started decorating them with flowers and had a small Hannah Montana concert. I will send out invitations for their next debut. Watch out Dark Horse!

My camera wasn't quick enough with its 10 second delay but Gracie's hat actually fit all the way over her face. I tried to get it in a picture but she got it up before I was able to. Time for a new camera. Do all digital cameras have such a wonderful delay feature? Maybe I paid extra for that.

A little rope, a little candy, and a little spit...awesome

Ever have a party and get a gift that you put in your pantry for several months because you aren't sure you want your child to remember they have it? Well, Troy was home the other day when we had a little play date. The kids were walking around aimlessly when Troy said, "why don't you guys play with this?" He comes out of the pantry holding the "candy necklace kit with over 300 pieces!" All of a sudden there was a new sense of purpose in their little eyes.

Well, at least Maddie and MiKelle look to have a purpose. MiKenna just looks like she would like me to stop taking her picture.



Gracie is always up for a pose.

How can a loving adult say no to those little faces? So, after a half hour of chitter-chatter, decorative patterns, and knot tying we had several necklaces, bracelets and watches all ready to be worn, licked and eaten. Oh the memories! How I loved my candy necklaces as a child! I would eat at it all day long as it continued to make my neck more and more sticky with its sugar coated candies. Eventually my skin would actually begin to shimmer from all of the sugar that collected layer upon layer. It is those memories that gave me the power to say "yes." Yes, little children... you CAN open that box with 300 tiny pieces of candy. Go, live, enjoy!

Gateway Guppies

Anyone else take their kids to the Gateway for a little water activity? Most of the kids are simply running around in their clothes. You know, a spur of the moment thing that some children get to participate in. I just sit there and shake my head. I think, "what are you going to do with that child in 10 minutes when you have to take them back home? You have no towel. You have no dry clothes. How far away do you live? What a stupid, stupid choice you have made." My children are actually in their swimming suits. Let's just call it a little feddish of mine. I don't like sitting in wet clothes. Something about wetness, sitting, and chappiness that gets me irritated. At least they aren't naked. A few years ago we randomly ended up at the Gateway and when Maddie saw the fountains she wanted to get in. She was only 5 or so at the time so I took of her clothes and let her run around in her underoos. Then I heard someone refer to her as Brittany Spears and the fun was over. I have learned my lesson. Only run through the fountains in your underoos when no one is looking. Otherwise, suits are a good idea.

Don't ever look down the hole to see if water is coming. You will be blinded. Good thing Gracie was quick (and has two eyes).
Aeva was fine until the water actually touched her. Then she would only go out when the water had stopped. We have a cautious soul on our hands. Oh, and yes, she is in only a diaper. Maybe I didn't learn my lesson after all. Live and learn.

Airplane Picnic

Well, we finally participated in our annual Airport Picnic a few weeks ago. This little "outing" consists of getting a wonderfully fattening hamburger from the Burger Bar in Roy, driving to the Ogden Airport play ground, stuffing ourselves full, and watching the kids play. So far no one has been hit by an airplane so we continue to go each summer. We usually get to see planes land and take off, and there are always a few sky divers jumping to their deaths. Good stuff.

This is admittedly not the best picture but, if you look closely, you can see airplanes in the background.

For some reason, this beautiful August evening was particularly chilly and I being the wonderful mother that I am didn't think to bring any jackets. Thank goodness for other mothers who DO remember such things.