~ Las Vegas & Six Flags ~

This weekend Ayana, mom, Aaron and me went to Las Vegas to offer some emotional support to Lulu. She is moving to AZ to attend Mortuary Science school after living in Las Vegas for 8 years. So we drove the Mustang down to her place and here is some of the adventures we had...
~The Ride Down~


~Swimming at Aunt Lulu's Pool~


~On our last day there we decided to drive to Six Flags in Valencia, CA! It was 4 1/2hours away from Vegas. We got up early and arrived at 10:00 a.m. I told Ayana she was to ride every ride we rode on. If you have ever been to Six Flags you know there are VERY few little rides. She was really nervous and I didn't make her ride some of them. She ended up riding "TATSU" which boasts "Tallest, fastest and longest flying coaster on Earth". Top speed of 62 mph, 263 feet in plunges, 17 stories and 2 minutes worth of ride. You ride that coaster facing the ground on your belly. It was really cool. She was scared to death but survived to ride Superman, accelerates to 100 mph in seven seconds before shooting straight up a 41-story tower, 6.5 seconds of weightlessness, trains free-fall straight down from the skyscraper, spans more than 900 feet across the theme park, 415 feet high. Here are the pictures from that day...
~TATSU~



~REVOLUTION, GOLIATH, Swings & The Joker~





We also visited Bonnie Springs in Las Vegas. It was a really cool petting Zoo with a lot of different animals, cowboys and hot, hot sun. The animals loved mom and her shirt which you can check out on Lulu's blog. I did not take my camera that day and only have photos on my phone. Thanks mom for such an awesome time. I know that the memories we create as a family are so very important to all of us. I only wish the whole family could have been there. All this change going on has been tough on you and I know you are very stressed with a lot of it. Hang in there and trust that everything will work our for the best. You made this weekend a crazy, fun filled weekend that all of us will never forget. Thanks Again, Love You!

~A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE~

Heres a little game! Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time, or a long time, anything you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.Ready, Set, GO!

Old Memory Card!

After visiting Natalie's yesterday, her extremely clean house motivated me to clean mine. So while cleaning a cabinet in the kitchen that we do not use, I found my old camera. I quickly found an excuse to quit cleaning and pulled the pictures up on my computer. Here are some of the photos that were on that old memory card!
~Mikayla & Zeke~

~Jesse & Zeke in the Rain~

~Zeke with a lot of hair~

~Ayana Cheerleading for Ute Football~

~Ayana's Baptism~

~Zeke's 1st Kiddie Pool~

~Ayana & Kaykie's tour of East High after High School Musical Filming~

~Canyon Model Shoot~

~Halloween 2007~

~First Day of 3rd Grade~

~Baby Zeke~

~Ayana finally got a sibling when we had Zeke~

Friends old & new!!!

Today me and the kids were invited to my friends house for lunch and a play date. Natalie (Webb) Holley was one of my friends in Jr. High. She made a very delicious lunch for me and the kids. Ayana and Mikayla loved playing with her daughter Ashlyn and although Zeke and her boy Josh started out keeping to themselves, by the end of the day they were hugging and posing for pictures. Natalie also showered us with gifts from her Uncle's store which I think made her an instant hit with the girls! It was nice to have an old friend to talk to and catch up with and the kids were glad to make new friends. Thanks Natalie for the fun day! I can't wait to do it again really soon!

Dinosaur Museum!

Today was one of those days where I did not feel like sitting home. I have been stressed a lot lately and needed to get out. Adri and I took the kids and met mom for lunch. Then we headed down to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point! I thought for sure Zeke would love it because his two favorite things are cars and dinosaurs. But he did not like it at all. He was afraid the whole time and wanted to be carried. What a sissy pants...

~Timpanogos Cave~

The day before Lulu had to go home, she asked if I wanted to go with her and Kaykie and Ayana to Timpanogos Cave. I of course said yes. I wanted to take Zeke but Lu talked me out of it. I later thanked her several hundred times for that. We had a great time. The cave was awesome and it was nice to spend time with my little sis without any other adults. I really valued our time together that day and I love Lulu with all my heart. The girls loved the hike. Ayana complained a little but all in all it was a fun outing.

More Cave Photos...

July 4th!!!

This 4th of July held great memories and not so great memories. Harriett's passing really sucked. But the rest of the holiday was great. We went to the Murray Parade in the morning and we sat right out front of Starbucks, so that turned out to be really convenient. The kids loved the parade and got a lot of candy. Zeke liked the cars especially and Emmy looked beautiful on the float for Murray Royalty. Then we had a BBQ at Nana's and fireworks afterwords. It was nice to have the whole family home for the holiday! It will definitely be a 4th to remember.

Harriett...

Sadly on July 4th, while watching fireworks at Nana's, Harriett got spooked and came down to Nana's for comfort. Amongst the commotion of the kids and fireworks, Harriett wondered down to the end of the street and onto the busy 6200 S. Our neighbor was coming home and stopped to tell us that she was down at the end of the street. After Audrey and Jesse searched with no Harriett in sight, I gave Kingston to Lulu and started searching too. Needless to say my search did not have to go very far. Just shy of where Jesse stopped looking, I found Harriett on the road, she had been hit by a car and had already passed when I got to her. I carried her home and Aaron and Jesse buried her in our backyard in the flowerbed. Ayana was heartbroken and has many times said she misses her dog. My mom and sisters were upset as well. Harriett was a sweet dog and as frustrating as she could be some times, I had never wished her to leave our family like that. I feel extremely guilty for her death and I could have been a better dog owner. I think it will be an awfully long time before I purchase and commit to a dog. We loved Harriett and she will be missed...

Happy 9th Birthday Ayana!

Ayana had her birthday on Sunday the 29th! She wanted to take her cousins to Build-A-Bear! Then we were off to Nana's house for a BBQ! Thank you Nana and Grandpa for letting us celebrate at your house. Thanks to Jesse's family for coming and celebrating with us. It was nice to have you there, it meant a lot to Ayana. Jesse was not able to attend...again! He was in Canada on business and did not arrive home until 2:30 in the morning. Ayana got a digital camera from her grandma, clothes from mom and dad, money from Great Grandma, a handmade apron and baking utensils from Nana, polly pockets, Toys R Us gift card, Target gift card, lip gloss, bath and beauty supplies and much more. Her brother's gave her a giant pink diamond. Special thanks to Audrey and Adri for the cupcakes and awesome kids sushi! Special thanks to Nana and Grandpa for the meat!

Ayana...I love you so much and I am so proud of all you have done. Continue to be an example to your brothers and always stay close to your family! You are a beautiful girl and I can't believe you are already 9! Stay little for mom!