It's still too early to tell . . .

but this might be a family tradition.

 

One camping trip per year to the Palasades.  

 

 

We do sleep in a tent, we do take laterns, we do sit by other people's fires, we do get rained on (both years), and we do eat s'mores . . .

 

but we grab subway on the way, eat muffins for breakfast, run into town for lunch, Ansen golfs all morning, we walk around in our pajamas and flip flops, there are bathroom and grass . . . but we call it camping.  

I didn't get any "in action" shots, but I rented this paddle boat a 8 in the morning and didn't see the girls again until 4:30 . . . well I could see them and they had life jackets on . . . but they were out on the lake having a blast.

 

I played games, talked and drank diet coke all afternoon . . . and didn't think 2 seconds about any work . . . maybe I love camping . . . hmmmm.  

 

And then we took the left over s'mores and enjoyed them back at home. 

And got chocolate on our faces (good one Jeff). 

 



 

We're planning on next year so maybe after 3 years in a row we call it a tradition?

 

Decisions, Decisions

We finally made a decision, put some money down and started building a house.  It's about 500 yards from our old house, but we've been happy where we are so we'll just stick around. 

 

Here the pile of dirt and the hole we bought.

 

And some wood . . .

 . . . with stairs.  

 

We were pretty vigilent when we were over there everyday for school, but now we go awhile in between visits and things are moving along. 

 

Ansen and I did all the looking, so it's fun for them to finally see what we're actually doing - their bedrooms, the kitchen, etc.

 

 

I also drive by our old house almost as often as I drive by the new house and I have so many memories of my little kiddies there, where my kids were babies and I miss it. 

People and glimpses of fish

We (and 95% of Utah) decided to check out the new aquarium during Spring Break.  We knew there would be crowds, but it was something to do.  

I have to admit we were a little underwhelmed by the whole thing.  

Half the animals were missing and I think they just needed to get it open since it was months behind.  

We got through it all in an hour (including fighting the crowds and crowds of people), but luckily they gave us bounce backs passes for later this summer.  

To make the fun last, we decided the 1/2 hour line to cross they rope bridge was worth it.  

We'll give it another try later this summer when it's completely up and running.  

Randomness from Spring 2014

Not even planned . . . and they all left the house at different times. 

The doggies out sharing a snack.  And on that note . . . it is scarey how much of dog people we've become . . .  

My most favorite text from Lisa as of late . . . 

Just a pee sample that is that clear.  Something a sister needs to share with a sister.

This indicates Ansen is sick.  Gatorade and Pringles . . . I don't get it either.

Dog training with Mom and Bear and new friends . . .

One of the days we were driving from Orem and made it on time for school.  It was rare enough some weeks we documented with a picture.  

The Lego Movie

Olivia on her first "date."

OLD - Really?! (iPhone style)

My family loves me . . . they really do love . . . I can feel it. 

A little Lehi winds . . . no big deal.

Chris was here.  Golfing was in order.  Golfing 18 . . . maybe not necessary, but done.

One day . . . one day I want a new sewing machine.  For now I like to look  . . . and take pictures . . . ?

We grabbed dinner and with Jen and Jer. 

The four of us finally all got situated at this over-sauced table. 

Apparently no one did this . . . it just magically happened. 

I hate these guys . . . but we became best friends again last summer.

This is where you do the laundry all day, but you only have time to pile it on your bed.  Then it's late, you're tired and you just push it all onto the ground . . . ya . . that happens here. 

We had no idea that this little welcome home tribute to Jeff when he came hom from his mission would be the last time we would have wax ball frosting.  Betty Crocker has discontinued this flavor and we couldn't not be more unhappy with Betty . . . jerk.  

Lucky little Olivia was smart . . . she took it upon herself to "touch up" all the edges of every cupcake with her finger on the way over to Banna's house when we set this up.  So I guess I'm hoping that Jeff actually ate these. 

And finally . . . Black Friday shopping didn't bring me home until 6:30 am this year.  A full 12 hours shopping.   This was the begining of the adventure . . . already laying down  . . . waiting for my ride.

I am too old. 

Ahhh . . . the puppies!

I'll try to get this out in one post . . . since otherwise it might appear that I'm a cray cray dog person . . . but I think I am.   

 

For the first month or two, Zoey was pretty much just another appendage of Drew.  Poor thing was so patient.  My mom had to make time to play with Bear at her house and we had to make time for Zoey to get alone time at our house. 

 

 

Only a face a mother could love . . .

 

It turns out Zoey is a little smarter than Bear.  She's been the ring leader of sneaking out of the backyard, she was the one who would jump in the basket and get their toys for them, she figured out how to get out of their pen . . . but she's definitely getting better at being obedient, so there's hope.  

 

Drew though for awhile that I liked to be woken up in the morning with a puppy put on my face . . . and no, I did not like that.  However, we did finally learn that was his favorite way to woken up from a late nap.

 

He's still waking up in this picture,

but I had just put the dogs on his face and he woke right up laughing.  

 Only regret . . . I wish I'd gotten two instead of one for my Mom :)  

 

 (if you're Ansen reading this . . . then clearly this was ONLY a joke - hahahahaha)



A little bit of Hell

Before I can get to Christmas 2013, I have to mention the hell we experienced leading up to Christmas. 

 

We sold our house! 

 

 

Completely our decision to experience hell and it will be for the better in the end, but it was not pleasant.   We had to be out 2 days before Christmas. 

 

Day 1 of Hell

 

We carried that all metal playground down the street to our friends' house to store.

 

(Of course we wanted to include family in this experience)

 

 

Phase 2

 

Food Storage.  I have never loved my food storage LESS than this solid week it took to move it to the storage unit and the stuff that needs to be temperature regulated to my sister's. 

 

 

 It felt horrible taking it down a few times a month spread out over a year, but bringing it all up at once was miserable. 

 

 

And it just went downhill from there.  We were able to eventually include friends and family (that flew in for Christmas) into the "fun."

 



 

And in the middle of it, we finished our basement bathroom and re-tiled the master bathroom, had Thanksgiving and Christmas, got a brand new puppy and did most of it in the snow. 

 

(a crappy phone picture)

 

But it's over and we're excited for whatever is next.  For now, next is - sleeping in Orem at my parents' house, living in our car while we try to maintain life in Lehi. 

 

Misfits

I soooo wish I had gotten a picture of these kids BEFORE they removed half of their embarrassingly, awkward, so wrong in every way on every child wardrobe.

The picture tells nothing, but my mind will have to remember the hilarity.

Jen and Jer were down for a weekend and we met them at Grand America for a swim and dinner.  It was right after Christmas so the hotel was still pretty full.

We paraded our 5 cute-ish and 1 cute, cute baby (no picture) around the hotel while Jen and I reverted back to the good old college days maturity level.

When we finally got to the elevator to go to the pool we finally all noticed how stupid our kids all looked. 

  

Unfortunately they're ours to keep and I think Ansen and Jeremy have had the same thoughts a time or two about me and Jen.