Taking Time to Catch Our Breath

This is our breather or catchup week. It was time to catchup on laundry, cleaning, shopping, and sleep. 18 loads of laundry all washed, dried, folded, and ironed. It was time for a breath and take the kids for a fun craft at Michael's Craft. This week was their final Passport to the World craft to Brazil. They were able to make masks and snakes. They dug right in and each created their own mask without any help. Jewels, glitter, feathers, buttons, and plenty of glue.

Glue Dots.. Check it out how easy it is to glue the jewels on.

What should they look like? Oh, I can do that.



Make the snakes with pipe cleaners and beads.

Am I Scary?

It was a great break from running errands

Weekend Vacation: Lagoon

The kids have been planning this part of our trip since the day we left last year. they have talked about their favorite rides and what order they planned on riding them. This year the park was a little more crowded, but not enough to keep the kids from riding what they wanted.

The first ride we rode was the Kontiki Boat. Surprise !!! Ryder was tall enough this year to ride. check out the smile could it get any bigger?

I am Big!!!

He loves riding the cars. Rylee & Reganne discovered that this would be the last time for them. Their knees where up to their chins as they rode around.


Riding the train and checking out the animals.

Rylee, Flat Stanley, and Ryder

Dave and Reganne waited to ride the log flume in Pioneer Village. We found a shady spot behind the ride to wait and watch. Ryder climbed the fence and tormented Rylee.

Soaking wet, but who cares!! I rode the big rides with Dad. She rode the Log Flume and Rattle Snake Rapids with Dave.

We really need to visit the Dentist. Between the two girls they have six wiggly teeth.

Old favorite... Puff The Dragon.

New favorite...The Tilt a Whirl.

They wore out and made their dad sick by riding 5 times in a row.

Last Ride... Merry Go Round

Could they be more alike. We gave our seats up to kids looking for seats. Ryder & Reganne were not going to let us hold onto them. It required balance to stay standing.

The day was over and it was time for dinner. A quick stop at Subway and Walmart for outfits to go home in. Ryder was asleep before we left the parking lot and slept until it was time to get up for the flight home @ 7:00.

It was a great weekend vacation and everyone is worn out, but planning is already underway for next year.

Weekend Vacation: This is The Place State Park

It was time for another mini weekend vacation+1. This year we decided to try something new and visit This Is The Place State Park. It has been years since either Dave or I have visited the monument. One of our zoo trips we parked in their parking lot and thought this would be a fun place to visit. After checking it out on the internet it would be a perfect day trip. Our +1 Day on Friday was set to go. The day started really early for Dave & the kids as they caught the early flight @ 6:18am to meet me in Salt Lake. After a quick breakfast we were off with a promise to the kids if we got done early we would play at the zoo also.

Main Street

Petting the ox.

She was so fascinated by all the animals and constantly touching them. However, she was mostly fascinated by the tail and wanted to stand behind them. The pioneers were constantly reminding her not to stand to close. Lucky for her nothing happened.

Pioneer Chores...Milking a cow.

Doing the laundry.

Panning for gold...fools gold that is.

The Tiny Train ride.

Pioneer crafts, flour sacks, yarn bracelets.

This is the Place Monument

Wow, we were there all day. There was still so much to see. We hit all the crafts and demonstrations. It was a great place to visit and might become a must do. The kids were so excited to have grandma come and play.

Everyone was tired and wanted to cool off and swim.

Where has the time gone?

I was caught in a time warp on Thursday night. I was invited to attend the Journey, Foreigner, and Night Ranger Concert with Julie Wheeler. It was at the Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy so we flew to Salt Lake and made a night of it. We found our seats and started people watching. This crowd was interesting to say the least. All ages, sizes, and shapes were there. The most amazing thing to see was the concessions offered just like a sporting event.


Night Ranger was the first one up. They sounded just the same as the last time I saw them back in the 80's. They still jumped around the stage maybe they weren't as old I thought.


Journey was the last group and they were awesome. If you couldn't see the stage (like me) the big screens had all the action. The lead singer was amazing his range and sounding like Steve Perry and then changing it up for newer songs. Even from a distance you couldn't tell the difference.

Concessions Kettle Corn, Cotton Candy, Snow Cones, and Beer. What a combination.

The only thing stranger was the crowd. They were pretty wild.

We had a great time and enjoyed the music. However, 5:00 in the morning came really fast for Julie to catch her flight home. I waited for Dave and the kids to arrive and start our fun weekend.

Saturday Activity: Michael's Passport to Fun

After so much activity these past couple of weeks what is one more thing. We decided to try Michael's Passport to Fun Activity making crowns and shamrocks for England & Ireland.

Reganne so carefully painting and putting jewels on her crown.

Ryder with the sparkly yellow glue. I can do this all by myself.

Rylee working hard on hers.

I am in the presence of Royalty.


They did this project all by themselves. I sat back, watched, and relaxed in a nearby chair.

It was a great way to end the craziness from the past couple of weeks. We are gearing up for another weekend of fun and another vacation.

Happy Anniversary ACW

We have such a great daycare and this week they celebrated their 16th anniversary.

They decided to have a party for all the kids and their families. It was a afternoon full of snow cones, rides, and face painting.

Ryder... Heart and sunflower

Reganne.. Vampire's Bride


Rylee... Butterfly

Ryder and swings

He wasn't so sure he wanted to be on the ride.

Reganne, Rylee and Jacy

We are cool we don't need to hold on.

Ms. Dianna

Wow look at her go. This picture might be good blackmail. Are women our age supposed to be able to do this? Go For it!!

If the smiles were anything to go by the party was a great success.

Pine Valley Camping Trip

The day finally arrived for our camping trip with the Wheelers to Pine Valley. It was a great time to leave the valley and head to the mountains. All week it was so humid with scattered rain shower that the cool mountain air was a relief. The kids were excited to be outside and play without anyone telling them to get out of the dirt. The only thing we had to watch for was other campers driving by.

Ryder and his trucks.

Reganne & Dacoda listening to the radio and dancing.

Dinner time with hot dogs and hamburgers.

We had a few showers while getting the food ready.

Blake, Dacoda, and Dave...Roasting Marshmellows.

What campout would be complete if you didn't roast marshmellows and try to make smores.

Rylee & her smore.... word of warning don't use the jumbo ones unless you want alot of marshmellow mess.

Reganne trying to catch butterflies.

Ryder... I don't want my pants to get wet.

Everyone hiked down to the small lake, played in the water, and scared away the fish. We had a great time and survived the rain. Everyone was talking about next years campout. That means the trip was a sucess.

More Fun with Cousins

It was a great week full of activities and sharing with the cousins. We went swimming at the Rec Center, day trip to Las Vegas, Cars 2 Movie, Poppers, and lots of playing together.

Uncle Dave handing out the poppers. What do we do with them?

We throw them?

Cool they make noise and make the girls jump.

Reganne, Mater, and Rylee

Ryder & Mater

This was Ryder's first time at a movie theater. He was so excited to have popcorn, M&M's, but why did the movie take so long to start. He love Toy Story short story. He kept asking where Queen and Mater were. Finally, the show started and he was in heaven. He made it 3/4 of the through before he fell asleep. He wasn't happy about missing the movie.

Slumber Parties

One of their favorite parts was having slumber parties each night. They could outlast the adults no problem. They must have played musical beds since nobody was sleeping in the same place.

It was a great week and we hated to say goodbye to the cousins, but they were off towards home. The kids asked how soon could we see them again?