Word To The Wise

Recently I've had some new visitors to my blog. How cool is it that I've got views from different places like New York, Texas, Wisconsin and as far away as Sweden. WELCOME! However, I have had a few negative comments for sharing things that are important, personal, and pertinent to me. Please keep in mind this is my Journal. If I were to loose everything I own....I would still have these memories.

Then I was introduced to Sitemeter (Thanks Tallgrass). While I already had a Worldmap, I decided I'd check this thing out. I can see details about every visit. I can see who logs in, what page they come in on, what page they go out on, which of my friends blogs they look at, where they are located, even their IP address.

I highly recommend everyone add this to your blog.

Why I Blog

"You will have significant experiences. I hope that you will write them down and keep a record of them, that you will read them from time to time and refresh your memory of those meaningful and significant things. Some may be funny. Some may be significant only to you. Some of them may be sacred and quietly beautiful. Some may build one upon another until they represent a lifetime of special experience." Gordon B. Hinckley, 2006

Will It Ever End?

Backyard demolition almost complete. Rock wall...check. Sand....check.


The kiddo's couldn't wait to get back there and play. Trent has to fix the sprinklers, bring in the rocks steps, and then put the trampoline, and swing set back in and we are good to go. We also were lucky enough to score a free hot tub! Thanks to Ang's dad. Fire pit, and final curbing next summa.

Kaisey watched Meeko drink from the hose. A few minutes later she was following suit.


Meeko would hide in between the sod rolls, and Binx would try to find her. This went on until I went to get my camera, and then they all followed me up the stairs!

Kali's first REAL day of first grade with Faith, and then with Brenna.
Kali with her teacher.

School Already?

Once again, it's the first day of School. Kali met her 1st grade teacher today, and then I got to bring her home. Tomorrow she'll be gone all day. She got the teacher that Kaleb had last year. Kali and Kaleb both think that's super cool.

I got this picture of Abbi and Katie. Abbi said, "Mooom!" Katie said, "I'm NOT gonna smile."
I wanted to get a picture of Kaleb. He said, "Mom. It's not a good time." I can't believe that my kids are growing up so fast.

Yuba

We had a blast at Yuba Lake other than all the boat troubles. The kids LOVE to dig and play in the sand. AND of course bury themselves.

Trent holding all the little guys. Meeko, Kizzy and Kiko. Trent (my non-dog loving husband) said, "I'm glad we got another dog for Binx. Now he's not so bored." I was so overwhelmed with shock that it took me a few minutes before I really realized what he said. When I brought it up, he denied having said it.

Kali's hair before.....

and after.......

Kaisey kept us very busy.


We found her several times sitting in the water bucket we used to clean off our feet before entering the trailer.

I attempted to wake board. I'm really pretty ticked because I got up so darn easy last year. I think I tried for about 45 minutes to get up. I'm gonna blame it on the boat. :) I now have a massive bruise on my leg, and my forearms hurt like none other!

Kaisey learned how to say her name this weekend. It is the cutest thing ever!

Uncle Chet gave Kaleb a little guitar lesson until Ranger Rick came and shut the party down.


The very last day the kids decided to hang up the tube, and try to ski. This is Abbi. I am so proud of her!

AND.....the backyard wasn't finished when we got home. BLAHHH!

♪ Do Do Do Looking Out My Back Door ♪

This is NOT what I expected to see out my back door 2 days later. But any time you plan something it NEVER goes smoothly right? I should have expected the unexpected. Anywho....this is what we look like today. The mud dirt wasn't dry enough...so that is our "new" delay.

So Kaleb has been such a stinker lately, that he has been chosen to help water the big sod rolls in our backyard. Today, he decided to squirt Abbi on the trampoline instead. She jumped off and tried to get away from him, and sprained her ankle. All I could hear was Abbi wailing, and Kaleb giggling as he continued to spray her while she was down. BOYS!

Back Yard Demolition

The first thing that we did to our barren back yard, was add the lattice under the deck, and then we had the Curbman come redo our curbing in the front, and add curbing to the backyard. We made a spot for a garden. With Trent going to Indonesia, we were delayed, and the actual food in the garden will come next year.

We then had all the concrete poured. Trent and I constructed our new basketball hoop. That was a bit of a bugger!

Kaleb insisted on having the "first shot."
Baylee made the "second shot."

Then the kids played for a good hour while I attempted to give Kaisey a bath. She wouldn't go peacefully without her (which is MY) "Coke"(which is actually Diet Coke).


The next day, Trent had to move sprinklers, and cut the sod out. The next phase of our "Backyard Demolition" will be a rock retaining wall to contain our kids zone. I'm super excited to have a fun backyard.

The Grocery Game

I really used to despise grocery shopping. Now it is SO much fun! Smith's Mix and Match, plus coupons (which ends tomorrow people) I spent $140.51 and saved $101.63. So I guess this means that I can go spend $100 bucks on whatever I want? Or does that defeat the purpose?

Not so wet Cement

We are FINALLY landscaping our back yard. It was on my list of things to do and then we put the house up for sale....and now that we aren't going anywhere it's finally time! Here the guys are pouring a cement pad for our above ground pool/basketball court. Some of the neighbor kids came over to enjoy the show.


Now for the drama! We decided to let the kids put their hands in the other cement pad which will one day house our hot tub. Abbi had to leave to go to dance tryouts when Kaisey decided to go ahead and stick her little fingers in it. Then OF COURSE Kaleb decided it was time to stick his little hands wherever he felt like it...followed by Kalyssa. The guy quickly smoothed that over, and we attempted it a second time.



As you can see in this picture Trent had just barely finished with Kalyssa as Kaleb went ahead a second time and just stuck his stinkin little hand right back in the cement. I thought Trent was gonna come unglued. BOYS!

Now there isn't a picture of Abbi sticking her hand in because by the time she got home the cement was basically too dry to get a hand print in it. Abbi was DEVASTATED. The water works started. She decided to go throw a fit outside. When we checked on her, we noticed that she basically carved her little hand print right into the cement. Oh man...the girl drama is almost too much for me! Notice the print on the far right.

My Newest Obsession

My newest obsession is the "coupon way" of shopping. I've never been a fan of it and that person with all those coupons in line in front of me really ticks me off. HOWEVER, now that I'm realizing that I can actually legally cheat the system, I'm finding it to be a fun game I can play. I've only just begun, but for my first shopping trip I think I did pretty well. I spent $77.72 and my coupon savings were $75.38. AND now I can send in my receipt and get a check for $10 back.


Our trip to the Living Aquarium. I think the octopus was the coolest thing ever.



I took Kaleb back up to Primary's for his post-op appointment, and on the way home, we decided to go to the Hogle Zoo. So of course I didn't have my camera. We went into the Desert Zone where Kaisey found the Meerkat. It would pace back and forth, and Kaisey would follow. We had our own little attraction going. People stood and watched and giggled.

Welcome Home Daddy

Welcome home from Indonesia daddy! Abbi and her friend Aubrey helped me put the cups on the over-pass. I bought the cups too large...and I suffered some flesh wounds to my knuckles. Ouchie!
Then I made some Red Velvet Cake Balls in festive 4th of July.



Welcome home Daddy....to your new puppy. Happy Father's Day, and Happy Birthday. Oh wait...I guess that's more for me!

Welcome back to late-overs, and sleepovers.
Welcome back to Dr. appointments. (I had what's called a Derma Fibroma. It looked like a wart, but it was a skin cell build up. I just wanted that thing removed. It was ugly! This would be my first set of stitches EVER!)

Welcome back to reality daddy! We missed you and love you. Please don't go away again any time soon!