Drab to Fab

I had a pair of just OK flip flops. I am trying to be more thrifty and spend less, so I had an idea. Why not turn those flops into something better?

Do my Drab...

To Fab...

I love they way they turned out. But taking a picture of your own foot without making it look alienish is harder than it looks!

Purple Finger

I should have known better!

Corbin has had a similar experience in the past. He got a cut on a finger and it got infected. For some reason I thought this one would be different, but it wasn't...

The cut was on the other side of his finger, but the purple ring manifested mainly on the top side of his finger.

It didn't help that his sore finger was slammed in the door and it got a little worse looking...

I think I should make him carry a triple antibiotic cream in his pocket.

2nd Grade

Our summer was quite a big shorter than most. We put Dylan in a new school where we hope he will be more challenged. I am just not getting around to showing you what a cute 2nd grader her his... just two weeks late.He was VERY excited, and still is about his new school...

Bloody

Kamryn has been waking up a lot like this...It doesn't seem to phase her but I am getting a little tired of cleaning out her sheets. I thought we would have more issues with it going to Utah, a dryer climate. However, not one incident at all. The night we returned it started again?!?!

A Tribute to Michal

Hey Everyone! Yes, I know, I never post on this blog. Sure this is technically our family blog, but lets be serious, Michal is the one who makes it happen and doesn't she do such an awesome job? Well, I just want to post something about her. She is so amazing! I love being married to her. She is such a beautiful woman on the inside and out. She does so many things that it boggles my mind! She nurtures 4 kids, is the Primary President, plays tennis, trains for races like the upcoming Ragnar, makes birthdays so special, shows more patience than me by a mile, reads her scriptures daily, and remembers her friends birthdays. The list goes on and on. But it's more than that, she is just good, naturally good, nurturing, strong, competitive, vibrant, and a joy to be around. She gives everything she does the best. The Lord has blessed me with an amazing woman and it's about time I said something on this blog. The real reason any birthday I have or will have is great is because of her and the wonderful kids she has given us. That is why my birthday was the best, because I have her and get her forever. Until I post again in 2 years...

Birthday and Smoothies

Yesterday was Connor's birthday. I wish I could say I was so busy pampering him that I didn't have time to post anything.

Not only did Connor think that the day was great, but Dylan said it was "the best Sunday ever." This is coming from the kid who complains every Sunday about how boring they are because he can't play with his friends. Believe me, I have explained to him in a million different ways why that is but I guess I haven't struck the right cord yet. I know that all I need to do now is make yummy sticky buns for breakfast and invite a family over for desert and I've got one good recipe for an excellent Sunday. Connor was excited about his new toys (U of U hitch cover and a Roku player.) I must admit that I didn't see the need or use for one but it was nice to listen to nice pandora music as we got ready for church.

I sure am glad this man was born. He has brought so much joy to my life and he is my best friend. I stayed up late just talking to him, boy was it great (this doesn't happen much around here since he usually passes out when the kids do.) I am amazed by him daily!

Not only is he amazing but he also makes breathtaking fruit smoothies.

This is a common sighting in our house...

Kamryn LOVES fruit smoothies just like her dad. We fill up a cup and she is content for the next 5 minutes. The cup doesn't leave her mouth. I wonder how she gets away with no brain freeze.

Happy Birthday Connor!

Garden

I have been working really hard on decreasing the number of plants I kill this summer.

I feel quite proud to say that we have our first garden. Corbin has taken a liking to the sweet peas. I find empty casings around the garden. Luckily the deer have not found my tomatoes.

We water regularly. Kamryn has figured us out. She steps right in front of the stream of water. Then tries to eat the dirt. Since she is soaking wet, if she falls (which she does regularly) the dirt sticks to her clothes. I tried my best to capture what this looks like. Again, pictures are not the same.

Heat

The high today....104 Degrees

The heat index...110 Degrees

The LOW tonight...76 Degrees

Let's hope this doesn't stick around too long

Summer in Full Swing

We have been playing so hard we are all in need of some catch up sleep- anywhere we can get it...

We have been at the pool, going to free movies, and playing with friends non-stop.

Around that I have been playing on a tennis team, running to train for Ragnar, trying to make my thumb greener and planning for primary. Whew

Father's Day 2011

This is only two weeks late. Better late than never.

I had a few people tell me they were excited to see what Connor would be sporting for Father's day this year. No pressure.

The kids mainly enjoyed making him "You Rock" rocks. They painted rocks and put googly eyes on them. I don't have pictures since they have already found their place at the office. He also got a new family pictured mouse pad along with quite a few gifts made at school.

I am grateful to my Father who I now realize has taught me more than I thought. He did this mainly by example and quiet service. My kids also have quite an amazing dad I might add. I picked him out myself! I would be biased in saying that he is the best!

Matchy, Matchy

Cudos to my mom for scanning in the photos from my childhood. Below you can see that there are many sets of kids wearing these matching outfits...

My older brother and I wore these cute outfits when we were kids. Either mom or grandma made them. It isn't so much the way they look that makes me feel warm and fuzzy, but the memories they are attached to.

Lucky enough Dylan and Ashlyn got to wear them too! Can't find a picture yet.

Nate and I with my mom...

Jameson and Carianne in them with the whole fam...

Teacher Appreciation

Since we are on year round I have more time to put together teacher appreciation gifts. We had fun this year...

We made them custom notepads that say "from the desk of the awesome Ms...." and silly pencil toppers.

We appreciate all the hard work our teachers put into each student!

Free K'NEX

FYPI (For your playing information)

From Monday, June 13, through Friday, July 15, 2011, K’NEX Mario Kart Wii fans can register online to receive a free Mario™ or Luigi™ K’NEX figure. 300 figures will be distributed for each day of the five week promotion. Of the 10,000 figures, five lucky grand prize winners will receive a Mario figure plus a Golden Ticket that entitles them to a special prize package including: a Wii™ console (a $150+ value), the entire K’NEX Mario Kart Wii product line (18 toys featuring Mario, Luigi, Yoshi™, and their favorite karts and bikes on two popular Mario Kart Wii tracks -- a $632 value) and a trip to tour K’NEX headquarters in Hatfield, PA. For more information, complete rules and to enter the sweepstakes visit www.knex.com/mariogoldenticket. No purchase necessary.

USEFUL LINKS

Ø K’NEX contest page - http://www.knex.com/mariogoldenticket/

Ø K’NEX Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/buildknex

Ø Info on the NEW K’NEX Mario Kart Wii products - http://www.knex.com/mariokartwii/

If You Give A Mom A Mop

You know those books... "if you give a mouse a cookie", "if you give a mouse a muffiin", "if you give a pig a party", "if you give a cat a cake", " if you take a mouse to the movies", "if you take a mouse to school"?

After many years I finally was able to relate how I feel when I am cleaning up my house- I get super distracted. I start doing one thing and before I have finished it I have started another thing. This continues until I have many half finished things going on at the same time. Maybe Laura used her experiences at home to help her write her books. I should do that!

Spain

What you have all been waiting for...

Connor and I got back a week ago from Spain. I know, exotic. Also exhausting! We saw so many amazing things. Our reason for going was to see Connor's parents on a mission in Mallorca- and Island off of Spain. But while we were all the way out there we also had to see Madrid and Barcelona. This is the short version (in pictures), if you want more pictures contact me directly :)

After not sleeping for 30 straight hours we drug our luggage to what we thought was an English speaking branch in Madrid. Never was I so happy to see the name of our church, even in a different language...
Well, it wasn't exactly an English speaking branch but we did attend the English speaking Sunday School. In our very small ward we did meet someone who lived in our current ward before we did!! We had a tough time staying awake in sacrament meeting due to the warmth of the room and the inability to understand what the speakers were staying combined with the lack of sleep. I am sure we were quite the sight.

I loved the adorable buildings in Madrid...
All of the places we stayed had cards, or in this case, gigantic metal plates, that activated the electricity in the room. Without it nothing would work. And next to it is a classic light switch...In case you were wondering, yes, there is a Hard Rock Cafe in Barcelona and Madrid. Here are Michael Jackson's red shoes and Madonna's awesome outfit...
I made Connor take me to see some Flamenco dancing. Behind us is a big group of Japanese tourists. Connor loves doing the white guy surprise by talking to them in Japanese...
Maybe I should take up this form of dancing next...

We met up with Connor's sisters, Cami and Jenny, and Whit and Will (niece and nephew) and did baptisms for the dead in the Madrid Temple...

We immediately flew to the Island of Mallorca. It was wonderful to see Roger there to welcome us. In Palma they had a beautiful Cathedral...

We stayed at the most quaint little villa. I would stay there for every vacation if I could, it was dreamy...

Inside our haven...

Our view was amazing, open farm land all around us...

We finally (after trying for the last 10 years) won a doubles match against Connor's parents. I won't mention their age, that makes me look bad. We played on Rafa Nadal's courts while he was away winning the French open...

The view from the top of Formentor, the mountains drop into the sea...The adorable, little town of Soller...
We flew to Barcelona for one las stop.

The famous Sagrada Familia. Gaudi's master piece that is still being constructed after 40 years...My favorite place we went was Park Guell, also by Gaudi. It was a magical park...

Behind me is the view Barcelona out to the ocean...
Our tiny little washer in Barcelona almost ate our clothes (it wouldn't give them back). Funny enough it also dries the clothes. It would be hard to have a big family living on one of these...

As amazing as it was, I appreicate my family more and I am so grateful for the blessings of living in this great country. Thank you to Kamrah who watched our 4 kids for 9 days with the addition of her busy toddler and 8 month pregnant belly! YOU ROCK GIRL!