This Is How Come I Know That They're Mine!

Projects...Jobs...Lists...Organizing...Busy Work...Putting Together...Cleaning...Team Work
These are just a few of the characteristics that my children have. I love it especially since I am the exact same way. The more that I can "check off", the happier that I am.
This is what I came out to this afternoon. Reaching as far as they possibly could, with wet paper towels in hand, cleaning off the siding of our garage/shed area.
Once again, I had to grab the camera, shake my head, and just chuckle to myself. Yep...those are my kids!

A few weekends ago we all went up to pick up my hand cycle. The kids were dying on the way home because they could not...COULD NOT...wait to put it together! OK...have at it!


I love that they want to help...want to use their minds...want to feel like they are accomplishing big goals. I love that they are doing it together. There is no fighting...no teasing...no crying...none of that. They just calmly communicate and get it done! Perfect :) OK...I take it back....most times they are calm but they still have their moments of pure chaos :(

GO TEAM CORBRIDGE/TERRY!!!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game....

At the last minute, Trevor was able to get some tickets to the Salt Lake Bees game so it worked out for a perfect place to take the kids.

I am not a fan of baseball...not even one bit. I think it's because of one too many traumatic childhood experiences. Growing up, we had seasons tickets to the Toronto Blue Jays baseball games since that was a big deal other than hockey. That was also before the Toronto Raptors were around so that's all that there was. Our parents would drag us to those games and we would be bored...bored...bored! Nothing bad ever happened but I can still remember being 9 or 10, looking up to the sky, and praying for it to be over! It was horrible! I think baseball is the slowest sport ever and is so not exciting at all. I know...how can I possibly be an American?

Though I must say that the last time I went to a San Francisco Giants game and to a Toronto Blue Jays game...I had alot of fun. I think that going to a pro game and to a big stadium makes it alot more exciting too. But the Salt Lake Bees???? The last time that I went to a Bees game was during the summer of 1999 and even then the only reason that we endured was because of the beer and the boys! :) hehehe I'm just being honest...

I knew that we'd be OK since the kids' attention span would not allow us to stay to the end so I wasn't dreading the event too bad! Our seats were perfect! Right behind home plate and out of the sun. As soon as we got there, they saw "the Bee" and Carter wanted to go and get a signature. Kindra was a little nervous which cracked me up because usually she will talk to anyone! We've had to be very strict about those who are strangers and about those who are not :) Oh the joys of being a parent....
Around the corner from our house is a snow shack that the kids love to go to and get a $1 shaved ice. They saw a guy eating one so they decided that's what they wanted for their treat. I was a little puzzled when Trevor came back with only one??? Until he told me that instead of $1 they were $8 each! Come on Larry....give us a break!?!

Once we got home I looked at this picture and instead of going to the Baseball game , it looks like we are at a prison camp! Seriously :)
Too funny but the highlight of the night for the kids happened just seconds after we took this picture. At that exact moment, the bells and sirens went off at the fire house which is right next door so they got to watch it all go down until the fire engine took off. Some more free entertainment is all I say!?!

A Classic Saturday Afternoon At The Pool

As soon as Carter got home from his camping excursion, I threw the kids in the car and we headed off to the "Classic Family Fun Center" up in the town of Sandy. It's a lot smaller than most theme parks but I have to start small when it comes to being solo and being at the pool...again the lack of control comes into play! :( I just get way too worried that something could happen and the thought of being that helpless would drive me crazy.

Now is when I say in my super-hero voice "But that never stops me from having fun, ha ha ha Off we go!" Honestly I sometimes scare myself! This day however was a trial run. I had a friend come along just to make sure that if I needed help I would have some, but I told him to let me try to do everything as if I was all by myself. It worked so we're free to move on to the next hurdle....Seven Peaks!??! We'll see about thaaaaat one....

...she's leading her.........yes......leading her pretend horse out of the water. Do you all understand now why I am so paranoid about her imagination and obsession! :) not really but it's all too funny what she can come up with!
I love when I catch pictures of Carter like this when he is in his own little world just a thinkin' to himself! I realized today that he is not my little bubby anymore as he was telling me about the zip line that he tried out this morning. "I tried it and had so much fun. Wasn't I being brave, Mom?" Bitter sweet...miss the young . love them grown! I just have an easier time with them as they grow to be more of a "big person".

Anyway...today was fun since it was a little different from the usual activities and the exhaustion helped tonight when getting them settled down for bed! hehehe

Zeke Belmont's Golf Cart

This afternoon's event all started because of a golf cart. We drove around the corner off of Evergreen and Parker just in time to pull out right behind Zeke Belmont puttin around in his golf cart.

So we all understand the connection....Zeke Belmont, who is now in his 70's, married Jule Anderson, who is one of Old Doc Anderson's daughters ,who is the original owner of our "Secret Garden". I grew up hearing stories about Doc Anderson, his wealth, and his land. My Dad, as a youth, was his landscaper and my Grandparents were part of the "in" crowd of the old American Fork'ers. When I envision what Doc Anderson would have looked/been like...if you remember the movie "Field of Dreams" and the character Archie "Moonlight" Graham as an old Doctor...that's what I think he would have been like.

Zeke and Jule Belmont live around the corner and have taken on the chore of being the property landscapers. Every week Zeke jumps in his golf cart and comes down to turn on the irrigation water that flood the grounds. So you can imagine the kids excitement when we were at the right place at the right time with a free hour for them to go run around a bit. Notice that they have their clothes on?!? These are one of those moments that I am trying to learn how to grasp...to let go of some control :)

Chip Chip Chip Chip Chip Chip Chip tztztztztztztztz Chip Chip Chip Chip Chip Chip Chip tztztztztztztztz........

This is the best way for me to describe how the sounds of the afternoon were. As I was listening to my kids laugh and splash in their "rivers, streams, and puddles", the sound of an old school sprinkler also added to the melody. The sounds reminded me of my own childhood water adventures. It was nice to sit, to watch, to contemplate and to just enjoy the afternoon. Every time that I am able to enjoy this place, I am still amazed at how immense it really is. Absolutely breathtaking! The different trees with their different shades of green allowed it to be a place of reverence for the moment. I know that I go off about describing this place but it's because I feel so intense and strong about it! :)

I love the Men in my immediate family! It was the "Father's and Son's Camp out" in their neighborhood this weekend so they invited all of the boys in our family to come up and enjoy the fun. Carter was so excited and could not wait to go and get up on the mountain!

I can hardly wait for the stories and to see how it all turned out.....

Kindra and I had our own "Girls Night". We went out for Chinese, went to Barnes & Noble for a new book and for some dessert, and came home for a movie. We had our own camp out in Mom's room :) !

"People Watching" & Movie Going...

I couldn't avoid it any longer. I knew it was coming and I knew I would have to give in. The carnival is in town and the kids were pumped to go.
This carnival has been coming to town since the beginning of time. I remember going as a child when my Grandpa was on the City Council. Ok fine...I went once in Jr. High but by High school we came to understand and mock the term "WT Carni Rat". Enough said...
The kids wanted to ride the slide again and Kindra wanted to ride the Merry-Go-Round so we couldn't resist It's one of those things that you can't not do if you live in AF.
You always worry about who you are going to see but you always know that you will run into an old friend that you're so excited to see! Monica...So FUN to see you! Lunch is in the works :)
I also go to events like this to fulfill my desire to people watch. You can see some interesting people in these places...especially at the carnival! From one extreme to the other....Hmmmm...interesting that's for sure!
I made it home with just enough time to get in a little nap before I headed out on one of our grand midnight movie adventures! We decided that "The Dark Knight" would be worth the lack of sleep that we would all be enduring! I love the crowds, the atmosphere, the excitement-anxiety, the rush, the competitiveness, the build up, the previews, and....ALL of it!
me, john-charles, and ashley aka 'the creeper" ha ha he he :)
Going to these movies with John-Charles always reminds me of our "Lord Of The Rings" adventures. The harassing techniques that we aquired as we were trying to obtain tickets and the waiting in line for hours...for days that we...he endured. UNFORGETTABLE!
I do like being able to buy/reserve your seats beforehand but it does take a little bit of the challenge out of it :(
Either way...the movie was intense, awesome, and exactly what it should have been! Christian Bale was hoooot yet dark. Heath Ledger's performance was incredible and had me laughing. He got it perfect! The struggle between light and dark is one that you could discuss for hours.
Watch "Batman Begins", then go see this. You will love it but know that it is dark....You will love the soundtrack too!
(the only character that I strongly disliked was Rachel's but you analyze that one for yourself)
People Watching and Movie Going...oh how I love these two pastimes! hehehe :)

A Lazy Afternoon---

The other day I had this great idea of getting lunch and taking it to the park so that the kids could get some energy out. It was more of a selfish idea since that only aids to the "going to sleep fast" factor but they were only too happy to get out.
Notice the small, small, ok, extremely small patch of shade? Yeah...they are sitting in it! It was fire hot outside so it was unbearable. The afternoon did not turn out like I had hoped but I just loved how these pics turned out. Trevor is not a fan of the park=heat=dirty so anytime that I can get him there=miracle!

Carter was only too happy to volunteer his services when it came to the lawn mowing and yes...yes...we had a first. This was the 1st time that Carter mowed all by himself! I am paranoid when it comes to things like this. I have way too many horrific events going through my mind so I've not allowed it at our home. (ok...truth be told...Trevor admitted to me that technically this was not the 1st time that Carter had mowed by himself. Trevor had cheated a bit and had allowed him once or twice before this :( boooooo but whatever...it was the 1st time that I had seen him perform this task all by himself) He was very excited and he did a great job! I thought it would have been lines going this way and that but he had the technique down perfect.
....getting ready for a big turn that is coming up....

Just another one of our funny moments in lawn mowing ! :)