Congratulations Chelsea and Reed

Happy Birthday Cameron

Congratulations cousin

Happy Birthday Mason

Mason's birthday is just days before my due date. SOOO We threw him a early birthday party. I like to do one friend party a year and this year is Mason's turn. Summer fun is always the funniest fun so we planned a pool party during the hottest part of the summer. It was planned and set for the last week of July. That day it only got to 91 degrees and was in the 80's the rest of the days.

We had pizza, presents, cake, and pop sickles. Ohh and we set up our pool that is about 3 feet deep. Mason and all his friends had lots of fun. After the 3 hour party I took them all home and then the bigger kids of the neighborhood could jump in and play.
I feel I should give more details of the day to give you a realistic picture of events. We got home late the night before so I had to decorate the cake the morning of the party and set up the pool and make the pizza all before the kids got there. I couldn't find a working air pump so I blew the pool up with my lunges. I am 8 months pregnant and a mother of 4 other small children, Aaron was not home to help, I sprayed the kids down with mosquito spray and sun screen every hour, I had to barrow my neighbors minivan to take everyone home because ours was in the shop. I'm too cheep for paper goods to be on hand and running to the store is not an option here in Woodruff, so all the 5&6 year old friends eat off of paper towels and drank with glass glasses.

With all that goes into a party, I am so glad to do it for my Mason. He is so fantastic, wonderful, fun, loving, excepting of others, forgiving, empathetic, giving, and patient. He is also cute, smart, and athletic.

Mason and I owe Taylor a BIG THANK YOU. It went off so well and successful because of him.

Bear Lake

Emmett and Haven are totally buddies and played, played, and played together all weekend.


Bear Lake is so full, we hadn't gotten in yet, until last weekend. I wasn't even sure we could find a place that was Emmett friendly, so Aaron and I checked it out one night. Turns out it was even fuller. All the usual places I go were underwater and the shore was all rocks. We went to check out the Idaho State Parks to see if they were any better. And it was. We even found a sandy beach. Jessica and her two girls came up for the Fourth of July weekend. The weekend started Saturday at Bear Lake. It was such a perfect spot and a perfect day we stay 3 hours longer then planned. I LOVED swimming deep into the water with Taylor and Cameron. They are so fun to play with. I've have a ton of fun with them all summer. Hiking, biking, swimming, or what ever.

Monday we did the Woodruff Fourth of July Parade and Rodeo. We loved it too. Jessica took Jozie out to try and catch a rabbit. Aaron and I were really hoping she would and then they would have to figure out what to do with a rabbit. Cameron was the only one that caught anything. Mason and Taylor tried too. There were calfs and chicken to catch too.
Monday ended with us driving down to Hooper, UT to meet up with Chelsea, Reed, Eric, Kari, Carol, Richard, Ethan, Stephanie, Zachary, Scott, Cheyenne, and Hailey. We took the big tent and camped out in Carol's backyard. The men played horse shoes and the cousins played in the water. Everyone had a good time.

Moab was so much fun. We played in the sand. Hiked to all the different arches, which included a 5 mile difficult uphill climb/hike to double O Arch that Mason did by himself. He is my little superhero. Biked along the red hill cliffs. Yelled to hear our echo and threw rocks at Dead Horse Point. Drank water right out of the rocks. Swam in the Colorado River. Eat dinner by the fire at night and eat lunch on the trails during the day. We had lots and lots of fun. Just to remember for future camping trips we camped in the Big Bend campground space number 8.

Mom, does this picture remind you of anyone?

We have gone biking a few times already this spring, and the last time was the best one yet. Last summer we got nice gear bikes for Taylor and Cameron and biked all summer. This summer I hope to be the same.

Jessica and Chad live right next to the Jordan River wa
lkway and so we thought we would try it out. The plan was a 10 mile bike ride. For my 5 year old Mason that is way more then he has ever done and so we were not sure if he could do it or that my stomach could handle it that long either.

Ohh Mason became the SUPER HERO of the year. Because he does not have a gear bike he just has a Walmart special he has to peddle 2 to 3 times more then any of us. He never gets to coast along. At one point we had to go up a hill that was 200 yards long and he did it without complaining or slowing down. I am still amazed when I think about him and what he did that day. Mason rocks!

The plan for the day was to go riding as a family and we are so glad Jessica, Chad, Jozie, Haven, and even Joshua could last minute come and join us. Ten more awesome bike rides coming soon this summer.






Our half way point way Gardener Village. We eat lunch and pastries. I mean pastries was our lunch, and loved checking out all the shops. Here is a picture of all 5 of my boys.

I love to quilt

Here is my newest project. With a new baby on the way Emmett needs to move out of the crib and so he needs a bed. Thanks to by friend Katherine we have a twin bed but he has no blankets so I have added to the little jean blanket my mother made and made a blanket to go on Emmett's new bed. It's not the nicest or best but it will totally keep him warm at night.

Quilting brings out the artisic side in myself and I love to sew and it fits everybody shape and never goes out of style. It's a lasting art piece that can be around for 50 years and it tells the person I make it for that they are loved. I think I get better at it with ever quilt. This is quilt number 7. I've done one for myself, Cameron, Chad, Bella, Joshua, Mike, and now Emmett. I think Taylor is next. He wants one too.

Collage of Winter pics

It was great to get to know Dallin and Maria and Chelsea a little better. We all knew them as great kids and now there more adults then kids and they are even better. The picture below is Dallin jumping off the swing. We all went to Hooper Park after lunch. After Dalin jumped my boys had to try too. The picture above is Chelsea and Taylor.

The picture above is Cameron and Mason. We went for a walk with the aunts and uncles to welcome in spring. It was a nice day next to a great walking path along the Jordan River. When ever there is water my boys are finding things to throw into it. My 30 yr old little brother Joshua loves to play the same games as my boys. They started with rocks then boulders. Then they found sticks to be the funniest to throw because they would race down the river with the currant. So then Joshua started finding dead trees to throw in. It was totally hilarious. I LOVED IT.

Emmett loves to wear hats and shoes. He loves it even more if he can get more then one thing on his head at a time.

Emmett is still loved and adored by all his brothers, and Emmett loves the attention!!! Taylor loves the ability to carry any of his brothers around on his back. He can even carry Mom or Dad, but those pictures are for a more private photo show.

above we have Hailey and Emmett
---Cute cousins---
and below we have Cheyenne and Mason

Just before this picture of Taylor and Grandma Wilson, Taylor was measuring to see if he is taller then her yet. Taylor has 1 more inch to go.

Mason and Micheal always have a ton of fun when ever we get together. Mason loves having a boy cousin close to his age but younger so he can be the boss.

Here we have the other girl cousin that Emmett will love having as a best cousin. I'll be praying for Haven and Hailey to pick good friends 'cause I'm sure Emmett will be double dating with them. I guess only if Emmett can be nice by then.