Summer Parties

So every summer Tahition Noni where James works has a fantastic summer party in their beautiful gardens. James took the kids to it last weekend and they had a blast.

There are tons of bouncing things for the kids to play on.

Jada and Logan (Hidden in the back) riding on the horses

Dylan, Hayden and Jada loved to rock climb.

They ended the night with face painting. Logan was a lion. Dylan and
Hayden were Jokers, and Jada had pretty fairies and butterflies on her face.

My department (Finance) at 1800CONTACTS where I work has a fun summer family party too. I took the kids up to this party in Park City on Thursday. We had unlimited passes to all of the attractions like the Alpine Slide, the Alpine Coaster, the zip line and lots of other fun things. Dylan and Hayden went down the mountain on the zip line three times and loved it. I wish I could have gotten a picture of it.

Ridding up the tram. I was holding Logan as I took the picture because I was so paranoid that he would fall over. (Yes, I have some anxiety issues).

Logan on the Alpine Coaster. This was the funnest ride! The roller coaster goes down the mountain. You can control how fast it goes and so I would ask Logan if he wanted me to go slower and he just kept saying "no go faster".

Jada got pretty good at rock climbing. She loved it!

By the end of the night the kids were all tired and ready for bed. Jada met some new friends who she can't stop talking about. We all had a lot of fun. I am so lucky to work with some amazingly sweet and fun people at my work that we were able to hang out with too.

First Day of School

Jada's first day of 1st Grade

Hayden's 1st day of 5th Grade

Look at Hayden's "skinny" jeans. This style took me a bit to adjust to but I actually think they look really cool on my boys. I cannot believe how chaotic school shopping was this year as Dylan and mainly Hayden are so picky about what brands they will wear. What high maintenance kids I have. :)

Yeah, the kids are back in school. Jada and Hayden both seemed to get really good teachers so I am hoping that it will be a good school year. Jada was so excited for the first day. The night before in her prayer she said "Thank you that school feels so good to me". So I am guessing she loves school just a little. She really is my child who absolutely loves to learn. She will finish one of those learning handbooks in a day. It is kind of weird that Dylan won't be going to school with them this year though.

Junior High

So Dylan's 1st day of Junior High was today. I truly can't believe it. Here are his first day of school pictures in front of our house which is a tradition of course. His hair really doesn't look yellow, I'm not sure what happened with the picture, O-well. He came home from school and seemed really excited about 7th grade. I just started thinking today that he only has six more years until he will be out of High School. So weird........ Wow, time flies! I am beginning to talk like my Dad. My dad is always saying how it just seems like yesterday when I was going to Kindergarten for the first day. I'm starting to understand what he means. I Love you Dylan!!!

Bear Lake

The fake cosmetologist (me) and the real one (Angie). It was fun pretending to know what I was doing as I was putting in extensions.

Me, Mindy and Angie at Mindy's booth.

Is that Cancun behind us? No really though it was so pretty!

Breath taking view of the lake

Wow, what a trip! I feel like a "changed woman" because I actually had a weekend with just me and my friends. (No husband or kids). I have not had a vacation like this in years and years and years. I went to Bear Lake for Raspberry Days. One of my best friends Mindy and her husband Shane invited me and my best friend Angie along. Mindy and Shane own the cutest children's store ever called Curdz N Whey and they had a booth at Raspberry Days. Angie and I decided to do colored hair extensions to make a little bit of money. We had so much fun! Mindy and Shane were the best and invited us up to their property to eat dinner with them and enjoy the beautiful view of the lake. Angie and I slept in the back of her Tahoe and stayed up laughing and talking almost all night like 13 year old girls, seriously. But I have not had such a fun night in a long time. We were also able to spend some time with Angie's sweet sister Mindy and her family. They were so much fun too. Then on Saturday morning Angie knocked herself out with the Tahoe back door. It was kind of scary and a little funny (sorry Anj) She had blood all over her hair and face and all she was worried about was the fact that the blood may get on my shirt she had borrowed of mine to wear. K, that was the least of my worries but she was so cute to think of it. So she had quite the cut on the top of her hair and was a little loopy and was hearing frogs and stuff, hehe. So she went off to the Instacare and did end up having a slight concussion. Even though the extensions were a hit we still didn't make very much money but we had a lot of fun just hanging out at the booth with our friends. Saturday night we first went with Mindy and Shane to get shakes. And then having a yummy dinner of fries, bacon burgers and a shake (Super Healthy) was the beginning of another fantastic night watching the fire works by the lake while listening to some amazing music until a tsunami picked up (OK, it was just a really bad wind storm but it seemed bad). I'll never forget the memories of Mindy's secret, The Red JumpsuiteApparatus, Ed Hardy, and Eagle Eye. It was just a nice break to spend being myself and not just being a mom. And I truly think that this is not such a bad idea every now and then. Also I was so excited to see my family when I returned home. My kids are my life but I still like to be just me every now and then.

On the Farm

Here are a few more Idaho pictures. This was right before we left and my kids had been outside playing all morning and they were all filthy, as you can see.

Hayden Knee Boarding

So my kids look at my blog all of the time sense it is the only kind of scapbooking they have of themselves because I am a slacker mom and never find the time to put anything together for them. (I really envy all of you scapbookers, yours kids will love you forever for preserving their childhood). And my point is, Hayden really wanted me to post a video of him knee boarding too. So here it is. (He is on the left) This was his first time so it took him a little bit to get up but by the end of the day he was doing great!!

Boating down the Snake River

Here is a little video clip of Dylan on the right and my cousin Holdin on the left knee boarding. Also in the boat is Hayden , Logan, Jada, my cousin Chris (driving) and his two little girls. Of course my kids are begging for a boat now because they had so much fun. They will have to keep dreaming!

Origin of the name

"And you ate the whole... wheel of cheese? How'd you do that? Heck, I'm not even mad; that's amazing. How 'bout we get you in your p.j.'s and we hit the hay."

A quote from Ron Burgundy talking to his dog Baxter.

Baxter

Dylan and Baxter (Dylan doesn't seem to know what season it is with his beanie on).

Logan and Baxter

Jada and Bax, Allie and Max

Baxter's first night home

So if you know me at all you will be extremely surprised that James and I gave in and decided to get a dog for the kids. Dylan has only been asking for one for at least ten years now. James fell in love with Yorkshire Terriers so this is the dog we settled on. We surprised the kids on Tuesday night with Baxter. I don't think I have seen them so excited since Lindsey Lohan went to rehab. (In James words.) Also two days later Angie and Ryan decided to buy his brother. And they play together really cute. Now I am one of those people who talk to dogs, take pictures of dogs and blog about dogs.