Goodbye Gym... Hello Provo Canyon

Jackson has recently hit his "stranger anxiety" stage. Since he was born I have been taking him to my Gym daycare so that I can get my workout in during the day. Unfortenately the past few weeks have not been going to well. He crys as soon as we pull up to the building (knowning exactly what is going to happen) and then crys pretty much the whole time I am gone. So, I have decided to take a break from the gym and have headed out into nature to get my workout. I have found a great trail that goes up provo canyon. It follows along the Provo River and is always full of bikers, walkers, runners, moms with babies, roller bladers, you name it! The past couple times I have pulled out my roller blades and challenged myself to the never ending uphill climb and the terrible head winds. Even though I always feel like I am going to die by the time I finish, I love doing it. And thank goodness the canyon is so beautiful, and gives me something to look at and enjoy as I go along.

My little boy

The past few Jackson has started to practice eating with a spoon. He loves it! He has to have a spoon or fork with every meal now, even if he is just having finger foods. In the picture above he is having shrek yogurt - what a mess!!! It is so fun to see him learn and develop. He is growing up so fast. At times I love that he is become more and more independant, but then I also wish I could freeze time and he would stay like this forever.

Happy 4th of July!!!

HaPpY 4th oF juLy !!!

I love the 4th of July! It has always been a big holiday in my family. My moms side of the family comes into town and we fill our days will fun and laughter! So far this year has been a blast...

Monday - we went to 7 peaks and baked in the sun all day. The kids loved the water, even Jackson which is a huge shocker! That night we went to The Brick Oven for dinner, yummy pizza.

Tuesday - we went and rode the Carousel at the Zermont in Midway and had their most amazing Gilatto. Once we got back home the weather was so incredibly hot we pulled out the slip-in-slide and kid pool for the boys to cool off. Henry loved the slip-in-slide, while, Jack of course hated it. But Jack did like the pool and hose... I think he is beginning to warm up to H20 summer fun.... thank goodness! That night everyone went and saw "Ratatouie" (sp?). Of course they loved it. We passed on the movie - too late for little Jack.

Wednesday - We went out on the boat. The Lake was crazy crowded so we just put down the anchor and the boys all got in and cooled off for a bit. It was so relaxing! We then headed back to my parents house in Heber for our traditional BBQ. All the cousins, aunts and uncles are there. We have so much fun eating great food and laughing about past memories. That night we all dress up and head for the best event of all... The Oakley Rodeo!

From right to left: my uncle greg, cousin cody, husband scott, and cousin camden.















Top: My cousin Nikki's little boy, Marhsall.
Bottom: My nephew Henry.

These boys LOVE corn on the cob!

The Oakley Rodeo...

Jackson loved walking around and picking up all the rocks. He says the word "rock" but it is so funny because he rolls the "ck" in the back of his throat like he is saying the word rock in french.

Jackson did a great job. I was pleasantly surprised at how well he did and how much he enjoyed watching the horses and bulls. He loved watching the horses jult out of their cages, the bull riding, and the fireworks!

My sisters! From left to right: Cami, McCall, Candice, and Melissa

Don't forget our one and only brother, Miles! He is such a stud. Man did we teach him right!

Oh no! Here are the boys posing as the "Broke Back Mountain 4-Some"

Right to left:

Adorable Adam

Magnificent Miles

Sensuous Scott

Dreamboat Dave

ha ha ha a ah ah a... that's so funny that's so funny!

LAKE POWELL

This past week was sooo much fun! We went to Lake Powell with my family and some of their good friends from Heber. I have not been to Lake Powell for the longest time. We had a blast water-skiing, wakeboarding, surfing, cliff jumping, eating the best food in the world, and getting tan!

* Try to notice what Scott did to his hair... special... just for the trip. Should I still claim his as mine?

The cliff jumping was awesome... a few of us were brave and went off a 45 foot cliff... ahhhhh! Of course Scott being the diver that he is pulled a back flip off it, twice. We also both jumped off together. It was such a rush - our feet were so hot on the rocks we just went for it. I didn't even have time to think or check out the distance. It was insane! The other smaller ones (about 10-30 ft) were fun too. Pretty much everyone was out there. Even the little 5 and 7 year olds!

For some reason every time I jumped off a cliff I would plug my nose. I have never been a nose plugger, but I guess I am now?

The video really does not do this cliff justice. It was so dang high - so high that your whole body aches when you hit the water. I have been of the 10 meter platform for diving - that doesn't even compare to this. It was crazy!

I believe this will become a new summer tradition for my family. I loved every second of it, and Jackson did great! I am already looking forward to next summer.

Good & Bad

Life in the month of June has been pretty exciting so far.
1. My little sister Cami graduated from high school
2. My older sister Melissa came in town for a week with her little boy Henry and new little one Jetta Jane (just 3 months old). We went to the lake 3 times, spent an afternoon on the Heber Creeper, hiked at Cascade Springs, and ate a ton of food!
3. Currently my mother-in-law is in town. This is always a treat, she loves to spoil her grandkids. Tomorrow we will be going to the toy store so she can buy them each a special gift.
4. And the best of June begins on Tuesday.... LAKE POWELL!!! I can't wait to spend my week laying in the sun (with sunscreen of course) and the unlimited skiing is always my favorite!

Bad news for the month of June.
1. Our camera was stolen.
2. Our home computer went out.
3. Our vacumm stopped working.
4. A piece of one of my back molars broke off.
5. Money does not grow on trees for us!

All in all - this month has brought a lot of good with a lot of bad. Thankfully the bad can all be fixed! We replaced the computer and the vacuum. I am on my way tomorrow to get a new camera and when I am home from Lake Powell I will go in to have my back molar fixed.

ALL OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

There are so many things that I have realized I just CANNOT live with out!

1. My sweet baby Jackson
2. A loving husband
3. Water-skiing!
4. Strawberries and Artichokes
5. Comfortable Clothes - sweats, t-shirts, slippers....
6. Pacifiers! (precious peace and quite)
7. A good chick flick. The Holiday, How To Loose A Guy in 10 Days, Titanic!
8. The MALL. I love the MALL.
9. Sugar. I know it is so bad for the body and teeth - but I have to admit, I am a sugar-addict!
10. My knowledge of the gospel and the peace it brings to my life. I love Gordon B. Hinckley!

I love to laugh, and here are a few things that keep laughter in my life.

1. Anything and everything about Jackson
2. My crazy husband
3. My crazy husband and his crazy brother (Brad) together
4. Aspen Grove memories and Neil Diamond!
5. High School (can anyone say PARTY AT TRACIES?)
6. My two favorite neices - Abbie and Lille... "its so funny, its so funny"!
7. The Gorilla Mask (I guess laugh and cry at the same time)
8. The Office.... need I say more?
9. Newly married couples and their hormones... ?
10. I have to say it again, anything and everything about Jackson!

Thank you to all of you who keep things like this in my life.... you make me happy!

May Book Reading

Alright everyone, it is the beginning of June which means time to update you on what I read for May. This month was a little different than last. The books I read were not necessarily "fun & interesting". Rather they had alot of good and needed information.

The first book I read was "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus" by John Gray, Ph.D. In a weird way I have always wanted to read this book. I think I was curious about what was between the pages. We all know men and women are dramatically different, and as we get married it becomes even more so! My sister-in-law Jaime told me she and Brad had read it and how funny it was to say... "do you really think like that?". So I decided to take on the mystery and see what this John Gray had to say.
It is actually very interesting and funny at the same time. Now when I stupidly get frusterated at Scott for simply responding a certain way (the male way) - I understand why I get frusterated. So for those of you that are curious why men are the way they are and why women are the way we are - read this book. It is very entertaining!

The second book was given to me for Mothers Day, it is "I Am a Mother" by Jane Clayson Johnson. All I can say is AMAZING! It is so uplifting and insipiring as she talks about how women should be proud to be a mother and what motherhood accomplishes. Every mom-to-be and mother out there has to read this book!

The last book on my list is "Raising Up A Family To The Lord" by Gene R. Cook. This was also given to me for Mothers day by my own mom. I have not yet finished this book - but so far it is also a must read. My mom told me that if I only read one religous parenting book, this should be it. I personally am quite terrified to raise my children in the world today. This book helps calm my worries as he discusses different obsicles that come up for children and how a parent can direct the situation with the Lords guidance. What parent doesn't need guidance in raising up a family to the Lord?

I had a very uplfting month with the books I chose. I think the month of June I will keep on a lighter note - something a little more fun. If any of you have a book you recommend let me know!