Florida 2009 Slideshow

Flaming Gorge

Every year Tim's family returns to Flaming Gorge. The water is FREEZING, but so perfect for waterskiing! Here is our campground nestled beneath the mountains. (If you look closely, you can see little boats.)

Tim wakeboarding in the canyons. It is so beautiful!

Tamara & I tubing.

Here I go!! Notice I'm still hanging on! I LOVE looking at crash pictures. I can't help it! They make me happy.

Tim cliff jumping. Woo Hoo!

I've decided that camping was a lot more fun before worrying about three little kids. It's a lot of work now! It's worth it, though. Right?? All those good memories, and stuff...

Flaming Gorge Slideshow

Hail to the Ch-Ch-Ch Chief

I have so many things to post on, like my sister Stephanie visiting, Flaming Gorge, Florida... but then I saw this commercial. I couldn't help myself!

"In honoring our 44th US President, the Chia Pet company presents this

Special Edition Chia Obama

Celebrate the Change right in your own house."

So I'll get to other things later.

Right now I'm debating whether to get the "Happy" or the "Determined" Chia Obama.

A Dozen Years

I LOVE YOU, TIM!!!

Thank you for being my best friend.

Thank you for being the most lovable father to our children.

Thank you for making us laugh.

Thank you for wanting to be with me forever.

Happy 60th Birthday, Dad!

I love my dad! I think he is such a fun grandpa, too. To help celebrate his 60th birthday today, I made a birthday song remix with all the family. It's total blackmail material. I LOVE IT!

We watched it tonight at his party. It went over as I hoped it would. It had everyone laughing! I also made him a slide show from all his pictures growing up, and from his LDS mission to Norway. Yes, it has taken me a million years- going through albums, scanning, going through slides and scanning them, fixing spots and creases... yes a million years. It was worth it! I feel like I've gotten to know my dad a lot more. He's a great guy. I Love You, Dad!

A Photography Milestone

I'm getting to know the Sam's Club Photo lady pretty well. She's very nice. I picked up some pictures on Friday and there was a note on the package to check the copyright. They ask for the copyright if they think the pictures are taken in a studio and you've just scanned them after. Alright!!!

These were a couple of the pictures I was picking up. Does it look like a studio?? Would you guess it's taken in my garage with a white sheet hanging down for the backdrop??

I was experimenting with the color on Georgi's picture.

I thought it turned out fun!

Waterslides, Waterslides

I haven't been posting here for a while, (I've been a little obsessed with taking other people's pictures...see my photo blog..) so I thought I'd show what we've been up to.

Lazy Fun! I caught some funny splash shots with the cousins.

I love how Alec's hand & foot are coming out of the splash! So Cool!

Isabell & Oliver. Crazy cousins!

Riley & Megan enjoying the sun.

Sweet little Georgi was hard to resist! What a cheeser!

We love spending time with family!

Lava Hot Springs

Lava Hot Springs

Population 521

I think Lava's populations doubles or triples on the weekends! 

Alec & Lily have been begging us to go camping.

Tim & I were stupid and gave in.

Okay, okay.  In the end, I guess the good out-weighed the bad.

We did the whole camping experience. 

Tents, mosquitos, roasting hot dogs & smores. 

Oh, yeah!  The Smores!!!

That tipped the scale big time in the good direction!

Then, the main attraction in Lava...

SWIMMING!!!  

Alec calls himself the Cannon Ball King!

We had a lot of fun!  Friday, though we only went swimming for 10 minutes before the thunder & lightning started & they cleared the pool.  The Hot Pots were still open, though, so we went for a nice soak.  Later we went swimming again.  Not too bad.

Lily is turning out to be a great little swimmer, too!  

Woo hoo!

Megan loves the water.  She had lots of fun!

Doesn't this little face look angelic??  Then why won't she SLEEP!!!  Ahh, that baby crying in the campground... Oh, wait.  That was my baby.  It felt like the night was never going to end. Somehow we made it, though.  She even woke up all happy and smiles, like nothing had even happened.  *sigh.  Why do I feel tired  just writing about it?

We came home & had birthday cake on Sunday.  

Check out that cake decorating action!  

Way to go Tim & helpers!

All in all, it was a great weekend!  

I was with my favorite people in the world.  

Lava Hot Springs Slideshow

33 Ain't So Bad

Happy Birthday To Me!

I used to rub it in to y sister that our parents must love me the best because I got presents on my birthday AND my half birthday, too (which was Christmas Day). Boy, what a stinker I am. That hasn't changed much!

I loved having a summer birthday to have pool parties and sleep-overs on the back lawn. Those were great days!

33 Years later, I still think these are great days. I've come to the conclusion that I actually like being in my 30's much more than I ever thought I would. The 20's were full of finding that perfect someone to marry, trying to decide what to do in college, what job with crazy hours and weekends and holidays, when to have kids, where to live... I think the 30's are much more laid back (comparitively speaking). I'm learning that life is good, and I'm here to enjoy it more!

So, enjoy it I will. If anyone wants to come over for a blow-up waterslide party and a sleep-over on the back lawn, The Party Is On!!!

Here were my cute birthday pictures. Alec drew our family, with Megan saying "Ooh Ooh Ooh." He accidentally wrote "Happy Mother's Day" and had to fix it. Funny boy.

Here's Lily's picture. "Alec was out swimming," Lily says. That's why he's not in the picture.

"Sorry you look like an alien with your eyes kindof freaky."

Thanks Lily. Why does she just make me laugh?!

So Long Outdoor Plumbing, Thanks to Super Tim!

Isn't this a vision??

The toilet on the deck adds a certain thrill to a mundane task...

Tim & I didn't learn our lesson from our last bathroom remodel. We somehow decided to do it all over again for our main bathroom.

So long to the 1970 Harvest Gold speckled tile (that only went up about 1 foot. There is no shower...)

So long to the shallow tub that is only fit for small children.

So long linoleum & yellow paint.

(Yes, that was my fault anyway.)

Alec likes demolition a little too much.

Give the boy a hammer & turn him loose!

Tim's dad was kind enough to come help with the heavy duty part. THANK YOU!! That tub was a handful!

One week later,

Say Hello to 2009! I feel like my whole house has been lifted from the lingering 70's!

We found marble tile on closeout at Lowe's and saved a ton of money. I was so excited! We were only a little short, though..... so a little hour drive to another Lowe's saved the day. Thank heavens!

Tim made new doors for the old vanity, and I spray painted it with a metallic brown. It turned out great! We also got a granite countertop from a granite remnant place. Woo Woo!

Hello Shower & Soaker Tub. Love it!

(This picture shows the actual color better.)

Tim, you are an amazing remodeler.

Thank you for all you do!

(Of course, you have an amazing assistant, too....)