Lagoon - Saturday, September 6, 2008

This is right after we rode "Wicked"

Emma, Macyn, & Haili riding "The rocket"

Alex P, Macyn, & Emma waiting in line

Holding on so tight!

Mark P, Scot, Macyn, & Emma



We decided on Friday that we would bump up our Lagoon day. It was a perfect day, with not to many crowds and nice 80 degree weather. Emma was just the right height for all the rides and we especially loved WICKED!

Labor Day Getaway to the Homestead in Midway, UT

This is why we don't do more quick planned getaways!

My journal - so it is not forgotten next Labor Day when I think, "Scot, we need to get away for at least a night?".

Sunday, August 31 - Today we are headed up to the Homestead in Midway for a relaxing getaway this Labor Day weekend. In the past, we've ventured to Starvation for our annual camping trip with the Parratts, but this weekend predicted rain so we thought it wise to shake up our traditions last minute and try another adventure.

1:50 P.M.ten minutes before departure
1. Car packed and girls in the car, excited and ready to go.
2. Tugzi sitting in the car excited to be going anywhere -packed and ready for Grandma's.
3. Sean sulking, wondering why he is committed to this torturous weekend away from friends.
4. Alex, Alex, Alex
Oh
"Alex, wake up we're ready to go", I call.
"Nooooo, where are we going?", replies Alex.

3:00 P.M. arrive at the Homestead
1. Haili and Emma so excited to check the place out!
2. Sean explores a little, but still not happy about coming.
3. Alex complaining about not having car privileges right now - Did you know that if you have an extra car, you are obligated to share with your 17 year old no matter what? I didn't know this, therefor I am stupid!

4:00 P.M. swimming in the indoor pools (raining outside)
1. Haili and Emma having so much fun with little Alex and Macyn Parratt.
2. Alex, Sean, and Jake P. wandering around, refusing to go swimming. We point out all the bikini girls, but they are just not hot enough! I give up and go back to watching my little kids have fun in the pool.

5:30 P.M. Adults go to dinner
1. Alex and Sean upset that they have to babysit girls while we go to dinner.
2. Haili and Emma upset that they have to stay with the boys while we go to dinner.

7:30 P.M.
1. Dads feel guilty about boys having to babysit, so they offer to take them to a movie in Park City.
2. Girls happy about having the evening without teenage boys, so they agree!

Monday, Sept. 1 - Things don't start off any better. It rains hard and is extremely cold (we didn't prepare for 40 degree weather)!

8:00 A.M.
1. I take the little girls down to the pool where they swim and I exercise doing my laps.

10:00 A.M.
1. I head back to the room to rouse the boys up - Alex jumps up while pulling his pants on and hits his head on the ceiling fan (Hello, you're tall). Many bleep, bleep, bleep words are expressed! 2. Sean and I hold laughter in until after Alex leaves the room, then we explode.

12:00 P.M.
1. We check out of hotel and head to Park City
2. We are starved and looking for a fun place to go to lunch.

2:00 P.M.
1. Still looking for a fun place to go to lunch - it is so crowded.
2. Scot needs an anxiety pill!
3. We are ready to give up and just go to McDonald's

2:30 P.M.
1. Ruby Tuesdays it is - not too crowded and closer to the outlets!
2. Everyone Happy!!!!!!

4:00 P.M.
1. $100 later, but everyone still happy!!!!
2. Leaving the restaurant we run into the Cook family - I sure miss Kayman, Milan, & Ashtyn.

4:30 P.M. Boys & I shopping / Scot & girls shopping - strange!!
1. Alex happy about finding an awesome backpack and shirt at Zumiez!
2. Sean happy about finding an awesome sweatshirt ($11) at Zumiez and wallet at Vans!
3. I'm happy that boys are happy and that we got such a sweet deal on the sweatshirt!
3. Girls are happy about picking out outfits at Old Navy with Dad!
4. Scot is happy because his anxiety pill has taken effect and he is in la-la-land!

6:00 P.M. On our way home
1. Alex says, "Thanks mom and dad for the fun weekend, backpack, and sick shirt."
2. Sean says, "Thanks mom and dad for the sweet sweatshirt and wasn't I kind on your wallets?" 3. Haili and Emma say, "Thanks mom and dad for the cute outfits at Old Navy - all six of them!"
4. I say, "I didn't know that we bought you six outfits?"
5. Scot chilling in the passenger seat still in la-la-land!

So, in the end we discovered that we should of just gone shopping in Park City and ditched the rest of the weekend! Oh well, maybe next year!

Homestead bunk house - Haili and Emma loved their closet, bunk bed space in our room.

Story Telling Festival Die Hard

Emma & Ashli riding the bus to Timpanogos Story Telling Festival.
Ciara & Haili

Making a tea cup at the Festival
Ciara, Haili, Emma, Ashli molding their clay.


I love the Festival and seriously look forward to it more than Christmas! My family has been very supportive in pretending to be as excited as I am, yet I know they long for someone to come along and relieve some of the burden from having to tag along to so many of the events.


Friday afternoon, my girls and I headed up to Timpanogos Park and caught my favorite teller, Bill Harley. We also listened to Jay O'Callahan before heading back home to get ready for "My Favorite Stories" at the Scera shell, which was awesome.

Saturday, I took my girls and my nieces (Ashli & Ciara) to Kevin Kling, Linda Gorham, Megan Hicks, Victoria Burnett, and of course Bill Harley. They loved it and can't wait for next year.


We had fun making pots at the pottery, but Emma's and Ciara's broke on the the way home - imagine that?


Laughin' Night was unbelievably crowded!!! I got there a half hour early to save a spot, yet we still ended up on the down-side of the hill. We were literally shoulder to shoulder with strangers - yet the stories were fabulous and we had a great time.


So any of you Story Telling fans, I need you!!! My family needs you!!! I would camp, well maybe not, but I don't want to miss out in any of the events or stories next year. I'm searching for mom's like me who just can't get enough and want to spend extra time while the kids are in school. I can only drag my family around to so many before they begin to complain that they are tired or need to eat (you can go all day living on protein bars and water bottles, right?)!

Sean, is that you?

So Scot went to get a haircut last night and took Sean along for a trim. They came home and some strange new kid walked into my house - Sean cut his hair!!!!! I haven't see that face for so long that I forgot what he really looked like. Scot said that all the hair stylist were gathered around watching Sean's cut. His hair was so long, they were all so excited to see the change.

By the way, Sean wanted me to update that he is no longer going to UCAS (no cool people and very stuffy conditions) and is now at Orem High where he absolutely loves it!

So now I don't have to drive any of my kids to school anymore, what a change - I love it!!!

End of Summer:(

This was officially our last swim of the summer and of course it rained! That did not stop the girls from getting into the pool and having fun with their cousins. I was content to watch from my comfy lawn chair covered in the somewhat dry towels, as it was pretty cool. Where did the summer go? We have one last fun trip to Lagoon planned in September, but other than that, it is gone for us. (Notice how I can never get my sons in pictures!)

School starts

So today is Tuesday and I am a free mom! All my kids are in school!

Haili and Emma are going to Cascade Elementary this year. They both have very nice teachers and are excited to make new friends. It was hard to give up going to Ivy Hall this year, but we are going to supplement Math and writing as long as they are enrolled in Public school. I have to admit that it so nice to not have to drive them across town anymore. We just hop on our bikes and ride the 1/2 mile to school.

Sean starts his first day at UCAS High school today. Yesterday they had a social for the new students and Sean claims that all the kids he hoped to never see again from CVJH (the nerdy, annoying ones), were at his new school. He said the few cool kids that were at the school were following him around (he thinks he's pretty cool). He isn't letting the fact that he is going to this school get him down, after all, he is taking college classes in 10th grade at UVU and will have his Associates degree by the time he graduates High School. He is pretty excited by that!

Alex decided that he feels better enough to go to school this year and graduate. We spent several hours working with his counselor to get him a schedule that he will be able to handle. Alex's boating accident last August, along with the other concussions made it very hard to function in school last year, leaving him with a lot of make-up credits. The doctors said that time heals and hopefully this has happened for him. He is excited about doing Unified Studies (outdoor learning through hiking, biking, skiing, etc.).

Bear Claw Valley August 7-11

The rain came tumbling down!

Our girls with Tugzi and Taylor


We found a few dry hours to go down the zipline.

One dirty dog - Sadie

We went on a hike to look for Big Foot - We didn't find him!

Hangin with the cousins!

Our weekend service trip to Bear Claw Valley started out as many others with one exception, it was pouring rain and Spanish Fork Canyon had been closed for mudslides! This of course delayed us leaving until Friday morning the 8th.

There was so much rain that upon arrival at the gate, we were unable to get our Expedition and the 4-wheeler trailer up the small hill. It was soooo muddy and our tires just spun as we tried to climb. This of course makes everyone have to use a bathroom, so we unloaded 4-wheelers and proceeded to haul people up. I should have known then that this would be unlike any other trip to Bear Claw.

Friday rained off and on so we pretty much just hung out indoors. Saturday morning was beautiful so we got right to work moving a shed, cleaning up the carnival area, and raking gravel in the parking lot. By about 2:00 P.M. the rain clouds moved in and we witnessed a severe thunder and lightning storm for a couple of hours. The kids were scared because the lightning seemed like it was touching down feet away from us.

Sunday was relaxing and we took turns riding the 4-wheelers around to see the beauty that surrounds Bear Claw. Sean and Haili, along with Jake and Alex Parratt were riding down a trail when the 4-wheeler that Sean was driving with Alex lost control and rolled. Alex was thrown off and knocked unconscious, while Sean had the 4-wheeler land on him. Jake saw what happened and ran over to them, lifting the 4-wheeler off of Sean. To make a long story short, we took Sean and Alex P. to Price Emergency room, where they miraculously left 2 hours later with a clean bill of health - just a few bumps and bruises. It was extremely draining and emotional for all of us and we were grateful for the outcome!

Monday was spent packing up to go home and wouldn’t you know it, we lost the key to the good 4-wheeler! I was not looking forward to explaining to my mom (owner of the 4-wheelers) all of our mishaps. Last time she’ll ever let us borrow something of hers!!!!