oUr litTle rUstiC rEtreAt

Most people now days when they say I have a cabin, you can pretty much plan on a "Cabin" bigger than my house with all the latest electronics, games, and fun. When I talk about my Cabin, I mean just that... it is a cabin. I often tell people it is just a step up from a tent. I LOVE my cabin. It has been in my family since before I was born. It is one of my favorite places in the world.

So while Jeron was gone on a golf get away with his family, I took the kids up to our cabin for a little retreat of our own. We left a little late Thursday evening. We got up to the cabin around 8pm. Knowing it was just me and the kids I decided we would not roast marshmallows. JJ was pretty bummed about this. I think he wanted to play with the fire more than anything. That night we played games and stayed up way too late. Emma thought she saw a man at the door and freaked herself out. Then JJ said he saw him as well. Jeron was not with me so I told them that no one was there and to quit freaking me out. Holy cow was I freaked out.




The next day we went walking around the cabin enjoying the beauty of it all. We played in the creek. I was surprised that Elsie loved it. She sat right in it and splashed away. Ellie watched everything that JJ and Emma did and tried to imitate them. I then took Elsie and got her all dolled up and did a mini photo shoot of her. The lighting was off but she looked so stinken cute. We went back cleaned up and headed home. It is always a lot of fun at the cabin. There is no TV, phones, or anything. You just relax and enjoy each others company.

I must admit that it was a hard trip with no other adult present. It was nice but I was pretty glad to be packing up to head home. I just don't have enough arms for it all anymore.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

We had the privileged of going with the Croxford's to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. It was a very nice time. The evening was beautiful. Funny thing, when we got there we ran into Jeron's brother Jeff and sister-in-law Tara. Ellie went through the temple with them. I kept wondering why it was so much easier to get around than Draper was. Minus one kid makes a huge difference.





I feel very blessed to have the temple so close. We are fortunate to have so many temples right around us. I love to see the temple. One of my favorite things about my house is that we can see the temple from our kitchen window. I love the promises that you get at the temple. We are able to be sealed together as a family in the temple. "As a child of God I've learned this truth a family is forever" When I attend the temple there is such a feeling of peace that comes over me. Worries and cares are forgotten. I am able to focus and find the strength I need to make it through the tough times.

Swimming at Pineview

Oh man that is weird to type swimming at Pineview instead of boating at Pineview. Since I have been working so much lately and the kids have been neglected I decided that I should take some time and head up to Pineview with them.

We got up there and ate lunch on the beach. Then the kids played and played and played some more. We had such a wonderful time. It was a lot of fun just enjoy the heat and play. I don't think JJ got out of the lake at all. Oh wait he did try to make a swimming pool for Ellie. He is such a little fish. Emma was also in the lake almost the whole time. They loved to swim to the buoy and back. Ellie and Elsie did not want anything to do with getting in the lake. They were perfectly fine to just sit on the shore. They had a great time though. I was able to sit by them and work on a much needed tan.

Our little Mermaid

Finally caught a glimpse of this kid.

JJ's swimming pool.

Swimming in his hole

She was just so happy.

They are just too cute.

We will have to do this again. We all had so much fun.

Bee's Game with Grandma and Grandpa

We have gone to the Bee's game for the last three years for the 24th. It is the big fireworks night. We thought we were going to have to miss it this year until we got a call from Grandma Jan telling us that she could get tickets for the 25th. They still do fireworks that night as well. We were pretty excited that we were still going to go.

We had a great time. I love to go to ball games. I think it is a lot of fun to watch the game and the people. There are some odd ducks at a baseball game.

Jeron's Grandma B was also there. She is quite the baseball fan. In fact Jan and I were talking and she asked me if I wouldn't mind trading her places so that she could watch the game. It was hilarious. She really got into it. I don't think she missed a play. Me on the other hand I missed a lot of plays but had a great time. The kids ate way to much food, and got spoiled. They are going to expect a lot at these games. Little do they know that Mom and Dad don't buy all the trinket and goodies like Grandparents do.


The firework show was AWESOME! They had some that I had never seen before. They might even replace the popcorn ones that I love so much as my favorite. The kids loved the show. We have seen so many fireworks I was worried they would get bored. They loved this show as if it was there first. Thanks for a fun night.

A quiet Pioneer Day

This 24th we stayed up so late the night before that we all woke up late. We missed half of the parade even. Then we got ready and headed up to the cabin to help out with some projects. Mama, Papa, and David came as well. I can't believe that this is the first time we have gone up all year long. That is awful. There have been a lot of projects going on and Mama in the hospital, it just kind of stopped us from going.

It is so green and beautiful up there. The extra spring rain has made for a beautiful mountain side. I love all the green, and wild flowers everywhere.
All the cute kids posing for the picture. JJ is ticked because we didn't go on a hike and had to leave to make it back home for prior plans.
I love the relationship these two have. She adores her Uncle David. She was rubbing her fingers in his hair and wouldn't leave his side.

We were able to take out some old mattresses and put up some bunk beds in the loft. The kids thought that was great. They are excited for when we come back and they can sleep in them. What I am most excited about is that there is a toilet in the cabin. No more outhouse. That is one thing I am excited about. I hated when I would wake in the night and know that I had to go outside to use the outhouse.

After the cabin we came home and buster our humps to get ready for a neighborhood bar-b-que. We made it just in the nick of time. It was fun. There was a lot of yummy recipes as well. I need to get those. After everyone played volleyball (Except me, and two other ladies) Jeron was quite the big stud out there. He really is great at sports. To bad he married such a clumsy misfit like me.

After the volleyball we went to our other neighbors house and did fireworks. Jeron and Tyler bought some fireworks is Wyoming on there way home from Scout camp. It was a fun time. I will have to say that my husband just might have a bit of a problem with explosives. He might need to take a course in how to properly handle them. There were two times that he almost shot them into people. Man, that wouldn't have been good. Boys will be boys...I guess.

Happy Birthday to Me

I woke up this morning and was looking at myself in the mirror thinking "Really?!? Is this what 33 is suppose to look like?" I am not to sure I am pleased with what I am, but I am also not totally disappointed. I will have to say that when I turn 40 I hope that I have improved upon the 33-year-old I am now.

This year I was extremely tired on my birthday. Jeron asked what I wanted to do and I said sleep, take it easy, and do nothing. He wasn't to sure about this idea. He knows how much I love my birthday, and was nervous if he listened I might be bummed.

My friends also would not take NO for an answer. After quite a few attempt to get me to go to lunch, have a picnic, or even a brunch, or do a girls night out I was roped into doing a Brunch with just a few friends. I use the term roped for lack of a better word. I was so grateful that they all cared so much. Misty arranged a yummy yummy yummy brunch with some of my friends. It was a lot of fun. I am so glad that they "talked" me into it. It was great to get with everyone and just hang out. Did I mention the food was YUMMY!

Misty, Nichole, Joy, Hailey, Me, and Jamie
Shannon and Monae not pictured

Dang cute pic of Elsie that JJ took at the brunch.

Well Jeron insisted that I at least do something that night. We ordered Changs Chopsticks(my fav.) and had cake that Jeron made (again my fav.) and ice cream with my family which is shrinking in size.

Jeron must of said something hilarious

Come on Mom, blow them out already.

So much help, after all the house was about to start on fire.

Pic I took with my new lens from far away. He looks so close to me.

My favorite Mom and Dad in the world

My favorite youngest brother in the world.

My favorite David Taylor Meads, Jr. Birdman in the world.
He said I was old so I stuck out my tongue at him.

After everyone left Jeron, JJ, Emma, and I played my new game Puerto Rico. I love love love it. I was so excited that Jeron got it for me. It was a quiet birthday. I missed all my family who did not come. Lame! But it was a great day. I will have to say that I am now addicted to Puerto Rico and you just might have to come and play with me. After all, I have to have 3 players.

Our week without Dad

Jeron went to scout camp this week. That meant me and the kiddos had the house all to ourselves. He actually left on Tuesday but we thought we would kick off our adventure on Monday since he wasn't going to be home all night. (The men went grocery shopping for their big trip.)

MONDAY: I thought since the new Harry Potter was coming out we should have a Harry Marathon.
We put housework aside and wore our pajamas all day and watched three of the five movies. We ate popcorn and vegged all day. When it initially started JJ's reaction is "That will be so boring!" This coming from my son that I have to threaten to stop watching TV everyday. I guess when you get a free pass the excitement is gone. He should know this though, Mom always knows best. They were bummed when I said we had to stop at the third and wait until the next day. I literally was starting to look like the couch that my behind had been planted on for ten hours.

TUESDAY: We sent Dad off on his way to Flaming Gorge. No, I am not crying that he gets to go boating at my most favorite place on this earth. No I am just fine. We made a carrot cake and went and had a picnic in the park with some of my friends. Of course I forgot my camera. It was fun though. It wasn't even that hot yet. When it was time to load up I saw Ellie over by JJ so I took Elsie to the car. I turned to go get Ellie and she is nowhere to be found. I searched every nook and cranny of the park and still NO Ellie. I was getting a bit worried. This park just happens to be by the city pool. I had noticed her standing at the fence watching. I decided to go and check in the pool house. I went inside and still no Ellie. I asked the receptionist if she had seen a little girl with down syndrome. She said "Yes, I just let her in." Wait what did she say? She let my four year old daughter with down syndrome just go in to the pool. What a nice girl. When I got in there one of my neighbors was walking a soaking wet Ellie towards me. You have got to be kidding me. This neighbor of mine had seen Ellie and thought hey that looks like Ellie Snow. She saw a lady talking to Ellie so thought she might be mistaken. Then she had a nagging feeling that it was Ellie. As she was walking over to Ellie she saw me through the fence with a panic look on my face. She grabbed Ellie and was walking out to find me. Thank you so much for finding her Amy. Seriously though, who lets any kid in the pool that young without a parent, and also she didn't PAY! Don't worry I called the manager the next day and told him. He was very alarmed.

After the park we came home grabbed Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and took it up to Mama and Papa's house to continue or marathon. Papa had never seen it before. It was fun for the kids to watch it with someone that didn't know what was going to happen. Nothing is more fun to my kids than being the spoiler. We brought lots of treat and felt like we were in a theater with the big TV.
WEDNESDAY: We actually had to go to a Dr. appointment for me in Salt Lake. That took a big chunk of our day. Sorry kids. When we got back the kids called some friends and I took them on a bike ride. We went on the Buffalo Ranch Trail. It is actually pretty once you get past all the power lines. Nothing like a little cancer while your exercising. Those dinky power lines in the pic are not the ones I am talking about.

Ellie and Elsie loved the gravel trail. They bounced the whole time. Every time they hit a big bump they would laugh.

No bike ride is complete without a flat tire. Emma was riding along and said this is really hard. my legs are sore. I can't pedal much more. I look down and sure enough she has a flat.
There are no houses out by there so it was great that we happened to stop right in front of the only house and the nice lady let us borrow one of her bikes. We left ours with them.
After the bike ride they all looked a little beat.

When we got back from the bike ride we sent the friends home and the kids and I went to a play in the the park. It was High School Musical 2 so I knew the girls would love it. JJ would pretend not to but I knew he would as well. It stared a girl in our neighborhood.
The kids had a lot of fun. Emma actually ran into Bailey there so that made her night even better.

When we got home we continued our Harry Potter marathon and watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Now we are ready to see The Half Blood Prince.
THURSDAY: Today we went to Lagoon and saw the Little Monkey Show. It was a lot of fun for the kids. They only had four monkeys but you got to see them without bars and windows around them. They were trained to be silly and the kids loved that. Elsie loved them and would point at them. It was so blasted hot though. The little girls got restless by the end.

When we were leaving Lagoon the kids stopped to play in the water. Emma jumped right in. She was soaked in no time. JJ on the other hand played it cool. He took his time in getting wet. He is starting to care what others around him think. So he had to act cool and collected. Once he got wet though he started to relax and enjoy himself.


After Lagoon we came home had dinner and then the kids had a late night with some neighbor kids. They watched Soccer Mom. Again JJ complained because we had to do it here and not at there house. I am not looking forward to the teenage years. UGH. By this point Ellie and Elsie are wondering why Daddy has not come home. Every time Ellie hears the basement door she yells Daddy. It is really cute.

FRIDAY: Again I forgot the camera. Today we went to the pool with Grandma. The kids had a lot of fun relaxing and playing in the water. It is just too hot to do anything else. We stayed at the pool for a really long time. It pretty much wore all of us out. When we got home we basically vegged the rest of the day. Once i got the Ellie down the rest of us watched a movie and then went to bed. Tomorrow we will clean and get ready for Daddy to come home. Maybe just maybe if Daddy is up for it we will go to Harry Potter. The kids are all crossing their fingers.

Rules are made to be broken.

When I was younger I was very concerned about the way that my parents families got along. I loved my family and wanted us to always be close. I didn't want our family to end up not loving each other.

I remember getting my brothers and sister together and telling them that no matter what we needed to remain close. I said that our spouses may not like each of us but we know that we all love each other. None of us were married at the time so it seemed simple enough. I made some rules. Two of the rules I remember very clearly:

1. We were to always love each other even if our spouse had a problem with one of us.
2. We were to always live close to each other. No one could leave.

I know we talked about other things but these are the two things that I remember. I think it had a lot to do with the way that in-laws got along, and there was a family that lived away. We always wanted them closer because we missed them when they had to go home.

My point is that rule #2 is not holding up. I wish with all my heart that I could enforce these rules but I know that when you are a kid life seems easier to solve. When you live in the real world things can't always go according to plan. My only sister got married to a wonderful brilliant man. He had a plan and a path in which he was heading down that didn't comply with rule #2. When you work at the Pentagon it is hard to live in Utah. When she moved away I knew that that would be the last time she lived here. It was so hard to see her go. I knew it was the right thing, but curve balls are hard to take sometimes.

They have been gone for a while now and I miss them all the time. I have been able to adjust to it though. When they come it is precious time. I am happy for them and know that it is the best plan for there family.

Now my brother has chosen a path that also it taking him and his wife away. Again, I know that he is suppose to go, but it hurts so much. I always wanted to have my family close to me and to watch them all leaving is really hard. I wish that I could make them all stay but that is not the right thing. So goodbye for now. I hope that you guys enjoy your adventure away from home. I also hope that someday you will open a practice in Utah. I hope that is okay to hope for.
Smitty we wish you the best in Med school. Ashlee I hope that you make a million friends and find an awesome job. We love you both and are excited for your new future.

Next time someone leaves could you pick the west coast at least. Seriously the miles between us suck.

Oh and breaking rule #2 is okay (kind of) David and Michael figure out how to stay here. As for rule #1 there is no breaking that rule. GOT IT!