Other Stuff....

So in other big news....we got a new-ish car. The van has been dying a slow death this year that was rapidly speeding up this summer. I was just praying that it would get me through the summer and it did. But, I had to get something more reliable. After a very painful 5 1/2 hours in the dealership, we ended up with this little SUV.

Not exactly what I wanted (and not the greatest picture) but beggars cant be choosers as they say. It's clean and in good shape though and I am excited to pick it up on Tuesday. The kids were with me for the entire time and I have to say they were so well behaved. I was beaming with pride the numerous times someone mentioned to me how well behaved they were. People were very shocked by it. To celebrate the new car and to let them know how much I appreciated them for sticking with me, we went to dinner at Tres Hombres. Can't lose with Mexican Food.

The next day (yesterday) we spent 4 1/2 hours at the laundromat catching up on laundry that I had let slide during my surgery recovery. Once again I had people comment about how good they were. So, today....to thank them...we went and saw Spy Kids at the movie theater. I sure do love my kiddo's.

And just for fun, Im adding this little picture I created....if there was any question that Ian was my son (as if....) here is proof.

A Visit from Marcy.....!

I was so excited to receive a call from my cousin Marcy a couple of weeks ago announcing that she was coming to Utah! She was taking her oldest son's to BYU for volleyball camp and going to spend the week here. The best part....she wanted to stay a few days/nights with me! It was just what I needed....having a girlfriend here to chat with and keep me company. She brought her youngest son, Camdon, with her and my boys were thrilled to have him as well.... Here is Camdon who is always ready and willing to take a great picture (wink, wink..)

We had a great time. We saw a couple of movies and of course we made the mandatory visit to Temple Square

*warning: a lot of pictures to follow....*

I was pretty much invisible for the entire time that Marcy was with us. Addison thought she had died and gone to heaven with Marcy here. She was spoiled and so infatuated with "aunt" Marcy....it was cute and I didnt mind a bit. She was pretty sad to see her go....

It is difficult to take a bad picture of this temple. Gorgeous.

The day after the temple, we went up the hill to Red Butte Gardens. This is another place where it is difficult to take a bad picture! So beautiful....

Thank you Marcy and Camdon for visiting us! We hope you can come again soon....it was so much fun!

More 4th....

Before I moved into student housing, we lived in my Grandma's neighborhood just down the street. We also went to her ward (church). I have missed that ward greatly since we moved and think I may go back. Every year this ward has a pancake breakfast on the 4th.

It's a pretty big deal and they encourage former members of the ward (like us) to come back and attend. We did just that. Bright and early we trudged over there for breakfast and a kiddie parade of bikes and scooters. It was a lot of fun seeing the familiar faces. It just felt like being home again... I miss going to that church.

Since we watched our fireworks early on Saturday night, I had no plans to go see any more fireworks on Monday the 4th. We decided on having a BBQ with some neighbors that we go to church with here in our apartment ward (church). Technically,fireworks are not allowed on any campus property, including family housing which I think is so lame (especially since the fire department is across the street). But I did buy some sparklers and thought we might go to the park and light them.

Our neighbor Seth had a different idea. He had bought some "baby" fireworks (smoke bombs, spinning flowers, etc) at Costco for his little kids and invited us to watch out on the basketball court.

Pretty brave considering the rules...of course someone did call campus police on him but they didn't show up until after he had finished. We walked out to the edge of the property and finished up our sparklers...

Sadly, the wind picked up and blew a chunk of sparkler onto Addison's foot.

I didn't realize just how badly she had been burned until we went inside. Kinda put a bummer on the night. But it was a nice relaxing 4th and I have to say one of my favorite holidays!

Stadium of Fire.....

For the 4th of July this year I decided to break down and buy tickets to the Stadium of Fire in Provo, Utah. It is a large production held every year at the football stadium on BYU's campus. This year the entertainment included David Archuletta and Brad Paisley. The tickets didn't come cheap but it sounded like fun and something different than our usual holiday fare. I have to say it did not disappoint! The singers were great and the fireworks were fabulous but I was the most impressed with the attention to patriotism that was paid not only to our country but to the soldiers fighting for our freedom. I can hardly hear the national anthem without crying anymore and forget trying to say the Pledge of Allegiance! We even got to see 4 F-16 fighter jets fly over the stadium. It was so awesome! Here are a few pictures of some of the fun we got to experience...

We checked into a hotel even though Provo is a short 45 minute drive because the traffic is HORRENDOUS during any special event at the stadium. I knew I wouldn't want to fight the traffic at midnight so we just got a hotel across the street from the stadium. It was super convenient and money well spent...even if the hotel left a lot to be desired.... We got there early on Saturday and the kids hit the swimming pool for a couple hours.

Here are some pictures at the stadium... David Archuletta is such a cute kid. Seriously...what a great voice and so nice. I loved him~ Brad Paisley impressed as well.

Even the kids had their toes tapping to some of his songs. Very entertaining!

The firework show was amazing. It was big and fiery and really really cool. There is a reason they call it the Stadium of Fire...I sure wouldn't have wanted to be very close to the fire explosions. We could feel them from our seats and trust me...we weren't that close!

We checked out of the hotel the next morning and just drove around Provo for a bit. It is always weird for me to go back to that town. It has a lot of great memories of college and friends...before I had to be a grown up completely....Before the bills and worries of adulthood had set in. Seems like a lifetime ago. The kids laughed at how many apartments I had actually lived in. I think I moved every 6 months....haha. Around noon we went to my friend Linda's house and had lunch and visited with her and her family for a few hours. Here are some pictures I took at the park before we hit the Tanners.

It was a great little trip and we had a lot of fun. I think we will do it again next year!~

A Visit from Dad...

I've mentioned before that Denver is working in South Carolina with his company, Boeing. It was a good work opportunity that he couldn't really turn down but I was in the middle of school and didn't want to disrupt that, so me and the kids stayed behind. It turns out that it will not be a permanent move. Denver is currently working toward a move to Texas...but that is a different story for a different post. For now, he tries to come home every 5-6 weeks for a visit. The kids were really excited this time...more so than others...to see their dad. Here they are in the car waiting at the airport to pick him up...dont they look excited!

We have had a good time so far. Yesterday we headed up to Park City to ride on the Alpine slide.

I hadn't done this since high school and when I rode one in Steamboat Springs recently I knew I wanted to take the kids up to Park City to ride it. It was fun!

Addison rode with me and after the first few turns her nervousness disappeared and she was screaming right along with me.

Denver got a little crazy and went too fast, nearly coming out of his sled and scraped the skin off of his elbow and knee.

The boys were a little slow and cautious but I think next time they will go a lot faster!!

After we finished, we stopped at McDonalds for lunch...

...then took a drive up Lambs Canyon. It is so beautiful right now in the canyons...green and colorful!

Today we packed a picnic lunch and went to Liberty Park to eat it.

It was a beautiful warm day and after we ate we went over to Tracy Aviary to see the birds.

It was fun and everyone is pretty tired...I think tomorrow we will just hang out around the house or maybe head up to Red Butte Gardens for lunch....

The Zoo....and Tracy Aviary...

Friday, my mom and I packed up the kids and hauled everyone to the Hogle Zoo. It was fun and the weather was incredible! They have made some improvements to the Zoo and it is much better than in the past... They have a bunch of life sized dinosaurs scattered about that moved and growled. They even squirted water at unsuspecting children (and mom's, haha)

The whole gang....minus me of course :)

Sadly, this is the only picture I took at the Aviary. Grandpa couldn't come to the zoo with us because he was watching the baby so it was fun having him with us at the Aviary. It was also a beautiful day weather wise and the remodeling they have done to Tracy Aviary was really awesome. We had a great time. I was happy that the membership I bought for Red Butte Gardens works at the Aviary too... I guess me and the kids will be making lots of trip there this summer!