Our Softball Girl!

That's my girl! Kaitlyn started coach pitch this year! Her team name was the Pink Sox. She absolutely loved it! As a family we have spent many days and evenings playing ball together in the back yard. Have to say Kaitlyn is pretty impressive! She can smack that ball! We had some friends over that have all boys and their response after Kaitlyn was hitting balls against them was, WOW! That girls can hit! Of course that made her want to keep knocking the heck out of it.
Just like the back yard she was impressive on the field! I absolutely love watching the girls games! Our summers get pretty crazy with games every night of the week, but it is so worth it! I love seeing their enjoyment as they play and have fun! Keep up the good work Kaitlyn!

Celebrating the 4th of July!

We feel so blessed to live in such a wonderful country and enjoy the many freedoms we have.

We had such a fun day! It started off with the kids and I heading to the community pool. It was a great way to beat the heat! We missed dad since he thought staying home and building closets shelves would be more fun! I beg to differ;)! Later that evening we had a BBQ with friends! It was great and we always seem to get in a lot of laughter! After dinner we headed over to watch the fireworks. We all laid out our blankets and chairs and enjoyed the evening! Our friends put on an exciting firework show for everyone while we were waiting for the "big" ones from the stadium! Don't you love the bottom left picture?! I think the three "big" kids loved the fireworks just as much as the kiddos;)! The kids love being able to run around and play with friends! Makell and Whitney loved chasing Jackson and I loved hearing their little giggles and squeals! Kourtney and Kaitlyn were in heaven playing with their friends Nyah and Janae "all night"! They made sure to tell others that they were able to stay up until 11:16 p.m. playing with friends! Quite the special treat! A great holiday spent with Friends, Fireworks, & lots of Fun!

Summer Day Creativity!

It was inevitable! I knew it was coming! Today was the day I heard those dreaded summer phrases: "Mom we are bored! There is nothing to do"! I had a little project in the closet waiting to pull out for times like these:)!

Hair flowers! These are the easiest things to make and right up a little girls alley!
All you need are a few bouquet of flowers (dollar store), large brads, hair clips, and a hot glue gun.

The girls pulled the flowers apart and separated the layers of petals. We used three flowers from each bouquet and made about sixteen different hair clips. They chose the colors and sizes they wanted and fastened them together with a brad. Interesting that not one looked the same as another!
We hot glued the hair clip to the flowers and VOILA !!! Their own hair clip creations!

A Visit to the Oquirrh Mtn. Temple

Yesterday our family had the privilege of touring the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It was absolutely beautiful! We watched a video and were told it was named according to the Oquirrh Mountains that are west of the temple meaning "Shining Mountain". It couldn't be a more perfect name as you see the Temple sitting upon a hill overlooking the valley! How fortunate for our children to have the opportunity to tour two new temples within the last six months! There are many people throughout the world who never get that opportunity!
It was such a beautiful day yesterday in more ways than one! We have finally had a break from all the rain and the day couldn't have been better!There wasn't a cloud to be seen and the sky was the most amazing blue color!
When we finished the tour the girls wanted to go back through it again! I think everyone had the same idea. I guess Monday's are a popular time to take the tour. There were lines of people waiting inside and out. Those are the kinds of lines I have no problem waiting in:)! I heard a volunteer outside telling a lady that they definitely had a full house. It was nice to spend some time outside walking around and noticing all the extras. The fence that surrounds the temple had "mini" temples on every other post. Soooo cool!
After the tour we went to a tent to have some refreshments. Kourtney and Kaitlyn were amused with the piano that played by itself! After we were done I noticed Kaitlyn had this "look" on her face. I asked her if something was wrong or if she wasn't feeling well? She said she was fine and then pulled me aside and said, "Thank You for letting us come to the Temple! I love it here"! Without any notice my eyes were filled with tears! I can't help but think that it wasn't that long ago their little spirits came from a place that was perfect and filled with unmeasurable love. You can't help but have those same feelings when you are in the temple! How blessed we are to know that we can be a eternal family because of the Temples!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day or Happy Daddy Day as Makell use to say! Adam's day started off with breakfast in bed! Wow, what a lucky guy! I absolutely love seeing these three little girls get soooo excited when it comes to surprises! They started off with making a homemade card to tell their daddy how much they loved him. Second they helped make breakfast and arranged it so nicely on a "decorative serving tray";)! The last part is my favorite! Don't you love the can of Dr. Pepper instead of milk or O.J? They know Adam loves Dr.Pepper so that was a must according to Kourtney! I guess you could call it a breakfast for champions!

I love the little homemade gifts! These gifts have their own individual marks that touch the heart and are remembered for ever! The girls made cute book marks with pictures of themselves on them in primary and cute paper ties stuffed with candy bars! These girls have their daddy wrapped right around their little fingers! Adam is such a wonderful father and husband! He makes life fun and can always make us laugh! We feel like the luckiest girls in the world to have a dad like him! Happy Father's Day Babe!

Our Adventurous Outing in the Mountains!

I decided that I would be brave and take the kids out hiking by myself yesterday! The original plan was to hike to Devil's Kitchen. I had heard it is amazing and not to terribly hard for the little ones. There is no packing Makell around anymore so we had to find something she could do on her own. After driving up the canyon for quite some time and following a heard of cattle I realized we were only 1/2 way there. After a few little ones started to get car sick we decided to change plans and detoured to the beautiful lake! I am so glad we remembered jackets! With it being overcast it was a little chilly. The lake was beautiful and the girls loved watching the fish jump right out of the water! Sooo cool! I think we know were our next fishing spot will be! There was a walk way that circled the entire lake and it was so enjoyable to soak up nature! We were fortunate to see a doe and the smallest baby fawn ever! Makell loved trying to feed the squirrels sunflower seeds;)! It was wonderful to spend the day doing something a little different! We missed dad and decided we will try the Devil's Kitchen again when he can go with us!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Well, chalk another one up for Adam! Today he celebrates his 37th birthday. He keeps telling us that the older he gets the wiser he becomes. See, his mind is already playing tricks on him;)! I have to admit he is pretty wise, but I'm not going to tell him that;)! The girls and I have been preparing to put this poster together for Adam over the last few days. On Saturday when I went to do my grocery shopping and the girls came along. While I filled my cart with groceries they took their own shopping cart to the candy isle with their list and started shopping. I wish I could read peoples minds! They came back with a heaping cart of nothing but candy! I am sure the girl that checked us out thought I was nuts and a terrible mother buying all that candy for my kids. After the look on her face and several continuous scans of candy bars Kourtney filled her in that we were making a poster for their dad! Thanks for clarifying for me Kourt! This was such a fun project for the kids! I thoroughly enjoyed doing this with them. They would get so excited trying to hide everything so Adam wouldn't find out or see! Sunday there were several little whispers and I think Adam knew we were up to something. This morning we surprised Adam with the delivery of his "love" note and balloon at work! It made the kids day to see their dad so happy and I think it made Adam's day as well! (I think the teary eyes gave it away:)


I am so grateful for Adam! Twelve plus years ago I made the best decision of my life! He is the best husband and father anyone could ask for! I hope his day is as special as he is! Happy Birthday Babe! Love You!


Oops! "Carefree" gum is missing from the poster. Better get it stuck back on!



Instead of birthday cake Adam requests cheese cake. Great news for everyone else since it is one of our favorites as well!

When ever Adam's birthday rolls around he reminds me that his mom would always make an extra one just for him. Lucky guy or should I say SPOILED;)!