Camping at Woods Canyon Lake

Admittedly we are NOT campers. But for some reason, we have been getting the itch for it and talking about just DOING it. So since we had got Court a snazzy camp stove/ oven for Father's-Birthday, we figured we should put it to use.

We left Monday morning (July 19th) and headed up to Woods Canyon Lake for our 1:oo pm check-in. Camping has check ins???? We had a great little campsite that backed up the national forest and was VERY strategically located near both the bathrooms AND the potbable water spigot---NICE!

We had quite a sweet set up, and Waverly had NO inhibitions about becoming one with nature around her!!! While the other kids tended to gravitate to some of their 'usual' habits.

Although, Wavee wasn't really cooperating when it came to the nap department.

Can't blame her, it was actually pretty warm in the tent during the day. I was pretty cold the first night in the tent, but the 2nd night was much more manageable---mainly becuz we made daddy sleep on the floor and the rest of us cuddled together on the air mattress. My kiddies are space heaters!

On one of our little nature hikes, Laetner found this cool little fort that had been created against a big rock.

Here is the other side of it--holy cow!

We hiked down to the lake, and the dam, and even went crawdad fishing.

We found some huge rocks that looked like turtle shells, and Laetner insisted we needed to go on TurtleShell a'ventures' in order to find more.

Court decided it might be a good time to ponder the real meaning of life...CUCKOO!

We had a lot of fun, and definitely will be doing it more often. Next time, we just need to pack our bikes!



Aaah, the joys of 2 year olds and camping! Ü

Swim Lessons with Miss Briley

Last summer Miss Judy and Miss Briley decided they weren't doing swim lessons anymore and we were DEVASTATED.

This Summer Miss Briley had a change of heart and opened up her Beach Club to us! Waverly was ESPECIALLY lucky and got to spend two different sessions with Miss Briley (one was while Delainee and Laetner were still doing workshop with me) It worked out perfect for Court to take her everyday. And per ALL my other children she cried EVERY day. Luckily she broke the trend of throwing up in the pool everyday as well--- a trend I am certain that Briley was happy to see broken.

Wavee would NOT stop crying if Daddy stayed to watch, so he was asked to leave the premises! Ü Luckily Aunt Shelby was one of the helpers in the pool and she would give me the lowdown on how Wavee was doing during this first session. Apparently she was told that she could only cry when it was her turn, so she would wait patiently on her pool step, and then sure enough when it WAS her turn she would start squawking. And she just didn't seem to understand the task of going under the water to retrieve a ring at the bottom of the pool. She would just go under water with her eyes WIDE open and just GRIN!

By the 2nd Session, when Delainee and Laetner were able to come, Wavee was "a big girl now!" She never cried, she made it down to get the ring, she walked like a monkey, made it to the side after diving in, kicked and pulled, splashed everyone on the pool step, waited her turn on the diving board, played "wake up Wavee", tasted the water, EVERYTHING! (although she would sneak out of the pool and run around in circles---that naughty thing!)







We don't have a pool, and I am a little shy of the sun, so we don't always get a lot of practice swimming, but this was the summer that EVERYTHING finally came together for both Delainee and Laetner. We had big strokes, and big kicks, and finally seem to have mastered the side breath.







Thank you Miss Briley!

Octa-Mom (Minus One) Over Here

When you look on the side of our house, you would get a glimpse of what you see in many backyards.

A garden caddy.

Pretty straight forward.

Or IS it????


Meet the Ladies...

Big Red, Little Red, Blacky, Spotty, Mario, Luigi, and Sabrina!
(we won't speak of Medium Red---may she rest in peace)
And we have a gnawing suspicion that Big Red is NO lady!




We purchased these chickies as wee little babies during Spring Break and have been loving and doting on them ever since. Court and his brother Dan made them their luxury condo and 8 ft run to hang out in on the side of our house, and we have been waiting around for the end of August beginning of September (the obligatory 6 months) for them to start laying their eggs.

Except two of these ladies must not have gotten the memo, cuz they are laying em at 4 months.

Almost the size of our store bought white eggs, but everyday they look a little bit bigger so I think we will get there.

The proud egg gather-ers...

Laetner was HORRIFIED when we actually cracked them open and ate them as scambled eggs! Ü

Poor Delainee

We are Star Wars fans (as well as Indiana Jones.) This is something I have explained in previous posts. So of course we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Lego versions of Star Wars and Indiana Jones for the wii. Lots of fun to play together as a family. Only problem is that only TWO players can play at a time.

We are sitting around as a family watching Court and Laetner take their turn at Star Wars when Laetner says he wants to be "Bon-kee Ahn-ta" I don't seem to remember a character being named that but I assumed that it must be someone from episodes I thru III---cuz Laetner is definitely a man that pays attention to details. But when he chooses his character it in none other than Boba-Fett.

Mom: Ummmm... Laetner, I hate to break it to you but that guy is NOT named Bon-kee Ahn-ta.
Laetner: Yes he is
Mom: No he isn't.
Laetner: Yuh-huh. When Han Solo gets frozen, Darth Vader says, "He's ALL yours Bon-kee Ahn-ta!"

To which I have to laugh a little bit. Cuz I know EXACTLY what scene he is talking about. (I told you I am a NERD!)

So I try to explain to Laetner that the guys name IS Boba Fett and that his job is that of a BOUNTY HUNTER, and that Darth Vader is ACTUALLY saying, He's ALL yours BOUNTY HUNTER!"

Laetner STILL insists that his name is Bon-kee Ahn-ta, and it drives my nerd self CRAZY everytime he calls him that!

So with this in mind I am not too confused when Court comes down the hallway the other day and asks what a "Heart Mee-uh Bon-chee" is. Court, Laetner, and Delainee had been playing the wii together while I had been making dinner, and I figured it was just one more thing that Laetner was 'mis-interpreting.' I simply smiled and said I had no idea. But then when I walked down the hallway I was surprised to find Delainee's bedroom door shut with this SIGN posted on it....




Apparently Daddy and Laetner had HURT her feelings a BUNCH by laughing maniacally when she would die in the game.

Poor thing.

Had to be born into a family of competetive trash talkers... Ü

4th of July

What better way to celebrate the 4th of July weekend then by getting out of the heat and heading up to the Fischbeck Cabin in Pinedale. We arrived on Thursday, and Court volunteered to be in charge of food for the weekend---of course we were VERY well fed from his famous homemade pizza to crepes on Sunday morning, to homemade ice cream sandwiches. Between his chef skills, and my Martha baking skills, we make QUITE a pair!

THe parade in Heber on Saturday morning was LAME! Apparently someone in an electric wheelchair got WET at last years festivities, and ALL water was OUTLAWED---LITERALLY! Needless to say, we won't be doing THAT one again any time soon.


It wouldn't be a 4th of July without Heber fireworks. Only this year we drove all the way into Heber, set up our spot, got ready for the show to start, and no sooner did it start, then the rest of the group we were with decided to pack up and LEAVE---LAME!!!! I did not even get to see the grand finale. Slightly disgusted with the situation. Four words--- MY IN LAWS STINK!

Sister in Law Jill and Kevin were there with her family (the Jackson's) and as usual Marsha (Jill's mom) was spreading the love and had glow sticks for all the kiddies. She took care of me and my kiddies at LAST years celebration---LURVE her! Maybe I could get adopted into THOSE in laws!!! But we got a few fun shots of the kids playing with those at least...


The night wasn't a COMPLETE wash, however. The women managed to sneak into Showlow to catch a LATE showing of Eclipse---YUM!

These two little ladies have turned into the bobsey twins!



On the ride home on Monday I asked Delainee what her favorite part of the weekend was and she immediately responded with, "the baseball game!"





WOULDN'T be the 4th of July without BASEBALL, right???

At least we did SOMETHING right....

Magical of Musical Theater

a.k.a WORKSHOP!!!! This year Delainee and Laetner BOTH got to participate in the big show with Mom!!!! The Purple Workshop hit the stage promptly at 6:30 to a sold out audience---and they were AMAZING!



Just HAD to get a shot with Miss Linz as well!


And we had the funnest car pool EVAH---including our dear friend Addi!


Each child is in 6 different numbers by the time it is all said and done, and just about EVERYBODY gets a solo SOMEWHERE! Such a great experience for these kids.

It's a "Hard Knock Life" for Delainee!



Here is Laetner in "Mother Doesn't Want a Dog"---becuz they smell, right????


He is sporting some MAJOR attitude in "Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."


Entire Company in their final pose---can you find Delainee and Laetner?!?!


Entire Company in our Inspirational Number---"The Climb"



Laetner was super excited to finally receive flowers after a show---he had seen Delainee get them so often, that he couldn't wait for his performace so he could get some of his own. These were bestowed on him by Grandma and Papa Fuller.

Delainee really outshone with her 'special' solo in our inspirational number--THE CLIMB!

If you look closely you can see Laetner down on the floor on the right during the opening solos---look for the glare off his glasses..

But as usual, the boy number seems to always steal the show! Laetner plays a mad guitar in "One Last Kiss!"(he is in the front on the left)


Special thanks AGAIN to Aunt Shelby for getting Delainee ready for her big night---since I had been in rehearsals at MCC from 9:00 a.m. until the opening curtain! And thanks to Summer Driggs as well for taking pictures and being willing to share.

Who is gonna join us next year???

Best of Friends

They really are best buds!!!

Maybe we should get one for Waverly....

March, April, May, June, July, Aack!

What used to be a JUNE thing has spilled over into a NEVER-ENDING one event to the next!

Laetners Birthday Party, Amazing Race Night, Purchasing 8 Baby Chicks, Bunco at My House, Playing in the Orchestra Pit for Pirates Of Penzance at CGCC, Let's Play Music Recital, Delainee's Baptism/Birthday Celebration, Building a Chicken Coop, HCG Dieting, End of the School Year This and That, Event Coordinator for Let's Play Music Symposium, Let's Play Music Arizona 3rd Year Training, Orchestrating for MCC Workshop (Big Kids), Helping Run MCC Workshop (Little Kids), Court's Birthday/Fathers Day, Let's Play Music Utah Workshop Weekend, Let's Play Music Utah 3rd Year Training, Performances for ALL Workshops (8 TOTAL), Food Committee for Fischbeck 4th of July Celebration!

I QUIT!!!! Please, just let me sit and stare at the wall already!!!

So don't bother asking me to help with anything---the answer will be NO until I catch up with this blog!!!! Ü

(Allyson I am still anxiously awaiting WORKSHOP pictures from you)