Bear Lake

Monday night we headed up to Bear Lake. We stayed with Andy's grandparents and had a great time. Tuesday morning we rode the four wheeler and Maddie helped Grandpa Roger pick raspberries. At lunch time our friends came up and we had a picnic and then went to the beach.

Our Family And building sand blobs with Garen and Danny


Maddie and her best friend Jacob
The kids had so much fun at the beach! It was a perfect day, not to hot not to cold. We did get some rain as we were leaving. The kids played tag, Frisbee and build sand castles. Happy Pioneer Day!

Busy Sunday

Today Andy and I got to talk in our new ward. We had the topic of the Plan of Salvation. Although it is always nerve racking to talk, I was glad for the opportunity. I'm not very good at speaking in sacrament meeting and it's something I want to do better at; and you can't get better if you don't practice. Maddie also got the opportunity to introduce herself to everyone-she did a good job.

Then for Sunday School we got to start our new calling as the 11 and 12 year old Sunday School teachers. We had five kids and they were excellent. These young kids really are the chosen ones. Their answers were full of knowledge and truth. They all listened the whole time, as well as participated. I'm really excited to work with these kids. Plus I get to talk about the new Harry Potter book with them because they are all reading it too. (I know I'm a dork)

Abby's Birthday Party

Garen loved playing in the slip and slide.

Abby and Maddie chatting and acting like little teens.

Me and the kids went to Syracuse this morning for My sister's girl's birthday party. The kids got to play in the water all day, and I got to hang out with Sara.

A Day Off

Andy had the day off on Friday, so Maddie and I got to spend the day together. First we went and got our hair trimmed together, then did a little shopping. Later we went to the movie theater to see Shrek the Third. Maddie loved it laughed throughout the movie. After the movie she was dancing to the music and before I knew it all the other kids in the theater were up in front dancing with her-it was cute!

Later in the evening we all went fishing. I didn't get any good pictures of them actually fishing because my camera battery died shortly after we got there. But Maddie had a good time with her new pink fishing pole and Garen just kept trying to run and jump in the water. After fishing we headed back to Hyde Park (the town next to Smithfield) for the fireworks. It was an early pioneer celebration. They had a DJ and dancing and rides. Me and Maddie got to do some dancing (she's pretty good) and the Fireworks were pretty cool. Garen was tired and poopy so he cried through most of the fireworks. We got home about 11:30 but it was a great day together.

Swimming Lessons

Every morning at 9:00 we go to swimming lessons. Maddie is in Level 2 and is doing better each day. She loves her teacher and loves playing the water games. While Maddie is with her class, me and Garen do the mommy and me water babies class. Garen also loves it! He sticks his own face in the water and blows bubbles. He can also go under the water and pick up a toy off of the pool bottom. Garen's favorite part, like Maddie, is the games and songs we do.

Garen really does love the water, but it doesn't look like it in the picture because Maddie was holding him down and making him mad-he prefers to swim/walk in the water alone.

5th Anniversary

Andy and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary on July 12th. We were blessed to have Andy's parents so close and willing to stay at our house with the kids while we went to Salt Lake. We got there Thursday afternoon and went to dinner at the Rodizio Grill. For those of you who don't know, it's a restaurant where they continually bring skewers of grilled fish, steak, chicken, pineapple, and pretty much anything else. After dinner we did some shopping at the Gateway mall and then we got to go to the new Harry Potter movie (I'm a fan).



After the movie we went to the Anniversary Inn. We had the Sultan's Palace room. It was so nice to sleep in and have breakfast brought to us in bed. Not to mention the awesome jetted tub.

We checked out of the hotel at about noon and headed to Lagoon. We probably sound like nerds going to Lagoon for our anniversary but it was a blast!!! We road all the roller coasters. There are so many new rides since the last time I was there. We didn't bring our camera in because I didn't want to keep track of it, but here are some pictures of my favorite rides.

Later in the afternoon we went to Lagoon-A-Beach to cool off. It was fun to chill with Andy and to try all the water slides.

In the evening, when it cooled down a bit, we went on more rides and just enjoyed ourselves until they closed at 11:00 p.m. On our way out we got to stop in some of the little shops and pick out a gift for Maddie and Garen. It was a wonderful two days for me and Andy.

I don't think the kids even missed us, so I guess we'll have to do it again soon!

I took this quiz on Chanc's blog and had to post it on mine because I love Jane Austen novels. I have never read Persuasion with Anne Elliot, I guess I'll have to, since I am most like her.Take the Quiz here!

Remodeling Almost Complete

New wood floors and carpet

The bathrooms tile is finally finished

Here are some pictures of some of the new floors we put in the condo. All I have left is to put up the baseboards, do some touch up paint, and get our cabinets restained a darker wood color.

My favorite thing about our new place is the sunsets! There is a lot of open space around us and we are surrounded by mountains. Every morining and every night the veiw is so beautiful.

4th of July

We finally put sand in our sand box (Maddie has been asking since the day we moved in). So the kids had fun playing in the sand all morning. I am surprised we have any sand left after Garen eating it and Maddie spilling it, but, hey they had fun.

Boyd and Amber watching fireworks and Jann with a sparkler

After Andy got home from work on the 4th, we had Andy's sister and brother-in-law come over; as well as Andy's parents. We had treats, played games, and lit of the remainder of our fireworks. Garen was to tired to stay up for the party this time, but Maddie sure had fun. I'm afraid she won't want to go to bed at 8:00 anymore now that she has seen what goes on later in the night. She kept saying "it is so dark out here and I am having so much fun, this is so cool." But I could tell she was tired because she slept till 10:00 a.m. this morning even though there were people here laying tile at 7:30 a.m. (and they weren't very quiet)

Oh, and since it's the 5th of July today---HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARA DAWN!!!

Fireworks

Sara's Family

Maddie and Abby

In Logan, they always have the fireworks on the 3rd instead of the 4th. So my sister, Sara and her family came for dinner and to see the fireworks. Maddie had more fun playing with Abby then watching the fireworks and Garen sat quietly staring and pointing at the sky. Sara and Ben came over after and we had ice cream and lit of some more of our own fireworks. We finally ended the fun about midnight-the kids were getting pretty tired

At the Pool

Andy finally got a day off of work, so we took the kids swimming for the day. We all had a blast! Maddie and I went down the water slide over and over, but Garen didn't care for it to much. Garen did love splashing and climbing in and out of the pool. Maddie can jump in the deeper end by herself and swim to me-she's gets to be a better swimmer every time we go!

We got home just in time for a plumber to come fix our downstairs toilet, before our tile guy took out our upstairs toilet. I was afraid we would be left with no working bathroom for awhile. But it all worked out. We should have both bathrooms up and running by Friday- I can't wait!

Family Home Evening at the Park

We found this great park close to our new home. It has little trails, 2 playground, tuns of shade, and a nice creek running through it. It's very beautiful and a lot of fun. The creek water was a little cold, but that didn't stop Garen. He loves the water, he loves to sit in it, he loves to put his face in it, he's a little fish. And while we were on the trails, Maddie took the role of leader very seriously. She loved guiding us and letting us know what was up ahead.

Also tonight we found a great deal on a family gym pass. There is a high school about a block from our house and we can get a famly pass to their rec center for $25 a month. That includes, three gyms, a cardio room, weight room, raquetball, two tracks, arobic classes. And there is also a pool there (it cost $2 more). So we were pretty excited about that, now I have no excuse for not running and lifting.

Our down stairs bathroom tile is finished, and they start the upstairs bathroom tomorrow, I'll post a picture of all the new upgrades in the house as soon as my house isn't so messy. :)