A Good Dose of "Grandma Medicine"

 Today we are in St. George getting a good dose of "Grandma medicine!"

 We drove down here Sunday evening, stayed in a hotel, and had Grandma Panter come stay with us!

 We slept in and then headed out on the town for a fun day with Grandma.❤

 First we stopped at McDonald's for a bite of food, and then we stopped at this carousel for a magical ride on a horse... and of course this brought all smiles! (Which was much needed for the grumpy 2 year old that I gave life too😑... sometimes she can be exhausting!) Thank goodness for "Grandma medicine!"

 After a fun ride on the carousel, we were heading into the Children's Museum when the girls heard the happiest sound of songs being sung from the movie "Frozen!"

 They found where the sound was coming from, found a comfy seat, and listened and watched as a young group of performers were entertaining the crowd...

 As soon as they were done, we went in and played in the museum for a couple of hours... so much fun for the girls!

 After the museum we went to see the movie Hotel Transylvania 3, then went and did a little school shopping at the outlets, got a truffle from the Chocolate factory, went to dinner at the Pizza Pie Cafe, stopped at Target for coloring books and arm floaties, and then headed back to the pool to swim!!!

(Wow, that sounds like an exhausting day!)

 Swimming was just what we needed to end the hot play day with Grandma... it made Kesslyn soooo happy! Sometimes I just can't figure out her moods and her personality, so when she is genuinely happy, I consider it a good day...

 ... and by the looks of this genuine smile...I would definitely say it was a good good day!💕thanks for the love Grandma!

Adventures at the Cabin

 We found ourselves up at the cabin on Saturday feeding carrots to the horses and petting them... taking time to get to know them...

 They are kind horses and seem pretty mellow... they were very friendly, especially when they saw we had carrots!😊

 Kesslyn kept trying to walk underneath them (because that's just her height), but we had to explain that probably wasn't the safest thing to do...

 All of the kids loved seeing the horses, but especially the girls.  Kesslyn kept asking if she could "ride the horsey" so grandpa found a rope to tie around its neck, and then we lifted her up! She was all smiles and didn't want to get down!

 Kambriella wanted to join her little sister so we got them both up there! They were in heaven!!! Princess (that's what the kids call her) decided she wanted to take them for a walk, and took a quick walking pace that made my heart beat pretty quick...I kept telling the girls,"I'm going to pull you off if she decides to start running!" I'm just not used to horses, and although it felt safe, my instincts told me to be prepared to protect them if I needed to!"

 It was fun and we all had a great time. 

Then, the next round of fun began!!! Our new tractor arrived!!! Clint was so excited for this to come! Now he just needs a pair of overalls and cowboy boots! (Those were HIS words!!!😉)

 The tractor is perfect for us. Not too big, and we also bought all of the right attachments...a chipper(for all of the fallen branches), a plow (for the snow), and a mower!

 Clint had so much fun learning all about how to use it, and now he can't wait to go back and really give it a go...

He would have used it more, but it started raining buckets while they were there so he didn't do too much...

 While the boys were busy learning about the tractor, I was inside rearranging and making room for our stereo that we brought up with a CD player. I love music and since there's not much cell service out there, the CD's will bring great fun to our already fun place!

 We also purchased a new dining table and got it set up, but only half of it is here! The other pieces that go to it won't arrive for another couple of months! But when they do, we will be able to seat 14 people around this table!!! Perfect for Thanksgiving this year!😍 This farmhouse style table from the Magnolia Farms collection is going to be the center of a lot of family gatherings and it was something that I really wanted to have nice. It means a lot to me to gather the family and having a beautiful space to do it in is even better!💕

 As we finished up everything and the rain let up, we looked out the window and saw a beautiful double rainbow! It made me so happy!!! I felt like Heavenly Father was sending us His love, and it was the perfect way to end the day.

Family is our Favorite

 I LOVE taking Clint out to lunch! 

1) It's a great excuse to see him and get his undivided attention!

and 2) It gets him to sit down for a few minutes to refuel his body and mind from all of the high demand that is always on him while he is at work. The kids love taking him out too and they don't really get to do it that often because of school, so summer time is the time to make it happen!And so we did!

We also went to Bountiful to visit family, and went to Pat's Dancewear. Dallin needed Jazz shoes for his MDT performing class at the High School, and Kambriella needed some new leotards for dance since she keeps growing and growing! The boys made good use of their time playing checkers just outside the store while Kambriella was busy trying on her things. We also went to Scheels and rode the Ferris Wheel and got some of their famous fudge. I just LOVE summer time and doing what we want with our days...I am kind of freaking out that summer is coming to an end! ;( We will continue to take in each moment that we can and build our relationships and memories strong!

It's going to be another fun weekend and to start it off just right...here is a cute picture of our FAVORITE missionary...

Isn't he so cute!!! :) :) :)

And he got new shooooes!!!! :) :) :) :)

 We love and miss you so much Anziano Trickett!!!

The "Big Move" Has Begun!

It's the beginning of the Big Move!

The new building is not quite done, but the work must go on.

The employees have begun trekking their tool boxes and power tools over to the new location, cars have begun to fill the shop, and all the while this "man in charge" remains strong and steady with a smile on his face and a BIG hug for his favorite people each night when he arrives home. :)

We are one lucky family.

He is one amazing man! :)

Pioneer Day!

 Pioneer Day was fun with this crowd! :)

We went bowling, and ate lots of fries while we did it...

Kesslyn wasn't too sure about what we were doing at first, and then after she got the hang of it, her turn couldn't come back around fast enough! ;)

 She did great with the assistance of her awesome siblings and the ball cart..;)

I think she cared more about actually rolling the ball than anything else! She never really stayed around long enough to see just how many pins she was able to knock over...she just walked away with a smile of satisfaction as soon as the ball was on its way!

 Kambriella did great too and had lots of fun!

 Dallin and Gavin seemed pretty comfortable and natural at it while Anson was just a goof! Throwing the ball backwards and between his legs...don't ask me how he got such a good score doing all the crazy stuff that he did!?! But even better...looked who tied for 1st...KESSLYN! She did great. :)

I was proud to come in last as I gave most of my turns to everyone else for a "practice throw" or just a chance for a goof shot! My back does NOT like how it feels after a round of bowling so I just mostly enjoyed watching and cheering everyone on. ;)

 Later we went to Coldstone and had ice~cream, played around for a little while, and then when Clint got home we went for a drive to pick up our new table that we bought for our cabin! By the time we get it all put together we should be able to seat 14 people around it!!! Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about!!! The more the merrier, right?? If it wouldn't have sold out so fast I probably would have bought 2 of them!

We also went to HuHot for dinner, one of our favorite places!

Then as we rolled in to the house late that night, I received THIS picture with a text from Kierra!

NOTHING could have made me happier than to see that my sweet Kids took a few minutes out of their vacation to go and see my sweet mom!!! I KNOW how much this meant to her and I KNOW that they probably have no idea what a gift that was to her...THANK YOU Kierra and Riley for stopping to see Grandma!!! I love you guys and am so happy that you are having such a fun vacation together!

Safe and Loving Harbors

 Yesterday these cute kids all got a new haircut! They wee feeling "fine and fresh" according to Gavin...;)

They are such good kids and we have all had a good summer doing fun things together. The haircuts were an early reminder though of the "back to school" mentality that is just around the corner...Uggh!!

Also, last night, one of my former young women needed a safe place to rest her head...so she showed up with all of her belongings piled into this ONE suitcase...my heart is going out to her...

She has had such a rough go at life, and things just haven't been easy at all. But, I know that there is hope...especially when we stick together as sisters in the gospel. There really is peace in Christ and together with Him we can do all things.

I am eternally grateful for this loving and happy home, and for these "safe harbors."

The kids dished her up a bowl of ice~cream after family home evening, and talked to her and made her smile...I'm so glad that these children of mine are getting these first hand experiences that are teaching them about what ministering really looks like and that they are learning all about what matters most. 

It's all about people.

Also, just for the record...Clint came home from work and began telling me all about a conversation that he had with one of his employees yesterday.

He said that he was asked, "Boss, are you a millionaire?"

Clint said that was a funny question and that it didn't really matter...he replied that he had millions in assets, but could they guess which one was his most valuable??

As this employee began naming "things" Clint told him that he was way off track...

He then pulled out his phone and showed him his screen saver...

It was this picture of me.

He told me how he told this man that this beautiful wife was his greatest asset and nothing was more important to him than me.

I almost started crying when he told me this. I knew that it was true and I have always felt that way about him, and have always believed he truly feels that way about me.

"The funny thing was..." Clint said, " was when I told him that you have loved me ever since the beginning and even when I had nothing. You love me for me, and not for what I can give you, and it's always been that way!"

He was so proud and it made me feel sooooo good. I can't explain it or put it into words, but trust me when I say that I KNOW that I am loved and I am so very grateful for the eternal marriage that I have to my very best friend!

Service, Family, Friends and Fun!

 Who's that way up in the tree???

It's Dallin the lumberjack, can't you see?? ;)

 When a neighbor has a need and they send a phone call, 

we show up for some help in directing a "tree fall!"

 Our elderly neighbors, the Siler's had a tree that they needed to take down, so Dallin climbed up and fastened a rope that they tied on to the back of a truck, used a chain saw to cut, and then they directed the tree to fall. Then Clint and Dallin helped with clearing the branches that their grandsons were going to take care of the next day.

It was quite exciting if I do say so myself!

Kesslyn helped the other neighbor (which is her nursery leader, Paula Everill) water her plants while all of the excitement was going on...much more her speed than all of those noisy chainsaws!!! 

 After the service project we headed to Leatherby's for dinner, but honestly I did NOT like my dinner. Thank goodness the dessert made up for it!

 Kesslyn liked the ice~cream, but still preferred the lemons to anything else! She is the funniest little thing! I just don't know how she can handle those lemons!!!

 Dinner time with the kids always consists of some sort of entertainment too...this particular night it was the lemon eating AND the spoon balancing on Kambriella's nose! ;)

Sunday we went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Trickett's house to celebrate Uncle Curt's birthday! Kesslyn and her little cousin Eila loved playing together in their "castle!"

 Cousin time is always such FUN time!!!

 We had a fun night with everyone and even played a competitive game of HORSE that I lost too very badly...;)

But it was also a fun weekend of updates from Kierra and Riley while on their trip to California to celebrate their 1st anniversary! I was mostly surprised when I received these 2 pictures from my good friend April who "happened" to run into Kierra at Disneyland!!!

 Kierra and Riley know all too well what I mean when I say, 

"It's a small world after all...it's a small, small world!"

Needless to say it made my mama heart so very happy to see that there was yet another person there to love on my girl...

 I love that they are having such a wonderful time together on their trip, but more importantly, in their LIFE!!!

They were made for each other and are doing so well and are just so so happy together. Once again it just makes my mama heart soooo happy!!!! I'm pretty sure that where ever they are together, it really is the HAPPIEST place on earth! (At least for them.;)

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Happy Monday!

Pickle Ball at the Park

 Last night the Elders Quorum hosted a Pickle Ball night at a park in Herriman that was A-Maze-ing!!!

We all had fun playing against each other in the cooler summer evening air...but as soon as it was over the kids ran off to explore the most A-Mazing playground ever!!!

WARNING:

THESE PICTURES ARE HIGH ACTION SHOTS AND EXTREMELY BLURRY...

MAY CAUSE NAUSEA (I mean kind of like if you were really on that amazing merry-go-round!!!;)

Dallin pushed Kesslyn on these swings that made you feel like you were on a ride at Lagoon...:)

 ...and then all of the kids RACED up these slides and then RACED back down! They were loving them and had the time of their lives! Kesslyn even got in my face and screamed at me,

 "I'M HAVING SOOO MUCH FUN!!!" :)

As soon as I would see them coming out of the slide I would hurry and take a picture, but they were so fast that they were already heading back up again by the time it actually took!!! They LOVED these slides!!!

They also loved climbing this bungee tower that was on top of this merry-go-round...Yaaaa.....I got on with Kambriella for just a half a second before I was pretty sure I was gonna throw up!

How do these kids do it??

 Kesslyn racing back up the tower..:)

 ...and she's back down...

...and she's off again!!!

It was such a fun night and we stayed there and played until it was dark and we couldn't see anymore! They even had zip lines that the kids were riding in the dark that started making me kind of nervous just because you couldn't really see the other people in the dark and we didn't want anyone to get hurt, so we called it a night. A very good night.

I love family time and summer nights...2 things that just go together!!!

Happy weekend!