"The Club" ... and mini golf

The kids spent about 2 weeks out in the piles of dirt behind our house ... building a club ... named "The Club", of course. They dug a big hole in one of the piles of dirt ... made tunnels ... put tires all around it ... made a flag ... and caught zillions of grasshoppers for their mascots :)! The day of this picture was a VERY sad day, because the construction people tore most of their club down (houses are going up behind us now!) - and I, of course, never got a picture of them in the prime time of the club. To my credit - I was extremely busy sweeping the endless amounts of dirt being dragged in ... and providing snacks for hungry groups of kids (they had about 10 kids at a time out there building and playing ... and then tromping dirt into my house :))! They were some good memories ... and I was grateful for EVERY less grasshopper in my own yard. haha.


We had a fun day with the Merrills of yummy food and mini golf ... here a a few of those pics:

The kids finished the golf course in record time ... and I finished only 15 points or so higher than Tyler! :D Summer activities are fun.

It Must Be That Time Of Year ...

I love the beginning of the school season for one main reason ... new stuff. :) I love getting new clothes for my kids and giving them a fresh, cute, and possibly new look! It's seriously my favorite thing ever.

Here is Krystal's new look:


She needed a hair cut so bad ... and just felt pampered the whole time we were there ... could not wipe that charming grin off of her face.


Pretty cute, huh?


We also went shopping for shoes (her favorite thing in the world) and out to a Tai restaurant ... which she LOVED! It was so much fun. She was extra pleased to have M share these moments with her too. Wish I would have got a picture of Krystal with M. This picture of me is so freaky ... but, I had to include it because the food was way yummy! haha. Doesn't it look deeeelish?


My sweet baby princess ... where does time go?


Happy beginning of school, all!

Windy Fun

After our hike up Grotto Trail on the 24th, we met up at Mom and Dad's for a bbq and fireworks. We got all the food ready and lookin' sooooo nice outside ...



... to have it get windier and windier as the night came to a close. By the end of our dinner we were trying to run inside, because everything was blowing away. We went ahead and did fireworks in the wind ... and then just had fun:

I REALLY Don't Like Spiders, but ...

... finding one of these in my house is NOT one of my favorite moments. I was too spazzolied and frantic to get it caught and OUT of my house to even think about a picture until I had it outside. I know these guys devour spiders and all ... but, I don't want one INSIDE my house ... I'll take as many as I can get outside, though. Do they eat grasshoppers? If so ... I may need to invest in a few more somehow. :)

But, don't come in.

Grotto Trail -- Take 2 -- Pioneer Day 2009

We loved Grotto Trail SOOO much ... we for sure wanted to make it again this Summer. So - we went with the Miller clan on Pioneer Day. It did not disappoint.

I am laughing so hard at Mom in most of the pictures. She is talking/turning/taking care of kids/etc. in just about EVERY picture I have of her ...


These kiddos LOOOOOOVE their Grandma and Grandpa:


Such a fun trail ...

Here is Dad in one of his "take a picture of this" moments :D --->


Mosta the gang ...

The two pretties:


My sweet and beautiful children - Oh, I just love 'em so much!


Here's me and my daddy (not getting wet) .... and Aaron going in the falls:


Krystal was a dare-devil this day. She surprised us all by trompin' right up to ... and then UNDER the waterfall ... many times all on her own -- and without warning. Scared me to death. But - she was sure determined - and VERY proud. Aaron was his chivalrous self and held hands with anyone that needed a little extra support. :)

Here is Tyler ... sopping wet -- and James ... totally dry. Hmmmmmm. ;) These two are such good buds. And my dear Mom and Dadd-ee-o ... sure love 'em.


Thanks for a fun day, guys!

Fiesta Days

Being in Spanish Fork over the 24th of July is quite the party. They host a week called "Fiesta Days" -- and there is just tons of stuff to do -- paradeS, rodeo, carnival, booths, restaraunts, fireworks ... really, the whole nine yards. Spanish Fork is THE place to be for Pioneer Day week. (LIVING here during that time is a little congested and noisy - :) - but, we survived).

Here are the kids at the carnival. I've never really been a huge fan of carnivals ... but when a carnival runs for a week within a few blocks of your house ... well, we went on the FIRST day. haha.

Aaron humored Krystal and went on a bunch of kiddie rides ...


After about 4 of those - notice the enthusiasm by this time - he was ready to head off with the big kids:


And boy - did he love EVERY minute of it. He is WAY into the crazy dizzy-making (that word is JUST for you, Aunt Pam ... hahaha) rides! (He is so much like his dad).


Here is Aaron ready to roll on the Tilt-a-Whirl. Marissa liked the Tornado (ride in pic above)okay - but she REALLY took some convincing to get on the Tilt-a-Whirl. She held on as tightly as possible the WHOLE entire time ...


And then ... she was done ... sick the rest of the time we were there. (just like me - that girl - I think it was the Tilt-a-Whirl that did me in when I was 12 years old at lagoon).


This ride, The Sizzler, was Aaron's absolute favorite ... he was barely tall enough for it ... but went on it about 3 times in a row. Good thing he had Marissa's buddies to keep him company. haha. He had a blast.


Me and Kryssie ventured off (with sick Marissee in tow) for her to ride a few more kiddie rides on her own. She loved it ... but was very happy to join her buddy, Allie, we met up with on a ride too:


All in all - a pretty good 3 hours together ... Marissa had her friends over later while she was feeling better, and it made for a really fun day. I hope that next year we can do the rodeo too - sounds sooooooo fun. And we REALLY enjoyed Plonnie's Spanish Fork accent on the day we spent together that week (inspired by the many interesting people all over town for Fiesta Days)... why don't I get pictures? Heck - I shoulda got a video. Yur hilarious, Plonns.

A "Motherly" Quiz

One of my friends put this quiz on her blog, and I just loved it. I think it is really a keepsake. I quizzed the kids separately, so their answers are really interesting (and funny) to me. Give the quiz a try with your kiddos and post it! I think they are fun to read. :)

My Mommy – by Marissa (age 12), Aaron (age 7), and Krystal (age 4)

#1. What is something mom always says to you?
M: “Do your chores”
A: “Go and clean your room!”
K: “Hey pretty princess – pick up your clothes!”

#2. What makes mom happy?
M: When Dad gets home from work … and a clean house.
A: Me being nice.
K: When I pick up my clothes and clean my room.

#3. What makes mom sad?
M: A dirty house and when kids are disobedient.
A: When daddy leaves for work …
K: When I don’t clean my room.

#4. How does your mom make you laugh?
M: When she’s funny.
A: She says funny things.
K: This test is haaaaard … um … when we smile really big at each other ‘til we laugh … and when we tell jokes.

#5 . What was your mom like as a child?
M: Sneaky … ‘cuz when she went to bed – she would always sneak and play with her sisters.
A: She was really, really funny.
K: I don’t know … she played tag and dolls.

#6. How old is your mom?
M: Thirty … two, I think.
A: Thirty … uh … has it been your birthday yet?
K: twenty four … because you are big and 24 is big

#7. How tall is your mom?
M: 5 foot … like … and a half
A: Probably about 8 feet.
K: Um … should I measure ?… are you bigger than this world? (giggle, snort)

#8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV?
M: Cooking shows?
A: I don’t know … how many more questions ARE there? I guess sometimes you watch “Whose Line is it Anyway” with Dad.
K: Cooking shows

#9. If your mom becomes famous, what will she be?
M: The quickest house cleaner … or something like that
A: A rock star
K: A cheerleader

#10 . What is your mom really good at?
M: Cleaning the house and when your not working … your good at having fun with us kids.
A: Counting on me.
K: Playing tag

#11 . What is your mom not very good at?
M: The rip stick
A: Oh man … I don’t want to be mean … let’s see … playing on level hard on Guitar Hero.
K: Falling – because you don’t fall – but, sometimes you do, huh?

#12. What does your mom do for her job?
M: Piano teacher
A: She’s a pianist.
K: I forgot … go to the mall and buy stuff.

#13 . What is your mom's favorite food?
M: I think it’s tacos
A: Pizza … I don’t know if it’s really that.
K: Chicken … Mom, I am good at this test, huh? Do you think I will pass this off?

#14. What do you like about your mom?
M: That she lets us do fun things
A: She’s really nice.
K: Because her is really nice.

#15 . If your mom was a Disney character who would she be?
M: Like the Mom on “Wizards of Waverly Place” because sometimes she’s –like-strict.
A: Cinderella – because she cleans a lot.
K: Sleeping Beauty ‘cuz we go to the balls a lot.

#16. What do you and your mom do together?
M: We go shopping and do fun things with M
A: We play board games.
K: Play princesses and wrestle … like when you save me from Daddy

#17. How are you and your mom the same?
M: We can both get really mad
A: I know how we’re different … but the same? … we both like to play “Mystery Case Files/Prime Suspect”
K: Sometimes we wear the same clothes.

#18 . How do you know your mom loves you?
M: Because she cleans the house and cooks dinner and does fun stuff with me.
A: Because she does nice stuff for me.
K: Because you say “I love you” to me.

#19. What does your mom like most about your dad?
M: How am I suppose to know? Because he’s cute.
A: That he’s a goof ball.
K: That he goes out to lunch with you.

#20 . Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
M: The Cheesecake Factory
A: To the mall … except you don’t go there very often, Mom.
K: Out to lunch and on dates with Daddy.

Girl Stuff

Ya know - I have a really hard time with this title, because I am REALLY kicking myself that I did not get Aaron involved in this. Why did I think that embroidery is just for girls? Stupid. Be expecting an embroidery original coming from the Aar-Bear soon. :)

Marissa, Anaka, and Krystal decided to have an embroidered pillow making day ... and, literally, spent all day on it. I am so proud of them. Look how cute they turned out!


Krystal has been super into letters lately (yay! finally!) ... and drew and crumpled MANY trials before deciding on the letters "B.F.F. and love"! haha! I wish I would have at least taken a picture of all of her other efforts. They were adorable. She didn't embroider hers ... I did ... but she traced the pattern (letters) she wanted on the material - and then pestered me until I was done. She's very proud.


Here is one of Marissa and Krystal's girl nights that they had (no worries ... Aaron had a boy's night upstairs with his buddies and the Wii/X-Box/and legos). Look at these amazing hair-do's the girls all helped each other with. And they make-overed the littles, too. Good times.


My cousin Melisa and I decided to host a 4-H embroidery class this year. We didn't have a SUPER good turn out ... and I'm SO mad that I didn't get any pictures of the day we had the class. But ... Marissa's pals (who are part of the class)all hung out for the next two days working diligently. I am so impressed with the cute patterns the girls drew ... and I'm so sad I don't have a pic of cute Annie Bea. I'll be sure to get a picture of all the finished products ...


And finally - I can't believe how close school is getting. I keep using the excuse (when kids want to stay up late ... when we want to spend more money :) ... when we want to do something fun) - Summer ain't over yet!! I'm so grateful that Marissa has these cute buddies to hang out with in Junior High. Having good friends makes a world of difference. Here they are in all their glory. (And they've all decided to hang these pics in their lockers ... along with tonz of other paraphenelia ... :D)!


And just to make certain y'all know ... SUMMER AIN'T OVER YET!!