Luke the Texas Ranger

I have really loved baseball season this year!!  Watching Luke play has been so much fun.  I finally remembered to bring my camera and got a few action photos of our little Ranger.

He was the best catcher on the team... not even being biased :).

He did so good this year.  I was so impressed with how much progress he made.  He really learned a lot.  It was fun to talk to him about each game and hear his highlights.  He was so funny when I asked him why he kept striking out during the first part of the season, he said, "Because you guys keep saying my name and making me nervous!  I'm already shaking, and then you guys make it worse!"  We stopped cheering his name out when he got up to bat after that :).  He really did great though!  I'm so proud of him.  He was so thrilled to make it in the playoffs too.  They have done so well!

Mt. Timpanogas Hike with the Maynes'

Saturday, June 7th was our Timpanogas hike.  Jen did so much planning and preparing for this hike.  It ended up being a really good time too.  We all got there early for our lunch.  Ate, played and then headed up the mountain.

I really love this tradition.  I think my favorite part is listening to all the kids talking (usually with their cousins).  Instructing each other on how to keep moving on the yellow line parts, talking about which plants are poisonous, daydreaming about flying up to the top, or worrying about falling down.  Planning how they would survive if they got stuck up there.  It's so cute.  I love their imaginations and the workings of their cute little minds.  It was fun this time to listen to Nate and his brothers.  I don't know anyone who looks up to and admires their brothers more purely than Nate. It's so awesome.  What a cool little brother he is.

Up at the top we all caught our breath.  Asked the tour guide to help us grab Noah's hat that he had dropped off the edge of the mountain.  Luckily it hadn't gone too far :).  Ate a few granola bars.  It was so relaxing to just sit there in the shade.  That hike really is hard for me.  I wish I was in better shape.

I was so proud of my kids and how well they did.  They've really been impressing me this year with their endurance and their ability to have a good time even when they're hot and tired.  It's been really cool.  The girls went ahead with their cousins on this one and were able to go on the tour of the cave with them.  The boys and Erika hung back with us and Jen, Nancy, and her boys.  

The cave is always cool to see.  I never get tired of it.  I love the time with family as well.  We walked down pretty fast, then made our way back over to the picnic area where Grandma, Grandpa, Becky, Jared and Paulette had been waiting for us.  Had some ice cream.  Saw a rattlesnake!!  Said goobye to Grandma Ruthie... she sure hates snakes... 

After that we went home.  It was such a nice day. I enjoyed being out.  My allergies were horrible for the rest of the day!

Things to Remember Week of 6-8-14

MIA MAIDS
I taught this week and I loved it!!  Never thought you'd hear me say that did ya!  It went well, we didn't cover even a tenth of what I would have liked, but the girls were talking and we were discussing things- it was awesome!  And they all thanked me when we were done :).  Just the icing on top I guess :).  I'm really glad that this day has come.  Hopefully it can happen again.  6-8-14

PROJECTOR
So for FHE we watched Lion King in the backyard, courtesy of the new projector.  Nate's been wanting to get a projector for a VERY long time.  It's been a dream of his to have movie nights outside in the Summer time.  Well, when one of the Mia Maids said she wanted to do that for an activity, I volunteered our house.  Gave Nate an excuse to finally get it (he always waits to buy things that he wants.  I was happy to make it "necessary" :) ).  He was happy about it.  It was pretty fun to lay on the tramp all squished together like sardines with my kiddos and watch an old favorite :).  I've got to figure out something with the sound because it's just not loud enough for me.  Maybe the neighbors would prefer I don't... we'll see.  Anyway- it was a lot of fun.  Bradley came in and made some popcorn for everyone and then we topped the night off with smoothies (Noah was the treat :) ).  Erika sure was cute about the scary part with the hyenas in the elephant graveyard.  It is pretty scary! 6-9-14

FIRE DRILL
Man am I grateful for our smoke detectors.  The one in the boys' room went off today.  Nate, the girls and I were all in the kitchen and it just really caught us off guard.  We weren't really sure why it would go off.  Nate asked Charity to go look (not thinking there would be anything thanks to all the times our kitchen one has gone off over little things) and she got a few steps up the stairs when she could smell smoke.  She ran back down in a panic.  Then it occurred to Nate and I that we had smelled something burning, we just thought it was something outside.  Nate went upstairs and sure enough, the boys' room was full of smoke.  The heat lamp had been casually been laid on Nate's bed, next to a book and the book was smoldering.  We feel so blessed to have been able to take care of it when it was just smoke.  Who knows how that would have turned out.  Kinda crazy to think about really.  I just won't, how's that :).  Nate had a long talk with the boys and we are contemplating several other designs for their lizard setup.  I'm not really sure I want such a fire hazard in their bedroom.  Seems like a problem.  Everyone is okay though, and we will now take the smoke alarm more seriously.  6-10-14

YW
We had all of the Young Women over to roast marshmallows and then an outside movie for those who wanted to come back (gets dark SO late).  I loved this activity!  It felt so relaxed.  I enjoy just sitting around and talking :).  I think everyone had a good time.  Glad we could do it here too.  6-11-14

STORMED OUT
Lukey's team was supposed to play on Thursday but a big wind/rain storm blew it completely out of the park.  They had to reschedule.  We were all bummed.  Nate especially since he was home on Thursday, won't be home Tuesday when he actually plays.  6-12-14

PLAYGROUP
We had an interesting little incident at Play Group this week.  I feel kind of bad about it still.  Basically, Charity and Kelly got bullied by a mean mom at the swings.  They handled things just fine and my thought during it was that I wanted them to be able to deal with those things on their own, but when I think about it now I am just regretting not going over and saying something to her.  I still think I might have lost it on her and that would have been embarrassing, but who knows, maybe I could have controlled my temper this time... It was weird.  I wish I could go back in time.  Charity and Kelly did good though.  I'm glad they weren't intimidated by her and were able to stand their ground.  They make me proud.  6-13-14

SWIMMING
We finally went swimming!!  I tricked the kids (well, Charity found out sooner, but she was still surprised :) ) into thinking we were going to the Splash Park but we really went SWIMMING!!  I use caps because that is ALL my kids want to do this summer.  ANYtime I've asked them what they want to do this summer, that is the first (and sometimes only) response I get.  Becky had invited us to join them at Farmington pool.  It was a good time.  I REALLY like that pool.  Felt so much lower maintenance than the ol' Rec. Center.  All of the kids are in one general area and we are not pool hopping.  Jack was in awe at the kids jumping off the diving boards.  He stared at them for a very long time.  He never really got all that used to the water and didn't really trust me to play and have fun, but he enjoyed himself enough.  My favorite was the disgusted look he made anytime he got splashed :).  Cracks me up.  Erika played around in the shallow, went under the water a lot, picking up rings and just getting her hair wet- she LOVED it.  Noah had a blast too- I really didn't see him most of the time we were there.  He needs swim lessons though.  I feel bad I've neglected to get him in.  Luke was somewhat unimpressed with the pool.  He didn't like that he couldn't touch in any fun areas.  He wouldn't brave the slides or the diving boards even though I think he could still swim if he just tried.  Although it has been a while since his lessons too... darn it.  He wanted to go home about halfway through our time there.  Bradley went off the diving board a lot, doing all sorts of tricks.  He insisted that he doesn't know how to swim either, but for some reason he was still able to use the diving boards... hmmm.  He was Mr. Daredevil on the high dive, though!  Pretty fun to watch!  Kelly was not feeling real great, but she had a lot of fun.  She found her friend Kara was there with another friend, so a little girl drama proceeded.  She handled it well though.  She did some fun tricks off the diving board as well.  Charity braved her way up the high dive ladder and actually jumped off with little persuasion!!  YAY CHARITY!!  She usually took some coaxing.  She had fun too.  I think it was a great time at the pool.  Especially since they let us in for free since I brought the wrong card.  Still feel a little weird about that, but whatever, I guess that could count as the one bad luck thing that happened on Friday the 13th.  Good times- I think we found our new hangout.  Oh and thanks to Becky I had a swimsuit to wear.  I really should just suck it up (or in) and go shopping!  6-13-14

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Camrie Gray was in the play Beauty and the Beast up at Weber.  When she told me about it, I had to get tickets!  Charity, Kelly and I grabbed some dinner on our way back from delivering Annie's cake and hurried up to Weber.  It was a fun evening for the three of us.  I loved the play.  I have to be honest though, I think our Elementary school one was just as good, if not better.  That's just to say how good our Holbrook one was.  It was a lot of fun for the girls and I think they are anxious to try out for the next one in March.  They love to perform.  6-13-14

STOWELL REUNION
I LOVED the reunion this year.  Well, who am I kidding, I always love the reunion :).  It was so nice and laid back.  Forrest and Nancy were in charge.  They just had everyone introduce themselves and talk about news and then share a memory of Grandma and Grandpa Stowell while everyone ate.  It was so neat to hear some of the memories.  Things I'd never heard before.  Kathy shared the story about how when Grandma Stowell pushed her Mom (wearing a brand new dress- which was of course a big deal back then) into a big pile of mud to keep her from getting hit by a train (that ended up not really being a huge danger from where they were walking :)).  All her mom did was laugh!  Good example.  I wish I was better at that with my kids.  Then Forrest shared the one about Grandma Stowell actually throwing a roll clear down a long dinner table when Grandpa Stowell asked her to "pass the rolls", and he caught it!  I know where I got that now :). Brent talked about Grandpa always untying his shoelaces.  That brought back memories.  He also brought up that Grandma Stowell knew Babe Ruth's daughter? or said she did? Now I can't remember... better get clarification on that one.  Someone brought up her swearing.  Aunt Danny wanted me to talk about my experience with dancing with Grandpa when he was in the Rest Home and I couldn't really remember it!  She said that in her journal she had written that I had said that at first he didn't want to dance with me, but as I walked past him to sit down after his refusal, he turned to me and said, "Well, we better get to it!"  That was fun to remember.  I loved my great-grandparents.  I remember how hard that was for me when they died.   Some of my other memories: taffy in the big candy jar, The Price is Right, Grandpa's toothpicks and rocking chair, Grandma's house gowns, her soft wrinkly skin, her forgetting who I was and thinking I was blind.
The reunion continued with very little boring parts.  That was nice. We had the silent auction again.  I auctioned off a free cake coupon, and bought a whole bunch of stuff.  My cute new "Summer Lovin" sign among other things.  Kelly was a big spender as well.  It was a lot of fun. To top it off, Bradley organized a bunch of us to play kickball.  That was SO FUN!  I had a good time.  I won't forget Eric's kid bashing and not cutting any of the toddlers slack :).  Nobody will forget the blooper- Brent, Eric and Bradley colliding in the outfield to catch Nate's pop fly.  Pretty cool looking until Brent's forearm met Bradley's face.  Still looked awesome though.  Wish we'd gotten that on video.  The perfect blooper!  I love that everyone was playing together, usually we all just sit at different tables and separate ourselves from the other families.  Before we left I sat down on the sidewalk and talked with MaryLen and Lana... two of my faves :).  I'm pretty sureI could talk to them all day if they would let me :).  I feel like we think the same.  I would say that reunion was a total success!  6-14-14  Oh, and it was flag day- the Anniversary of when Grandpa Mottishaw died.  I thought about him quite a bit that day.  I loved the picture Maija showed me of her and Kirstin and Heidi with Grandpa on Antelope Island.  Grandpa's arms were squeezed inward so that he wasn't touching any of them... makes me laugh just thinking about it- he was a Mottishaw :).  6-14-14

LIGNELLS
We had the Lignells over FINALLY, on Saturday night.  We got to meet Amy, Scott's new wife, and her kids.  While it's not ideal, and I hate that he and Debe gave up on their marriage, his new wife is definitely awesome.  I like her a lot.  We talked a ton and got along really well.  They now have ten kids between the two of them.  They had nine here, and with our seven, this place was rockin'!  It was a little insane toward the end :).  But then again, it was the Lignells :).  I sure am happy for Scott.  I am glad that he is making a good home for his kids during the few days that they get to spend with him.  That's something I think they could really use.  They are awesome kids.  Nate grilled some delicious hamburgers and hotdogs and we all sat around talking and laughing.  I heard some new stories from Nate and Scott's childhood together... kinda funny that things I'd never heard about came up.  That's always fun.  I love how Nate and Scott can just pick up where they left off... even when it's been two years since we got together last.  That's a good friendship.  I'm glad he has that.  6-14-14

SHOPPING
So since the Lignells left later than we thought, we went Father's Day shopping later than we thought :).  My bad.  I don't know why it's so hard for me to get out and shop with the kids.  We did have a pretty full three days there when Nate was at work, so the opportunity wasn't really there, but I always feel bad anyway.  It was a late night trip to the store and those are not usually my favorite.  Everyone did pretty good though. I think I was the one with the whiny attitude.  But we did it!  Everyone got what they wanted.  I tried to talk them out of the shirts this year, simply because Nate really does have a lot of shirts now, but they wouldn't let it be.  They like the tradition :).  I'm glad they want to stick with tradition.  Father's Day is one of our favorites :).  6-14-14

Things to Remember Week of 6-1-14

SERIOUSLY

So a few weeks ago when I took the Young Women to the temple, I had a little revelation.  It came after a series of problems I'd encountered in the dressing room, details nobody else wants to hear, and it has come back to me several times since.  I can't help but think that it is a prompting from the Spirit.  The words I heard were, "Christa, sometimes you take things too seriously."  How true it is.  So I've been trying to use this in my daily life.  I'm learning that there are some things that we need to take seriously.  Things that need to be pondered on and thought about really hard, but there are also MANY other things that should not.  It's been interesting to turn that worry or concern off.  To let myself just relax and feel my Heavenly Father's love.  He really does love me.  He knows me.  He knows what is important to me and has given witness so many times through the things that are important to me.  There are too many times, though, that I read into things.  That I try to figure out Heavenly Father's ulterior motives or read His mind.  Doesn't work.  It's not really a good idea.  It's time for me to just let things be and not figure out why.  Not let them get to me.  Not be so hard on myself.  It is so nice to know that that's what Heavenly Father wants me to do as well.  I feel relieved when I think about it.  It was a huge blessing to have this in the back of my mind preparing for and while we were camping.  Heavenly Father knew I was going to need it.  6-1-14

LIZARDS

We now have two pet lizards.  I'm still not sure how I feel about it, but I'm trying to be flexible.  Bradley and Noah had claimed them as theirs and once they had names, I knew my veto was not going to be effective (even if it did include not breaking the law).  We got them home and after losing one of the lizards on the kitchen counter for a few minutes, found out that the plastic licorice container (that I still have no idea how it ended up camping with us) wasn't going to be enough, so the next day Nate took the boys and Charity to Petco to get some lizard home stuff.  While they were there, because someone had left the lizards out in the backyard with only the ziploc bag lid on it, Buddy got a hold of one of them and actually ate it!!  It was so strange.  There was nothing the girls and I could do.  For a minute I thought, 'and then there was one', and then the next minute, Bradley walked in with a small box carrying his NEW Leopard Gecko, "Spots".  Along with the aquarium, heat lamp, crickets and meal worms.  This was for real.  And apparently I wasn't getting out of it :).  Just kidding.  Actually it is really fun to watch Bradley and Noah get all excited about them.  I am fine with pets as long as I don't have to do anything with them, and lucky for me lizards are very low maintenance for now.  I do love my kids :).  6-5-14

PLAYOFFS!
Luke's team made it to the playoffs!  We're so happy for him.  HE'S so happy for him :).  More treats for Luke :).  More games for me- I love watching baseball.  I need to remember my camera!  6-5-14

SHERRY
On Friday I got to go see my good ol' friend Sherry.  She made time out of her busy schedule to hang with her old friends, so we met up with her at the West Jordan park.  Along with some of the old friends from our old ward.  It's always so good to get together with those guys.  The only thing that makes it feel like it's been a while is how old everyone's kids get.  Other than that, feels like we just pick up where we left off.  It's always nice.  I miss Sherry, I wish she hadn't moved.  I hope she moves back and finally makes Kaysville her home :).  We'll see.  Sherry is one of those people that my face hurts after we hang out.  She's hilarious.  It's nice that we are still able to keep in touch with them all.  It makes me miss that time in our lives.  The old Ridgecrest ward... such a good ward.  I'm still waiting for Claire to plan our reunion :).  HA!  6-6-14

KELLY'S WEARING EARRINGS
Kelly got her ears pierced on Saturday!!  She's been wanting to do this for a couple years now.  I told her way back when that if she saved up the money and was able to pay for it herself, that she could do it whenever she wanted.  We never really picked an age.  I'm not really sure what took her so long (and when I talk to her about it, she doesn't think it was that long ago :)), but she finally got up the nerve and had a fresh wad of birthday money, burning a hole in her pocket :).  It was time!  So she, her sisters and I all drove down to Station Park to get her ears pierced!  We had a lot of fun!  She was so brave, didn't even hardly flinch and not a single tear came out!  I was so proud of her!  I may have lost a few tears though, watching them poke holes in my perfect little Kelly :)- I'm kidding.  She looks really pretty in them!  I loved the ones she picked to have them pierce her with.  Cute little white flowers with pink middles.  She had enough money leftover to spoil herself with some more earrings as well.  They give you 50% off all earrings when you get your ears pierced and since they were having a buy two get one half off, they gave her a buy one get TWO half off!  Kinda cool.  Basically some free earrings :).  She had a lot of fun picking them out- it was fun to watch her sisters help her find the cutest ones too.  Good stuff.  She's holey now!  6-7-14

Goodbye Arches

On the last day Nate and I raced the clock to get everything cleaned up and packed into the car by 10:00.  We had to get Nate to work by 2:00, so there was not a lot of leeway.  The kids helped a TON.  That made me happy.  The boys spent a lot of the morning looking for lizards and ended up catching this hideous beast of a bug that everyone was pretty fascinated by.  Then they caught yet another lizard.  Once they named them, I knew my vote to leave them in the National Park and not illegally removing them was going to be vetoed.  We ran around the campsite to take a few last pictures of our favorite places:

We sadly said our goodbyes to everyone and got in the car.  Two seconds later Nate realized his wallet was missing.  This was NOT good.  He needed several things out of his wallet to get us home and him to work without a badge.  This was a little stressy.  We ended up spending about 45 minutes unpacking things, going through tent pockets (yes, the inside ones), rummaging through bags and boxes... scouring the bathroom and the car... it was nuts!  We said several prayers, with the kids and without.  Then Nate had a light bulb and remembered putting it in the pocket on the back of his seat while getting Jack in the day before.  Ahhh.  What a huge relief that was!!!  We were minutes away from calling Wendy's or the Visitor's Center or ANYWHERE we were so desperate.  So we lost a lot of time, but we were so blessed to find it.  We made sure to thank Heavenly Father.

The ride home was great.  I finally got pictures of some of the cool things we'd seen everyday on our drives through Arches.  Some of them are way too cool for these pictures to do them justice.  Kind of a bummer, but also not- just means we'll have to go back.

First camping trip of the Summer was a success.  

(we did however forget to dye our white shirts with the red sand.  We'll have to use them for something else)