First Boating Trip of the Season

We sure love having a Grandpa that lets us borrow all his toys. Grandpa Peterson lets us borrow his snowmobiles in the winter and his boat in the summer. Thanks Grandpa. The girls were ready to go out on the boat on the 4th of July, but we talked them into waiting until the next week when more people wanted to go. Friday night was a beautiful night out on the river. We took Kali out with us. We got some pizza and ate it on the boat. Shawn drove the boat and the girls and I took turns riding the tube( not too fast of course.) The one time we got dumped Katelyn and I went skidding across the water. I almost lost my swimsuit bottoms. The favorite time is when we would stop and the kids could just jump into the river and swim alittle. We even got Brady in the water. Garret dipped his toe in the river, he still is not ready to jump in. I don't quite get it. He loves the water, but he just can't get over his fear when it comes to the river. We enjoyed the evening and decided that we better head back before dark. We raced the sun as it set. The kids want to do it again this week.

Oh, What do you do in the Summertime? pt. 1

This summer so far has been a little crazy. I keep thinking it will slow down but I think that life is just crazy in general. We have tried to have a family walk every morning. We have done pretty good until the last two weeks and then it has gotten spotty. I wanted a time where the kids and I could be together and enjoy each other and get the kids moving more at the same time.
Sometimes we go with a little ear twisting, but it has been done.



Blakely had a YW project to do before camp. The YW presidency wanted each girl to make a denim quilt. We cut a lot of denim squares. We spent most of May activites cutting denim. We cut a lot of denim at home. Each girl and leader decorated their own square and exchanged them. One of the YW leaders embroided all the YW values, the Twin Falls temple, and our camp theme. Blakely and I got it sewn in record time and even had enough material to make a pillow for her and her cousin Alyssa.

Bear Lake- Haws Family Reunion

Last weekend was my mother's side of the family reunion. We went down with Blake and his family. We spent the night in Lava Hot Springs. We got there just in time to set up camp and roast smores. Since we don't do much camping unless our Dad is forced to I went and bought some new sleeping bags and some fancy dancy headlights for the kids. I keep trying to presuade Shawn in more camping but so far he wins. It was a long night with 5 trains coming past our campsite. The kids of course had a ball. We then heade to Bear Lake to meet up with my mother's side family. We passed Soda Springs and Uncle Blake spotted a car show so we had a detour. The kids walked around looking at the old cars and played at the playground. Then on to Bear Lake. We headed down to the beach. The kids loved playing in the sand and in the water. Blakely and Katelyn were barely seen because they were out so far. They swam all afternoon. We enjoyed visiting with my cousins and aunts and uncles. It still shocks me everytime I see my Aunt PollyAnna because she looks like my mother so much. I think I just stare at her.
We then filled our car with sand has we headed up to Minnetoka Cave and walked down 440 stairs to see the inside of this cave. And you guessed it 440 steps back up. The kids made it and the parents made it too. It was interesting for the kids to see the inside of a cave. We then returned home arriving home about 11:30. I so enjoyed having my little immediate family with me and spending time with them even with all the hard work to get ready.

Father's Day Ties

My husband cooked a wonderful breakfast for Mother's Day, so I of course had to make a nice one also. I found a cute idea on the internet for tie pancakes. I made them and I thought they turned out so cute, until Garret started making comments about my fish pancakes. Shawn was quick to agree with Garret. What do you think?

Steadman's

I wanted to reserve Steadman's (which is a huge waterslide in Raft River) for a year or two. You know something to break up the summer. We had a cousin coming to stay with us for about a week. So we reserved Steadman's for Monday. The weather in June has some what been different then usual. It has basically rained for the last three weeks. Sunday the skies opened up again and poured. So with a prayer we headed to Steadman's Monday night with several friends. The kids enjoyed the waterslide and the zipline. I made my kids wait until their Dad was there to be with them on the zipline. I wouldn't let my neice do the zipline because I was afraid if she fell my head would be toast. It was very balmy but the kids kept sliding even with blue lips. We finally had to shut it down about 9:00. I didn't get my camera because Blakely was very impatient. I had taken pictures of my tie pancakes for Father's Day the day before, but before we left to go I couldn't find my camera anywhere. Blakely kept saying you don't need your camera, Just come on. So I finally gave in and went. We will have to reserve it next summer. Maybe more can come...

What's the only kind of Motorcycle we can have?

HONDA of course...... Shawn decided that if he can't buy himself a new motorcycle then his kids were going to have one. Shawn found a brand new CR 50 for Garret at the beginning of May. The kids have enjoyed riding it. Garret was all gung ho and he was doing pretty good until he started getting cocky. He had a small crash. Not even a sratch on him. Then he was a little hestiate to get back on. But after seeing his sisters ride it, he decided he would give it another go. They all have done well in learning riding the motorcycle. Blakely of course already needs bigger motorcycle.

Memorial Day

I know it's been a couple of weeks, but these few weeks out of school have been crazy. Growing up we never really observed the putting flowers on the graves of your loved ones, basically because we didn't live near any family members. Ever since my mom died we have gone down to Utah to her grave every Memorial Day. My mother's favorite flower was lilacs. So my Dad wanted us to pick lilacs. I do not have any lilacs at my house, so has we drove down we looked for an abandoned place with lilacs. We found a place in Declo and we picked not worrying about someone yelling at us. We enjoyed a nice lunch with Kim and Lampee. We then went over to my Mom's gravesite and enjoyed the solitude.