Utah trip #5 (this summer)

We  had to run to Rite Aid to pick up some wax for Makayla's braces and she found some dentist tools. She had money burning a hole in her pocket so she bought those and a bell. 

The kids had fun playing dentist all weekend.

They all took turns.

They even found gloves and a medicine syringe in grandpa's stuff.

They even had a tray of stuff.

My nephew Austin got baptized! 

The cute Johnson family. 

 Heidi, Anthony, Austin, Ruthie and Summer

One of the may activities at Grandpa's house.

We did a little Christmas in August thing. 

In order to continue combining houses (for my Dad and Jan) and to divvy up some of the memorable holiday items we went through the few dozen boxes of Christmas decorations.

Not sure why it was in the Christmas stuff, but we found this egg that Tarl had made my mom. We made them once for FHE the first year we were married. 

Just one of the several decorative items I remember every Christmas.

This is the stuff that we'd already gone through. We each had a box of stuff we were calling dibs on. 

Jan asked her daughter Jenni if she could make some Christmas sugar cookies for the occasion. :) Then on top of that my sweet step sister Jenni, offered to take the kids for us for the afternoon so we could just focus and dig in (since I'm not in town often) and get it all done. The kids decorated the cookies and brought them back for us to all enjoy. 

Remembering Mom

We headed up to Brighton to celebrate and remember my mom's birthday.

The girls exploring.

The boys climbing rocks.

And getting higher.

Buddies.

Good helpers.

Jan made a fun cake to celebrate the week of birthdays.

Grandpa helping roast hotdogs.

Cookin' dinner.

Cheese Heidi. :)

Oh look I'm in a picture.

Summer LOVED the hotdogs.

Dad & Jan 

Heidi read us a few fun stories from Mom's history. 

Heather brought up balloons so we could send our love up.

The kids all picked out their own. Kaly noticed on her balloon it actually said "Linda" we were guessing maybe the designer but it was a fun find!

We had two teams of arrow hunters. 

I only got pictures of one cause I was in this group. :) This one went up over the stream.

They went far! Those tiny specks on the rocks.

Let's eat cake!

I'm glad my family could get together to celebrate. For the last several years my mom would rent a little cabin up in this mountain and we'd all gather for a few days and enjoy each others company and the beautiful mountains. It was a tradition we all loved. In fact it was the last place we were all together before that last week at home when she passed away. 

What I shared on Instagram: "My nephew & my mom share their birthday today. My son's was a week ago. We celebrated them all and remembered my sweet mother tonight at a picnic in her favorite place, Brighton. (This evening after we got home I was putting the kids to bed and just started bawling. My sweet boy lay on my lap and gave me hugs and patted me telling me how much he loved my mom and some cute things he remembered about her.) I know I'm 30 something but I really wish I still had my mom. The cheerleader in all I did. Someone who loved me and got me and helped me even when I didn't realize I needed it. Who'd whisk the kids away not just to let me recharge but because she genuinely couldn't get enough of her grandkids. An example. A teacher. My friend. A testimony so bright you knew she knew. She always wanted to make everyone feel special. And she had amazing ways to do just that."

Random July

I splurged and got myself some DELICIOUS syrup so I guess I needed to take a picture of it. Oh and I really really really love french toast.

Kalyana learning the art of cutting hair. Tyce needs hair cuts all the time but he HATES them because they're so itchy. 

Tyce got a new bike for his birthday and asked if he could ride home like this from the store.

Thanks Dad & Jan for my new bike!

Tarl's dad had a little procedure/surgery on his leg so we went to grab him a treat. Tarl was letting his creative juices flow. ;)

The Lambson family celebrating Chad who recently finished his Masters degree. 

We don't often get to see Tarl in the morning (with his midnight schedule) so it when we do it's fun to document such things. Especially because he makes really yummy breakfasts.

The Lambson clan had a family reunion at Jensens Grove in Blackfoot. Really impressive is that we had a REALLY good showing. I think we were only missing Kat's family, and Rene (Shaelyn's hubby). We spend the entire day playing in the water, on the beach, on the jet ski, paddle boat, playing bocce or running around the grass. Tarl got some fun GoPro video and made a few cool movies.

At my dad's house, resting after my grandpa's funeral.

Makayla showing off her stuffed animal collection. And one of the last pictures of the bunk bed that got torn down when the girls got their new rooms.

Family Home Evening :) Teaching the kids a little poker. 

We had some impressive summer storms. The kids love getting in the swim suits and throwing on their huge coats (I dont know why) and running around in it. 

We went out to eat and it happened to be family/kids night so the kids all got balloon animals. 

Tyce was just as excited for the girls new rooms. 

In the year 2000 (as said like Conan O'Brian)

My friend Jill tagged me. I actually pulled out my senior year yearbook and flipped through it.

All about High School...
1. DID YOU DATE SOMEONE FROM YOUR SCHOOL? In Jr. High my two boyfriends were from my school. In HS however I went on dates with guys from school but my boyfriends were always from the surrounding high schools. (Cottonwood, Jordan, Brighton, Skyline)
2. WHAT KIND OF CAR DID YOU DRIVE? My best friend Melanie GRACIOUSLY drove me around in her 68? Mustang and then a little sporty red number I forgot the name of. (I sometimes borrowed my parents car but it was generally only for after school stuff.)
3. DID YOU PASS YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE TEST YOUR FIRST TRY? Let's just say, I was so excited to turn 16 and start driving that when my older sister took her test at 16 I took her manual from her and read it several times (I was only 13!)
4. WHERE YOU A PARTY ANIMAL? I didn't go to wild parties, but I generally had plans every weekend.
5. WERE YOU CONSIDERED A FLIRT? Absolutely!!
6. WERE YOU IN BAND, ORCHESTRA, OR CHOIR? Nope
7. WERE YOU A NERD? Nope
8. WERE YOU ON ANY VARSITY TEAMS? Nope (I played city league teams for softball and volleyball. Way more fun since my HS teams didnt really win much and the city teams I was on took first!)
9. DID YOU EVER GET SUSPENDED/EXPELLED? Never. I dont think I ever even entered the principals office in HS.
10. CAN YOU STILL SING THE FIGHT SONG? Uh
11. WHO WERE YOUR FAVORITE TEACHERS? Mrs. Halpin, Yearbook. She was hilarious and fun (I was yearbook editor). Mr. Moizer, English. I was totally a teachers pet in that class. He let my friend Garth and I go read our books in the hall during class, just becuase.
12. WHERE DID YOU SIT FOR LUNCH? Sometimes inside, sometimes outside.
13. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S FULL NAME? Hillcrest High School
14. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S MASCOT AND COLORS? Huskies, Green, White, Black (and sometimes Orange accent)
15. DID YOU GO TO HOMECOMING AND WITH WHO? Yup. Junior year with my buddy Garth and Senior year with Tarl.
16. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN WOULD YOU? Probably not. My only regret is that I dont remember a lot of it now (I think it's because during/after I had kids some of my brain dissolved.)
17. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT GRADUATION? Senoritis Complete. I remember the after party we all went to Hollywood Connection and stayed there all night (so we wouldn't leave and go crazy party drinking or something) and then a bunch of us went out to breakfast that morning before going home.
18. WHERE DID YOU GO SENIOR SKIP DAY? I dont think we had one. I guess if we did I didn't participate. Tarl has good stories about his though.
19. WERE YOU IN ANY CLUBS? Yearbook (Editor), Newspaper (News Editor) , Expressions Magazine (PR Rep), Activity Letter, Dead Poets Society, and FCCLA (sorta)
20. HAVE YOU GAINED SOME WEIGHT SINCE THEN? HAHAHAHA. Oh. Yes.
21. WHO WAS YOUR PROM DATE? Sophomore: Jason Rino Junior: Tarl Lambson Senior: Garth McDonald
22. ARE YOU PLANNING ON GOING TO YOUR 10 YEAR REUNION? Yes.
23. DID YOU HAVE A JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL? Yes. At 15 I worked at Snowbird Ski Resort (only on Saturdays). Then at 16-18 I worked at Classic Skating & Recreation. I loved both those jobs!

I tag people from my high school. Melanie, Rachel, Janae and Krishele and from Tarls: Adam and Tarl

Joy School, Like Mommy, Trouble

Joy School
This afternoon Makayla and I started Joy School today. She's still a bit young so we aren't doing the whole thing or with anyone else but I thought it would be a fun activity for her and I to do together this year. Mostly I figure we'll just learn the basics, and a few of the joy school lessons and activities and whatever else she's ready for. I did JS with Kalyana when she was 3 1/2 so at 2 1/2 I figure Makayla and I will keep it short and fun and just play and enjoy each other.

Today we did Joy of the Body. We sang "I'm All Made of Hinges", "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes", colored our body pictures and did finger plays and games. Makayla started signing the alphabet song a few months ago (it's adorable by the way) but we need to work on her recognizing them in print which we did today.

Good Day at School
Kalyana got off the bus today and took off like a rocket towards home. Again with her arms spread wide screaming, "Mommy!" I love it! Melts my heart. I did the whole pick her up and spin her around thing. She was so excited after coming home from school she told me all about her day, went straight to the table where her lunch was waiting and dug in. (Can you see she even forgot to take off her school bag.)

Playtime
The kids and I spent some much needed hours outside visiting with the neighbors. Lately whenever I ask Kalyana if she wants to play outside with friends she tells me it's too hot or she's a bit shy. Today a bunch of kids were playing in the front yard sprinklers so the kids and I went outside. I got to visit with Jill and Emily (which I missed doing so much this summer!) and the kids got to play, which they enjoy a lot more when I'm sitting out there staring at them (not gardening, or reading, or cleaning out the shed).

Here is my daughter. An almost exact replica of me. So far, I'd say she is the most like me of any of my kids. Case in point. Escaping the house in a diaper. It's things like this, as she goes traipsing around outside that make me wonder what my neighbors think of us and my nude-y girl. (Had to sneak this picture from the back door so she wouldn't take off full sprint running away from me. Ah the wonderful stage of running away from mom.)


Memories
A favorite family story my mom and sisters like to tell is this: Once my mom and I were home alone while my sisters were at school. I was probably 2 1/2. My mom needed to use the restroom and left me in living room playing. Apparently I thought it was a shinning opportunity. I dragged a kitchen chair over to the counter climbed up, reached my moms purse on the top of the fridge, removed the garage door opener and climbed down. I went out into the garage, got on my hot wheels tricycle, opened the garage door and peddled the 1/3 mile down (a huge hill) to my sisters' school. All in only my diaper. My mom canvased the neighborhood and finally found me playing in the cubby shelves outside my sisters kindergarten class. (I'm not sure but someone might have spotted me and called her.) It's one of those stories I've heard (because I was too young to actually remember doing it) but just have a hard time thinking I was really that sneaky or confident or something. After having little mischievous kids though I no longer wonder. I am sure that if things like this happen, it'll be this child of mine. My sweet darling Makayla.

Trouble
Can't get enough of my little man. Lately his nickname has changed from Tyce-a-roni to Trouble. He's getting more confident and quick in his walking (along furniture). He's also realizing that he can push, open, pull out, dump and move things. He spends most of his day doing this and I enjoy watching him explore. Usually. How can you not enjoy watching this handsome little man with the huge smiles and adorable laugh?!