ABUNDANCE

LITTLE LEAGUE 2012

Yep.  Pretty sure I’m still in love with this lil guy!  And pretty sure this lil guy is still in love with football! 

His first game of the season was last Saturday.  We are continually thankful for his good health and bright spirit, which allows him to enjoy and develop some of the talents he loves.  He’s still the least vertically blessed on the team But his heart’s is as strong as they come!  

THIRTY TO THE SEVEN

Poor Todd,  when his birthday rolls around every year he goes into mourning because he can’t say I’m older than him anymore.  He gets his kicks off of thinking it’s cool to be (000H!) 8 months younger for 8 out of the 12 months a year.  Ironically, I love being older than him…it’s just about the only thing that gives me a leg up on the man! 

His Birthday was back in July and we enjoyed celebrating it with him.  He is the love of my life and his kiddo’s simply adore him to the -enth degree as well.  Those who know this man- understand that he likes to live in an understated way.  They know he has a way of seasoning his dry sense of humor with a kick of pepper and spice.  He thinks he’s can fool people into thinking he’s an emotional rock…but this guy has a heart of gold!

 

A COUNTRY, A FAIR

Alyssa had been begging us to take her back to the country to spend some time with her cousins and grandparents.  Not with us, just by her self.  When Grandpa Clark called to let us know they were making trips back and forth with in a few days time and would love to drive her…she was set!  We were also blessed with an over night ride for Tyson to go down and back with family which allowed him to enjoy the festivities of a county fair that he’d heard about.  AND Tyson was not about to miss something that he called “maybe just a 4 in a life time chance opportunity.” (That being to try to catch and wrestle a pig to keep.  “Cuz we don’t get to do that stuff here in the city, mom!”)

Alyssa and Tyson hitched a ride to cow town a week ago with Grandma Jami, to spend some time with cousins and grandparents.  Tyson was only able to stay over night for the county fair, but Alyssa was so excited to stay for a few days all by her self away from Todd and I and her “poopy brother.”  

Cam and Sarah entered theirs and our kids in some of the fun activities at the fair.  Ty and Alyssa aren’t scared of too many things, but neither of them wanted anything to do with riding the mini steers.  So they watched lil Shane and Stockton cowboy up with that. 

Tyson had to miss a football practice while he was gone.  His coach told us he’s heard a lot of excuses over the years- but Tyson going to wrestle pigs took the cake.  Tyson was first off the line searching for a lil squeeler.  He snagged one and took it down.  Problem was, once it was down, there were two kids holding onto it.  Let’s just say the bigger kid walked away with the piglet.  Bummer!  We were plannin’ on a nice old Ham come Christmastime.  Maybe next year. 

Alyssa had such a good time being doted on.  She thought it was so great to have two girls nights in a row.  Thank you Grandma Suzie and Grandma Jami and Lizzie.  She was so happy!  Thanks to everyone for making her feel special and loved.  She also came home with a hole slew of hand me downs that she loves! 

She was happy that she got to ride home with Uncle Christian.  We were happy that he came up North for a few days.  The kids and I took him to meet Todd for lunch, then came home and snuggled while we watched Charlottes Web and hung out with him for the afternoon while Grandma Clark was tending to Grandma Jami in the hospital with her knee surgery.

   

RED BUTTE GARDENS

I accompanied Alyssa on a field trip in the spring before school got out.  Her class went to RED BUTTE GARDENS up near the University Campus.  The kiddos loved learning about spider webs, Coyote tracks, and plant life.  We saw a snake in the river, and a few spiders and bees.  They got to taste flower petals and herbed leafs.  Red Butte has some really pretty pathways up there. The view from the Eastern Hills out to the Western Valley and Kennecott Mine is stunning.  Fun place to go, as it changes all year.  

"Daughters are like flowers,

they fill the world with beauty."

 

This Iris photo was my favorite one I took that day.  My Grandma Jane loved this flower.  I remember them planted in yard.  Same color too.

Iris’ and spearmint.  I sure miss her!

GIRLIE TIME

While Todd and Tyson went camping with the Father’s and Son’s in our ward, Alyssa and I enjoyed a girlie night at home.  We watched a princess movie and gave each other mani-pedi’s. 

A fun night!  Love my girlie girl-

LET’S HAVE A BALL

I was in charge of helping our ward primary kids make these cute gumball topped sugar cookies at our last Primary Party.  When the kids bring their scriptures to church, we count them and put gumballs in a jar.  They finally filled it up!  We played fun games with different balls, and stuffed fabric balls to take to kids who go to the hospital.

FLY’N HIGH

Back in May, when the weather was cool and breezy, we took the kids down to the park to fly kites.  It was fun and relaxing.  Tyson didn’t quite have the hang of it like Alyssa did.  She needed a little help getting it sent to the sky, but after that she boasted for 45 minutes while she held tightly to that long string of hers.  She was so proud to be able to do cartwheels while still holding fast to her fairy kite in the sky.

After a while, we decided to head home from the park, as she still managed to hold tight to her dream in the sky over a stretch of 4 blocks.  When we got home she went in the backyard and up to the deck.  I went out to help her anchor her string to the railing and I accidentally LET GO of the kite handle.  It floated quickly up and away like a balloon and off to the power lines.  Her face!  It was DEVISTATED.  I think I apologized for the next 5 hours.  It was HEARTBREAKING.

WATER LOGGED

Back in June, Cameron & his boys were in town for a few days.  I met him out at one of the Aquatic Centers in the valley.  Angie brought her kids and we enjoyed the afternoon.  Cameron and I were sitting next to the window looking up at the beautiful mountains to the west.  We were having a conversation about them.  Not even a half hour later, we finished our swimming and headed out the door.  As I pulled my car onto the street and looked up..the same mountain cove that we were admiring had gone up in flames- just like that!  It was crazy and scary to see the smoke and flames just blocks away.  We drove up the block to get a quick look and realized the fire was right behind the houses, barely in the foothills.  It grew so fast.  We started back to Angie’s home, and passed all the fire engines and police just starting to respond to the wildfire.  Crazy!  I am amazed at the blessings which transpired over the next few hours- to see that the winds changed and less than a hand full of structures actually burned, when in reality- it was embarking on hundreds of them. 

This picture shows the fire behind a row of houses that are actually blocks in front of houses behind them. 

YOU MATTER

You Matter to Him

"The Lord doesn’t care at all if we spend our days working in marble halls or stable stalls. He knows where we are, no matter how humble our circumstances. He will use —in His own way and for His holy purposes—those who incline their hearts to Him."

—Dieter F. Uchtdorf

WISE WORDS

VICTORY

“That’s just it…

Sometimes,

The Journey alone, 

Is

The Victory! ”

 

SILVER & GOLD

We LOVE us some Olympic Games at our house.  We’re having a great time watching them right now.  It’s neat to have Tyson and Alyssa both excited to watch different events and give their two cents on the athletes and their performances.  Alyssa really enjoyed critiquing the platform divers the other day. 

We are still busy enjoying the summer. Though we are quickly moving into the winding up weeks of it, we will continue our haphazard sleep schedule and running and playing in the sun for just a bit longer.  Todd and I find our selves staying up into the wee hours of the night while we skip through our recordings of at least 9 hours of exciting Olympic events that we love to watch.  I found myself hollering at one of the magnificent five on her tumbling pass last night, telling her to “keep in bounds, keep in bounds!”  As if she could here me- and as if it weren’t 12 hours after the live event.  None the less, the excitement gets me every time!  Todd and I had a good chuckle about that one.

 

Let others cheer the winning man, there's one I hold worthwhile. Tis he who does the best he can, then loses with a smile. Beaten he is, but not to stay, down with the rank and file. For he shall win some other day, who loses with a smile.

In the end, you can either walk away knowing you gave it your all, or stand there wondering why you didn't