Wah Hah Hah Hah!

Notice anything different about my door? An added feature perhaps? Something in the way of a brand new lock, towards the top where Preston can't reach, even with a chair? (For now anyway.)
Installed today by yours truly. Preston has been brought back to our home by one of our neighbors a few times too many. It was necessary. What kind of mother must they think I am anyway? "Ummm... Here is your kid. Again. Found him halfway down the street." Honestly. We'll see how long it keeps him in. He's already been putting his little evil genius brain to work trying to figure it out. If I survive this kid, it will be a miracle.

Barnacles and Tartar Sauce

I think Vivi has watched a little too much Sponge Bob lately. Should I even be admitting this? Every time she drops something, or has any kind of oops, I'll hear, "Oh barnacles", or, "Oh, tartar sauce!". While it is pretty funny, I think we'll be laying off the Sponge Bob cartoons for a while. :)

Cousins

Trent's sister, Stephanie, her husband, Ryan, and their five kiddos were here visiting from Austin, TX recently. Since going to Texas is not a quick ride in the car, and 6 plane tickets are pretty spendy, we don't get to see them all that often, so when we do get to spend time with them, it is such a treat.

We played and played at the park while they were here. Vivi was in seventh heaven to have her cousin Fo (Taryn) in town. She has been dying to see her.
They just have the best time together.
We all played a little tennis.
The boys were excited to practice some of the things they had been learning in their tennis lessons. Trenton loved having Trevor on his team.
Every chance she got, Fo was snuggling with her uncle Trent.
She loves Trent.
Tate the Great, AKA Tater Tot. Although, I'm not sure if he likes the Tater Tot nickname so much anymore, being twelve and all. ;) I'll have to ask him. Tate had tons of card tricks for us this visit. My boys, well all of us really, were pretty amazed.
Tristan and Trenton had to make cookies together. It is becoming tradition for them to make cookies whenever the cousins come to town. BTW, what is with my son's crazy faces? Every picture I take of him, he has either a super crazy face, or he is really serious and into posing. What a goofball. :)
We also were able to go up to Steamboat (my most favorite mountain town) with them for a couple of days. Colson couldn't get enough of Trevor. Every time I turned around, Colson was hanging all over him. Trev sure was a good sport. Oh, do you love Trey's face? In the restaurant, there was a TV right by our table and the X Games were on. At one point or another, all the men/boys had a look like this on their face while watching the TV.
Vivi, Taryn, Trisy, and Ryan. All the girls wanted to sit on Ryan's lap.
They had these bronze statues of famous people all over downtown Steamboat. I can't remember who this guy is though.
The kids and Albert Einstein, and Ben Franklin is behind and to the left of them.
We must have worn Preston right out because he layed down next to Trent, and within 30 seconds, he was gone. I love how he put he his hands behind his head, just like his daddy.

We had so much fun with Ryan, Stephanie, and their family. We can't wait until we can see them again!

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Bellan

Last weekend, Trent, my mom, my brother, and I all flew out to Ohio to go to my darling friend, Meagan's, wedding. I have known Meagan for over 20 years now, so it was so wonderful to go and see her take this next step in her life.

I first met Meagan when she was 6 and I was 9. She would come and stay with her dad for the summers. At the time, my mom was doing daycare from home, and that is how Meaggy Mo (as we often called her then) came into our lives. I remember as a kid being so excited for summer because I knew Meagan would be coming. And I also remember the let down when summer was over because she would be going back to her mom in Ohio, and I wouldn't get to see her for nine more months. As we got older, she came for shorter amounts of time in the summer, then just for a week or two here and there sometime during the year, so it was such a treat to be able to go to Ohio to see her. It was so wonderful to meet several of the friends that I had heard her speak of for so many years, but had never met.

A funny little story about Meagan. When we were little she used to ask me, oh, I don't know, at least 5 times a summer, "Kiff, if I died, would you speak at my funeral?" Now, you have to understand that we were only about 10 and 7 when she first started asking me this question. While thinking, "What in the heck is she talking about dying for?", I would always answer, "Sure Meag". Then she would follow up with, "Well, what would you say?" I think at the time, what she wanted to know was how much I really thought of her. Well, just so she knows, I think she is one of the most amazing and beautiful (both inside and out) people that I have ever had the priviledge to know. I am so grateful for all of the summers that we were able to spend together. She was like the sister that I never had, and I just adore her.

We got to Ohio Friday, July 24, and made it in time for the rehearsal dinner.

Meagan and all of her beautiful bridesmaids.

Meagan's mom, Sherry, and dad, Jim, walking her down the isle. It was a beautiful wedding. And Meagan looked absoluetly stunning. She was all aglow. There was a funny moment where the priest was talking about Meagan and Mark wearing their wedding clothes again the next day, and how everyone would think that they were on crack, or drunk. I remember looking at Trent and thinking "Is he allowed to say 'crack' in church?" I'm still not quite sure where he was going with that one, but I got a good inside chuckle.

Meagan, with her new hubby Mark, my brother Dustin (far left), and my mom (between him and Meagan). The reception was lovely, the food was delicious, and it was wonderful just to be there and see how happy Meagan is. She is one of the most wonderful people I have ever known and deserves all the happiness in the world. I don't think I know anyone with a kinder heart. I guess she and Mark are talking about moving to Colorado. Oh happy day if they do! I told her I would pray my heart out that they do. Here's to Meagan and Mark! Congratulations!

Kirtland, Ohio

While in Ohio for Meagan and Mark's wedding, we had a little spare time one morning to go to Historic Kirtland.

We were able to go in the store that was owned and operated by Newel K. Whitney. We had the opportunity to sit in a room in which Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ had appeared. What an amazing and overwhelming feeling to know that they had appeared in that same room that we were in. It was so neat to learn more about the time that the Saints were in Kirtland.

We also saw the home of Newel K. Whitney,

the Inn,

and the Saw Mill and Ashery. We drove past the Kirtland Temple, but unfortunately didn't have time to go in. The missionaries that were our guides (a cute little couple from Holiday, Utah) were so wonderful and full of the Spirit. I kept thinking how amazing and wonderful it would be to serve a mission with Trent someday. I sincerely hope we get the opportunity to do that together.

Blue Skies and Wide Open Spaces

Trent had some work to do up in Wyoming this last week, so being that it is still summer and there is no school yet, the kids and I decided to hit the road with him. I had no idea there were so many beautiful places to see in Wyoming. I hadn't ever seen any other part of Wyoming except what you can see driving along I-80. We headed up to Riverton first.
We were in the car most of the day, but I did manage to get a fairly descent picture of the sunset.

Oh, and Preston checking himself out in the mirror at the hotel. He was pretty into himself.

On our way to Lander the next day we came across this.
Too bad it wasn't open yet. I'd like to know what "The World's Finest Food" tastes like. Bummer.

While in Lander, we visited a place that is known as "The Sinks".


This river flows down into a cave into the side of the mountain (the sink), and about a 1/2 mile to a mile down the road, it comes back up out of the mountain (the rise) on the other side of the road. Apparently, dye tests have been done, and it takes 2 hours for the water to get from the sink to the rise.
Where the river comes back out at the rise, there are tons of trout just hanging out in the pool of water. Too bad there's no fishing aloud. :(
The rise.

While there, we also hiked up to a waterfall. Trenton was scared for the first mile or so that he might get eaten by a bear. Ever since the lovely tornado we had a couple of months ago, he finds something to be worried and scared of wherever we go. Stinking tornado. It made him aware of all sorts of dangers that he never thought twice about before. He got past it though and started to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
He even made up a game where he and Trent started counting the rocks that they stepped on (it was a rocky trail) and whoever stepped on the most, won. I think they got up to the 700s. And that was only on the way back down the trail.

The kids were good sports. It was a 3 mile hike to the waterfall and back.
We kept Preston in the backpack most of the time. He wanted to walk, but there were some pretty steep cliffs. Knowing Preston, I don't think him and cliffs would go so well together.
Poor little Viv. She took a couple of pretty good diggers.
Let me put it this way. Her shirt started off pink, and by the time our hike was over, the whole front of it was brown. Yes, twice she fell and slid a couple of feet, face first on the dusty trail. What a little trooper though. After a few tears, she kept on going.

Oh, BTW, if you to to The Sinks...
Beware of the sheep. Apparently there is one sheep in particular who likes to ram it's head in to cars. Crazy sheep.
We had a picnic lunch at the funnest park after our hike. We got to watch some horses munch on some grass while we were there. It totally made Preston's day. That kid loves horsies.
What a fun park. I have never seen anything like it. It was like the Wild West meets Park. It had a little town, a train, a covered wagon...
And a tepee.
Preston kept doing "no hands" on the swing. He loves to scare himself a bit.
The kids loved playing on the tire swing...
Even Trent. We had a blast being able to go to "work" with Trent. (He really did work while we were gone:) Who knew there would be so many fun things to do? And it sure beat being home by myself with all the kids. ;)

Epiphany

I had the opportunity to teach in Relief Society a few weeks ago. I stressed over that lesson so much. I have never taught in Relief Society before, so I was a nervous wreck. I spent many hours in prayer and study while preparing for this lesson. Every spare second I had I was praying and studying. A few days after it was all over, I got thinking about how weak I was, that I couldn't even prepare a lesson without leaning so heavily on my Heavenly Father. Then it hit me... I am weak, and I can't do anything without the help of my Heavenly Father. But instead of continuing to feel weak, I felt strengthened because I know that with my Heavenly Father helping me along the way, I can do anything, I can be anything. It is when I don't rely on Him that I am weak, that things are harder. I am grateful to know that without my Heavenly Father, I am nothing, I have nothing. These are things that I already knew, but it struck me so hard that day, that I believe it will be harder for me to forget in the future.

Crashed!

Proof that Preston still desperately needs a nap. He will drop off to sleep in the most random places and positions.
The swing would probably put me to sleep too. I'll give him that one, but c'mon, the stairs? The floor in the middle of the room? Underneath Vivi's bed? You'd think it would be way more comfortable to fall asleep all cozied up in bed. Whatever. Preston is one of those that is always having to do things his own way, even napping. Cute little stink.

Poor Babies

I looked out our sliding glass door the other day to find that two little baby birds had fallen out of their nest. Aren't they so tiny?!

They must not have been out of their nest for too long because they were still alive when we found them. Poor little things. Trent, the wonderful man that he is, put on some gloves and put them right back in their nest.

Their poor mommy must have been sick with worry. Can you imagine coming home to find your babies missing? I haven't seen them out of their nest again, (I look several times a day) so hopefully that means they are in growing healthy and strong.

Happy Independence Day!

I have many memories of the 4th of July from when I was growing up. They mostly consist of my dad and uncle Mike doing very dangerous things with fireworks. Oh, and the trips across the border to Wyoming to get the "good stuff". I remember always being excited about it being the 4th of July, and waiting in anticipation for the fireworks to begin, but I also remember always feeling a little terrified at the same time. You see, my dad and his younger brother, Mike, just couldn't seem to follow any of the guidelines when it came to lighting fireworks. They always had to come up with their own, very unsafe ways of igniting them. Instead of setting the firework on the ground, away from anything that's flammable, they would proceed to light it while holding it, then once it was lit, they would randomly throw it, and you never knew where it might land (or if one of them was going to lose any fingers, or limbs for that matter). I'm sure our neighbors were just thrilled to live near us on the 4th of July. (Especially the one who's lawn caught on fire do to said unsafe lighting and handling.) The first 4th of July after Trenton was born, my uncle Mike and his family came over from Utah for a visit. The night of the 4th, we got our lawn chairs all set up and ready to watch the fireworks "display". I think I ended up in the house with Trenton not too long after it started. The fireworks rushing through the air right past my head were enough to freak me out. I didn't want my little two month old losing an eye or anything. Well, our home firework shows are a little more tame now, but still a lot of fun. We celebrated a little early last night and set off some fireworks in the street in front of our house. The kids get so excited. This was the first year that Preston really got into the fun of fireworks. He loved being able to wave the sparklers around, which, BTW, Trent was freaking out about the whole time. He proceeded to inform me this morning that he had heard on the radio that sparklers can get up to 1000 degrees, and that it is not recommended that you give them to your children. He said, "That's hotter than a curling iron, and I know you wouldn't hand the kids a hot curling iron to play with." Okay honey, you rest your case. But I'm still going to let my kids have sparklers on the 4th of July. What is a 4th of July without sparklers for Heaven's sake!
We had an opportunity to talk to our kids, over a breakfast of red, white, and blue, this morning about the many freedoms we enjoy. We told them a little bit of the history of why we celebrate Independence Day. While Trent and I were discussing with them some of our freedoms and how blessed we are to live in this country, I almost felt ashamed for how much I take for granted. I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude for all that I have. I am so grateful to live in a country where we have the opportunities of education. Reading is one of my favorite past times, and I can't imagine going through my life without being able to read. I am grateful for the freedom to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Where would I be without the knowledge I have of the gospel of Jesus Christ? It scares me to even think about it. I am grateful that I don't have to live in fear for my life at every moment. I am very grateful for all of those, both now and who have gone before, that have fought for our freedom and our safety. I am proud to be able to call myself an American, and I love this land in which I live. Happy Independence Day!