1st Day of School

I set out their clothes the night before and made sure they got to bed at a decent time. Joseph and Dalton learned just this Monday that they aren't in the same class with any of their neighborhood friends, but both had a good attitude about making new friends. They're so ready.

Waiting for the bus.

Goodbye Dalt.

Goodbye Joe.

When they were finally home, they reported a great day. They both like their teachers although Joseph did have remnants of a bloody nose on his shirt, and the story goes that he raised his hand, and she didn't notice him, so he sucked it up, and wiped the remains on his shirt. Aaaaaah, I am not a fan of the 25/1 ratio. My favorite quote for sure is Joseph saying, "I was the best kid in class, I didn't even punch anyone!" And this is actually a really good thing, because a kid DID punch him, and he resisted punching back. Way to go Joe!

Joseph's Buzz

Everyone in the neighborhood has a buzz cut. Joseph talked me into giving him one too. I forgot to take a before picture of his thick lovely hair, so here's the unshaved half.

And the shaved half.

My tough little boy.

He's still my little boy though.

The end of the best Raging Waters summer ever

Dalton and Devin shooting out of the tunnel slide.

Joseph, Dalton and Dalt's friend Devin enjoying a calm in the Wave Pool.

Joe blasting down the water slide.

Jennie "playing" with baby David.

Sophia and Sarah lunching.

My love-of-water-fun-scream is not pictured, but I found out on our last visit of the summer that all of the life guards knew me by it. It took us all summer to do it, but Doug and I both rode each and every ride, and loved every second of it. Yea for summer fun, and water memories!

Couldn't end a summer without...

some blood,

9 stitches worth.

Sophia was the best kid in the ER that night.

The scene of the crime, bike, cement wall, blood covered cement steps and all.

Yellowstone Must See's!

Silex Spring

Bacteria Mat

Fountain Paint Pots

Huge Elk

Excelsior Geyser Crater

Grand Prismatic Spring

Dirty Camping Baby Jennie

Stinky Sulphur Cauldron (notice buffalo in the background).

Baby enjoying outdoor church

Old Faithful

Teeter Totter Forrest



Seismograph Pool

Black Pool

Yellowstone Lake

Abyss Pool

This poor burned up kid and his flailing camera

Prismatic Steam off the Grand Prismatic

A real live bear (cinnamon colored black bear, I swear)

Mammoth Hot Springs

Sheepeater Clif

Firehole River Waterslide

Happy girl eating smarshmallows

Happy boy charring smarshmallows

Happy man with perfect smarshmallows

Happy kid enjoying the sweetness of camping

Buffy the buffalo close enough to touch, (notice van sideview mirror).


And, that's not even half of it! I LOVE YELLOWSTONE! While driving up there, we passed through Idaho Falls where Doug might, maybe, I hope so, get a job after graduation, and if we live there, we will for sure become Yellowstone regulars.

HUGE thank you to the Klingonsmiths who were perfect tour guides/camping buddies. They had to put up with my crazies, (which included a Yellowstone Bingo and 10 prizes for each kid and a bunch of bickering over who got what prize when and if a coyote counted as a wolf). They also handled our 4 kidded slowness to and from everything with perfect relaxedness. And they made the best pork and potato dutch oven dinner ever. Maybe, the Klingonsmiths might, I hope so, move up to Idaho Falls with us, and we could do the Yellowstone again.

Every time I looked up, down or around in Yellowstone, I saw something beautiful, even breathtaking. Today I feel more connected to my earth, and more loved by The Creator of it all. I LOVE YELLOWSTONE!

Two Tag

Two names you go by : Chad calls me Sherbug and Brad calls me Sherbear.

Two longest car rides: Any number of vomited on, screamed at, pooped on, peed on trips in between Utah and Arizona or Utah and California, or Utah and Washington with the kids that make Doug wish he had his pilot's license.

Two of your favorite things to do: Read and kiss, not at the same time.

Two things you want very badly at the moment: A kitchen and a pool like Trish's, and to be thin with the simple ol' eat right and exercise plan... it hasn't been working lately.

Two animals you have or have had: Fish Todd lived with us for an extrordinarily long time for a carnival-prize goldfish, something like 3 years. I also grew up with an angry chow/collie mixed dog named lucky who was not at all lucky.

Two things you ate today: Cinnamon raisin bread french toast, and a perfectly crisp Pink Lady apple.

Two people you last talked to: Sophia, and Lisa

Two things you're doing tomorrow: Going to Raging Waters with the kids, and preparing the shopping list for our Yellowstone trip.

Two favorite holidays: My birthday and Thanksgiving, yeah, it's all about the food.

Two favorite beverages: Aquafina or distilled water, and rooibos tea.

Okay, so I tag all of you who haven't gotten a haircut all summer long... you know who you are, you long haired shaggy heads.

Drew & Marielle get married

Since we hadn't been to AZ in awhile, and we'd never been through the Eastern part of Utah, and our first official destination was the Snowflake Arizona Temple, we headed that-a-way. The drive was spectacular with beautiful weather, and extraordinary sights. I lamely didn't catch too many photos, but I'm not sure a picture could really capture the grandeur and beauty of the arches, monuments, and petrified forests along the way. Here's a rainbow, and here are my kids at 4 corners Utah/Colorado/Arizona/New Mexico.









We made it in time to attend Marielle's Endowment session. I love being in the Celestial room with family. Marielle is the youngest in her family and her parents were able to celebrate all of their children being in the Celestial room together for the first time. The Snowflake Temple is beautiful even at night.



Outside the Temple the following day, all of the cousins watched my children and awaited the wedding party. I love family.

Sophia and Andy


Yvonne and Megan


Samuel, Joseph and Chad


Jennie and Ben


So many cousins and not even close to all of them


Marielle's family hosted a lovely after sealing luncheon where we were all happy to escape the heat, relax, and have a little fun.





My favorite part of the whole trip was working with my sisters in Sally's kitchen. Sadly, I didn't get any pics of our busy hands or their home turned reception hall for that matter. Sally had made -I don't know how many- trays of chocolate, strawberry, and lemon mousse and her friend had hand piped chocolate lattice hearts to lay gently on each perfectly rich serving. I was in charge of slicing the artisan breads, stocking the chicken cabbage salad, and refilling the carved watermelon fruit salad bowls. Drew and Marielle had chosen yellow, orange and red as their colors, so Sally had bunches of Gerber Daisies, tablecloths, and a custom fitted jacuzzi cover in the wedding colors. It was colorful, bright, festive, and a happy time overall. While we sisters worked our tails off, my kids got to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa "C". By the end of the day, here's all I saw of my children, Jennie, exhausted on Bens bed.



The following day we enjoyed Brad and Lenora's invitation to their home, and an impromptu Birthday party for Kellen's daughter Arianna. Lenora had a bounce house leftover from a work party that the kids enjoyed, and the trusty old snow cone machine is always a hit.





Mark was pretty tired too.


Yeah, that's Joe's sweaty head.


Randy and Katie invited us over to see their newly remodeled guest room, (I'm pretty sure there was a hint hint in there too) beautiful garden, and freshly painted kitchen. Spencer enjoyed humiliating us all while letting us ride his trick bike. He makes flipping and 360's look so easy, and I could barely pedal down the street on the brakeless thing. Doug did better than me, but just barely.

Andy and Sally took us to hike Thumb Butte where we enjoyed the beautiful Prescott views while my Mama and Papa watched the girls. I was a minimalist and didn't pack the camera, slacker I know.

Overall, our AZ trip was fantastic! We love our family, and are happy to add Marielle to the group.