O.K. so I still can't firgure out how to down load the pictures from our new camera so I have refused to blog about our daily lives. What fun is that without pics? We are still in the world, we are still living in the same (fabulous) house, driving the same (awesome) vehicles, still busy-busy-busy!

Kade made an Excellerated Baseball (GO RENEGADES) team and we lived at the ball park the end of Spring first of Summer. He practiced 4-5 hours a week and had double headers every Saturday. I loved it! There is nothing better in the Spring than: the feel of a cool breeze, the smell of freshly cut grass, the sight of red dirt stained baseball pants, the taste of sunflower seeds (only David Early for me). I love watching Kade get amped for every game, hit the ball, steal bases, laugh with newly made friends, cherish his uniform, admire his coaches, get excited when his dad comes home so that they can head over to the ball fields to hit balls (even though he has 2-3 practices a week). He is the ALL AMERICAN KID! His new nickname is WHEELS, the kids is so fast. His position is CENTER FIELD because he can make it to left or right before the ball, he can steal any base any time.

Kade ran in the school Hershey Track race and placed 1st in the 50m and 100m. The new HS track coach wanted him on the city track team but the practices and meets were the same time and days as baseball so we graciously declined. Kade was very disappointed. Hershey Track District Invitational, that's correct, he was invited to the regional track meet at Provo HS. He took 3rd in the 50m and 6th in the 100m. We were so proud of him! He was an alternate for State but we were in Yellowstone so we were not able to attend. Can you say WHEELS?

We vacationed in Yellowstone seeing: bald eagles and young, a cinnamon grizzly, a black bear, elk-elk-elk, bison-bison-bison (young calfs trying to cautiously walk across the street was hilarious and darling), geysers, gorgeous thick pines, wolves, cranes, geese, water falls, crAzY foriegners (they I am certain thought the same about us), old faithful, amish (yes amish. Kade is obsessed with Weird Al's song Amish Paradise... so when we arrived at Old Faithful and Matt saw an elderly Amish couple he just couldn't wait to point them out to Kade. Even funnier-Kade didn't know what Amish people looked like so the joke was on Matt), lions-tigers and bears oh my. We rode an 8 seater bike. It was hilarious and the adults were sore the next morning packing all of the kids on the bike. We were a sight. I became a professional photographer at the 'YELLOWSTONE' sign just before entering the park. We stopped to get our own picture and while waiting for the rest of our group to join I ended up taking group photos of every vehicle that stopped to do the same. Matt laughed his head off.

We have lived in the mountains this summer; camping in our new trailer, fishing, hiking, riding hundreds of miles on the 4 wheelers, eating yummy treats, staying up all night playing card games and watching movies, and laughing our heads off- yes off.

Matt works with a wonderful Pharmacist who has a gorgeous garden and asked if we could come pick raspberries- could we??? Oh YES! I have been twice now and made 4 batches of jam. They are beautiful- red, ripe, sweet, lushous, beautiful, mouthwatering yummy.

I have been busy getting all arrangements needed finalized for our cities Children's Parade - which I happily/excitedly accepted to chair again this year. I can hardly wait! We are NOT doing it around our little knoll at the pond. We are actually having a PARADE- cheerleaders from our new HS, football players from our new HS, the cities youth council, a fire-truck, an ambulance, police, BACA motorcycles, kids-kids-kids. I am so excited. If you want to support us, know what city I am talking about... then come. We have the best city days EVER! Our fireworks ROCK, they are better than Stadium of Fire hands down.

We are currently packing, baking, cleaning (I NEVER leave without my home in order for vaca), shopping for our next trip... BEAR LAKE here we come. We go every year, with the exception of 1 year for the past 12 years. How can you not go, how can you not love the beaches, the HOT blistering sun, the freezing cold water, the yummy hamburger joints that sell their famous raspberry shakes. We are hoping to find the caves and do some exploring.

This is where we stay every year... Ideal Beach!
This is the view coming out of the canyon heading to Bear Lake... why we love it so!

We are also ramping up to play co-ed softball. I am so excited to break in my new cleats that my boys gave me for mothers day (only wish they were pink) and my new softball mit. Go Blue-Sox!

what can i give...

i was watching a recording of oprah (used to love her, now i can take her or leave her) a couple of weeks ago that has stayed on my mind and in my heart ever since. it was about people giving back during this crAzY economic crisis we find ourselves in. she had a little one that collects new toys for children who are victims of house fires, a little one that collects new socks for the homeless, a couple that retired-bought a hotel-and have now turned it into a shelter for people down on their luck, a man that is a mechanic who now fixes up what we might call 'clunckers' and sells them for the repair parts to individuals with no car who are looking for work- single mothers- etc, a dr. and his wife in arkansas that open a free clinic twice a week for their community whose population is 2,000 and half are uninsured, a woman that helps people get their homes back when they are in jeoporady of loosing them, and a little one that has an official lemonade stand and donates the proceeds to cancer in her cousins name.

i cried my eyes out watching this episode and feeling the spirit so strongly that i need to help MY neighbors, those in MY community, those in MY country. there is so much to be done, so much that can be given.

often i wonder what i, a small town girl in a small town community can do to give back... i still wonder. i used to think- i don't have time- i don't have extra money- i don't know what i can do other than donate to the scouting food drive every fall- surely there must be something! i am here to admit... i am still looking.

i am on my wards enrichment committee and a couple of months ago we had a training/planning meeting. during which i recommended that we do a swap (now called the shop -n- swap) where families go through their homes pulling clothing, housewares, home decor, tools, etc. and swap with others. my moms stake did this years ago and it was amazing. we are hosting our 1st annual shop -n- swap in august. but what else can i do?

last week one of my dearest childhood friends, lana told me that her family is doing a weekly summer service project in the community- why didn't i think of this? she is my hero.

it is ridiculous to think that i can't do something when oprah had even little ones on. they are my example, they are my light, they feed my soul with growth that i as a grown woman need so desperately.

calling all cars...

In the few short years we have lived in our small town we have had the police at our door step '5' times. crAzY, we are law abiding citizens and we think every encounter is commical:




1~Kade riding his motorbike around the block

2~parking our trailer on the road, it was sold and we were waiting for the new owner to pick it up

3~riding our 4 wheelers through the neighborhood, funning thing it was us but the neighbor that made the complaint told police that it was our little next door neighbors that were 6 and 4.

4~I locked my keys (and the spare) in my car and needed help, only in a small town will the Cheif of Police come to your home to assist in opening your car

5~last but not least and certainly the best story:

In May I was helping my dad paint his new office while Kade was in school. One morning I sent Kade off to school, put on my painting clothes and my favorite Red Sox hat and heading off to Provo. Fast forward to 3:20 PM, I pulled in the garage, came in the house, saw that Kade beat me home, yelled "hello", sat down at the island and proceeded to go through our mail. About 10 minutes goes by and the next thing I hear was my front door slamming shut. I yelled 'hello' again and got no response. Then I starting thinking perhaps it wasn't shut tight and the wind blew it but, no wind. Then I thought maybe Kade and a friend came running in, as I was getting up to go check it out the phone rang. It was Matt asking if I knew where Kade was (I am thinking weird), I told him that I didn't and that I was just going to look for him. He starts to tell me that Kade is at the next door neighbors because he got scared. During our conversation I am walking out the garage and see a histerical Kade, my neighbor and her kids and wouldn't you know it, a police officer.

Here is Kade's side of the story: he came home from school, got a snack and went into my bedroom to watch a cartoon. He hears the barstool slide out, but doesn't know I am home. He sneaks out and peeks into the kitchen to see who it is. All he can see is a blue hat and khaki pants. He tip-toes back into my bedroom to call his dad. Matt tells him to get out of the house and go straight to the neighbors. Kade sneaks to the front door, slowly opens it, and while he is tearing out of the house he slams the door shut. He runs to the neighbors bawling his eyes out. She calls the police and within two minutes they are at her doorstep questioning Kade and getting ready to come to my house when I walk out.

The office and neighbor both tell me that Kade discribed me to a "T", saying that I was in my 20's (thank you little man), khaki pants, blue hat, sitting at the island eating. hee hee The officer got down on one knee trying to console Kade and telling him that he did exactly as he should have and that he was proud of Kade for getting out of the house.

Kade asked why I was wearing a hat, 'because mom you never wear hats'.

Up

On the last day of school I took Kade to see Up. The commercials made it look hilarious, with that darling little old man and chubby sweet little boy. However, after getting loaded up with treats, finding seats, snuggling in, lights out for the theater and me. That's right I fell asleep. It had nothing to do with the movie. I was exhausted. Staying up late and waking up early are not for me. I will resume my old routine and hopefully not miss anymore movies.

Earth Day

This year Kade and I went to the local green house and I gave him free rein to choose seeds for our garden. He loved it, and surprised me with some of his choices: spinach, corn, celery, radishes, peas, cucumbers and pumpkins.





Wednesday came and after school we played in the dirt planting all of them while Matt tilled the garden. Once our seeds sprout we will transplant them to the garden. Happy harvesting.

The rest of SPRING BREAK...

Well, we woke up to rain and it quickly turned to...

it looked like Christmas, Matt didn't find it cute or funny when I started singing "Let it Snow". We always have dreams of warm, sunny weather for spring break but not this year, we had snow! I find it beautiful but spring break- are you kidding me? What happened to warm breezes, light shadows, budding blossoms, and sunburns?

The Nickelcade was a blast and we ended up not going shopping. The kids won a bazillion tickets and cashed them in for candy, braclets, bouncy balls, the works. After playing games all afternoon we hit the local Wendy's for a late lunch. Matt and the kids thought is was hilarious getting into a food fight. Thank heavens we were sitting in the back and none of the workers caught them. YES, I made them pick it all up before leaving.

Thursday I took the girls to get their hair done. Sadie opted for long, golden curls and Elise chose to get her hair cut. They are darling! Elise loves her new hair cut and and talked her mom into getting her an outrageous flat iron! While the girls were getting pampered I got a pedicure and it was relaxing. Katie was darling and a blast to visit with. She did an amazing job, aaaah.

Friday I worked at the shop, cleaning walls and touching up more paint. Kade and Nicholas played around the shop and then left with Jerid. They played in the 'pond' in Jerid's back yard, played with the ducks, chickens and dogs. Kade had a blast! Thanks Jerid!

Saturday was ball, ball, ball! Kade had two ball games, which equalled about five hours at the ball park. He walked every time he was up to bat. Poor kid, he was wanting to 'kill' the ball every time he got up. Our next two months of Saturdays will be spent at the park. I can't wait, baseball is one of the best sports. Go RENEGADES!
IF I COULD GET MY PICTURES TO DOWNLOAD I WOULD BE SO HAPPY!

SPRING BREAK day #1

The boys were getting ready for their annual Robbers Roost trip but due to typical Utah weather this is what we have been enjoying off and on for days.

What is Robbers Roost?

It was a popular hideout for outlaws such as: Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and many others. It is in Southeastern Utah. Butch Cassidy considered it the perfect hideout because the law had a very difficult time getting through. My boys go every year for the 16+ mile hike, repeling, purifying fresh water, sleeping on the hard dry earth under the stars, 4 wheeling and just being boys.

Since the weather is not 'spring break' weather (yet it is typical Utah weather) they have decided to postpone the trip for a couple of weeks. I must say since kade has been fighting some bug for several days I am relieved to know that he can have this time to get 100% before journeying the outlaw trail.

With all of that said, Matt is taking the boys to...

And I am taking the girls SHOPPING!!!