New York New York

So I've been a slacker in the blogging department! Life is just too busy when you have six kids a hubby and a dog! :) Actually, I've just got to be in the right mood. I really can not believe how fast time flies. I have always been pretty good at getting my Christmas shopping pretty much done by Thanksgiving. Not this year!! I am just not mentally ready for Christmas or winter or cold or snow or anything that comes with it.

All the kids are staying busy with school and everything going on in their lives. They have all managed to stay away from the flu that has been so bad this year. I am a little bit crazy, but was determined NOT to get sick before I went on or during my trip. I was willing to try it all--gargle salt water, swab my nose with salt water, zinc capsules, major hand sanitizer, lysol wipes. I did it all and it all worked. So far so good.

On November 5 me and 4 other gals headed for New York City. This trip had been planned and paid for months and months ago so it really didn't seem real. It was an amazing trip. I can't seem to quit talking about it and looking at pictures. It was a great place. We went to Broadway shows, shopped, ate, red bus tour, shopped, food tour in Greenwich Village, run in Central Park, shopped. We even did a temple session at the Manhattan temple. We didn't skimp when it came to eating either!! We went to some AWESOME restaurants and ate well! Our all time fav had to be Hillstone. Yummy ribs that I ate with my fork! I honestly couldn't believe all the fun places to shop. I was in heaven. If I had more luggage to take it all home in, I would have been even happier. Yes, Canal Street is all it is hyped up to be. I got some WAY cute purses! Everyone has asked me what my favorite part was and I have to say without a doubt, for sure, I'd do it over again in a heart beat---Wicked!!!!

All I can say is if you haven't seen it, you really need to. Seriously! Life changing!! A Spiritual awakening!! I will no longer watch the Wizard of Oz the same again as long as I live. I love the wicked witch of the west. She is my favorite!!! I could relate to her sooooo much. I was laughing and then crying and then laughing and then crying again. WOW! It was especially fun to be watching it with friends who have stood by me through my ups and downs in my life. They are true friends. I luv them!!

Well, Thanksgiving will be at my house this year. All of my family will be with us. It is always fun to get together with them. Luckily for me, most of the food is brought with them so I don't have to cook to much.

Today I called the temple and scheduled our date to be sealed. Dec. 12, 2009!! I am so excited and can't believe that it is really going to happen. It is just amazing to look back over the last 5 years at the ups and downs and where we are now. I am so proud of Travis and the example he is to the kids. This is one of those times I just want to sing, "To those who ground me, send a message back from me. Tell them how I am defying gravity!" (if you've seen Wicked, you'll get it) I love it!

I'll post a few pictures, but they just don't even begin to describe the wonderful, fun, amazing time that I had. And it is only fitting to say how thankful I am for friends. Friends that I can cry with and laugh with and just be crazy with. Friends who make be a better person. Friends who love me because of me. Friends who are amazing examples. Friends that because I know, "I have been changed for good....."

Summer is Over :(

Matthew, Peyton, Dylan. The sun was really bright!!

Sydney, Emily, Brynlee

"Hurry and take the picture!! The sun is in our eyes!"

Oquirrh Temple open house

Me and my Syd

Me and Brynlee beans!

Ready for church. A handsome little bunch.

mom, me, Trav, Alicia & Brent on Trav's temple day.

I can't believe it is almost fall. We had such a fun summer, but it flew by way to fast. Both Peyton and Dylan made a great accomplishment! They learned how to water ski. In fact, they are so good at it, it is hard for me and Travis to get any time in now. I was very proud of them. Sydney tried twice, but is still too small I guess. I was proud of her for at least trying. We finally got a lot of hour on the boat this year and hope to still get a few more. Maybe on Friday while everyone is in school!! :)

Peyton is going to Space Camp in Georgia the end of Sept. with four other kids. He is soooo excited, but has to come up with $100. I am trying to get him to do some kind of fund raiser. We'll see what happens.

All the kids were pretty excited to start school. Peyton & Matthew are in 7th, Dylan is in 5th, Emily is in 4th, Sydney is in 1st and Brynlee will start preschool on Sept. 9. I can't believe how fast they are growing.

Travis is staying busy as executive sec. in the bishopric and really enjoys it. He went to the temple on Aug. 4 for the first time. It was really neat. The memorable part will be when the fire alarm went off in the middle of the session and he looked at me like, "See, I told you something is going to happen to that building if I go in it!" It was funny, but luckily we didn't have to leave. It was a false alarm. We are planning on being sealed along with Brynlee in Dec. or Jan. (our 5 year anniversary) YEAH!! He has come such a long way and I am very proud of him and the changes he has made. He has a huge heart and an even bigger testimony. I love you Trav!!

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

Ok, so I've been slacking bad in the blog dept!! I am just a very busy woman during the summer. I can't imagine how I did it when I was working. I guess I just had to cut out a lot of activities. I am so glad I am able to be home and play, play, play. Well, let's see, where should I start. We have loved the boat so far this summer. We try and go out as much as we can. Our first trip was in June to Willard Bay. It was a great day and we had a ball. We have made it out to Hyrum, Newton, Sand Hallow in St. George and just recently Lake Powell. I have to brag a minute because it took Travis about 4 tries to get up on his new wake board and I got up on my first!! It was so fun.

Sydney and Brynlee enjoyed swimming lessons a few weeks ago. It really helped Brynlee not be so scared of "deep" water. She trusts that her life jacket will hold her up and she can go any where she wants. She will even jump off the boat into the water.

On the 4th of July, Travis took part in his first 15k at the Hyrum Freedom Run. He did soooo good. I think he enjoyed it and would like to do the 1/2 marathon Top of Utah, but is going to be out of town so much between now and then he doesn't think he can train for it this year. He missed the top 10 in his age group by just a few seconds and came in 11th! Good job baby!

For Brent and Alicia's retirement party, the whole family decided to take a trip. We went down to Lake Powell and had a GREAT time. Because of the "little girls" we decided not to do the house boat and rented a mobile home trailer at Bullfrog marina. Never being there before I was a little bit nervous of what to expect, but everyone told me I would just love it. OH YEAH! Everything about it was wonderful. The hot weather, the beautiful red rock and the warm water. HEAVEN!!! The kids were great and the company was so fun! Peyton and Dylan were constantly talking about how much fun it was and that we have to come again next year. They loved the cliff jumping, even Sydney amazed us with her jumping. Yes, I even loved the jumping too!! The kids even wanted to get up with us at 6:00 am to get some calm water skiing water. Matthew was a great help with the boat and Emily had to jump in the water every time we stopped the boat. I can't wait to go again.

Dylan was so brave!

Two cute little fish I found in the lake.

All the kids finally found the courage to jump.

Jim flying through the air!

Brynlee on her own special boat.

Watch out, here come the shark!
Thanks again Brent and Alicia! What fun memories we made!