Museum of Natural History

By the title I thought this place would be boring. It was so fun. They had a lot of interactive displays. Everyone was entertained including David.
The frog exhibit was awesome. They had so many species. Plus some fun props to take pictures on. Also Sadie loved these pictures the museum had that you looked at to try and find the frogs, then you could press a button which would light up where they were. Fooled me every time. I couldn't see one.
This was a big fish tank with frogs in it. You could stand in the middle where there was a hole and look through.They had live bugs to look at. Yuck! But still great for the kids. They even had this cute theater the kids could play with bug puppets.
Upstairs they had a big room with dinosaurs to look at. It is amazing such giant creatures once roamed the earth.
Upstairs there was also a big square-thing that was filled with sand and water that the kids could feel the sand between their fingers and form shapes with. My teenagers loved that. We ended with the fossils that you could find by brushing the sand off. Elijah loved the sand (maybe he wasn't supposed to sit in it).

Cousin Week!

My brother lives in St. George and him and his five children came up to SLC for a week. It was great! We planned something fun everyday while they were here.

The first day we went to Discovery Gateway and spent over three hours there. My kids had so much fun, except the teenagers. However towards the end they got to explore the Gateway for awhile so it turned out great. I will have to post a picture when my sister emails them to me. I forgot my camera (hate that).

Day two was spent at Liberty Park. This is a nice big park with a water area for when it's hot.

Some of our cousins digging in the sand at Liberty Park

My brother Shane burying one of the cousins in the sandDavid coming down the slideCutest baby ever!Lexie enjoying the water part of the parkThe teenagers being bored (as usual)

On Wednesday we headed to Big Cottonwood Canyon. Loved it! I decided our family has to visit the mountains at least twice a month. It is so beautiful up there. Also it's cooler than in the valley and the kids had so much fun. We also promised to go fishing after visiting the lake. We could have stayed a lot longer but we forgot bug repellent and the mosquitoes were loving it.

There is a walking path around the lake at the top of Big Cottonwood. David loved the little prairie dogs (I think that's what they are called) that were everywhere. And the big rocks to jump off of.

Sadie took this picture. I love it with David and cousin Katherine's reflection in the water. They tried to see the fish in the water but just couldn't.

Me and my sisters and my mom. They are going to kill me for showing this picture because all of us are looking a bit "rough" but I sure love my family and enjoy spending time with them. I had to include this photo.

Thursday was bowling day. It was so fun. It certainly was not about the score when you have 10 kids but we loved it. Once again I forgot my camera.

By Friday I was exhausted! We had plans to do something but I couldn't. I was warn out from all that fun and so was Elijah. He hadn't had a good nap schedule all week. But we still ended the week with a bang because that night was the ward campout. Next year we need to plan another cousin week, it was so much fun!

Meet Misty and Kiki

Sadie and Misty
Cousin Katherine and Kiki

After much thought and prayer our family finally added two new cats to our family. We are right next to a school and we have a terrible vole problem. If you don't know what that is, it is a rodent. Very similar to mice but they make shallow tunnels all over your yard and will ruin your garden.

This year it is particularly bad since we are the only family without some sort of pet. And we needed a long term solution because we are going to re-do our yard this fall or next spring.

My children were very excited to get two pets in the process. I don't know why cats get such a bad reputation. They have been the easiest pet I have ever had. They do have to be outside because I am allergic but the maintenance is awesome. We have tried dogs and it has been a full time job. I am very happy with our decision.

Our cats are still very young and we are conditioning them to outside so we don't know yet how they will be at catching all those voles but I am crossing my fingers.

Sweet Sixteen

Emily turned sixteen in June. Can you believe it? I can't. I am just too young to be raising teenagers. Emily spent her "real" birthday with her mom. So we celebrated her birthday on an "unofficial" day.

We tried to celebrate her birthday the day after her official birthday but it was a big flop. It was rainy, we went yard sale shopping way too long and she tried to birthday shop at Jordan Landing but couldn't find anything she liked. We knew the day was a bust.

You only turn sixteen once so we had to do it right. So a few days later Steve got off work early and took Emily to Mimi's Cafe for lunch. After that the family went bowling. And for dinner we had one of her favorite's, Hawaiian Haystacks. The day seemed a lot better.

Heavenly Father sure knew what he was doing to have Emily be the oldest. She gets tired of our lectures and constant worry but over-all she just does things right. When we ask Emily to do something we know she will do it. She is boy crazy and definitely silly but she sticks to her standards and beliefs.

One thing that really impressed me is a boy asked Emily out on a date for Sunday. She was at her mom's when the boy called. Even though she could have easily gone out with him, she turned him down because it was on Sunday. How awesome is that? She is always doing what's right even when we're not there.

Emily really has a testimony of the gospel. She is being raised by our family and her mom and both are completely different lifestyles. Emily chooses to follow the gospel.

I am blessed to be her mom and I love her. I think she is a kind and loving person. I am very fortunate to have such an easy-going, like-able and just all-around great daughter. Although she is my step-daughter, I certainly don't think of her that way. She is my daughter and I am so happy to have her in our family.

Girls Camp

Our ward always has Girls Camp early in the summer. I have been trying to come up with something witty to say but my mind just draws a blank. I think the pictures speak for themselves. I wish I would have taken a before picture as well. Day one they looked so refreshed and ready to go.

When I saw them they were tired, dirty and sunburned. But they had a great time. I am so thankful for their leaders who serve so diligently. My girls will not understand or appreciate your sacrifices until they are mothers and have families of there own. But I am thankful and I understand so THANK YOU!