I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking the kids to scout camp. I want there to be a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.
~Marjorie Pay Hinckley~

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Moon Lake Camping Trip

Every year, we like to take our kids and go camping for a few days. Our favorite spot to go is Moon Lake, up above Altamont. If you have ever been there, you know why. It is one of the most beautiful spots on earth! This year though, it rained through most of our trip. We even ended up going home Thursday morning and going back up Thursday afternoon. It rained all evening and all night Wed, into Thursday morning and the kids and I were cold, wet, and miserable. When we got back up Thursday afternoon, though it was beautiful and Friday was a gorgeous day, so we still ended up having a good time.

There is something about little boys and fire. I think it is in that Y chromesome. They love fire. They all had such a good time making S'mores. Brennen's ended up being a big sticky mess, but he was so cute. Tyson liked to cook them, but didn't really want to eat them. Kaden ended up eating about 5 s'mores and 5 marshmellows. Aubree enjoyed it too.

Friday afternoon we rented a paddleboat and went out on the lake. I am so grateful that my kids have such a good dad who will take the time to do these kinds of things with them. They weren't a lot of help paddling, but they had such a great time. We had a three hour rental, and after about an hour, Bruce was tired from all the padding, so he traded the paddle boat for a kayak. The kids liked that even better. I think part of it was the one on one time they got with their dad. He even taught Aubree and Kaden how to paddle with the oars. I really didn't want Brennen to go out on the kayak because I thought he was too little, but Bruce was willing to try it. He was so cute! He sat perfectly still the whole time and really had fun. He cried when we were done with the boats.

After the boats, the kids got out their sand toys to play on the beach. Brennen was so tired. I looked over and he had just laid down and fallen asleep right there in the sand. So precious.

Later that evening the kids wanted to go for a hike. There are some beautiful trails around the beach. Here are all my kids together, just having fun. I was so glad we got at least one nice day to do all the fun things we wanted to do. The kids loved to sit by the water and throw rocks and sticks into the water. Cheap entertainment I guess. It was a great weekend!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Baptism, Baseball, and Day Camp

KADEN'S BAPTISM
On Saturday, our oldest son Kaden was baptized a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am so proud of him and the young man that he is. It was so neat to see him in his baptism interview with the bishop, because he really took everything so seriously and thought really hard about all the bishop was saying to him. We also had our own little miracle that day. Bruce's dad had been in the hospital, and as of Friday morning, hadn't been released, so we weren't anticipating him coming. Well Friday afternoon, his wife called and said that they were releasing him and that they would be out to Roosevelt the next afternoon. When we told Kaden, he said, "I knew Grandpa would make it because we both (him and Grandpa) have been praying that he could." I wish I had that much faith. I was also very proud when he wanted to bear his testimony at his baptism. What a neat experience!


Kaden and Dad

Kaden and (fat) mom

Kaden with Grandpa Rick and Grandma Debbie

Kaden with Grandpa and Grandma Guymon

BASEBALL
This past month, both Kaden and Tyson have been playing baseball. I feel like that is all I do any more, but it really has been fun to watch them.


Kaden plays pitching machine, and has really improved this year. He has had some great coaches who have really worked with him, and he thinks it is cool that they call him Guymon.


Tyson plays T Ball, which is the most entertaining thing ever. The kids are just so dang cute! It took him about 3 games to figure out which way first base was, and most of the time, we have to yell at him to get out of the dirt, but he has had fun. There are a few other boys who, along with Tyson, have turned baseball into a contact sport. They all run after the ball and then tackle each other to get it. I laugh every time!

DAY CAMP
I had the opportunity to go to Cub Scout Day Camp with Kaden this year. What a blast! I have been surprised at how much I have enjoyed being a cub scout leader. I don't know if it would be as fun without my son, but it really has been a fun experience.

Our 3 wolves, Kaden, Carsten, and Cashten

Kaden shooting the bow and arrow. He was a little nervous at first, but soon got the hang of it.