PARK CITY

I have to lead this post with this picture just because it makes me smile EVERY time I see it. Isn't summer the greatest? Summer, family, vacations, laughter...


This has to be one of my favorite pictures EVER. The FOUR man tower!

When Casey returned home from his mission, we headed up to Park City for an over-nighter. We had an awesome condo, a bath-tub temperature pool, lots of family to play with, game-night, and an overall great time. Yes, my son left the trip with a staple in his head, but that didn't make the trip any less enjoyable. Getting away from home was just what the Call kids needed. Next year we all agreed to do it again, but this time for much longer. A tradition!


The trolley. Can you really visit Main St. without taking a ride?


Love this kiddo


Ice cream with Grandma


My favorite park city cow, and some stinking cute kids


Love




She was a brave little fish


Eli's head wound...here's his staple. A tiny wound, but boy did it bleed!

The dads took the kiddos home and the girls SHOPPED. A great time had by all. I thought I was pretty under control until I hit the awesome sales at Old Navy and Children's Place. Those are normally not my favorite stores, but dangit, I loved every single thing I got. The kids will be oh-so-stylish this year :)


Look at all those bags. Ridiculous!



Family is the best.

Baptism post coming soon...

Happy 4th!

Have I ever mentioned that I love the 4th of July? Because, dangit, I do. We've kind of made it tradition to have our great friends, the William's and the Bouck's, over for a BBQ. The kids cruise around on bikes and play, play, play until we head off to Eaglewood fireworks. I'm telling you, this is the best place ever for fireworks. We sit right by a sandtrap, so the kids are completely occupied and happy while we wait for it to get dark. The show is very good too. This year the finale was lacking a bit, but times are tough, right? I will not complain. It was another awesome summer night with great friends! Happy 4th indeed!


Eli and Nick

Zac and Jonah

Clara and Lucy

Hailey and Abram

Isabelle, Whitney, and Baylee

Viva Las Vegas!

Isabelle at Nationals in Las Vegas

We had a blast in Las Vegas with Isabelle. She had a big dance competition and four days of conventions and classes. She was worn out by the end of each day, but we all had such a great time. Our week consisted of the following: awesome shows (Mystere and LOVE), lots of swimming, yummy restaurants, exploring the city and laughing at the crazy people who flock there, and some shopping.
I think I remembered something I have sadly forgotten: one-on-one time with your children is THE BEST! I rarely take the time to make sure my kids get that. I am so convinced we should be doing everything "as a family", that I forget how amazing their little personalities are one-on-one. This was a much needed reminder for me. It was so delightful to spend a week with Isabelle!
Enjoy the pictures!


Holy Huge statues!

With Mom

The Girlies

Oh Baby!

Riding the tram

What babes

We spent lots of time at the pool!

The city

The Bellagio water show

My hippie chick

At the Beatles' LOVE show...our favorite!!!

Everyone should see this show. We absolutely loved LOVE!

At our hotel, the Mirage

We walked clear down to the New York, NY. It was a LONG, hot walk

Look how cute we are!

Isabelle

Chris quite liked that green M&M

At the M&M movie

The Wasatch Back

Okay, so this was my awesome team for the big Wasatch Back Race. Our team name was "Chasing Chocolate" and I'd say we were one of the more popular vans...passing out candy and cruising around with posters of chocolate pie on our car. Who wouldn't love us?


Melissa

Brittany and Mary (forgive me for that top)

Rose of Sharon

Patty

Kristi

It's hard to put into words how incredible this race was for me. First and foremost, I accomplished something I had no idea I was even capable of. I pretty much stink at running and had some moments where I felt like I could NOT go on...but guess what??! I DID. I did not walk a single time. I ran. And dangit, I may have been the absolute slowest person on the team, but who the heck cares? I ran it and therefore I am freaking awesome.

Second, I absolutely loved the dynamics of our fun little van (or suburban if you will). We couldn't have been six more different ladies and we had the greatest time. Not many of us knew eachother before this race and now I feel like I have several new friends. I guess this was just a bonding experience that I needed. Sometimes I forget how much I love meeting new people. Good times, amazing ladies.

Third, I got lots of praying in and I am telling you...running in the dark and having a moment to myself was incredible. It was a good thinking/meditating/praying time. I loved it.

Fourth, laughter and extreme fatigue is great for the soul every once in a while, especially combined. We were loopy and silly and dangit, those honeybuckets were hilarious. We were six grown women acting like giddy school girls, and probably obnoxious ones at that. It was wonderfully fun.

I am telling you, this is an experience everyone should have. If you enjoy running at all (or even if you don't), you should run the Wasatch Back. It will always be one of my favorite memories ever. I'm hooked!

And by the way, somebody should have let me know just how chubby and yucky I looked in my first running outfit. I realized the shirt was a bit snug, but those pictures...! If anyone else tags me in a facebook photo wearing my man shorts and teeny green shirt...friendship over.

Flashback Friday

Cheapskate

Guess how much all these groceries cost?



$8.52!!!

Yes, I have turned into a coupon clipping nut. I LOVE it. It is a triumphant feeling to find a good deal. A GREAT deal! I was just recently turned on to coupon/sale grocery shopping and find great enjoyment in it. I have been thoroughly enjoying weekly trips to the DI for several months now (talk about some fabulous finds!).

Finding awesome deals is my new favorite past-time :) Who'da thought?!

Torrential Downpour

So do any of you remember that torrential rainstorm that came out of nowhere the other night? Well, guess where two of my children were when it hit? Out on a bike ride :)



I let Isabelle and Jonah go exploring on their bikes, something I NEVER let them do because I am officially the world's most nervous and paranoid mother. Anyway, I gave Belle my cell phone and away they went. I talked to them about five minutes before the storm hit and all was well. I started vacuuming and was completely oblivious to the weather. The phone rang and it was Isabelle frantically yelling, "MOM!! YOU HAVE GOT TO COME PICK US UP!!" Then the line went dead. I was sure Jonah had gotten hit by a car or something awful.

At that point I heard a big boom of thunder and looked outside. HOLY CRAP! There was thunder and lightening and HAIL and wind like you wouldn't believe. Seriously, this storm came out of NOWHERE. I ran to the car and set out to find my children. The rain and hail were coming down so strongly that I couldn't even see out my windshield. I wasn't sure I would even be able to find the kids. But I did, about a half mile away. They were BAWLING and SOPPING WET. Between sobs, Jonah kept hollering, "I will NEVER go on a bike ride again!!!" His arms were bright red from being pelted with a million little hail balls :)



These pictures don't even do the situation justice. I could literally wring every article of their clothing out and get a substantial amount of water. I assured them that one day they would look back on this and LAUGH. It certainly made me laugh. So much for me trying to give my kids a little bit of freedom. See, it's not a good idea :)