First Day of School '08

Well the kids first day of school went well. They were all so excited. We had gone to visit the school the Friday before they started to see their classrooms and say hello to their teachers. They could hardly wait after that. Dad gave the kids each a father's blessing, which they all look forward too. It was very nice and I always love the strong spirit that is their during these blessings. Then we headed off to school. We got them all lined up with their teacher and then took a peek in their classrooms before heading home. Makenzie goes to kindergarten in the afternoon so we took her at 12:30. Then we noticed Drake forgot his lunch the first day of school so he had to have hot lunch. Makenzie was a little nervous. She cried that morning and said she wanted to stay home with me. I think she was just trying to make me feel good. Once we got to school she held on to my leg for a minute and then got right in line. There are a lot of little girls in her class that she already knows so that helped. I actually did okay on this day, but the next few days that I put her on the bus I cried a little. I can't believe that they are growing up so fast. They all had a wonderful first day and loved it. Tyson just hung out with mom and dad. We ran a lot of errands this week while they were all in school. He's going to be my little friend while everyone else is in school. We went to pick the kids up but they all wanted to ride the bus home so we took pictures as they got off the bus.

It's a Porcupine

Drake wanted to have his hair highlighted for school again this year
so mom did it for him. He hated be pulling his hair through the cap and just about cried several times. I think it turned out just fine though. It was so much fun experimenting on someone else's hair. He got a hair cut soon after and he wasn't very happy about that because it cut a lot of the color off. Oh well, we can do it again.

School Shopping

I like to take the girls and boys shopping seperately. The girls and I went one afternoon and went to eat and Del Taco I know yuck, but they want tacos and that was the closest place. They didn't like it as much as Taco Bell which we found later as we went to find an ice cream shop after shopping. We had a lot of fun and the girls got lots of clothes. We went to see dad at the fire station too. That is always fun. The girls are both growing up so quickly. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed the laid back shopping trip. We took the boys and went to St. George. Sawyer and Drake seem to be harder to shop for. Sawyer is getting older and they like different stores and Drake is between sizes and struggled finding things. We had to get Sawyer back to football so we were on a time schedule and that always rushes us a little but we got everything accomplished we needed to. The last few years we have had Chinese but this year we went to Wingers. We missed sitting looking and the signs or whatever everyone we know is. Like the rooster, rabbit, snake, etc. It is always fun to compare and see who shouldn't get a long and who should. We had a great time and even took Steve along for the shopping adventure.

Cheer Camp

Cheer camp what fun!! Sierra had a great time and was so excited to perform. She was not feeling well the day of the performance and said her stomach hurt. We thought it was just nerves and sent her on her way. She got sick and I was trying to help her get to the bathroom before she threw up but didn't make it. She threw up on the gym floor. She wanted to perform so badly that she said "Hurry mom and clean it off of me. I'm the second one to go!!" She begged me to let her do it and I gave in. We scrubbed her down and she did great and felt okay the rest of the day. Makenzie on the other hand wanted to go every day but didn't do anything. I think she just wanted to hang out with the big cheerleaders. She did break a smile at the performance when they gave her her spirit stick and certificate though. It is so fun to watch all the different levels and all the funny things kids do.

Camping in Ely

We went on our first camping trip up to Ely to scout for elk for Steve's bow elk tag. We all had a fun time except for Sierra. She was sick the whole time. She had an awful fever and sick to her stomach. The kids enjoyed building fort, riding 4-wheelers, shooting guns and sling shots, making smores and just getting dirty. Grandpa and Grandma were along for the ride and even camped with us in our trailer the kids thought that was great!! Steve saw a lot of bulls but hasn't found the one he is looking for yet.

The Lake

We have had a few trips to the lake in the last little while but I have forgotten the camera. Sierra has tried wake boarding but only 2 times and she was done, sobbing and crying. Makenzie went with dad and had a lot of fun. Drake is getting a lot better and learning to cut in harder to catch a little air. The kids have taken a few friends which is always fun to do.

FUN FILLED WEEK

The kids were so excited for this week because Ashleigh, Garrett, Shaylee & Brighton were coming. We had planned on going to the lake the first day but inclement weather took us to the Adams' pool thanks to Aunt Shelley. We had a great time. The kids swam for hours. We all tried our tricks off the cliff but only few were graceful. Shelley-most graceful, Steve-most acrobatic, Drake and Garrett-tried everything, and the rest of us just tried to make it in the water. I couldn't believe how brave Tyson was. He jumped and jumped. Makenzie was a little fish she swam all over with out floaties and realized she could do it in the deep water. Sierra and Ashleigh took care of all the little ones and had fun jumping off Aunt Stacey and Aunt Shelley's shoulders. Garrett and Drake went fishing in the peddle boat and caught a few too. We went I think 3 times this week there so the kids were very spoiled.

We also had a lot of fun at Chucky Cheese one day. The kids love to go there and spend money and I don't mind it until the ticket counting time and deciding the great prize that everyone gets. Tyson and Shaylee found another horse to ride too. Say CHUCKY CHEESE!!


The Tyson and Shaylee's favorite thing to do is ride Shorty. They have to much fun when Grandpa takes them for rides. The girls had a great bubblebath, and Garrett and Drake had fun trying to make the pool full of waves.


Bowling is always a fun event. I think that I was the winner this round even all the adults including Steve. Ha Ha!! I think that my favorite part to watch is the leaning to try and get the ball to miraculously move. SO FUN!!

Back to Bear Lake

It was so fun to go back to Bear Lake!! We went there every year that I can remember growing up over the 24th of July. This year Steve and Lesa did a great job organizing pulling it off. It was a great time!! There is always a few stories to come home with. It is such a great thing to get together and just have fun. It can be difficult especially with 9 different family lives going on but it was awesome. Thanks to everyone for being such a great family!!
Memories: Relaxing and playing on the beach
Burying people in sand and mud
Steve's nice hat surfing
Tickets and more tickets
Anxiety to get on the water weenie
Surfin USA
Certified Drivers, flaggers, and rope throwers
Talent Show - great ab workout, great memories
Dave's Broken tail bone
Tracie's 6.5 baywatch dive
Cool Air
Raspberry Shakes and more Raspberry Shakes
Thanks to Dad and Mom for paying for the beautiful home to fit us all at once. Duff and Amy for the awesome boat. Steve and Lesa for taking care of it all and creating great memories!! WE LOVE YOU ALL!!

Sierra's Birthday #7

Happy Birthday Sierra!! Sierra usually is on vacation during her birthday. This year we just got back from Newport and only had 3 days really to get caught up and do anything before we left for Bear Lake. She got to open a few presents early. We surprised her by bringing a new bike to Newport. They were hauled down in a trailer and so when we went to go bike riding we told her to ride this nice one, she asked who's it was and we told her it was hers. It took her a few minutes to figure it out, but she was so excited. She got new CD's, craft kits, a doll, purse, slippers and many other things that I don't even know about or who they were from. Thank you all for celebrating with her. I told her we'd take a few friends to the movie and she chose Space Chimps. We took a car full of girls and headed to Mesquite. We had a lot of fun and sang songs and played games on the drive. Sierra is such a wonderful daughter. She is very responsible, caring, loving, and smart. Everyone always tells me what a great little babysitter she is and a lot of her friends want her to play with them instead of the babies. She'll be a great babysitter soon for a lot of people. WE LOVE YOU SIERRA!!

Newport Beach Relaxation

We had a great time at Newport Beach for a week. We rented a beach house with the Evans clan. There were about 9 families there in all from the valley. Sawyer has been being a beach bum all summer and came with us the first 3 days. Then we flew him home to football camp. He brought his surf boards to teach us all how to surf. The waves weren't big enough for him though. Drake enjoyed getting buried in the sand and being made into various characters. The best being a muscle man. Sierra loved trying to learn everything this year. Boogie boarding on her own, skim boarding and body surfing. Makenzie loved making sand castles, being chased by the waves and playing with the big girls. Tyson loved "noboarden". He would have us hook on the boogie board and then stand on it until the waves came. He got knocked down a few times but still loved it. Steve was excited that swimming to the buoy didn't kick his butt this time and I just enjoyed laying back and watching all the excitement. We had a great time with our great friends and enjoyed the down time. Great memories.