Good-byes, Happy Birthdays and Amazing Beauty

Last week we went to Island Park ID for an amazing weekend in Yellowstone. While we were there Josh turned 30! He got to spend his birthday in one of the prettiest places in the whole world (I am still partial to Glacier National Park but Yellowstone is pretty close.) We had a great time and saw some awesome sights. Some people dream of vacations to the beach esp. Hawaii but my slice of Heaven is in the Mountains. I haven't felt so much peace in a long time. (I don't know what is up with the following HTML stuff but if I try to erase it then I loose a pic!) a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHXgzb-KCr9PKjpyR77d4z_7esHDphBt1pmQ_7kJjpbz0GEGMbJXF5HANvRB7Uold2V3kdMCktJGI2qa83VJfcmJ9OZBfsFvwD0spDsArR1S8Pm2uMvFmroeiRWKw5N17lEMGZ85AZNI/s1600-h/YS004.jpg"> We got a chance to not only go with Josh's parents but also his grandparents! It was so cool to vacation with 4 generations. His grandmother is so good with the kids and it was so great! While we were there we had a memorial for Josh's biological grandfather. It was interesting to hear everyone that had better memories of him than his own family. Without going into detail- it taught me that we need to treat those that are closest to with the most respect, love and patience.
Josh's birthday was the day we spent in the park. It was so fun to honor him in such a fabulous place. I went to Montana on my mission and hadn't been back in a long time. We didn't spend time anywhere close to where I served but it reminded me a lot of some of my favorite areas. I just found a lot of peace with where my life is at now. I have to say that although I LOVED my mission- being a mom and a wife is way better. I loved being able to realize that God is not only involved in the details of the earth but he is also involved in the details of our lives. Josh happy late birthday (I couldn't blog while on vacation but really I wouldn't have with all the beauty to take in!) You are an amazing father and husband. I am so thankful everyday that I got such a great man who not only is willing to put up with me but even seems to like it! Josh loves our family and is ALWAYS willing to help out in any way that I need him to. I honestly feel like we are such a part of a team and I know that most girls don't get that. Thank you Josh! Here is to 30 more- but this time together :)
(What a handsome group of guys don't you think?)

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today I was catching a bit of Brady Bunch on our local PBS station. Greg bought a clunker of a car and learned what it meant to have "been had." Mike Brady dispensed a lesson on how if Greg learned something (about being a responsible consumer) then it was worth the while. As I was nodding along to this invaluable advice I realized that it was along the lines of something my father would have said to me. I have been blessed with an amazing father- even more amazing than Mike Brady's perfect script. My dad is quick to laugh at the crazy curve balls that life so genrously throws our way. My Dad is a stalwart priesthood holder and was an honorable provider for our family. He is someone everyone can look up to and I am so glad that he is MY dad. So Happy Birthday Dad! I hope that it was a great one! I love you

Smattering of photos

Here are a few things that we have been up to for the last few weeks- We went to a BEES game on the 25th of July and had a blast! The best part was watching the three couples in front of us- one lady had a flower tattoo that Turner kept trying to smell it :) Her husband said if he was five years older he would be nervous. We loved the fireworks afterwards. Oh yeah and it helped that they won! Root root root for the home team!



The next week we were off to the farm. It is an interesting phenomenon that a dairy farm has become a hot tourist attraction. We camped on the farm under some huge trees and next to the milking shed! It was a little noisy on night one but by the second night we were all so tired I don't think anyone woke up. Max did well with his fist camping trip but we were all glad to sleep in our own beds by the end of our journey.

To keep with the farm theme- Wednesday we went to the Davis County Fair! I love fair time. Although with the clean air act in Utah there isn't that overwhelming smell of cigarettes which just didn't seem quite like the fair. We loved the livestock barn and enjoyed the petting zoo. The fair here is awesome and has some great things for kids to do including a pretend cow that you could milk or "water" I guess since it had water the rubber utters. The funniest part is that they have those little tyke cars (we call them Fred Flinstone cars)set up in a hay maze. There were like 10 red cars and 1 pink and purple car- which one did my son beeline for? The pink and purple one. Josh didn't understand why I didn't make him get out and get in a red one... I just laughed.




We are just busy chugging along. I love the feel in the air when Back to School hits- it just seems like a time to smell freshly sharpened pencils and make new goals. It will really be great when you get that nip in the air and take in a football game. We are going to Montana next week for Josh's grandpa's memorial service and to spread his ashes- I have never spread ashes before so this will be new but any excuse to go to Montana right!

Happy Thought- dreaming

So I had intentions on writing a lengthy post about all of our adventures- complete with pictures of my little darlings but the Internet is creeping tonight! Come on people it is Friday night and unless you are nursing a baby then get out and get a life! Just kidding- who am I to talk even when I am not nursing a baby I wouldn't be out this late anymore. I am sorry to all of my friends who have felt betrayed by my silence. Max is going through a really clingy stage and I have been suffering from "worn out mommy" syndrome. Yet my happy thought is dreams. I realize that I won't be in this season of my life forever and although I love these times, I do look forward to nights of sleep and mental clarity. If you read one of my "tags" a while back I stated that I want to be a writer when I grow up. I feel flattered when my aunts gush to my mom about how well written my blog is and especially when my Aunt Claudine told me that I should follow my dream and write professionally. I realize that in order to do this I would need to go back to school and get more education but that is something I would love to do. My husband also is a big supporter in this dream. The other day he came home with a copy of The Merriam-Webster Thesaurus and Merriam-Webster's Vocabulary Builder for me and told me to write him a book. Yesterday he surprised me with a package of pens and notebooks with more words of encouragement. It is always good to hold onto a dream no matter how lofty that goal is. Yet even better than having a dream is having those who love you believe in that dream too!