"Down and Derby"

Ryan (and I) had his first Pinewood Derby today. It was a fun learning experience. I learned a few things.

1. People take this thing seriously.

2. There is no way the boys did most of the work on the cars that were entered- but they had fun. (Ryan and Mark had a good time working on Ry's.

3. Ryan would have liked to have won!

4. Next year we are putting the weights in the front!

We had a good time. Ry's car wasn't super fast, but it was fun anyways. He also won Best Use Of Imagination. We had to choose 19 awards so the boys would each have one. I just hope next year it isn't on the weekend before the 4th of July, cause I want to be at my family reunion! We're heading there tomorrow.

Britain's Got Talent- Connie

What a cutie!

Britains Got Talent - A Star Is Born

Get your tissues out and watch these videos!

Zachy the sand monster

I gave kind of a false impression with the pictures of Zachary yesterday. This is what he really looked like most of the day. :)

To answer your question Sara, the kittens are doing great. I admit it, they are the biggest attraction around this house. We love to sit and just watch them. They are so cute. I love when they yawn. For being a dorky cat, Oli is a great mama.

Bear Lake = tons of fun and lots of sunburns!

We went to Bear Lake yesterday with my parents and siblings. It's my new favorite place! I LOVED IT SO MUCH! The weather was perfect, the water was perfect and the food and company couldn't be beat! We rented two jet skis for the day and that was a blast! I forgot how much I loved jet skiing. Mark and I had a couple of fun rides. Who knew Mark drives a sea-doo like a bat out of he**?! I love Bear Lake because the water is almost like bathwater. Mark kept saying his parents would love this lake. (Come see us Ehnat's and we'll take you for a day trip)

The kids were in heaven! We barely saw them. We had to threaten them to come in and get resunscreened! (is that a word?) Brynn and Madi floated around all day, catching up on their usual gossip. Kate and Tilly bobbed around all day, barely eating anything because they didn't want to come to shore. Another thing I love about Bear Lake is that it's shallow for a long ways so the kids can play. Ryan was the ultimate beach bum. His philosophy was to get on a tube and float away. He could have floated to the Pacific Ocean and he wouldn't have noticed. I am so glad he didn't get very sunburned. Zachy stayed by the shore for the first couple hours and then he got more and more brave. The waves scared him a little but by the end of the day he was covered in sand and getting way too brave!

Mark got the most sunburned out of all of us. The tops of his feet are scarlet. They are really bothering him. Kate has raccoon eyes and my legs are a little sore but we fared better than Don, my Dad, and Jonah. They all thought they could get a quick tan and they are dying today!

After we swam and ate all day we went and got ice cream and headed home. I can't wait to go back. I think we are going to go to Lava Hot Springs as a family next. It looked fun as we drove by. I haven't been there for years! It was such a great day. Today we are recovering. :)

Pile o' kitties

It's a long story but our cat Oli (formerly Oliver) had 5 adorable kittens today. We got her from my parents last year and she has been pestering us ever since. She is a nice cat, but always underfoot. I give my parents a hard time because they never get their animals fixed but this time, I am to blame. We always meant to take her (who we thought was a him) to the vet but hadn't made it when her belly started expanding(she is also a house cat so don't ever let your housecats out unless they are fixed.)Oops!

Brynn and Kate, thanks to their network of friends have found 3 homes for them and we just need to find two more in the next few months.

I have to admit it was really cool to watch them being born this morning. Brynn had a bed ready a month ago, and we got Oli into it and she produced 5 beautiful orange (like her) kittens. Birth is such a miracle.

They have all been named. Charming, Sammy, Kirby, Scamper and Pepsi. Mark named one Roadkill but Brynn wouldn't let it stand. That's been our excitement for the day.

Oh, and Mark drafted new teams at work so it was a big day for him and he is pretty happy how things all came down.

Grocery deal of the day

This grocery deal may end today so if you want some yoplait yogurt for .20 apiece, this is how. Albertson's has their Yoplait(all types) for 10/$5 and if you buy ten you are supposed to get free Orange Juice up to $3. The thing is, you don't have to get the orange juice because the 3.00 comes off automatically when you buy 10 yogurts, thus making them .20 a cup. My family has enjoyed this deal the last few days and Zachy has a new favorite food, the Yoplait Whips, which I like to think of as fluffy yogurt. They are yummy! So go to the self checkout and get yourself a deal! (A checker told me about this so I think it's on the up and up. :)

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

Mark celebrated Father's Day today by taking the kids to see the new Fantastic Four movie and we took a nice Sunday drive to see some new country. We mostly saw sagebrush and new homes being built, but it was fun to get out and drive around.

I am so fortunate to have a husband who is a great dad and I was lucky to have been born to a great dad. My dad and I have had our ups and downs but I would say right now we are getting along better than we ever have. (it helps that neither of us is depressed at the moment) My dad has always tried to be a good Dad and raised us to work hard and to love the Gospel. I am thankful for him! Mark's dad is great too! I need to remind him to call him. I would have liked to be in Wyoming today but we are camping with my family next weekend so we will see each other then.

It's been a busy weekend. Yesterday we had a neighborhood garage sale for a little girl in our neighborhood that is fighting a rare brain tumor. She is such a cutie and only 4 years old. It breaks my heart to think about her situation but it was so life affirming to be a part of this yard sale. People were so eager to help. We were getting garage sale donations even a few hours into the sale. Mark was great to watch all of the kids so I could stay there. I loved to see people giving of themselves so selflessly. People donated garage sale goods and food for the bake sale. It's so great that people supported this family so readily. People are good. The only downside was it was 90+ degrees outside and I almost roasted.

Friday we worked in the yard all day, pulling up rocks and chicken wire! from around our fence. What a pain! The lady that owned our house before had several dogs and put those rocks and wire around so the dogs wouldn't dig out, but it's been a giant pain for us. I can't wait to get our yard put in. Yippeee!

Here's to a great week! We have the Pinewood Derby in a few weeks so Mark and Ryan are starting to work on his car. Apparently, they take it really seriously around here. I heard there was a fistfight between two dads when my den leader friend Kathy was in scouts several years ago. Yikes!

Just cause I love my baby

Zachy has had a busy week. :) Click on the pic to see it better.

I will miss you Scrap Coop

I read Sherelle's blog this morning http://www.sherellechristensen.typepad.com/ and I was surprised to see the that she is selling the Scrap Coop. (it will now be Express the Moment) I worked there for 2 years and she has done such great things with the store and she and her mom Sheri were great to me. They both have talent oozing from their fingertips. I have lots of good memories from working there.

Star Valley- how I love thee........ :)

I went "home" this week while Mark was in Denver (wow that trip wiped him out) and I had the greatest time EVER! The valley is so beautiful this time of year and even though it SNOWED on Thursday it was a wonderful, recharging time. I usually always take pictures of people but on this trip I was so inspired to take pictures of the gorgeous scenery. For those of you who don't know, my Dad owns a sulfur springs in Star Valley. It's been called a mini Yellowstone. I soaked my feet in the hot water for a half an hour and it felt GREAT!

So many great things happened this week while I was there. I went to the Dr. and got on thyroid meds, got a wild new blond streaked hairdo, Zachy got his pictures taken, (I am thrilled with them) and more! I will post more later.

Thanks Amy and Mom for helping out with the kids so I could get a bunch done. My family is GREAT!

Brynn's first game

Whew! Brynn's first game is over! She was so nervous ( I remember the feeling I got before every softball game) about her first game. We practiced a lot and went over ever scenario we could think of but it was great to have one under her belt. Since she is one of the youngest on her team, she was really worried, but the game went great! I was glad she didn't have too many balls hit her way, and I was excited she connected with the ball when she hit so she could get experience. All in all, she had a hit and one walk. She played center field and mostly just watched. She was happy though! Ryan and Kate climbed trees and scared their mom to death, and Zachy kept stealing my Pepsi. (smart kid) Today we are cleaning up after a long weekend. Brynn plays again tomorrow and Mark heads out soon for his business trip. We'll miss him.

Busy Weekend

Whew! I am tired. We have had lots of company, lots of running around, and little sleep these past few days. Thursday my cousin Carrie and three of her kids came and stayed through Friday night. We did a lot of scrapbooking and running around.

Yesterday my parents and Bes came down to the temple and Amy and Don et al came for a day of shoppping etc. We got dinner at Quizno's and then went to a park near the "falls" and ate and laughed. It was a good day but by nightfall I was so tired I fell asleep in my jeans and didn't wake up until the morning.

Brynn starts softball tomorrow. I am excited for her but a little nervous as she is the youngest on her team and this is her first year. We have been practicing at night to help her as much as we can and she is learning fast! Mark signed Ryan up for soccer Thursday night so he is good to go. Kate opted out of soccer but is still begging to be in Gymnastics so we will see.

Have a great week!

Cute/Definitely Not Cute!

My adorable little nephew, Kadon and my normally handsome Dad!