Applesauce....

I need to hurry and write this down before I forget...
A few days ago Kayden saw a dead praying mantis outside. So of course he stepped on it.
Kayden: Look! His guts came out!
Me: Gross!
And the wheels began to turn....

During lunch today while eating applesauce:
Kayden: This is sure good applesauce, I love applesauce!
Me: We need to make more applesauce this year.
Kayden: Does applesauce come from praying mantis'?
Me: No.... It comes from apples, why?
Kayden: Because that praying mantis' guts looked like applesauce....

I hope he never grows up....

Our Summer Vacation

Well, since school is about to start, I figured I better get one of our greatest parts of summer posted. We had the chance this year to go to Philmont in Cimmaron, New Mexico. It's the king of boy scout camps! It was amazing!!! We had such a good time and if the opportunity ever presents itself again- you can bet we will be there!
It was a long drive, but so pretty- as we pulled in there was a welcoming committee. The general young men's president and primary president were there to greet us and introduce themselves. Amazing people! There was also this wagon welcoming us into camp.

Then we checked in and got our tent assignment. They had two 'tent cities'. I will have to come back and update this post with actual numbers and such, but I think there were around 600 people total there this week. We were there with two other families from our stake. It was such a neat thing to get to know them better! The kids were always hopping from one tent to another and were soooo happy! We made some great friendships in our little city that I will never forget!

Here is Taybri hanging out inside the tent. The days were nice and warm and the nights were cool. Each tent had one outlet so we could use a fan and heater for her. Taybri was 2 months old when we went and she was the youngest member of Philmont that week. She got a lot of attention for that! She did so good! Brylie, Taybri, and I all slept in one tent and then Dean, Ryman and Kayden in the other.

Here is just one picture of what it looked like there. Not really what I was picturing for New Mexico- it was gorgeous! We were in the mountains. These are some of the buildings we had meetings in and some are historical buildings.

We got to be upclose and personal with the leaders of the Church that were there. This is Sister Wixom and her husband. She is the general primary president. She was always coming to check on Taybri and me. She is the sweetest person you will ever meet!! I can't tell you how many amazing people we met there! The week consisted of lots of classes for everyone! The kids got to do things like pony rides, crafts, air rifle shooting, hiking, tons of fun stuff during the day. We just sent them off everyday and got them back for meals and a few hours of family time here and there. The evenings were filled with programs put on by the staff there. They LOVED it!!! I wish I had pictures of stuff they got to do, but I was never really with their classes. They made some great friends. Dean had a lot of classes and training, and I also had classes and lots of free time for naps, crafts, anything! The classes were amazing. The Spirit was so strong there. I honestly feel like it was a small glimpse of heaven. We were surrounded by such amazing people. I don't think even after a week of cafeteria food and sleeping in tents that we were ready to leave. It is an experience that I will never forget and I hope my children never do.

On our way home, we had a little more time- so we made a stop at Dinosaur Land! Here is a picture someone was nice enough to snap for us looking at the fossils, you can't see it in the picture, but we are up on a ledge and I was totally freaked out! Taybri was such a trooper- it was HOT!

Then we checked out some museums! I think these pictures sort of speak for themselves....

Silly kids! We had a great week together. Everything was perfect! The did so good traveling in the car and we made some great memories. Just sad that it's over!!

Birthday Wishes.....

Today was my birthday! It was a great day filled with bandits, breakfast, phone calls, movies, milkshakes, raspberry jam making, presents 'wrapped' in coolers, Outback Steakhouse, cheesecake, flowers, and pure happiness! I saw something tender this morning though that I thought was a great birthday wish! Check it out but make sure your heart strings are tightened up because it's going to tug!!

More Catch Up: Ryman's Baptism

On July 31st, Ryman decided to be baptized. He actually should have been able to the month before, but we were traveling back from New Mexico ( a post I really need to catch up on! ). We were lucky enough to have a lot of family come again even though they had just made the trip a few months before for Taybri's blessing. It was so nice to have everyone here and I know it made Ryman's day even more special. And because we like to keep things exciting around here... Dean had signed up for a continued ed in Colorado Springs for the same weekend. His flight came into Twin Falls at 5:48 p.m. that day and the baptism started at 6:30. He walked in just in time to get changed and sit down as they got started. So, the only picture I got of them in their white clothes was right before he got baptized - not the best but oh well! Afterwards, Ryman's primary teacher was nice enough to snap another picture in a classroom for us.

I am so happy that Ryman decided to get baptized & confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He is such a smart kid with a good heart. It amazes me how much he already knows about the Gospel. We are very lucky to have him as a part of our family. It was a neat day. We are proud of you Ryman!

A Family of Pig Wrestlers

Tuesday night was pig wrestling at the Jerome fair. Brylie was on a team last year and wanted to do it again. Ryman and Kayden decided to join in on the fun as well. So, they got their teams together and had at it!!! They all did so good!! My friend Alayna said last year that she was going to make them tutus if they did it again, and they turned out so cute! The crowd went crazy when they saw them run out there! Here are some pictures & videos of the night...

Getting out of the pens, covered in mud. Brylie is saying EWWW! And the boy have their heads hung in disappointment. They didn't get their pigs in the barrel, but they all did so good!
The videos aren't the greatest, but you get a sense of what happened!

Saturday Cleaning

I know for some people, Saturday is a big day for cleaning. I try to get my cleaning done during the week so I can enjoy my Saturday, but somehow there are still always things that need done! For instance, I just finished cleaning footprints off of my TV!! Hmmmmmm. I wonder how those got there?!!!!

Enjoy your Saturday cleaning!

A little catch up... Taybri's Blessing

I've been such a slacker on posting, so slowly I am going to try and catch up. Ryman's baptism is coming up this weekend, so I figured I better get Taybri's blessing posted. We blessed her on June 6. We had so much family come, it was a great weekend! Dean gave her a beautiful blessing and it was a very happy day. She has been such a blessing for our family. I feel like we waited so long to get her here, there are days I walk in the room to pick her up and I still can't believe she's mine!
Brylie was blessed in a dress that my great-grandmother made. So, when I asked my mom if she would make Taybri's, she found a way to make it just as special. She used silk that my grandpa Candrian brought back from the orient over 40 years ago, tatted lace that my great-grandma made over 50 years ago, and the petticoat was made from a hand crocheted pillowcase from my great-grandma over 60 years ago. It was beautiful!!! I crocheted the booties and Dean's mom has made an amazing blessing quilt for each grandchild. Isn't she cute?!!!