Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Last weekend we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house in South Jordan. Spencer, Caitlin, Makayla and I went. Logan was helping staff the Timberline Camp for scouting and Dean was working. So, the three kids and I went to Duchesne on Thursday night and stayed overnight at Grandpa and Grandmas. Friday morning we got up early and rode out to Salt Lake with my parents. They had some things to do, so the kids and I went to visit their Grandpa and Grandma Cook and Aunt Kristie for a bit. (and even Preston for a few minutes). I forgot to bring my camera, but Caitlin brought hers. All the pictures here were taken by Caitlin!

Preston

Kristie

After that we went to David and Natalie's house for a BB-Q. The Dastrups and Aunt Susan met us there. They live right next to a park, so it was nice the kids could play there too. After that we got ready and went to the Open House. David and Natalie live just minutes from the Temple. It was beautiful. I love that the kids can get a chance to go through the Temple and get to see what it is like inside before it is dedicated. My twelve year old niece Stacia was so cute because she was in awe of everything.

We spent the night at David and Natalie's that night. They were so nice of them to have us all there. THANK YOU!! It is so nice to be able to just visit with family.....we don't do it nearly enough.

Here are some more pictures from the weekend:

David, Mom and Dad

Sydney, Caitlin, Makayla and Stacia

Caitlin

Spencer and Ike....everybody loves Ike!!

Makayla

Oquirrh Temple

David and Natalie

Spencer, Braden, Stacia, Caitlin, Sydney and Makayla

Braden, Caitlin, Stacia, Spencer, Bryson, Sydney, Makayla

Happy Birthday to my Dad!

Thursday, May 21, was my dad's birthday. He turned 77 years old. I love my dad. He is so awesome! That morning, my mom called after the kids had walked out the door to school, and said that my dad wanted to drive up to Flaming Gorge for his birthday. They invited me to ride along. After a quick canceling of visiting teaching (sorry ladies--I mean how often does your dad turn 77?) I got ready to go. They invited Becky too, but she had too many things going on that day.


They picked me up and we drove to Flaming Gorge. My niece Kelly has a little girl, Madeline. She has the same birthday as my dad. Madeline turned two that day. (Cool, huh, that his first great-grandchild was born on his birthday). We called them (in Ohio) on our drive and had fun visiting with Kelly and Madeline.


We got to Flaming Gorge Dam and took the tour. I hadn't done the tour since my three oldest kids were quite little. After that we drove to Dutch John and looked around a little bit. We had a picnic lunch and then some more driving looking at scenery. It was gorgeous. It was fun to spend time with my Mom and Dad without my kids. It was good just to visit with them.


When we got back to Vernal, Becky and invited us to her house for a birthday barbeque at her house. I am mad I didn't take my camera over to her house to get a picture of Grandpa Pete and his birthday cake.



I am so blessed to have such good parents, and my kids such wonderful grandparents.


I hope you had a Happy Birthday Dad!!

My Mom and Dad

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN

PLEASE...someone tell me.

How do we get from here....

to here....

in such a short time?

Has it really been 15 years?

When our kids were little and my life just seemed like it was diapers and bottles, people told me to enjoy it because they would be teenagers before I knew it. I really doubted it. But surprisingly they were right. Where did the time go? Logan can finally get his driver's learner's permit. He has been anticipating this for a long time!

Logan has been such a good son. He is a hard worker and always the one we call on to help us. Being the oldest, he has always had a of of responsibilty and was able to handle it. He is a good example to his younger brother and sisters. He is funny!! Not many people know that about him. He keeps it well hidden, but he is actually hilarious. He makes our family laugh every day. Logan is a great blessing to our family.

Now I am getting worried about how fast the next few years will fly by until he is graduated and on a mission. I KNOW it will go by fast.

We love you Logan!!

The Tea Party

Yes, our family went to the "Tax Day Tea Party" this evening. It was awesome. The kids actually enjoyed themselves. We decided this would be a good way to teach our kids that if people want to make a difference, then you have to get involved and not sit back and wait for others to take action. I was a bit amazed at how many people showed up at the courthouse steps to be involved. I did not expect that big of a turn out.

I don't want this post to be a political rant. I don't consider myself an activist. I just feel like we can't sit on the sidelines anymore. The way this country is headed just scares me. I feel it is time for the people to get involved and not depend on the government to solve all the problems.


The kids had fun holding their signs up and got lots of honks, waves and thumbs up by passing cars. Needless to say, they also got a couple thumbs down and "the finger" once. But that didn't damper their enthusiasm. Even my Dad and Mom came over from Duchesne to attend. Becky and her kids were there too.

Bryson made this sign. I love it! (FYI--it is a picture of a monster....not Obama)

We joked that this was our "First Family Protest". I just hope that my kids learned that is it okay to stand up for you believe in. Also, that if you want to make something happen you have to get involved.

Susan, my sister, is the chairperson over all the Tea Parties in Utah. I am anxious to hear how the Tea Parties in the rest of the state turned out.

A good day.

Today I spent the whole day with my two girls and my Dad and Mom. It was a good day. The girls and I went to Duchesne last night and spent the night at Grandpa and Grandma's house. The girls really like doing that. I need to do it more often. This morning we got up early and drove out to the Draper Temple open house. We met Susan, Bill, Brooke, Madison and one of their friends there.

My girls really loved seeing the Temple. This is the first temple open house they have been able to attend. They both really loved the celestial room. It really was beautiful. Makayla and her older cousins got separated from the rest of us for part of the tour. I was a little stressed but kept thinking if your child is going to get lost, at least the temple isn't the worst place they can get lost in. Brooke and Madison took good care of her. (Thank you).

After the Open House, Susan rode to Provo with us and we went to my Aunt Renae's house. Kit and Tenna and Shauna came over to visit. My cute BYU coed nieces, Maren and Jesslyn came over too. We had pizza for lunch and a good time visiting.

My boys were a little disappointed they didn't get to go. They had a scouting merit badge thing they have been working on and couldn't miss it. I promised to take them to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House in June. It is amazing how fast these Temples are being built. I am glad we have the oppurtunity to let our kids see inside them before they are dedicated.

It was just a good day.

Happy Birthday to Caitlin!

Today my little girl turned 12. I can hardly believe it. We were so excited to get a little girl after two boys. It does not seem like it has been 12 years since she was born.

Tonight she and I actually went to Young Women together. She has been waiting and waiting to be able to go. She had a good time. There are 16 girls in her Beehive Class and more turning 12 in the coming months. She has great Beehive leaders so I am sure she will have fun in YW.

Yesterday Caitlin celebrated her birthday inviting friends over for a party. They were out of school so it seemed like the perfect time to have it. We banned the brothers from the house. Caitlin and her friends watched a movie and ate pizza and a whole lot of junk food. They were silly girls. After the movie they played "sardines" for a long time. Dean and I just kind of made ourselves scarce and stayed out of their way. Caitlin had a good time with some good friends.


Girls at the party.

After the girls got to our house I took their picture then e-mailed them to Wal Mart for their one hour printing then sent them home with the girls in these cute frames. The girls thought that was pretty cool.

Being silly...

Today she had to go to school. She said she was sung Happy Birthday to in three classes and at lunch. She was complaining about it, but I know she really did enjoy it. After school she decorated her own birthday cake at her request. It really looked like a "Caitlin" cake.
We really weren't sure what to call the cake, or what kind it turned out to be, but she loved it!!





















We had birthday dinner tonight (chicken Parmesan and garlic bread.....her favorite). Then went to YW.

She got some fun presents, including a digital camera (even pink, and surprisingly she likes it) from Mom and Dad. I think she had a pretty good couple of days.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAITLIN......We sure love you lots!!

Makayla and Sarah

Today I watched a little girl for a friend of mine. She is four years old. Sarah is such a little cutie! When Makayla got home from school she was so happy there was someone here for her to play with. They really had a good time together. I think Makayla loved having someone younger than her around.

Makayla has been hounding me to put pictures of her and Sarah on the blog. She loves to get on here and look at pictures of herself. (That girl is so vain -- I guess it would sound better if I said she has good self esteem instead).

So, I guess this post is really for Makayla.

Here you go sweetie.....