Superman Eats Salad

Joseph loves to wear these Superman pajamas. Maybe he was feeling extra special and super when he decided that he didn't want to eat the super yummo hamburger steaks (my mammaw Christine's recipe) that I'd made for dinner but instead just wanted salad. Joseph has never eaten salad but today he chowed it. I wonder if he'll eat it next time I put it in front of him. You never know.

If this picture had sound then you'd hear another first for Joseph. I said, "Joe, look at mama." He immediatly looked at me and "Tease." Joe hardly ever will look at the camera let alone say "Cheese".

I am hopeful that today's firsts will stick around and happen often, the salad and the "tease".

Then

I forgot the "Then" pictures. We last took the girls to Wheeler Farm in April 2006. I was pregnant with Joseph, Ella was 3 1/2 and Grace was 1 1/2. I can hardly believe that my big, grown up girls were this small and look at those baby faces. Oh, my sweet girls!

Wheeler Farm Now and Then

Yesterday we took the kids to Wheeler Farm. It was a really nice day out and the last day of Adam's long weekend. I love that he works four 10 hour shifts. I thought they'd like seeing the farm animals. Not so much! Joe called the cow a "goggy" and was semi-interested in this horse but that was it.
We had a picnic lunch then let the girls play in the creek. Here is Adam helping Joseph not fall into the little creek. It was cold and he would have hated it. Believe me. I know from recent experience. Joe does not like cold water on this feet or anywhere else. I love this picture of my boys!

I can't believe I took the dare!

My sister-in-law, Angie Homer, posted a picture of her messiest room and "double dog dared" us all to post a picture of ours, so here it is. This is our bedroom and I loathe it. I make no excuses other than I have terribly expensive taste and just haven't dropped $3000 for our bedroom, YET! I don't want it done half way and I don't want something I don't LOVE. I want it all or nothing at all. So this is how it is and I am fine with it until we 1) get out of debt and 2) move, one last time and settle (in a couple of years).

This post spurred me to look for a bed I actually like and I, kind of, found one http://www.bedroomfurnituremart.com/beds/poster-beds/sterlingpointeposterbed1.cfm

I like the fluted posts but not the arched headboard. I prefer no arch, just straight across with no holes or anything extra. Just simple!

Okay, I'm forwarding Angie's "double dog dare" on to everyone reading this. I officially dare you, double dog dare you, to post a picture of your ugliest and /or messiest room. Let see it!

Snow in July

We took the kids up to Silver Lake yesterday. Its up Big Cottonwood Canyon at the Brighton Ski Resort. Its a super easy and kid friendly "hike" around the lake.

The kids were REALLY excited to find a big patch of snow that hasn't melted yet. Ella and Grace were so pleased with themselves that they were sneeky enough to peg Adam with a few snowballs.

The scenary around the lake was beatiful. I miss all the green of home but this will do for now. I'm continually amazed at how blue the sky is here. Adam has been making an effort to take more of the pictures when we are out. He got some of me with the kids from the front but not any I'm willing to share. I love this one best. It reminds me that my kids are at such cute and fun ages. They frustrate the fire out of me sometimes but they are also my greatest joy.
I LOVE being up in the mountains. They are a wonderful escape from the dust, people, noise and traffic of the valley.

We are taking the kids camping this weekend. Adam and I are more excited than the kids.

I am looking forward to spending a couple of days in these gorgeous mountains with the people I love most and have the most fun with. I'll take loads for pictures.

Weekend Trip to the Homer Cabin

This past weekend we went to the Homer family cabin in Woodland (near Kamas). We always have a wonderful time there with family. We were the first to arrive. Adam got the fire started, Joseph played in the dirt, Grace did her own Grace thing (which is usually a ridiculously cute game of make believe) and Ella talked on the phone to my dad, Pappaw. Everyone did what they love to do! Everyone else arrived shortly after. We got settled, cooked our foil dinners and then made smores. Looks like a happy bunch to me.
Gracie's foil dinner sat nearly untouched but she sure loved the smores. Who wants carrots and potatoes when there are marshmallows and chocolate?
We put the four older girl to bed all together in the king size bed so the adults could have a game night. Ella and Grace were excited for Uncle Randy to tell stories. They are seriously into bedtime stories. Notice three of the four are sleeping in big shirts. Not because we forgot to bring pajamas but because its the cool thing to sleep in a "cabin shirt".
The next morning after breakfast Randy took some of the kids fishing in a nearby pond then we played on the golf cars. Randy sells golf cars for Intermountain Golf Car. If anyone wants a golf car anything, Randy is your guy. Randy always brings a car or two to family outings and they are always a huge hit.

Stephanie, Abigail and Grace were loving it.

Then it was off to the creek to cool off. This is all run off water so it is COLD. Ella got brave enough to stick her bum in but that was it. Ella was wearing her Disney Princess shirt but it is way too special to get wet in the creek so off it came.
This is as close as Joe would get. He sat and threw rocks into the creek for the longest time while Grandpa kept a watchful eye on him. Joseph isn't much for shirts lately. If I say anything about water or swimming to him, the shirt and shoes come off immediately. I have managed to get him to keep his pants on. That's something. Right?
Here is the manliest, man of all. Adam was the first to get "all the way" into the the cold water. He loves it. I think I'll have this picture blown up and framed for our home.
We had, and always have, such a fun time at the Homer cabin. Thank you Homers everywhere for sharing with us. We were only there 24 hours but our kids will talk about that 24 hours for weeks to come.

I've got about a million more pics from this weekend. I'll see if I can figure out how to make a slide show and put them all on. But that will have to wait for tomorrow.

Feeling beautiful

As promised, here are a little better pictures of the girls' face paintings. Grace's got smudged, of course, before I could get a really good face shot.
You can't see Isabelle's painting but it is of a red and black spider, totally not shocking for Isabelle. Why get a butterfly or a flower when you can get a spider? Duh!

I did, however, got a great picture of Ella's butterfly.
You could just tell Ella thought she looked beautiful with it on. Every little girl, and big girl too, should feel beautiful as often as possible.