Just a quick story...

Today is our FIVE year anniversary! YAY! Because we are out doing so many things today- I don't have tons of time, but I thought this was pretty funny- and I will try and get some more posted maybe tomorrow. Anyhow- I went to the store with Kenna and I was looking for some ribbon to wrap a gift. I happened to see a bag of old fashioned creme drops that were fairly cheap. I LOVED these as a kid and was so excited to see them. So I bought them and was telling Kennedy how much I loved these awesome candies and how lucky of a girl she was that she got to taste them with me. I gave her one and she took bite out of it and said, "Mmm! This is good Mommy!" then she puts her hand up by her head like she is thinking and says,"Hmm... I wonder where the garbage can is?" HA!! I laughed so hard! She was trying so hard to please me by telling me that she liked my treat- but at the same time she was NOT impressed at all! i just thought it was a priceless moment. I could definitely hear her thoughts at that moment where she was thinking, "Ok mom...whatever! This stuff is crap!" I just love that little girl! Well I am going to go and have an AMAZING day with the love of my life! Happy Anniversary to me!

Summer Projects...

We have been so busy this summer working on the yard and in the garden. Mainly this post is for Annie- She and Neil helped us SO much getting our yard done this year. I wanted to show what it looks like now that it is just about done. When we first bought our house- there was no backyard whatsoever! No grass, no patio, no awning, nothing. We had weeds literally that towered over the top of the fence! We fixed up the front yard last year- and because it costs ridiculous amounts of money to do yard work- we saved the backyard for this year. We had the concrete poured for the patio, then built the awning (Which can I just say how much I LOVE it!) Then came the horrors of never ending weeding and raking and shoveling. We took our yard clear down to the dirt. Then we had to install sprinklers and sod, buy rocks and boulders to build my little flower bed, shovel 27 cubic yards of dirt to fill it up...(I wanted to kill myself by the time we were done!) then plant the flowers for the bed, and the seeds for the garden, and paint the fence. It has been a nonstop process so far- and while we still have tons more things that we want to do in the backyard...Alas...the money is gone and we have to wait until next year. To be completely truthful though- I am ready for a break,and just to be able to enjoy what we have done so far instead of constantly worrying about finishing the next project. My wildflowers are my favorite. We bought several packets of seeds and threw them in at random. Except for the sunflowers. Oddly enough those came from the seeds in the bird feeder that sits right there. (Maybe I'm an idiot- but I guess it didn't really register that the bird seed would actually start growing!) Over all- we are so glad to finally have a yard that Kenna can play in and a place where we can have friends and family over for BBQ's. Our garden is doing really well though! I picked 24 cucumbers in one day! I am fast turning into one of those neighbors who is constantly trying to offload veggies on people! We have been really blessed though and we are excited to be able to bottle some homemade salsa in about another month. (My favorite stuff!) Anyhow- Thank you Annie and Neil for all of the help you gave us before you decided to move to Lame Washington! We wish so bad that you were here to enjoy it with us!

Jet Skiing with the Fam-

We had the funnest weekend this week! We went up Provo Canyon with with the family and did jet skiing all day! (Thanks Mike and Jean!!) We had a blast!! Kennedy was a speed demon and loved going fast. She and Josh played in the sand and the water ALL day long- it was a HORRIBLE NIGHTMARE trying to get all of the sand our of her hair before church the next day- but still worth it to see her having so much fun! My cousin Scott brought his fiance Katie to hang out with us, which was great- and my dad wowed us once again with his dutch oven cooking skills. Definately an awesome day! The only thing that would have made it better was if Neil, Annie and the boys could have been there too. We had a great time though- I LOVE being out on the water! I just think that it is completely exilharating to be out on the water, going really fast with the wind and the splashes in my face....mmm! Makes me want to do it tomorrow!

Memory Tag

Ok- I guess I am playing too! Here's what you do:
1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.
Just be nice...and if I have spilled all my dirty secrets to you...remember that they still have to be secret! :)

What?! So you think I should actually update?!

So- I don't really have anything all that exciting to report. Mac and I have been crazy busy trying to clear out the spare bedroom- that has somehow turned into the room where we throw in whatever we really don't have an official place for. It is the room that ever since we bought this place- had literally been untouched by human hands. Literally we have probably only been in the room about 4 times- when getting out Christmas decorations and then putting them away. We just open the door- and chuck whatever is going in there that day. BUT! (trumpets and fanfare) we are clearing it out and turning it into Kennedy's OFFICIAL big girl room! WAHOO! I am actually really excited about the whole thing- because once her room is finished, we can start clearing out the "nursery" room. I don't know how many people are aware- but we are starting the adoption process again and are just beginning the prep stages. Anyhow- we have cleared it and at the moment- it is covered in fresh new paint (pink- I might add), painters tape and plastic. We decided that Kenna is only young once and we wanted her to love her new room. So- we let her choose everything. Let's just say that this room is going to be a horrific- pink and purple, princess, butterfly, flower room- and while I am LOVING watching her enjoy it... I will be counting the days until she grows out of this style and into what I really wanted to do in there. I will have to post some pictures of our finished product when all is said and done. We have to hurry- because we are doing this for Kennedy's adoption day, which is fast approaching. (We celebrate adoption day- just like a birthday...party, presents- the works. One- because I love a reason to celebrate. Two- because Kenna's birthday is in January- and party's are funner in August because you can be outside. But mostly just because we want Kenna to grow up knowing that we celebrate the day that she became an "official" member of our family.) Kenna runs around telling everyone that will listen to her that she is getting a big girl bed for "doption" day. I love it.

What a wonderful world...

Tonight was seriously awesome! My cousin Steve got baptized today! YAY!! The baptism was held out at Eagle Mountain- and I had never been out that way before. I tell ya- the homes are nice- but it is SO far out there! I am definitely happy that I live where I do!

Tonight was so neat-because to me, it was the Gospel in action. This was a "re-baptism" for Steve. He has been through absolute hell- and had to reach way far down deep within himself to get to this point. It completely made me all teary and emotional to watch him- and see the joy in his face. His cute wife and kids were all crying and so happy. It was just wonderful!!! I am so grateful to have the Atonement in my life! Just to know that there is a way for me to be forgiven of all my stupid little mistakes that I make...and the huge giant ones too is amazing! The fact that my family can be together forever- brings me more happiness than I can even say. It just made me happy to go and think about all of those things- as I watched my cousin take the first steps to making his family an eternal one. So cool.

Last minute visit!

We had the most AWESOME unexpected surprise when Neil and Annie called at 8:00pm on Saturday night and told us that they were in Boise and would be coming to visit us! They arrived at around 1:00am and of course we were so excited! We even kept Kennedy up to wait for them to get here. The kids were SO excited to see each other and just kept giving each other huge hugs and kisses. It was sooo sweet! For the next 3 days we were all inseparable. The kids played like there was no tomorrow- and Annie and Neil spent tons of time with the rest of us which was AWESOME!

We got out a little swimming pool for the kids to splash around in- (which they all loved) and Kenna found these goggles that we couldn't get her to take off. Every time I look at this picture it just makes me laugh! What a goofy kid!

The trip was perfect timing! Boston celebrated his 4th Birthday while he was here! YAY!! We had a really fun spur of the moment Birthday Bash for him and he loved it. I have to say though- Annie, my mom, and I- probably had more fun at the store getting ready for it, than Boston had at the party. It was so great just getting away with the girls and leaving the kids at home with the Guys. mmm! Annie, Melody, and I made a castle cake for the party- and we were having a devil of a time with all the layers- but it actually turned out pretty ok- and dummy me after all that work I didn't even take a picture of it! Oh well- it was kind of lopsided. So I guess it's ok.

We had so much fun just sitting around and visiting. We took the kids to the fountain at the Gateway to play and splash in. (Another moment where my camera was nowhere to be found! What the heck is my problem?!) And the rest of the time we just took every second we could to hang out and smother the kids with hugs. We have missed them like crazy ever since they moved to Washington and Kennedy asks for Boston and Isaac all the time.

Well- after a final "sendoff" they are back in lame Washington. Hopefully they will have another spur of the moment burst of homesickness and come home again! Definitely at Christmastime- but that just seems so far away! It was great to have the whole family together again though- it only for a few days.