Enjoying the simple pleasures of life...

As we were driving home from LOTOJA we had to stop to change the baby. We happened to stop in front of these cows, so the kids got out and just started watching them. After a while the cows entertained us by running around a little bit, and a couple of them pooped. We all laughed so hard. I could just picture the owners inside their house looking out at us and thinking we are crazy for being so entertained by COWS!!
LIFE IS SHORT!! TAKE TIME TO HAVE FUN IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!!

HERD RETREAT - "A Time and A Season"

So, there's this group of girls that have been my friends since Jr. High and High School. We are called THE HERD. Are we proud of that name? Well, no, but we go with it!! We were named the Herd because we traveled around together a lot, and basically still do!!

Each year we get together for the "Herd Retreat". It is an amazing two night adventure where we go to Jill's condo in Deer Valley and we basically sit around a rectangle table and talk and laugh and of course eat!! We have started the past few years "beading" too.

First we must start with a picture that shows our humble beginnings just 19 years ago. I swear it seems like yesterday!!

And now a more up to date picture , still cute as ever!!

(Melissa, Jenni, Melissah, Cari, Engor - top row)

(Carrie, Wendi, Kristen, Katherine, Jill - bottom row)

Let the retreat begin!! We start out each year at a bead store where a whole bunch of hugs take place and then the laughter!! Choosing beads is a joke!! Kat is our beading queen and she tries to guide us through. Have to admit we really emberassed her at this store!!

Melissah and Cari ($100 and $80 later!!) Hopefully husbands don't read blogs!!

What a great time! Notice I have no beads, my bead shopping takes place at Walmart where the beads are $1.97, I'm a little cheap! And easy, but that's a whole other conversation!!

After buying the beads, of course food is necessary!! We went to Paradise Bakery, and enjoyed some food!! Then we loaded up the cars and we were off to the condo! In years past we have stayed up until 4 in the morning talking. This year I think we made it to 1 or 2! I was laughing saying in 10 years we'll all be calling it a night at 11:00!!

Had to add a picture of wonderful Chelle who came up and took Baby Ryan for 12 glorious hours for me so I could enjoy without any distractions!! Thank you Chelle so much!!!

Now that there are no kids, off to get the fresh bevs!! Yes, Wendi convinced me (and paid for) this HUGE drink!! It's flippin' 2 liters! And I have to admit, I finished it in 3 hours!!

Jill tried to keep up with the 20 oz, but had a hard time!! And then there's Mel who is being so good getting ready for her marathon, drinking the water!!

Here is the rectangle table, with beads galore!! And the best friends ever, sharing stories and life and advice and just laughing. I love you guys so much and thank you for you friendship!!

Our knitters!! Yarn over 1, yarn over 2. I can't believe I don't have a picture of Carrie stuffing her bears! She was busy the whole time cutting and stuffing Carrie Bears!!

Off to dinner! Had to have a picture of the wonderful dessert! As if we didn't have a huge basket of candy sitting at the table at home to fill us up! It's vacation though!!
How blessed I am to have this group of friends. I really can't believe we all found each other. We are all so different and that's what makes our group special! That's why you keep me around!! I love you guys so much!! What a great feeling to know there are 9 girls out there that would stop and do anything for me!!

BRAMMY PACKAGE!!!!!

So, about once a month or more there's this thing that happens, it's a magical timie in the home of all the grandkids of "Brammy".

Every day we go to get the mail from the mailbox. And every day I hear from at least one of my kids, "Is there a Brammy package?". When there is a package, you can hear squeels of joy as the kids grab the "package".



Whoever is lucky enough to be the one holding the package then runs to the house, with all the other kids close behind screaming that they want to help open it!!

Once opened, what a magical and fun time as the kids pull out some type of toy or treat. What a great feeling for these kids to know how much their "Bramnmy" loves them.




THANKS BRAMMY!! WE LOVE YOU TOO!!!

"Home Grown" Watermelon...

So, about a month or so ago the boys were eating a watermelon and Steve noticed they were saving all the seeds in a baggie. He asked what they were doing and of course they were saving the seeds to go and plant in the back yard. Who doesn't want a watermelon patch in their own back yard!!


Steve took the boys outside and they planted the seeds together and put little colored sticks where they planted them to watch the progress. Eventually some green stuff started growing, watermelon or weeds, who knows......


Last week when I went to the grocery store, I bought a watermelon, snuck home and put it out in the watermelon patch....
The boys were SOOOOOO excited when they saw that watermelon. Steve and I were laughing so hard. Who knew that watermelons just POP out of the ground like that, not even connected to a vine!!
Nothing like enjoying watermelon you've grown yourself!! I love my boys!!

PreSchool Here I Come...

Cute little Braden FINALLY started back to preschool! The older kids have been in school since the end of July, and Braden has been soooooo bored without them. He is so excited to be going to school! He is a really smart kid and catches on so fast, it will be fun to see what he learns. (as long as he can stay out of time out!!)

LOTOJA!!!

For those of you who don't know, there's this bike race called LOTOJA...

3 STATES....1000 CYCLISTS......7700 FT OF CLIMBING.....206 MILES.....
1 DAY!!!!!

It's a 206 mile bike race from Logan Utah, to Jackson Hole WY. And my awesome husband did it on Sept 8th for his 4th time!!

Here are some pictures of our adventure......

Checking in....

A trip to McDonalds to help the kids release some energy!! Notice Steve with his IPOD just getting in the zone for the race. It's not easy to tune out 5 children at McDonalds!!

5:00 a.m. - Up and at 'em, YES Steve Newton is awake at 5 in the morning, had to document that one!! Javier stopped in to say good luck!!

Nothing like breakfast at the sink in the hotel room. The only paper plates I could find were Zoo Pals, so I made sure to give Steve his pancakes on Raging Bull plate!!

6:36 a.m. Ready or not, the race is on!! It's such an exciting feeling at the Start line. It's still dark outside and there are just tons of people everywhere! I was so excited and nervous for him!!

After getting Steve off, I drove back to the hotel room to dress and load up the "Support Crew" (picture taken later in the day)

10:00 a.m. After a few hours in the car the kids got to get out and play a bit while I ran to give Steve his water and peanut butter jelly sandwich!!

12:00 p.m. At this point Steve had already climbed the first two mountain passes and was on to the third. And to put in Steve's words this is where he took a big crap at LOTOJA. It was so bad he said to wait at the top of the hill because he may be done....

Meanwhile..... I have a darling sleeping baby, and cute kids playing Bratz. This is so very decieving because right after these pictures the baby was screaming to eat and the kids were freaking out because Braden spilled his root beer all over the sleeping bag they were playing on! And here I am waiting for my husband that is dieing on his bike!!

1:00 pm. LUCKILY Brian and Stacey showed up when Steve got to Afton. He was ready to quit at this point, but they were so great at inspiring him to keep going. Maybe it was when Stacey started running in front of him and he was chasing along, whatever works!!
We all kept telling him he could do it, but he got mad and said, "I know I can do it, I've done it 3 times already!!"

After some coke and power bars, and a second wind, my awesome husband came across the finish line at 5:13 p.m. and we were all there to cheer him on!! He finished in 10 hours 37 minutes!

Walking back to the car Steve wanted nothing to do with the bike, cute Camy walked it back for him. He was joking with people on the trail saying he had a bike for sale....cheap!
After the race it was back to the hotel where Steve got into a hot jacuzzi tub and I took the kids swimming so he could relax. (even though I as the support person that just spent 10 hours in the car with 5 kids wanted to just climb in next to him!!)

Sunday 10:00 a.m Steve said LOTOJA is a lot like child birth. As you go through all the pain you swear you'll never do it again, but then when you're holding that cute little baby afterwards, or in his case, sitting at the awards ceremony, you seem to forget part of the pain and want to do it again!

12:00 p.m. Here we are the day after eating pizza in Jackson Hole with the Vargas family. A fun way to finish off the LOTOJA experience.

Now Steve will take a short winter break, and will be back at it next year!!

Beautiful Day...

Thank you to everyone who came to Ryan's Blessing! It was a great day! It's always fun to get to hang out with you guys.


I especially loved the beautiful blessing you gave dad, it was perfect!


The Grandma's loving their little angel!!





Just hangin, having a good time...

THANKS to everyone for coming to support baby Ryan!! WE LOVE YOU!!