"Look what I got mama..."

Dallin says as he is coming up to show me something... I just kinda nod and say "oh yea, that is fun" without really looking.

**BIG (HUGE) MISTAKE!!!**

As I rethink in my head that I didn't really recognize what he had in his hand I finally look back over my shoulder to check out what it is that he really has..... AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

To give you an idea, I have one kid that does not always flush the toilet and Dallin that play and puts things in the toilet.... He now also takes things out of the toilet!! AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

Party time with the Grandmas

Over the past week and a half the kids have had there Grandmas staying here with them, and they have somehow managed to talk all of them into a sleepover. Grandma Jeannie and Great Grandma Lulu were here for a few days visiting before education week. Then Grandma Shirley came for a week while I was gone at education week. (unfortunately I took my camera with me and didn't get any pics of the kids with grandma Shirley. Or maybe she was the lucky one, cause I got them of the others)


Great Grandma LuLu and Ella

MaCayela with Grandma Jeannie

Great Grandma LuLu and Ella having a Tea Party with Mickey and Minnie.

No More Training Wheels

MaCayela has finally let Corey take the training wheels off her bike. She has been fighting us on it for over a year now and finally gave in. It only took her a matter of mins to figure it out and has done great with it.

First time Fishing...

On the last day of the Chappell reunion we decided to take the kids fishing up at the lake with Uncle Kerry and Michele. I was really looking forward to it until we got in the truck and started driving... the lake was only up the road maybe 10mins, but it was a winedy 10 mins, and then turned in to a 10-15 min windey, bumpy, dirt road. Which would normally be great fun in the truck, but this poor pregnant mama had not been feeling well all night, and then to add the drive... I spent the first part of the fishing trip just sitting on a rock not moving at all. But that didn't get to last long, before the boys had even got all the kids set up and poles casted MaCayela had caught a fish and was jumping around. (which meant mom had to get up and get on with the camera... That I did remember to bring. YEA for mom!)

MaCayela with Uncle Kerry with the first catch of the morning... She would not touch that thing for NOTHING!!!

Ella was so excited to catch her first fish and had no problem holding it.

Dallin went and picked up one of the poles that were just leaning against a rock and then started to struggle as he reeled it in... None of us knowing he had a fish on the other end that he was playing with.

Dallin and Daddy with the fish he reeled in.

MaCayela and Uncle Kerry waiting for the next fish to bite. Michelle on the side there.

Dallin's favorite part of fishing was just reeling in the line that we would cast out.

We finally talked Mac into holding one of the fish telling her it was just wet, not slimy and gross. Well if you click on the picture you can see that there is slim just hanging from the fish. Needless to say, she didn't believe Kerry or I about fish anymore.

I also caught myself a fish, but between the pregnancy and the smell and texture, I was not happy about having to touch it myself this time. (usually doesn't bother me) But how do you tell your kids that you just made hold there own fish that you aren't touching yours.

Ella just looked so cute there with her pole and waiting.

"You should see the one that got away... It was this big mom"

Ella, MaC and Dallin with just some of the fist that we caught. We let A LOT of them go.

Next Blog...

Have you ever clicked on the button at the top of the page that says "next blog"? I decided to see what was the next blog, so I clicked it and got to a really cute blog on making things with simple directions... http://makeitandloveit.blogspot.com/ I might just have to try this again sometime.

I'M MOVING OUT!

Ella has decided that she is moving out. She said that she would just like to try someone else house for a while. I'm sure the fact that her mom has had a short temper lately and she has got a good portion of it. Along with MaCayela going to school all day makes her sad to be home without a friend and mom is to tired to play much has nothing to do with it. But on the way home yesterday she informed Corey that she is moving out and going to live at the Hubers house. So when we got home she called Donna to ask if she could come live there and then proceeded to question Donna on if she will play with her and if she yells when the kids do something bad. (the whole thing had me in the giggles.) She then handed me the phone and said that I could talk to Donna while she packed and by the way, she needed a suitcase. I told her she could pack her overnight bag and then she was off to empty as much of her dresser as would fit in her bag. Well we let her know that the Hubers were busy that night and she would have to wait to go so she agreed to stay but only for a couple days, but that then runs into the time that grandmas are here, so she decided that she could wait until after grandmas were gone, but then she is moving. When I woke up this morning I noticed that Corey had shaved his goatee off and I made a comment about him shaving and he proceeded to tell me how last night during daddy time him and Ella made a deal that if he would shave (she doesn't like his whiskers, cause they hurt when she kisses him) she wouldn't move out. So this morning she begrudgingly unpacked her bag and said that she would stay.

Oh what a 4yr old comes up with and the joy and excitement that she brings to our family.

Happy Birthday

To a Wonderful Man in our life....

GRANDPA AL!

grandpapa your a handyman
if you can't fix it no one can
and even though your turning 89
it won't stop you from doing plenty
you help out even though we say you shouldn't
you do things that we know we couldn't
if I were you I would be proud
for raising a weird and wonderful crowd
for loving your kids and then theirs too
for helping people as we would help you
and we hope you have a great day
and that this time is happy in every way
happy birthday to you and we hope you have fun
everyone thinks your brilliant and we love you a ton
so gather round and lets all shout
because we are so privileged to have a man like grandpapa AL about

Hangin with the other Hanks

We have really enjoyed being able to live close enough to Corey's brother and family to get together more often. The girls even got to go down to Salem and spend the night with there cousins one day. But more often lately we get to go out with them on their boat this summer. This past weekend we went down to the Hanks reunion and thought instead of driving all the way home we would just stay with Darcy and his Family and have a fun filled day at the lake or carnival in Spanish Fork with them. Well the Carnival was dieing down so we voted for the lake (which was iffy its self, it was looking like rain that day.) I don't always get pictures, but this last time Corey tried wake surfing so I thought that I would get some pics and videos of that.

Corey's First attempt at Wake Surfing

Ella and Mac learning to trust in their life jackets

My cute niece, Talia, she was trying to decide if she would jump in or not

Dallin deciding that it was nap time right then and there.

My legs after the boat ride. You would think that at my age I would remember to sunscreen myself. It took almost 3 days for me to be able to wear anything over them or even straiten and bend them without pain.

Hanks Family Hoopla

This is the first summer that we have been around for family reunions on the Hanks side, so we have been bombarded with them. We headed down to Fairview canyon for the first of the reunions. We only made it to dinner on Friday night, but had fun going down to say Hi... We didn't get to stay long and didn't get my camera out, but Allysa got some cute pics of Dallin with Grandpa Walt.

First Day of First Grade

MaCayela had her first day of first grade yesterday. She has been very excited about school coming and being there all day. She has Mrs. Fullmer and decide already that she is the best.


She was given a entry test on Monday that the teacher was very impressed with her and where she is, she completed without any hesitation all the sounds and words on the first list. Mrs Fullmer then decided to let her try out the second list of words and she did them all with only some slight hesitation on a couple of them. MaCayela then completed all the numbers given to her up to the last one which she replied "One Hundred and a Two", it was 1002. Not bad sense we have really worked on the thousands if figured.

Nap time Dallin style...

The other day was a crazy one for us with lots of errands and things to do. The last one on our list was Target and by this time it was about 2:00. Which is 2hrs after Dallins nap time and with Dallin he really likes his naps and most of the time goes and takes them without me ever telling him it is time. But this day I was so pleased with him for being such a good sport and no major breakdowns until we hit the "Thomas the Train" isle at target, (and boy I tried to walk past that isle REALLY fast and he still saw it!!) "TRAINS MAMA", "TRAINS MAMA" that is all I heard (and the rest of the people in the store) for the next couple mins. while I was looking for something else. So being the sucker that I am I told him if he would just be good for 5 more mins we would look at the trains. He was good so we went to look, and lo and behold they were clearanceing out some of the Thomas stuff, so again being the sucker that I am told him for being so good today he could pick out one to take home. He picked out this like train wash thing and held it to him like it was his lost teddy bear. He would barely let the checkout lady scan it and then readjusted his hold on it. Being that it was now close to 3:00pm and he was exhausted I figured that he would have no problem taking a nap. Boy was I wrong... Not that he was naughty, but I let him hold his new toy for his nap and when I went to check on him this is what I found...

He was still being so good and quiet, but he was playing with his toy.

Happy BIG 4-0!!!

Yes, that is right, Corey is forty!!!

He didn't want anything big for his birthday, and since we don't know many people here it was kinda easy to oblige him on that one. (now if we were still in Calif. that would be a different story!) On Sunday when we were talking the only comment Corey said was I really don't want black balloons hanging everywhere. So we also obliged on that one. BUT he didn't say anything about anything else but black balloons!!! So we put banners up on the garage, wrote on all the windows of his truck, and put streamers all though the house. (I did all that after he went to bed Mon. night) We even got up early and made him breakfast in bed. All in all it was lots of fun for the family, and the kids loved all the fun decorations they got to help with.



We actually got all his windows, but the pics didn't turn out that great.

The back window said" Happy 40 Sweetie" ~ I think he was hoping there wouldn't be any #'s anywhere.

All the neighbors got to know that it was his birthday, that really made him happy.

To help him keep his youthfulness Corey got a whole bunch of Nerf dart guns to play with the kids with.

I just want Corey to know that the kids and I love him so much. He really is the best husband and dad in the world and we appreciate all that he is and all that he does for us.

Summertime!!!

This summer we really have been busy when it comes to going somewhere on the weekends. (or I was laid up and couldn't do anything even though we were home.) So we decided that since we were home for the weekend we should have some fun with the Water slide, a BBQ, and homemade ice cream. (In our family nothing says summer like a BBQ with homemade ice cream and some water fun.) We are still getting to know some of our neighbors so we invited the Jaffa Family down and then Corey's brother Darcy and his family came up. The kids had a blast going on the water slide until they were literally BLUE from the cold water and the adults enjoyed just sitting and talking.

I gotta tell a funny from a kids mouth though.... Corey visited Ella's Salon last week at the ranch and she painted his toes a deep purple color. Thinking that I had polish remover at home he didn't seem to worry about it. When it came time for him to remove the polish, I remembered that we had used the end of it and not gotten more yet. So Corey had to put on his flip flops with his purple toes.....
Elise: (in a very quiet voice as to not bring attention to the conversation or offend Corey if he overheard.) Annaleesa, Does your husband know that his toes are painted.
Me: Yes.
Elise: Why are your husbands toes painted?
Me: Ella painted them the other day, when you were little didn't you ever paint your dad's toe nails?
Elise: Oh no, we didn't ever paint my dad's toes. (Then she tells me very matter of factually) Boys are not suppose to have painted toes.
She was so cute with her ways, that it just made me laugh. ..... I am glad to say that we did get some polish remover and took the purple polish off of his toes.



From the top... MaC, Faith, Cole and Elise Jaffa

Talia and Jensen Hanks

Cole Jaffa making a splash. (I can't even count how many times he tried to get an adult to stand at the end of the slide to watch him know he would soak them, He was a crack up!)

My little Ella Bella just Freezing after playing in the cold water.

Weekend at the Ranch...

We go down to visit Corey's parents quite often lately and the kids are loving all the fun of it each time. They have gotten to see different seasons and chores that are on the ranch. They love going to check on the animals and seeing how much the chicks, pigs and calf's have grown since the last time we were there. They also enjoy going to see what grandpa Walt is doing out in the fields. (This time he was cutting the hay) This past weekend as we went to the ranch it was fun for the kids to get to know their cousins again. The cousins live in Boston and spend summers down at the ranch, but it has been two years since we have been at the ranch at the same time.



MaCayela driving the mule over to rescue Corey and I from having to walk back across the fields.

Corey and I moving sprinklers so the hay can get cut.

The kids think it is so funny that the tire on the tractor is so big... Ella says it makes them look so small.

Ella, Dallin, MaC up in the tractor with Grandpa Walt. All they wanted to do is ride with him while he was cutting the hay.

Ella giving her try at driving the mule, she definitely needs some lessons before going off the farm, we were ALL over the road.

Ella and MaC getting lessons from Corey on the art of Badminton

While there it was Grace's 7th birthday. (her and MaC are just months apart and had a great time playing together.)

Ella giving Grandma Shirley a makeover while she relaxes. (I would show you the after pics, but I promised grandma I wouldn't post them.)

It's a....

We are excited to announce that we are having a....

BOY...
(I am sure someday he will be so glad that I posted this lovely picture of him in all his glory)

The girls are so excited for it to be a boy, they think that maybe then Dallin will leave them alone when they play because he can play with the other boy they say. We actually took the kids with us to the ultra sound and the girls were thoroughly fascinated with the fact that you could see inside my tummy. They got really good a telling what was what and picking out the heart. The most exciting part for them and they asked the dr a couple of times for it was the sound of the heart beat, that they just loved.

The baby is doing well and expected to come sometime in Nov. We are actually due around the 25th. (Right between Ella's birthday on Nov 7th and MaC's on Dec 4th) But I have been induced about 10days to 2weeks early with all of the others and the meds that I am on this time will most likely have it that way again. (I am hoping before the 20th so his birthday won't ever be on Thanksgiving.)

To the BEST....

I have the best girls in the world!! These two have been fantastic lately. I have been down and out with a herniated disc in my back since June 30th. I have barely been able to get out of bed let alone walk. My two girls have been amazing though. MaCayela has taken to doing the laundry at our house, she can load the washer, start it, and then switch it to the dryer (she is even better at remembering to clean out the lint trap then I am). She is just like me in the since she does not like to fold and we have about 9 loads of laundry to fold sitting in the family room. She has also stepped up in getting breakfast and lunch out for the kids and then helping with Dallin and his baths and dressing him daily. Ella has taken on changing his diaper (as long as it doesn't stink she says) and keeping the kitchen and family room picked up. They have also helped with running up and down the stairs for all the little things that mom might want and help with all that I have tried to do.

These two girls really are amazing girls to have taken all this on and at such a young age. It has been about 10days of this and they have rarely complained about it at all. They really are troopers and fantastic little girls.

July 4th...

I have been down flat on my back for about a week and a half not doing much of anything, so 4th of july was not anything big for us this year. We did enjoy some time neighbors and the fireworks that they set off... and of course the sparklers.........

MaCayela showing off her mad sparkler skills

Elise Jaffa (in the red) and one of the other neighbors... can't quite tell who.

Fresno

The second week that we were in California was spent just catching up with friends and family. We had sleepovers at Auntie Karyns house, play dates with friends, shopping for earrings with auntie and grandma, and catching up on some pool time. (nobody in Ut has a pool that we know, and the fact that it has rained for the last 3weeks and is raining while we are in CA doesn't lend as well to pool time either.) Mom (me) got to have a fun night out with girlfriends to see a movie and dessert. (Thanks DeLynn for babysitting) We enjoyed BBQ's and Farmers Market with the family and friends and I even got to get my toes done. It really was a fun time that went by all to fast.

~Fun at Auntie Karyns~


Dallin playing in the hose

Ella, Katy and Mac playing pool games

Dallin and Trevor watching morning cartoons.

~Play dates with Friends~


Mason Sapp and Ella ~ The Bestest of Friends

Spencer Folsom and MaCayela ~ MaC's first boyfriend from Kindergarten

Hannah DeWitt and MaCayela ~ Truly Best Friends

~BBQ and swimming at Papa and Grandmas~


Hannah DeWitt, MaCayela, Mason Sapp and Ella

The Girls playing in the pool

Mason and Ella after a long day being asked to smile

Hannah and Mac tired and worn out taking time for some TV

A horrible picture of LaShay and Myself, but it was the only one I got between her visit to Utah in May and ours here.

The girls and Mason have a sleepover!!

~ My fun Pedicure Day~

~ Farmers Market ~


The real reason we go to farmers market is not the produce, but the shaved ice. Ella and Virginia Belair

Dallin enjoying his treat

Virginia and Don Belair, Dallin and Grandma

The California Ground Pounders

Don and MaCayela trying out their dance moves

More precious than RUBIES...

I got the great opportunity to go see my Young Women from our old ward (and stake) while they were at camp this year. I have truly loved girls camp over the years and all that it does to strengthen the YW and their testimonies. This year one of my cute Laurels was called as the Youth Director for our stake. She is a sweet girl with a magnificent testimony and understanding of our true Individual worth. Miss Kaylee has worked hard this year along with all the other seniors to bring a message of love from our Heavenly Father. The girls chose for the theme of camp this year... More Precious than Rubies. I was amazed at the way these seniors loved and showed the other girls how their Heavenly Father thought that each and every one of them is worth more than all that the world has to offer. These girls are an incredible group of girls that will go forth in this world and make a difference to all around. {Kaylee Christiansen and me}

The other fortunate part of being able to go up to camp was to see my dear friend Danielle Lewis. This sweet sister has loved and touched the lives of many girls and leaders over her nine years as camp director for our stake. She is a remarkable women that loves with no boundaries these girls that she works with. She teaches them to become great women and leaders. She will be missed as camp director but will always leave her influence on what she has done for camp and the girls and leaders that have attended with her. I know that I have learned much from her and will take it with me forever.

I would say that the girls were surprise to see that I was there, in that I hadn't told any of them I was coming to town. It was fun to hang out with them and see the Survivor Challenge. Where in my dad (as a bishop) got to take his turn in eating a cricket. (yeah right... him and bishop Rasmussen just seem to lose those out the side of their hands... haha) The other great part is I was there for testimony meeting to see how this girls grew and strengthened themselves and each other. I will say these young women are amazing in who they are and what they have to offer each of us.

Kaylee Christiansen, Jessica Smith, and Page Bartyn
Some of my old Laurels

I am still looking for pics of some of our other cute girls so I might have to edit this post as I find them.

BEACH DAY in AVILA

Wyatt, Karyn and Katy came out to spend a day at the beach with the rest of us. Since Pismo was cold and windy we decided to head up to Avila for the day. The kids absolutely loved it and couldn't get enough of it. Ella did say that she would like it better if there wasn't so much sand at the beach, then it wouldn't get in her eyes so much.


MaC kicking some booty at the arcade at the RV resort while we were waiting for Karyn and Wyatt to come in town.

Wyatt giving Ella some pointers at pool.

Ella, MaCayela, Katy & Trevor, They ran toward the water before we could even get their shirt and shorts off most of them.

Dallin and Mommy (& Mac), this is about as close to the water as he wanted to get, He would just scream if I set him down in the water.

Needless to say Ella's swimsuit was loaded with sand!

MaCayela and Mommy got their Sand Castle building groove on!

Dallin Happy as could be as long as he was just in the sand with his toys.

Dallin was fascinated with the kites that my dad had been flying so we thought we would try our hand at flying the little cars one...

As you can see, my dad is much better at the kite flying then I am, and Dallin loved just sitting with papa flying kites.

Grandma and Ella trying to warm up from the water.

MaC holding on a star fish that someone brought by on their way to taking it to another area that it could live.

Ella getting her turn at holding the star fish.

The beach is something I truly miss living in Utah. I'm glad that we had the chance to go while we were in CA. The kids enjoyed getting to spend time with family they had not seen in a while and had a blast having Katy ride home with us that day in that they all got to rock out and sing along to Hannah Montanna CD's.

PISMO BEACH

My Parents and the Ashcroft's were camping there at the beach already. So the kids and I (along with Trevor that came with my parents) piled in mom and dad's RV with them, we literally were wall to wall at night...

Trevor, Dallin, MaCayela & Ella

The kids were sooooo EXCITED to see Papa and grandma and Trevor (and I think they were a little excited just to be out of the car at that point.) They had a blast the first night just running around and talking about what they would do the next day on their "Fun Day" as Trevor called it.

We enjoyed a great day just playing in Pismo. It was super windy and overcast that day so we saved the actual beach for the next, and opted to go into town and hit the pier (gotta chase all the pigeons off the pier you know), play at the park in Oceano, and sit around camp. I was have some really problems with my ankles swelling from the trip and so I was up for an easy put your feet up kinda day.

PEEK-A-BOO Dallin!

Ella playing at the RV resort park.

Ella chasing the birds off the pier.

Mommy and the sweet little ones out on the pier.

Trevor, MaC and Ella looking over the very end of the pier.

If anyone knows anything about the Dehmels or Ashcrafts, then you know you can NEVER pass up the chance for Ice Cream!!

Grandma & Dallin taking a break after a hard morning!

Kids being kids at the park...

I can not figure out for my life why blogger keeps flipping this pic, it is the right direction in my file, but it flips it every time...

Ella trying to help Larry and Frances with card decisions

Shucking corn to help get dinner ready. (Ella thought that this was so fun, that she now want to buy corn all the time, just so she can shuck it.)

Smores making 101... the kids are getting better and better at roasting marshmallow, but Mac still want hers at perfection, so she lets someone else do it for her.

MMMMMM.... DELICIOUS!

California here we Come!!!

The kids and I decided to take a 2week break from the rain in Utah and head to California. Unfortunately Corey was not going to be able to make this trip with us, so it was just me and the kids. (and I was not looking forward to the car part of the trip at all... ) We headed strait from Salt Lake City to Pismo Beach, and even though it is a 14 hour trip, it actually went well and we made it in one day. MaCayela was EXTREMELY HELPFUL and helped with Dallin and getting stuff to Ella in the back so that took off alot of the stress I had.

GUACAMOLE!!!!

Dallin usually likes the guacamole that I make, but we bought some deli guacasalsa at the market and he thought that he would try it.


He went for just a little taste...

But it had some kick to it...
and yes he did spit it right back in the bowl.

Kindergarten graduation

MaCayela and Mrs. Nelson

MaCayela was really fortunate when we moved to get a great teacher. They did some really cute things in class and put on a great performance for the end of the year. It mostly revolved around the solar system and planets as that is what they focused on this last 9wks. (she is in year around at this school and does 9wks on and then 3wks off, so the teacher would focus the learning on something different each 9 weeks) They did some great songs, poems and dances for us all. Unfortunately I picked a seat right behind where the teacher moved her seat to, but we still got some great pictures.



That is about as much enthusiasm as I could get out of Mac during the performance unless I would make faces at her and get her to smile.

My big girl is off to First Grade!!!

I thought that the refreshments were so cute so I had to take a pic just in case I have to do something creative sometime, I can just copy someone else.

I also wanted to remember what we made for MaC's teacher here (and her cali teacher) so that I can do again sometime.

Walking on the Moon

MaCayela's Class had a field trip to the planetarium that I was able to attend with her. They have been studying all about the solar system the last 9 weeks and so they really enjoyed going on the field trip. Her good friend Braxton was in her group so she had a lot of fun running around with him. They got to see a movie in a Dome theater and walk on mars and the moon.

MaCayela and Braxton

Easter Dresses...

Due to the fact that we didn't make it to church on Easter Sunday and the kids haven't had Easter clothes on at the same time (And when they do have them on we are running out the door and taking pictures is the last thing I am thinking of) we haven't gotten any pictures of them in their Easter outfits. Well, today was no different in we didn't have them all dressed, in fact Dallin was still sleeping until the last possible minute, (I really do not like afternoon church) but I did get the girls pictures.

It was a little breezy when Ella went out to take her pictures, but she loved that it blew her skirt, she thought that was really cool. However she DOES NOT like the sun and complained and wouldn't open her eyes for nothing.

MaCayela really has become our big girl in our home and is looking just beautiful

Okay Mom and Karyn... no more complaining about not having pictures of the Easter dresses. And Surprise!!! they don't match are you just amazed!... hehehe. I will try and get something of Dallin sometime in his shirt, but don't hold your breath.

Backyard Gardening...

We finally planted some of our garden plants last night that we have been babying indoors (more out of haven't taken the time to do than any other reason). We have worked some on the garden and outdoors, but once again I never think about getting the camera out.

We also had the neighbors kids over and the girls were being so cute and wanted their picture taken. (Hence the really reason the camera came out.)



Dallin, MaCayela and Ella making funny faces

Dallin, MaCayela, Sidney, Ella, Noah and Issac (on the swing)

Sidney, MaCayela, Ella

Happy Birthday

to a very special lady in our lives!

Times with you are special
and all too quickly pass.
You fill our world with unending love
and memories that will last.
If we could pick a grandmother
there's no doubt what we would do,
we'd pick the kindest, sweetest one
and Grandma, it would be you!

Happy Birthday Grandma Lulu,
We love you lots!!

Few can bring the warmth
We can find in their embrace,
And little more is needed to bring love
Than the smile on their face.
They've a supply of precious stories,
Yet they've time to wipe a tear,
Or give us reasons to make us laugh,
They grow more precious through the years.
I believe that God sent us Grandparents
As our legacy from above,
To share the moments of our life,
As extra measures of His love.


Love, Annaleesa, Corey, MaCayela, Ella, and Dallin

A Morning on the lake

(Memorial Day Weekend part 1)

We started out our weekend early Friday morning and drove down to Utah Lake to meet Corey's brother Darc and his wife Carrie (and little presley) for some fun on their new boat. (And WOW what a boat! the thing is AWESOME!! it is a Malibu Wakesetter.) We took the kids out for a ride and the girls just loved it. We got to see Uncle Darc in action as he wake boarded and then wake surfed. I had not seen wake surfing done before, but it was pretty cool. Darcy used a rope this time, but once you get the hang of it you don't use the rope. Even Ella got to take her turn at driving which she thought was great. We ended the morning with some lunch out at a mexican restraunt (that was pretty good, hadn't found one in UT yet and then when we do it was an hour from home.)



The girls out front with Presley and Aunt Carrie

The girls soaking wet after putting their hands over the side as we raced across the lake.

Darcy Wake Surfing for the first time

Ella getting a kiss after trying her hand at driving.

Farm Livin' is the life...

(Memorial Day Weekend Part 2)

The rest of our weekend was spent at the ranch having fun and getting dirty with Corey's family. We had planned to meet up with some from our ward in Cainsville, but Dallin was running a fever and it was RAINING big time, which just made for lots of mud. And for mom the mud is one thing when you play and then can clean up or sit in the house out of it all, but to go out and play in the mud, have no cover from the rain and then still have an hour drive home just didn't sound like as much fun. Of course the rain didn't slow the boys or kids down much. They still got in their riding and playing, chores and projects for dad, and game and relaxing time.


MaCayela our dare devil of the weekend. She was on the 4wheeler from sun up to sun down.

Ella had fun riding around with Corey and Grandpa Walt

Dallin riding in the back of the truck with Jared up from the corals

Helping daddy fix the motorcycle

MaCayela and Easton returning from one of their many trips around the farm. They would take off and be gone for chunks at a time out at their "umpa lompa office"

Feeding the pigs to fatten them up for some good eats that are coming

Dallin trying to "fix" the chickens with his tools while he was helping Dad and Uncle Kerry work on the chicken coop

Ella thought that is was so cool that you could hold the chickens still. She was at the ranch when they were just little chicks and loved holding them then.

Sweet sisters!

Dallin FINALLY got on a four wheeler and went for a ride. He use to love it last summer and we would take him all over, but this year he had yet to go on a ride and would scream if you started it while he was on it. But he got over it this trip and loved going around the farm on it.

MaCayela and Easton... Peace Out my little friends!

Dallin and his buddy Bentley watching cartoons

What Grandpa Walt does when he isn't hard at work on the farm

Some down time after a LONG hard day of PLAY