Snowbird... THE BIRD

Our annual tradition! I have spent a week up at the Iron Blossom Lodge in Snowbird since I was about 8 years old. My Grandma Myrlene has a timeshare and would take me and my sisters and brother up for the week. We had the best time playing on the island, playing in the halls and elevators, playing in the game room and swimming and swimming.
We couldn’t check in to the room until about 4 PM, but that didn’t stop us from having our stuff packed and out on the lawn at the crack of dawn. We waiting for Grandma to come pick us up in her yellow station wagon! We couldn’t wait… it seemed like she would never come and when she finally did, the drive took forever!
We always stopped traffic with our slow car it was piled to the hilt with food and bags, but we didn’t care it added to the feeling that yes we were finally on a vacation!
We seemed to be under the impression that once up there you were never coming back, so we had to stock up! Funny how now I will travel up for a day and come down, but back then it just wasn’t done. Once at Snowbird you were there! If we needed anything we would call grandpa and he would come up, but we never went down… and boy we didn’t care… we were in HEAVEN!
Now its time for a new generation to experience the magic of Snowbird. Katie and Laurie and I were in a separate room but we still spent time in 605 with Grandma! My kids had the best time running the same halls with their cousins that I did so many years.

A High School Grad

So far we have 3 Alta Grads and we will have 3 Bingham Grads... we have a nice little rivalry going right at home! But Nicole mixed mix it all and graduated from Brighton... she could have tipped the scales! We are so proud of Brad... he graduated with Honors!

Loving our Teddy Bear and Rhino the Hampster

Sami's little Riley Riley... she loves her little girl! Riley is sweet and loveable and so darned cute... she's a really good cuddler and never bites. And she's a good sport for all the dresses Sami has her in! She gives the best kisses to everyone!!

Craig likes to say he needs a "real" dog like a german shephard or a sheep dog or something... but this says it all... he's smitten!

Zachary's Teddy Bear is just that a little teddy bear. He's so soft and loving. He doesn't like to lick so he's fun to cuddle. He loves to sleep with Zach. We are convinced Teddy doesn't have a back bone because he will let you hold him just about any way and will fall asleep that way. Craig says his elevator doesn't quite go to the top!

Our puppies turned one and it's safe to say that they are loved!!!!

Prom Queen

Natalie went to Junior Prom with Zach. We had a lot of fun finding this gorgeous pruple dress for her! We hadn't shopped for a prom dress in the previous years becasue she borrowed, but since you only go to you Junior Prom once in your life... why not make it special, besides she looked amazing!

Nicole came over to help with hair and makeup and to do some much needed tightening of the dress!

Sami helped too.., not sure with what, but she was very excited to help Natalie into the dress!

AMAZING...

Waiting is the worst part..

Putting on the Boutineer... does anyone really know how to do that?

The dress was so full it didn't fit in the car! Oh well... she looked great and had the best time!

Field Trips

I had the opportunity to go on one field trip with each kid this year! I love the fact that I have the freedom to be able to do that. I am so fortunate! I love going on the field trips... the kids love to have me there (for now) and I love watching them with their friends and seeing their faces as they learn something new. Being a mother truly is a blessing that I am most greatful for!

I went with Zach's class to the planaterium and the Children's Museum. We had a great time, but on the way to the planaterium, Zachary walked right into the corner of a brick building and cut his head pretty badly... he had a headache the rest of the day.

I went with Sami to the Natural Science Museum and the park. Other than getting super bus sick on the way home it was a blast!!! We enjoyed seeing all the animals and where their natural habitats are... we learned that a lot of the animals live in Africa!!! We saw a huge Black Bear that someone had actually hunted, killed and then donated to the museum. The park was great... we took a nap in the grass and had fun being together!

Let's Go Band!

Zachary joined the 3rd grade band this year and has been learning the trumpet. They were lucky enough to have a seperate trumpet teacher for the kids... so Zach has really progressed! He loves his trumpet and amazes me how well he has done. He's got some real talent and he actually loves to practice!!! Go figure, I wasn't sure any of my kids would want to be musical.

He had a MONSTER CONCERT with about 6 other elementary shcools and I was so impressed, they all did so great! Took me back to my days of elementary orchestra and how I started out and how much I loved it and miss it now!

The Crazy things kids do...

"Why So Serious?"

Crazy Hair Day

Not so crazy in a traditional way, but he actually let me touch it and put product in it!

I love these cute little ones! Spirit Week is so fun to be able to blow off some steam!

I love how sweet they are to each other... right now they are outside playing with each other and have been all day. They get along so well and it's nice to see that they have each other. I love to listen to the things they say and they way they encourage each other. When Sami is having a bad day and is thinking she can't go to school. Zach puts his arm around her shoulders and sweetly tells her it will be okay and tries to coach her out the door. Natalie is good at getting Sami to do things too. She tells Sami they are going to trick her mind... she feels good... she's going to have a good day. Nicole was even cute to call and want a girls night out. All the kids adore Grayson... can't wait to see him... each wanting to hold him.

I love that we are all put into a family for a reason and that we build these relationships for eternity!

So thankful for my little family!