A trip to Island Park

Today we went to Island Park. We went with Keith's family. We stayed in Sherrie's family cabin. We had such a fun time. The kids loved playing outside and exploring and playing on the dock. They made fishing poles and used candy fish as there bait. We went to the most beautiful waterfall, and went to see the movie The Bears at the IMAX movie theater in Yellowstone. We went to feed the fish, and the fish were huge. While standing on the brigde to look at the fish a little boy dropped his flip flop and it went down the river. The family just laughed and watched it float away, but then a muskrat swam out and got it and took it back to its home. I thought that that was pretty funny. We rafted down the river. I wish I could have had a sound piece with me to let people listen to the giggles that filled our raft. Parker and Abby giggled every time we hit the white water. We had such a wonderful time. It was very relaxing and the kids were able to just play, play, play. Thanks Keith and Sherrie for the great weekend.

Happy 4th Birthday PARKER!!!

Today is Parker's birthday and he is so excited. He has been planning his birthday for over a month. He woke up and saw the kitchen decorated and was so excited that this time it was for him. He picked to have cinnamon rolls for breakfast and watch transformers the cartoon while I set up the backyard. We filled up the swimming pools and filled 110 water balloons. We invited the cousins over for a party at 11:00. They swam and had a water balloon fight, potato sack races, and we made some goodie bags with water toys inside. We had hot dogs and cupcakes and then he got to open his presents. It was such a fun party and the kids all had so much fun. The kids swam until 3:00 and then we went inside and Parker wanted to play with some of his new toys so he played play doh and moon sand. Then when Dan got home from work we went to McDonald's for dinner. Little kids are so easy to please. After dinner we went on a bike ride on the new trail and then came back to open presents from mom and dad. Parker had such a fun day. We are so grateful he is apart of our family. We love you, Parker.

Britton's baptism day

Britton got baptized today. It was such a perfect day. Britton got baptized with Victoria. Britton and Victoria have always lived by each other. So today was great to be able to share it with each other. It was a Stake baptism so their were 4 kids to be baptized. A priest from our ward gave the talk on baptism and did a great job. Then Britton and Victoria sang a duet My Baptism Day. They did such a great job. It sounded so beautiful. Then one of the grandfathers gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Then the baptisms began. Britton was second. Britton had such a smile on his face. After he came up for the water he gave everyone a thumbs up. Then we waited and watched Victoria be baptized. She had to be baptized twice. Then it was time for Britton to receive the Holy Ghost. Britton asked all the priesthood holders himself if they would join the circle. We had so much support from our family. Britton's circle had Dan, Grandpa McCormack, Grandpa Gardner, Grandpa Anderson, Uncle Paul, Uncle Matt, Uncle Ben, Uncle Mike, Uncle Dave, Uncle Brent, Uncle Brant, Uncle Keith, Landon, and the Bishop. The blessing was beautiful. Then I was asked to bear my testimony which wasn't very easy because I was very emotional. The primary also took some time and organized a folder with the testimonies of all those who came to the baptism. After the baptism was over we went to the Bowery and had dinner. Victoria's family and our family joined together for dinner. We got pizza and had salads and desserts. The kids were able to play in the grass. Britton got lots of fun things from many different people. He got scriptures, a hymn book, scripture case, church games, a baptism pillow case, tie tacs, church games, books and a few other fun things. It was such a great day. Thanks to everyone who supported Britton in his great day. We love you Britton and are so proud of the choice that you made.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

Today we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. We haven't taken the kids to an open house before and they were so excited to go inside for the first time. We had tickets for the 11:30 session. We got to ride in a golf cart from the car to the tents. Parker thought that was really cool. Then we watched the movie and got to go inside. We were really lucky because all of the lines were really short. Once getting inside the boys were so excited. They loved the oxen around the font. Bryson and Parker asked if they could be baptized in the font. They also loved the star chandelier in the celestal room. The other favorites of the day were the mirrors in the sealing room and all the pictures of Christ. It was the best experience.
Later that night Dan and I got to go on a date with Britton. We decided that the day before the kids get baptized we would take them out on a special date. So Britton picked Tepanyaki. He loved the onion volcano and the chief did so many fun tricks. He enjoyed the food and they gave him some kids chop sticks that were rubber band together and he ate whole meal with the chop sticks. He wants to go back for his birthday next year. Then we took him to get a new outfit for the baptism. And then went to the batting cages. Britton and Dan did a great job hitting. Then we went and got some treats to take home. Once we got home Britton rode his bike for about an hour. It was such a fun day. Thanks Britton for being such a wonderful boy.

Layton Surf N Swim

Each pay check we pay for Surf "N" Swim passes and we never use them. We were going to go for Abby's birthday but it rained so that got cancelled. The kids asked me to promise to take them this week and today was the last day I could. So we packed some snacks, sun block, and I hoped for the best. The kids were so good. I was really worried how hard it would be to watch four kids and have a good time while doing so(I'm not very fast these days with my big belly, 8 weeks left). The kids loved the wave pool and floating around on the tubes. Someone had an accident in the wave pool, so we went to swim in the small pools. Britton had a lot of fun jumping off the diving board. He did great, and practiced his swimming skills. Abby loved the little pool. Bryson and Parker swam around and Bryson swam without floaties. We had such a great day the kids can't wait to go back.

A day of running

Today we ran around like crazy people. We went to the dollar show at Tinseltown. On Tuesday and Wednesdays Tinseltown shows old movies for a dollar. So today we went and saw Horton Hears A Who. The kids love going to the movies. The movie started at 10:00, so we left at 9:30 to be sure to get a seat. Then we came home and made treats for activity days. Then we all went to activity days the boys don't really like to go but sometimes their is no way around it. Then Britton had Pack Meeting for scouts. They had a bar'b'que at the Stake Center and the whole family was invited. We roasted hot dogs over the fire and had a nice dinner. Then the boys got to fish for their awards. And last they had some bike races. Britton had a lot of fun with the scouts. Bryson, Parker and Abby had fun playing on their scooters and running around. It was a busy day but really fun.

Tuesday fun

Today we had a really fun day with Keith's family and Lisa's family. Sherrie and Lisa brought the kids over to swim. The kids swam in the pools and played water hop scotch. Then Mike, Gayle, Mom, and Dad came over so Mike could get a blessing for his treatment the next day. Lisa brought dinner with her and we had tacos. Thanks for the yummy dinner. Then we all went up to the Ogden Raptors baseball game. It was a fun game. The boys loved the game and had a lot of fun with their cousins.

Happy 34th Birthday Dan!

Today we celebrate the birthday of the greatest husband and father. We love our dad so much. He is such a wonderful example to his kids and they look so forward to dad's days off. We are grateful for all the hard work that he puts forth to bless and provide for our family. I'm grateful for the sacrifices he makes so I have the opportunity to stay home with the kids. Happy Birthday, Dan we love you.
Dan asked that him and I could go out to dinner alone. So my parents watched the kids. Thanks mom and dad. We went to Holy Smoke for dinner. Dan loved it. Then we went birthday shopping and Dan picked out what he wanted. So no surprises this year. Then we went back to my parents house and had peach coobler and ice cream and my dad put on a great firework show. The kids all had a blast.

Happy 4th of July

Wow, just thinking about the day makes my feet hurt. We had such a great day. The 4th is always fun but Dan always has to work from 8:30am - 11:30pm. He gets a break in the middle of the day but misses out on all the fun. We started the day by going to the Layton Parade. Dan is always in the parade so the kids think that its fun to see him in it. Then we have lunch at the Police Department. Then we went to my parents for a bar'b'que. My mom made it so fun. She had games for the kids to play and had prizes. She set up some swimming pools, had squirt guns, bubbles, and water balloons for the kids. We celebrated Abby and Dans birthdays and had ice cream cones. Then we went to the Layton fireworks. It was really a great show. All the kids fell asleep at one time during the show, but were awake for the grand finale and loved it. They had there glow necklaces and treats and loads of fun.

Happy Birthday Abby!!!

Abby turned 2 today. I can't believe a whole year has pasted so quickly. She is such a sweet little girl. She loves to play with dolls, bubbles, her play jewelry, read books, singing songs, pushing her baby in the stroller, ride Parker's scooter, watch the movie Bolt, play dinner time, color or do stickers. She is a great blessing in our home and we all love her so much.
Today for Abby's birthday we decorated the kitchen with a happy birthday sign and hung up balloons and streamers. She watched Bolt right when she woke up. For breakfast we went to the Donut Shop, then we got two loaves of bread and fed the ducks at the park. Then we played at the park. Then we came home and blew bubbles and filled up water balloons. Abby loved the water balloons. Then it was naptime and we were suppose to go swimming at Surf and Swim but it started raining so we went to dinner instead. Then the family all came over because Kevin got his mission call. She we sat around the phone to listen to him read the letter. He was called to serve in the St. Petersburg, Russia Mission. We were so excited for him and happy to be able to listen to his reaction and be apart of his special day. Then we had cake and ice cream. I made a Bolt cake and Abby loved it. Then Abby finally got to open her presents. She got a princess scooter, and a baby bed, a snow white dress up outfit, and a little princess cd player. She had a fun day. I am so grateful I get to be her mom.

A perfect summer day

We had a great summer day. We bought two swimming pools for the kids and filled them up with water at 7:30am so they had a little time to warm up. Then we called the cousins to come play for a day of fun. The kids played so good together and ran around played in the pools, we set up a water hop scotch pad and they had popcicles. Then after those cousins left Dillion a different cousin came over for a few hours and he brought crafts with him for the kids to make. They made airplanes and masks and had a great time. Then that night Dan was gone at Young Men's so we all cuddled in my bed and watched a movie. It was a perfect summer day. I hope the sunshine stays so we can have a lot more days like this.