More family fun at Lagoon!!

Yep! This is truly what it is all about

So we really did think that this last trip to Lagoon would be our big trip of the summer, but earlier we had promised our friends the Swallows and Eric (Seans brother) that we would go with them. We never go back on our promises..LOL. Sean had a couple free nights at the Courtyard, we bought the Deseret Book discount passes, did the Bounceback and cooler thing and headed back to Utah.

The first day we did Lagoona Beach with the Swallows. I am getting better on the Outrigger waterslide. This time I never fell off at every pool. (Small improvements.) Troy had to get home for work, so we went on a couple rides before they left. We rode the bat and the Rocket.

We were sad to have to Swallows leave, but we went on more rides that evening as a family. It was so fun to see all of the kids having fun together. The last hour and a half I was able to go on some ride with just Nate. We did the Music Express, wild mouse and Collasus

Steadmans Place

Thursday, the Harpers had reserved Steadmans Place in Raft River. Steadmans are sod farmers who have this awesome set up at their home and let people come and use it. They have a 500' waterslide, 500' zipline, trampoline, swings, firepit and ampitheater, that you can use for free.

The Harpers invited the ward to come, so there were the Jones (Bev and Claudette's), Ellis, Gardners, Ramseys, us, Claysons, Jen Mecham, Grovers, Stacey Buffaloe..am I forgetting anybody???
Sean and Emily make their first trip down the slide.

It was mostly a contest to see how many you could fit on a tube.

I went down with Anne and Tiffany one time and the next time we had kids (maybe 5) wanting to join us. Anne chose to bail because our tube was full. As we went down Tiffany and I were going down backwards. When we reached the bottom, her and I both fell out on our backs. That water was COLD!!Lane and Tiffany and the kids joined us. We tried to do a train going down. We learned that I am not strong enough to be the middle person. Sean and Emily went down, I fell off my tube and went down without one, and later the Claysons went.

As I started falling down the hill without a tube, I began to realize the term "point of no return" I was going down, I missed the first group, and had no tube, so I could either fumble around hopelessly or throw my hands in the air and shout "WA HOO!!!" Guess what I did!

Next time I was the caboose and Lane held my tube, It worked much better!

The kids loved the zipline. Sean, Nate Jaron and my mom all went down it. I knew that I lacked the upper body strength to hold on, so I was the cheerleader and rode the slide.

The grand finale was the candy cannon. It took about 15-20 minutes for the compressor to build up enough pressure to shoot it off. As you can see it was a big hit.

This was one of the most amazing places I have been. It was so awesome to me that these people would lend their home to groups of strangers. (They weren't even home when we were there.) I thought to myself "with so many sue happy people these days I sure hope nobody gets hurt and sues them and ruins it for everybody.

This was truly one of the best family moments ever!!!

24th of July Celebration!

One of the highlights of the celebration...Free Hotdogs, snow cones, and cotton candy!!

Nate and Logan......WAR.....Sumo Style!!

Now, It's Jaron and Jake's turn. This was a riot!! Wish you were here sweetie!! (Sean is in California on a flight!--don't feel bad for him, he is surfing and staying in a Jacuzzi suite in the Courtyard, a few steps from the pool!!

Emily was going to do it with another little girl about her same size, but when she was in the suit and they started filling it up I think that it freaked her out!

Now it was Trevor and Haileys turn. This was a riot!!

Trevor and Hailey are such great kids. They were really sweet and helpful. I hope that everyone had fun, and will remember this day for a long time!

24th of July Parade

A better photo is still to come, I get so wrapped up in the fun that I never remember to get a good one in time! We met up with the Ramseys for the parade today.

After the parade, we picked up Trevor and Hailey and headed up to the fairgrounds.

Jaron, Emily, and Hailey took a spin on the bull. Here is Jaron on the bull. As I was cleaning up the memory on my camera, I erased to clip of Emily on the bull.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY--for real!!

Sean and I the day we were married in the Bountiful Utah Temple. I guess you could say "the happiest day of my life", but I think life just keeps getting better, to where you can't choose just one favorite.

Sean and I at our 11th wedding anniversary dinner at Famous Daves.

Happy Anniversary! Friday (July 11) we celebrated our 11th Wedding Anniversary. We have found a great babysitter who was willing to watch our kids overnight, so off we headed for Utah. Sean had some Marriott points from all his travels, so we went to the Courtyard in Layton. We had a really nice room. We spent some time there and then we went out for ribs at Famous Daves. It was really yummy, especially the cornbread.

After the ribs, Sean did the sweetest thing a man could ever do for his wife---He took me shopping!! (And didn't tell me anything was too expensive or to hurry up!!!) They were Tai Pan was only open for an hour and a half, and I used every minute of it! While I awed at all the decor, Sean followed me with the shopping cart and played with his new cell phone. We were both happy, but I have to admit I was wearing a perma-grin the whole night.

My friend Tammy offered to make me some floral arrangements, and she is so unbelievably talented. So I was shopping with a mission--Find the flowers! I think we will be able to pull together 2 arrangements: purple for the front room, and rust and amber for the kitchen! don't I look like Mrs. America with my flowers! LOL

We did miss the kids. I had to take their photos with us, and I called about 7 times on Friday. By Saturday, I knew I was coming home soon enough, and only called to tell our sitter that we would be about an hour late!

While this doesn't sound like a magical anniversary, this is what we like. We just enjoy spending time together, and it is great to have a night away from the house, kids and worries. I was trying to remember "Where did I think we would be 11 years ago?" I honestly can't really remeber, I think I can consider that a blessing. There have been several opportunities for growth, maturity and calming. Sean has been so patient and kind to me. He has taught me how to cook, do laundry, bathe kids, and on and on. We have had a lot of fun together, and I can honestly say I love him more and more each day. These things tend to help you become a more rounded individual, and I am greatful. I am greatful to a Heavenly Father who knows me way better than I know myself and gives me opportunities to be truly blessed in ways I never would have imagined. I am greatful to a wonderful husband. His patience and love has helped me become a better person (I hope!)

I am so greatful to be blessed with wonderful children who have showed me unconditional love and given me forgiveness time after time for my mistakes. I am greatful for additional family who have given me both advice and encouragement when I needed it most. One of the nicest things my dad said to me is "Sis, you are doing really good. You are doing as good as any, and better than many." Whether it is true or not, it is just what I needed to hear on that day, and several days since. I cannot forget to express my gratitude for my friends. Those who repeatedly he about me feeling sick, tired or sad. There always seems to be a "Lets get lunch, or bring the kids over" exactly when I need it most.

Thanks for caring about me. My heart feels so full of love.

Goofs

Yes, We are getting ready to have professional photos taken!!! Augh!!!! Wish me luck.










Emily has been letting me get her a little girlie! For those of you wondering about my "Sexy shoes" She found them!!!

Lagoon

Thursday we headed up to Lagoon. The Ellis' and Hardy's were already there and stayed at the campground. We tried to get a campsite for both nights, but they could only accomidate us for Thursday night. We figured it wouldn't be worth the effort for just one night, Luckily the Ramseys were at a hotel. We decided to stay at a hotel with the Ramseys. We were eventually able to find one together, and they put us straight across the hall from eachother. It worked out great for us, hopefully they would agree too. After checking in to the hotel, we went to Lagoon and met up in Lagoona Beach. It was a lot of fun.

Kymball and McKay Ellis had fun trying to tip me off my tube in the lazy river. I had one successful round, but as we started the second lap, they finally won, and I went head over heels into the water. As if that wasn't bad enough, Then they took my tube! I always thought that a 31 year old woman would have a better chance of catching up to 6 and 8 year old little girls, but they were weaving in and out of people so fast that before too long they were out of sight and laughing all the way. I told them the storm was coming, but I am afraid my bark is worse than my bite. If any of you have ideas of how I can get back at them, I am open for suggestions.

Okay, now I have been accused of crazy things in my life, but....
I was innocently holding Leigh on Thurday while Anne, Cami and Kim were demonstrating their bravery (I was too late to be involved in the stunt--Yeah!!). She had already been eating licorice when I got her, but Cami has the nerve to think that I gave it to her. True that is me holding her, and everyone knows how much I love her, but really, WOULD I DO A THING LIKE THAT?!!!

Okay, so I would have, but this time I was too late!

I have decided that going with friends is definatly the way to go. We all have kids the same age, so we let them go off in groups by ages. Each kid had a buddy, and the adults went with the diffrent age groups of kids. This was great because you got to be with an adult, the kids got to be with friends, and we got to watch each of our kids go on rides.

So this photo is when Sean and Boyd took the "big kids" on the big rides. They waited 45 minutes to go on "Wicked", 15 minutes in the car to ride it, when finally they said that the ride had broken down. The next day Sean and I took Jake and Jaron to ride it, only to wait in line 50 minutes in the hot sun, finally ride it, and have them close the ride right after us. The ride is a total of about 30 seconds. Par for the course: Wait 100 times the ride time in line, 30 times the ride time in the car, but yes it was worth it.

You do get to find out a lot about your kids. I found out that Nathan can, will and wants to wear his swimsuit all day long! He loves the big rides, and loves being with his friends. He is a lot of fun, and sometimes he just wants to spend some one on one time with mom and dad.

I found that with a camera, and a scary ride, Jaron is hilarious! (See previous video.) Really, I found that Jaron is pretty happy go lucky. With a little encouragement (especially from Jake) he has no problem with the scary ones, and at the same time is thrilled to go on the little rides with Emily. I guess that is one of the sweetest things about him.

I learned (no surprize) that Emily loves to be with Caleb, and she wants to be in the drivers seat. They are both pretty strong willed (youngest child in the family), but they seem to know when its okay to take the lead, when to let the other one take the lead, when to get your own boat, car, stroller, whatever, and when they need to be away from eachother.

Sean demonstrated that he is a big kid and a great daddy. He loves to go with the boys and play on water slides, lazy rivers, rides, etc., and is also very happy to go on the kiddie rides with Emily and get wet. He is also very patient with his unperdictable wife that sometimes is running out of the house a million miles a minute, and other times has to be dragged out of the house kicking, screaming and crying. I truly do love you Sean!

I learned that I am a screamer and laugher when I am scared! I also realized that I have bad luck in canoes and on a tube riding the outback waterslide. And when I fall off I go completly head over heels underwater soaked! Then it takes about 2 minutes to get back on the tube. That means I average about 6 minutes more per ride than my friends. I guess that is one way to make it last longer.

I learned that Cami is a daredevil. She tries to trick her friends into riding a slide called liquid light--How mean!

Kim does not like to get her pants wet, and will actually stand up on the log ride to aviod it!

Anne hates roller coasters. She doesn't like to see the track. Her and I went on the Jetstar. As it is winding up, we are talking. She looks over and sees the part where it drops, and sais "Oh, What is that? That is not part of our roller coaster is it? Oh, I didn't see that before! Michelle did you know that this did this?" Of course I was laughing, then the screaming began. On the video it is funny to hear Jason talking to Sean "Anne hates roller coasters!"

We had a blast at Lagoon. Sean made a point when he said "We only have 8 more summers with Nate." We really do need to take these opportunities to make good memories with our family.

I agree with Cami "We had SO much fun with our kids. This is where the VISA commercial comes in... Amusement park tickets, $200.00; Gas to get to Utah, $100.00; food, $100.00; hotel $200.00; Spending time with our little family, priceless!"

So one last video of our trip. About 7:00 Friday evening we went on Rattlesnake rapids. It was a blast. I think you would fare better going around 1:00 in the hot sun, but I am glad that we did it (I was wet for the rest of the night.) Yes, the water is as cold as it looks--maybe colder! and I am the one screaming!!

Jarons Jetstar surprise

Do you ever wonder what made you laugh before you had kids. You can see that Sean and I get a little too much fun at our kids expense. Please note that it was Sean who shot the video. I had nothing to do with it.

I love how he is so happy, and then instant fear, then back to happiness at the end.

"Was it scary?" "Ya."

"Do you want to go again?" "Yes."

More lagoon and update to come. I have to get to sleep!

Happy Anniversary--of sorts

Okay, so that was totally cheesey! But It has been a year since we have bought our Roanoke house. We really do love it here. There are really nice people (of course we already knew a lot of the really great ones.) I love the fact that it is so quiet and that there are so many kids. The house itself is a pain in the butt to keep clean, but it is wonderful for the kids and when we have company, there is so much room. It truly is a great family home. We feel so blessed.

This is Seans pergola. As you can see we have already been busy getting a hummingbird feed and some paper lanterns up to decorate it. You really have to sit out on the deck to appreciate how awesome this really is. We have offically become "deck dwellers."

Now to my favorite. The first is the way my raspberries looked when I planted them (6 still do.) The bottom is my nicest leaved out raspberry plant--Isn't it cute! I am so excited (despite the fact that they are surrounding my deck and attract bees. (We will see if I am still excited in a couple years!

As Promised

You can tell Jaron is already starting to get a little sick of it--hopefully he won't ever do that again. I do think it is so sweet seeing Sean carry Jaron.

When you jump down 12 stairs

Yep! I have been expecting this moment since Jaron could crawl. Yesterday while I was cleaning my house Jaron loaded the landing in the basement with pillows. Then he went into the family room and ran and jumped down the entire flight of stairs! He did make it to the pillows, but surprize, it still hurts!

This happened at 3:00, and we took him to Urgent Care at 7:15. There were several times when I about threw him in the car to take him to the doctor, but he insited that he wanted to see daddy and have a blessing first and see if he had any suggestions for him first. I think that is so sweet. The kids have so much love for Sean, and I love it!

Sean ended up taking Jaron to the doctor. He did not break anything, he just has a really bad sprain. They gave him a glass (fiberglass) cast, wrapped in an ace bandage. They did send the x-rays to be read by a radiologist today. They think he may have damaged his growth plate. If that is the case they will have to put him into a hard cast.

This glass cast is not a walking cast, so Sean has to carry Jaron around. I do worry about Seans back, but it is so sweet to see. I will take a photo next time, and post it later--no need for unnecessary back strain!!

Thank heavens for Jake. He has come over and watched movies with Jaron. I think having Jake here really helps Jaron keep his mind off of it. I think they are on their 3rd movie! Sean went to K&B to get him some more videos.

I do feel so thankful for good friends and family. I really do feel comfortable in our home and neighborhood and feel truly blessed. This is an awesome time in life and I am so greatful for it.

**P.S. I didn't feel so greatful yesterday with a filthy house, and kids fighting and screaming, but today has been heaven. I guess we need days like yesterday to appreciate days like today.

Tribute to Fathers

We all have fathers. I have very wonderful "Fathers" in my life. I am so greatful to my Heavenly Father. Because of him and his love I have many wonderful gifts. My life and my family. The opportunity to become a better, more complete person. I have so much to learn, and so many improvements to make, but it is such a wonderful blessing to be the recipient of unconditional love. I know that he gives us the opportunity to live with him and our families forever. I feel my saviors love....

Then my next special father is Sean. He is the father of our children. He offers so much love and attention to me and the kids. I love him with all of my heart, and more and more every day. He is such a peacemaker and his love for the family really shows. I am greatful to him for his hard work and sacrifices. I couldn't have chosen a more perfect partner for me or father for my children. The times when he looks greatest to me is when he is playing with or reading to the kids, and he warms my heart when he gives the kids priesthood blessings. I love you Sean!


Next, of course is my dad. My parents were divorced when I was 4, but my dad still was part of my life. I was able to spend summers and holidays with them. I am so greatful to both he and my mom for being respectful of eachother for my sake. My dad has been a great influence in my adult life. He has offered wisdom and concern, and much encouragement when I have needed it. It has been wonderful to see him interact with my children. Grandparents have such a special influence in childrens lives, and the kids sure do love "Grandpa Tbone."

Finally, I want to thank my Grandpa Gibson. He has been such a wonderful blessing in my life. It has been awesome to see the love that he and my grandma have for eachother. I had the opportunity to live with them before Sean and I were married, and I was so spoiled! I love him with all my heart and deeply appreciate his wisdom.

So think of the father's in your life. Find a great way to thank them. If they have passed, do them a favor and hug their sweetheart for them.

Happy Fathers Day!