California

I got back a week or so ago from a wonderfully relaxing weekend with my sisters. We met up in Newport Beach for 4 days. We played at the beach, ate yummy food, worked out, laughed hysterically, read...basically anything we felt like doing. It would have been more fun with our husbands, but they were all home taking care of the kids. So many of you know that my two sisters have been models. So, when you look at these pictures it is pretty obvious. I don't know how to act serious while taking a picture.
Kirsten and Heather cleaning the sand off their feet at Newport Beach.

Kirsten looks perfect in every picture. I just tried to have fun.
This was taken at the second hotel we stayed at.

Heather was totally obsessed with gathering shampoos/conditioners and lotions from the hotel. If one of the cleaning ladies turned their backs she filled her pockets. Heather thought her daughters would love them for "prizes".

I love my sisters. We are a a bit different, and a lot alike. It is so easy to be with the 2 of them. It was too funny to hear Kirsten call her GPS "a liar" as she is swerving thru traffic with the music blasting. I was happy to have my seat belt on and just had to laugh.

When Marshall picked me up at the airport with 3 of my girls I couldn't stop laughing as I told them the hilarious things that happend while we were in Newport Beach. I couldn't catch my breath and my tears were streaming down my face. I think having my girls see that sisters are friends that you will keep forever and I hope cultivate that relationship through the years.

Where I have been.

Well, I have had requests to update my blog...okay, just one (Juli), but it is about time.

I have been busy running...I just ran my first half marathon last weekend in Richland, WA along the Columbia River and it was beautiful. During the 10th mile it got tough, but I got through it just fine. The training was fun, but now I am ready to hit the gym again. Running has gotten a little boring and some other muscles need attention again. This is Keirra and I finishing up. I look like I am about die...not the most attractive picture.

While in the tri-cities area we were able to visit the LDS temple on this windy day. I am so thankful for the blessings of the temple. To know that my family can be together forever is a gift.

My other running buddy, Tiffany. Tiff's family came and played around with us for two days. Nothing like taking 9 kids to the mall while the men were at Priesthood session...we survived. That might have been more difficult than the run!

Mine and most of Tiffany's kids in front of the temple.

This next picture might look abusive, but it is Emily's invention as we were driving 4 hours home on Sunday afternoon. This was a "head rest".

I have also been busy getting the Primary Program organized to be performed later this month. It is one of my favorite Sundays of the year to hear the kids (ages 3-11) do the songs and all the talks for our Sunday meeting.
I also started coaching my daughter, Hannah's, indoor soccer team. We decided on "Wildcats". Games start in a week or so, but for now we are having a great time practicing. They love to scrimage, but I had to get them out of the habbit of asking to play a "fake game". It is called a scrimage!
Hannah took this picture outside when she was playing in the yard with her sisters who are also on a team. This is an exciting year for me...4 out of the 5 kids on a soccer team...and they love it!

Bunnies in the park

The girls and I frequently go to the park while Tyler is at soccer practice nearby. Tonight there was a family there with their several rabbits. 3 adults and about 5 newborns. My girls went crazy except Samantha who wasn't too sure about them. The owner wouldn't let the girls hold the babies, because if they get an unfamiliar scent on them their mother might reject them and refuse to feed them. So we just looked at the cute wee ones.
Hannah, Sara and Samantha

The babies all snuggling together.

Hannah protecting her baby sister, Samantha from the red-eyed rabbits.

Emily by the little ones, wanting so badly to pick one up.

Sara and Hannah couldn't stay away. Emily, Samantha and I went over to play, but these two stayed near the animals.

By the way my kids all love their teachers this year and are having fun so far!

American Lake with Smith Cousins

It was over 100 degrees out the day we went boating on American Lake with my favorite Blackner...now Smith, Stephanie. I have never been on the lake with wind rushing by, soaking wet, and still hot! Crazy summer weather in WA.




Samantha and cousin Hewitt


Thomas(Stephanie), Savannah (Heather), Sara(mine) and Eliza (Heather)



Sara and Emily on the boat-Hannah and cousing Emma in the back

Sara and Eliza tubing...this looks like pure bliss.

The night before I drove the kids to UT my favorite little brother, Stephen, flew into town. I got to pick him up from the airport and see him for about an hour. Can you believe he wore scrubs to his mother in laws 50th birthday party?! Funny kid. We always have a great time and it was over WAY too soon.

Seattle

All of these fun activities in one day! I am so tired, but since I love Heather(my sister) I am adding these photos so she can see her girls while they are here in WA. We went up to Seattle, rode the monorail over to the Pacific Science center, did most of the exhibits, went out to the fountain and got wet and ate lunch, rode the rides at the carnival, rode the monorail back, got some delicious tarts, cookies, and crepes at westlake center, shopped, got some pie at Marie Callenders, and headed home for a sleepover with one more cousin we picked up on the way, Katie! I did drop Tyler off with them so there are still only 8 kids down here. 5 at my house tonight and 3 at Grandmas.

Arriving in Seattle for a day of fun.


The girls minus Eliza and Samantha. Eliza and Tyler offered up the last tickets to the other kids. So sweet of them. Trust me, they didn't miss out on a thing!


Sara too short for some of the rides. She cried...a little.


Emma and Tyler getting off the ride.


Science Center-Tyler and Eliza were pretending to be in the movie.


Space Needle with the 8 kids


Fountain in Seattle near key arena


Emma and Sara enjoying cotton candy and the view.

Life with 8 kids

Tyler is used to being outnumbered, but it has gotten ridiculous. My sister, Heather, sent her 3 oldest daughters out to WA from GA for 2 weeks. Poor Tyler and 7girls! We are finishing off our first week and it is finally becoming bearable. It helped that he was gone for 3 days this week to scout camp.

Here are some of the things we have been doing to make fun memories for the girls and boy.

Seattle Temple visit. We all love to visit the beautiful temple grounds. The kids ran around, reverently of course ;)

Hannah and Emma freezing on this JULY day.

Samantha has always loved the statues outside of the temple. She has hugged and kissed them for as long as I can remember.

Eliza was dancing like a freak to the music from her tic tacs. It doesn't take very much to get a smile like this out of the girls.

Savannah's tic tac dance

Favorite restaurant to go to with the kids in Gig Harbor-enjoying gelato!

Made a swing with a jump rope and stick in the backyard

Emma and Hannah BCF = best cousins forever (at least that is what they have written)

Emma and Hannah handstands

Eliza, Sara and Savannah getting some sun

Hannah floating

We have much more planned, but honestly they would be happy in an empty room if they had each other. They giggle all day long...well, most of the time.

My summer.

Cub scout camp is on my mind. It is next week, and it will be a blast. Tyler is going as one of the scout leaders. I have to tie dye the shirts with the boys. I know about the rubber bands, but I was thinking about spraying the dye on with spray bottles instead of immersing them in the buckets. It seems so much easier. Is that lame of me? I bought RIT dye and I am hoping the shirts aren't too pastel looking with just the spray. Any thoughts? I will try one out later today.
I just finished icing my ankle for the first time ever. I woke up this morning with it popping all over with some pain. I work out all the time so I know it is strong, but now I have to stay off it for today at least. Bummer. Last night I was running through a neighborhood, in flip flops, looking for someones house. There are steep hills and I think that might have set my ankle back. Dumb, I know, but I was determined to find the house, and there was a barrier so I couldn't bring my car with me!
One more hour and Tyler and I are going to see HARRY POTTER. It is our date. Good memories for me and my 11 yr old.

Picture day!

Our new best friend, Kjrsten, took some fun pictures with us last week. We are so thankful for her sharing her vacation time with us.
First off we tried to re-create our engagement picture 14 years later. Can you tell which is which? 1995 or 2009



Kjrsten was so fun with the kids and they actually had a great time taking pictures...imagine that! She is so talented with the camera and with kids.

a little update

We went up to the Pacific Science Center in Seattle yesterday. It seems like the kids and I have been going non-stop since summer started on Monday, and I love it. Emily just had to hold this nasty cockroach. No one else would get near it.

Emily loves to climb anything. At Sara's last tball game Emily was climbing the chain from the swings at the park over and over again. She has got some tough hands...and strong muscles! I don't know what we would do without our fun Emily around.

Tyler's report card came in the mail today and......all A's!! He is so excited for his $20 and I am taking him and a friend to the go carts. He is so happy about that. This is a picture I took right after he got his braces on two weeks ago. He WAS so happy to get them until about an hour later he started to hate them. Poor guy, I remember those days.