Bear Lake weekend

So only after two days of school for the kids we

took off to Bear Lake with the family for the weekend.

We were all ready and packed to leave but I told the

kids they could ride the new go cart we got from 

friends and after Brandon had fixed it up.

They all giggled when it was their turn to drive it.

Thanks to our sweet friends!  You know who you are! 

Brandon took me out on a four wheeler ride

as the sun was going down.  It was so beautiful

up there.  

We got back from our ride and all the kids

were doing sparklers and sitting around the fire

roasting marshmallow. 

The weather was not good by any means but of course

 Brandon's family doesn't just sit around.  They know how

to have fun in any circumstance.  We still

went to the beach.  We did not get in the water

even though we had our suits on.  We played baseball

which was quite fun! 

We hoped for too long for the weather to get better

and it didn't.  We packed up when it started to rain. 

First Day of School

My cute girls were so excited

to start another year of school!

Sierra is in 1st Grade

and is so excited to now have

school lunch. Probably because

of the chocolate milk! 

And to have a big girl locker now! 

Paige is in 2nd Grade

and is so excited to be in a portable.

I'm not sure why.  

Riley is in 4th Grade

And is so excited to have a teacher

with the same last name as her and who is

the Grandma of our cute little neighbor girls.  

I love that they have each other for their new

and sometimes scary experiences.  Even

though they fight like crazy they still can be

so sweet to each other. 

Sierra's teachers,

Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Adams 

Riley's teacher,

Mrs. Gardner

Paige's teacher,

Mrs. Sube  

I know Owen will get so bored being the only one

at home now.  He will miss Sierra not being home

half day with him. 

24th of July Parade

As a family we headed down to the craziness

of Salt Lake for the 24th of July Parade. 

It is so funny to see people just waking up on the 

street in sleeping bags and hanging from trees in 

hammocks before the parade starts.  We found

a decent seat.  We were in the front and we

got there maybe 15 minutes before it started.

It was over cast the first part of the parade so it

was nice.  The kids and I were so excited to see

the prophet at the beginning of the parade but 

Pres. Uchtdorf was there in stead.  Which was really

fun because he was waving to everyone and we

could see him were as in the past the Prophet was

in a car with the windows rolled up for security and

we could never see him.  It was so cool to be so close

to him.  What a happy fun man! 

This one happened to be Sierra's and Maddie's

favorite and they went to the parade preview at

different times.  

This one was Riley's and My favorite float. 

After the parade we went up the street to visit Brandon's

Grandpa LeCheminant.  That was fun to talk to them

a bit.  We then met up with Kami and Mikel to 

get Emery from them so they could go on an

overnighter for their anniversary.  

We hung out at City Creek for a bit before

Brandon and I decided shopping with kids

was not as fun as shopping by ourselves!

We headed home and the kids just played with friends

the rest of the day. 

At home Fireworks

I decided against what I normally do and bought a bunch

of fireworks.  They were nothing fancy but they add up

and cost a ton.  My sister was visiting for a while so I 

thought it would be fun.  There faces are pretty funny.

I could not get a good shot of them all.  Riley's friend

Hallie joined us too.  But hopefully they'll look at this

pictures 10 years from now and have a good memory.

 Aidan, Paige, Owen, Maddie, Sierra, Riely and Hallie

Oh, and that is Stephen in the back. 

RODEO Time

Brandon's Boss paid for tickets for our

family to go to the Ogden Rodeo.

Our family loves Rodeos.  Riley

borrowed boots from Grandma's

dress up collection. 

This picture is kind of blurry.  But it's hard

to get a picture with everyone in it.  

Funny thing is that we got there early enough

to get a good seat, or so we thought.  We missed the

small and not obvious sign that said "assigned seating"

and ended having to move. Which by then we got

crapy seats and it was so very hot!  But we still

had fun!  We saw Riley's last year teacher, Mrs. Tatro 

and the kids Dentist.  

Brandon's Boss also gave us a great

deal of money for dinner, which Brandon and I 

are to cheap to have got dinner at an expensive Rodeo

otherwise!  So the kids were grateful for that! 

After we got settled in our new seats

Brandon decided to go get dinner with the girls 

helping while Owen and I stayed to save the 

seats for Grandpa Gardner and my sister Kate and

her family.  Brandon noticed that his pockets were

empty and the money was gone.  We were not having

the best of luck.   So he retraced his steps and found

the money sitting on the ground.  No one had touched it.

So I guess we were lucky after all!

Grandpa always comes with us to the Rodeos.  

  He wears his hat and always shares it with the girls.  

We love that he always wants to come with us.  

Brandon and Grandpa really enjoy the cowboy stuff and 

use to always go horse back riding with the guys. 

Me and the girls loved the show girls.  They would

ride their horses around doing tricks.  So cool! 

My kids were troopers and we stayed all the way to 

the end to see the bull riders and the BMX bikes.

Before we headed home I snapped this beautiful picture

of the sunset with the American Flag raised high.

I loved at the beginning of the Rodeo all the honor

given to the Military Sergeants and to America. 

What a grateful moment that was. 

Float Preview

This has kind of turned into a tradition 

because of Grandma Gardner. And the kids love it!

We head down to the Expo Center in Jordan commons. 

We went with all the cousins.  There was too many

of us to stay together so we took pictures as we could.

Austin, Sierra, Maddie, Riley, Olivia and Paige

My girls loved seeing the 24th of July Royalty. 

They were nice and let us take pictures with my

girls.  This girl is the Queen and was so sweet.

They looked at all the floats and then cast their vote for

their favorite one. They dug for gold got free gadgets

and got balloon animals.  Well Owen asked for a sword. 

And Sierra a heart but I think the rest were animals. 

The floats are amazing and I can't believe how much

time and effort people put into them. 

Family Gatherings

This day was my older sister Kate's Birthday!

Riley orchestrated a show for her with all the kids.  

 Paige, Maddie, Sierra, Aidan, Riley and Owen

After church we went to my other sister Kami's house

for a BBQ to be together and celebrate Kate's birthday.

My sister had her kiddy pool set up full of water and

we spent the whole night tell the kids to stay away and

not get wet.  We finally got sick of telling them to walk

away and let them have at it in their clothes.  And

they thought that was the funnest thing!

We did not think to snap a picture before my

sister Karissa left back home.  Dang it.

Kate, Kami, Kristie 

It seemed like a big day with a lot going on 

but it was good to be with family. 

Brandon had to speak in sacrament meeting

as well as give a lesson in Priesthood.

I also taught in my Sunday school class.

After my sister Kami's house we went

to Brandon's parents house to be

with family since Brandon's sister was in

town. 

Mix Booth

So my brother in law, Mikel had

some fun with my picture and I 

thought it was pretty funny too!

This first one is me.

This picture is me and my sister Kami.

I've now got her eyes, nose, and mouth.

It was weird to see me with Brown eyes.

And then we had more fun and

mixed me and Riley. 

I'm not putting the one of me

and Brandon mixed together.

Oh man was that ugly! 

Grandpa Noffsinger

My sweet Grandpa 

Daniel Theodore Noffsinger

my Mom's Dad passed away

July, 17th

His funeral was Saturday the 20th.

It was such a nice funeral service.

I loved hearing all the stories about him.

Some I knew most I did not.  I loved

taking that day to honor him and the

man that he was.  He was such a loving

honorable man. 

He had been sick for a few years and was not getting

better.  It was wonderful to know that he is able

to be with his sweet wife Annie, my Grandma.

It's been about 30 years since she passed away

and they've been apart.  He was blessed in that

time apart to be married to Grandmother Pat 

who took care of him.  She is a wonderful lady

 and has been so good for Grandpa.

My mom was so grateful we could go to her dads

funeral to honor him.  All I ever heard my Mom say

about her dad was positive things.  I know she loves

and thinks the world of him. 

She was asked to speak at his funeral.  I guess being

the oldest child she got that honor.  

I loved watching Owen point out pictures of Grandpa

on the video at the church and say, 

 "Mom that is Grandpa" even though he had only seen

him a few times.  

I loved my Grandpa and loved the life he lived as

an example to me. 

My mom (Cheryl), Kristie, Michael, Karissa, Kate and Kami

S-I-S-T-E-R-S

My cousin, Audrey got married and had it at

her parents house in Eden.

My sister Kate came in town and was able to be

there.  I now kind of look like I belong with

my sisters with brown hair.  I use to always be

the blonde one.  Now if my sisters could all

just grow so I did not look like the awkward tall

sister that slouches for pictures so I don't tower

over them!

Karissa, Kate, Kami and Kristie 

Playing with Cousins

Monday July, 15th

The kids were so excited because their cousins

came in town the day before and came over

to play.  The boys did what boys do.  Shoot

guns and ride horses.  We only had one gun so

Owen pretended that his drill was a gun. 

The girls did a little bit of suit swapping.  Cousin

Baile joined us to play on the water slide

later that afternoon. 

Tuesday July, 16th

The next day Grandma Gardner took us to 

 the Leonardo museum in Salt Lake 

to check out the 100 Inventions exhibit. 

I love that they all partner up and hold hands.

They played with legos and made their own

cartoon movies, created cardboard clocks, molded clay

and everything else they could get their hands on. 

 They really liked playing in the sand which us adults

thought that was funny since they always get

the opportunity to play with sand at Bear lake.

Wednesday July, 17th

The next day Grandma's ward was having a Primary

bike parade and invited the kids to join.  They

decorated their bikes and rode around the block.

The wind made it a little hard to decorate the

bikes but the kids did not seem to mind.  

At the Cabin with Friends

Early Friday morning Riley got up to go to Day camp

with all the activity day girls.  That was her second

time at Camp Kiesel just up from Pine View Dam. 

Our Friends the Roush's and us picked Riley up

from the camp before they left back home and headed

up to the cabin at Bear Lake.  We went a different route

through Monte Cristo Canyon.  I liked the drive and so did

all my kids.  We did not get sick and it was a beautiful

canyon. 

Of course as soon as we got to the cabin

 Riley got right on the four wheelers

and gave Sadie a ride. 

Then we played Baseball, Kickball, Red light Green light 

and Mother may I.  The girls loved their friends

cousin, Caleb.  He was so good with the kids! 

Later my sister Kami and her family came up. 

I wish I would have gotten a picture but after putting

my kids to bed we were shown how to play spoons

the right way.  With never ending laughs. 

The next day the weather was a bit gloomy and we

were not sure if it was going to clear up.  So

we went to Brandon's Grandpa's beach, the one

we use to go to all the time before the water

got so high.  The kids played a bit on the beach

and tried out the canoes in the swampy ponds.

After a while the skies cleared up and we headed

to North beach.  We had some quick fun before

the skies turned gray and we had to head back to 

the cabin.   

Max, Sadie, Paige, Riley, Elli, Kami,  Emery and Sierra

We had another night of good company and food

 before we hit the sack.  We went to church the next day 

and then cleaned up to go home. 

Fourth of July weekend

JULY 4th

For the fourth of July weekend Riley

spent most of her time playing with babies.

Mason was more happy then usual

and Riley got to hold him as well. 

She gave Jace a few rides in the stroller 

around the cabin. 

Us mom's are lucky to have Riley 

around.  She is are in house baby sitter! 

Are good friends Mike and Chalyse Hall

were visiting from Texas at their Bear Lake 

Cabin and had us over to visit.  The kids

shot off their rockets they made.

And then we sat on the deck eating dessert for

Mike's birthday.  

JULY 5th

The next day at the beach Sierra was ready to ski.  

So far Sierra has not shown any fear of skiing and

would go over and over again if we let her. 

For how busy it was on the beach I was surprised

to get a picture of Brandon and Owen and no

one else.  Owen loves the beach and has so much

fun every time we go. 

Later at the cabin we celebrated Grandpa's birthday.

The grandkids sat by him as we sang and then helped

him blow out the candles. 

Bob is such a great dad and amazing Grandpa!

We are so blessed to have him and his influence

in our lives. 

We Love you Bob!

Happy Birthday! 

Right before bed Grandma and Grandpa

gave us all souvenirs from their trip. 

Owen thought his Moose was funny.  

All the girls got these cute wooden

dolls that have the smaller ones inside.  

JULY 6th

Paige was still nervous and said no to skiing until

the next day on the beach when we had our friends

the Raymonds, Birds and Halls up skiing. 

She gave it another try and did great! 

We left the beach early this day to

head down to the Usana Amphitheater for 

the Man in the Moon production by Glen Beck.

My mom bought us all tickets.  Unfortunately

is was windy and rainy all evening but

with our tarps and blankets it turned out okay. 

It did not start until 9:30 which is past my kids

bed time but they all hung in there and had a good

time.  I was surprised that Riley and Paige

followed the story line and knew what was

going on.   Sierra cuddled with grandma the entire

time and Owen snuggled with Brandon. 

Towards the end Paige laid down and closed her

eyes and then Riley did the same.  I woke them

up for the fireworks at the end though. 

I'm glad we decided to bring Owen.  I was going

to leave him with Grandma Gardner at the cabin

because I thought he would not sit still.  But he did

great.  Maybe it was because it was cold and rainy

or because it was very late but he sat with Brandon

and watched longer then the girls did.  The last

15 minutes or so he laid down on the pillow. 

It was a good ending to a great weekend with family.