And August 2012

The Olympics were a big deal to Jonah.  I had wanted to get into the Olympics this year, because it seems like I always miss most of them.  I moved a small TV into the kitchen area so that I could actually see a thing or two going on.  I still didn’t see much, but that is just because I refuse to be inside much during the summer and I don’t have a TV outside.  Well Jonah loved watching them and even more he loved re-creating his own Olympics.

This is him running through an obstacle course he set up all through the house.  I think he was trying to be the equestrian riders who had many obstacles to go through.


This was the famous volleyball course.  He decided the ironing board was much better put to use as a net.

Golfing into the heater vents wasn’t really an Olympic sport, but the boys all thought it was the greatest invention.

Until they lost too many balls!

Dinner at my Dad and Judi’s is a must do many times in the summer.




Jonah’s first time jumping off a diving board.

Swimming is a must many many times.  Why did it put that pic twice?  Oh well, I am not going to fix it.

Brando and I finally finished his cycling merit badge.  Over a year in the works we finally had the time for both of us to go on the 50 miler.  We rode out to the marina and back.  He did so great, no complaining, just a good good time.

I almost forgot about our whooping couch incident.  Jacob was the lucky person to get it from Luke.  We knew he had been exposed, and Jonah too, but we had to wait until he started coughing to get him tested.  Sure enough he coughed, I took him in, and we were all put on antibiotics.  Hopefully we didn't pass it on to anyone else!

July 2012

I am sure lots of things happened in July that I won’t want to forget about….

Bryan and Brandon spent a week at Camp Steiner.  They had a great time and really enjoyed scout camp.  Jacob, Jonah and I really enjoyed the relaxation that came with it!

The relaxing didn’t happen too much because I had a RS event to put on.  Fiesta night!   We served chicken taquitos, a great mexican salad, lime slush and cookies.  It was a great event with a record turnout!

How could it not be great with a pinata?????

And Si!

We of course enjoyed the parade,

especially the incredible “Army of Helaman”.

Barbeque at the Murdock’s (which Bryan was so sad to miss, his favorite event of the year) and fireworks from our deck…

Boondock’s on the 24th (right up there with Lagoon for me, not so much fun)

Cherry Hill water park , anything in water is a great day for me, and Jonah LOVED the water slides.

Brandon’s day of golf!  He and his friends Sam and Davis decided to golf as much as they could in one day.  They started at 7:00 a.m. at Bountiful Ridge for their junior golf club, golfed 9 holes, went to Eaglewood and golfed another 9 holes and then to Lakeside for another 9.  They were pretty tired by the end and headed straight to football practice for 2 hours.  I thought it was such a great idea for them.  A great way to spend a summer day.

Somewhere in there was a night at Si’s cabin with a bunch of ladies.  So much fun eating and laughing and laughing and laughing.

Oh and the rest of the trip

This is supposed to be my way of journaling and I am realizing, I am not any better on the computer than I am on paper or scrapbooking!

After Mexico I stayed in Mesa, Arizona with my boys so they could spent time with their cousins there.  We had a great time, even though it was 112 the whole time.

We stayed cool at a water park.

The boys were able to get sore doing crossfit with the cousins and friend.  I got to meet up with my childhood friend Emily and have a great time with her.  I also got to spend time with my Aunt Mignon and some of her kids, including my fav cousin Luke.

Jonah could have lived in front of the Wii all week if I had let him.  His cousins and Aunt Jamie spoil him rotten.

Also got to eat at Tia Rosa’s twice!  Our favorite Mexican restaurant.

The long drive home was made very nice by stopping in St. George at the Bingham’s house.  They are always so nice to let us crash there.

It was a nice time with just me and the boys.  The drive wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and now I know I can drive that far.

Jacob’s Diez Birthday

How easy for me was it to have Jacob’s birthday in Mexico????  So easy!  I tried to make the day a big deal for him and really limited my time of reading.  He woke up and opened his presents.

A catchers’ mitt and golf putter.  Very exciting for him.

He played a lot of catch on the beach that day, well as long as the heat would allow.  A few years ago while in Mexico my brothers arranged a treasure hunt for the kids, this is all Jacob wanted for his birthday.  So while I placed all the clues and the treasure the kids and the Dad’s went to visit some sights in town (breaking rules #1 and #2 of mine).

All the kid, minus Alyssa who was napping.

Then the treasure hunt began.  Chris had cast a secret message out on a fishing pole which Jacob happened to reel in.

They traipsed all over the compound looking for clues.

He even had to row out to sea and find a floating clue.

The fun continued until they found the X in the sand and unburied the treasure!

Cupcakes in the shape of a 10 finished off the night.

Not a typical birthday, but still lots of fun.  Jonah asked if next year he can have his birthday in Mexico……not a bad idea!

My little Shakesy is 10!  I can’t believe it.  We all reminisced about how small he was when he was born, we thought he was the smallest baby we would ever see!  He is loved by everyone.  He is the most easy going and so easy to get along with child.  He loves everyone and can adapt to whatever circumstance he is in.  Whether playing with one of his 3 girl cousins that he truly loves being with, walking goats with his friend Luke, playing ball with one of his teams or having a water fight with Eli…he is happy wherever he is.

My Mexico 2012

You know that song that says, your love is my drug?  Mexico is my drug.  The second we cross the border I feel like the weight of the world is off me.  The second I step outside and feel the hot humidity and look at the beautiful ocean I feel the happiest I ever do.  Words cannot express how much I love it, especially with my family there.

People often ask me what we do for a week on the beach.  I usually reply, nothing.  Actually the answer is, nothing and everything!  I decided to recap a typical day so that I never forget the nothing and everything that we do.

My 3 rules about the trip

1. Never leave the compound, what a waste to leave the water!

2. Never go on the side of the house not facing the water, 15 degrees hotter there.

3. Only go inside when absolutely necessary.

The meeting point in AZ…loaded up cars with no room to spare.

That blessed moment of crossing the border.

Arriving on Sunday and trying really hard to not “get in” the water.

Home for the next week!

Our days begin anywhere from 6:30 a.m. (the young, young kids) to 9 or 10 a.m. (Jen and Nikelle).  I fit in around the 7:00 time frame.  Wake up and immediately go outside.  3 of the mornings I went for 3 mile runs on the beach.  The other mornings were spent searching the coral and tide pools for sea life.  We find very interesting things: lots of crabs, sea slugs, sea urchins, sea horse, millions of shells of course, octopus, sea snails, sponge and so many more things that I have no idea what they are.

The tide change here is the second largest in the world.  It changes 25 vertical feet.  So twice a day the tide goes out about a mile or two (this dramatic during the full moon, which is when we like to go).

After an hour or so of perusing the coral we would go in to eat breakfast, and I of course ate it outside.  Back out to the ocean we would go and spend the next 3-4 hours either in the water, playing baseball, building sand castles, flying kites, snorkeling, talking while sitting in the tide pool, or really any number of things.

Usually around 1:00 we would go inside and eat lunch, outside.  The babies would take a nap and some of the older kids and adults as well.  The next few hours were spent reading in the shade or inside, playing in the huge waves, talking, playing games.  The crazy people, like the Dad’s, would leave and go to town.

Around 3 or 4 everyone would head back out to the water.   We would spend the next several hours kayaking, floating in tubes, body surfing, building more sand castles, more time talking in the water, collecting crabs and seashells and sand dollars.

We would stay out until sunset and then drag ourselves in for dinner, showers and putting kids to bed.  Some nights we had the energy to sit outside as adults and talk, but mostly we had the energy for going to bed at 9:30.

I can’t find a picture of low tide from the house, someone will have one.  This is from the bottom steps.

And here is high tide from the house.  That railing is the same one in the top picture.  It is amazing the difference.

We had 2 1/2 days without water in the pipes.  Water levels in the city are low and you have to conserve it very carefully.  Our house didn’t start with a full cistern so we ran out and then since we were in a third world country it takes some time to get it back.  It really didn’t bother me, we had the ocean.  We would haul buckets of ocean water up to the house to flush the toilets.  It really bothered some of the other people, it was a pain to wash hands but it could have been a lot worse…..like no electricity.

The only bad part of the trip is……..

leaving.

*my camera must have gotten sea water on the lens, the first pictures are so clear and the last…not so much.

A few things

Just some random items before I head out of town for a few weeks.

I didn’t want to run the wasatch back, because it isn’t my favorite ragnar so I might as well save my money!  Bryan and I volunteered for it instead.  It was fun, except for the fact that we were at a very dangerous interchange!

Brandon and Jacob both were begged to play all-stars.  Since we are going to be out of town for the main tournaments they were only able to fill in for the pre tournaments.  Brandon pitched for his first time ever and won the game for his team!  Awesome night of ball.  Jacob played very good as well.

There is nothing like riding on the back of your 3 year old friends four wheeler and hanging on tight!

And I can’t find the picture, but the blessed day arrived that the snack shack closed!  I really enjoyed running it this year, but was so tired.  We sold out of almost everything on the last night, perfect!  The year was very good and we did make a profit.  I am thoroughly enjoying my evenings at home!

Jonah Baby is 5!

I realize I am a week and a half behind on this, but really who cares?

How has he gotten so big?????

Jonah was so excited for his birthday.  He woke up and opened his presents.

Played and played with moon dough and his car characters while I was crazy making his cake and getting ready for his party.

He of course had picked a baseball themed party, seeing as that is all we talk about in June!

He just wanted to play baseball for the whole party.  The other kids got bored pretty quick so we played some other fun games.

Pinata time was great.

And presents from friends.

So cute!

I had told him he wouldn’t have to go to the ballpark at all for his birthday.  Bryan took Jacob to his all star game and I had Brandon working at the shack.  Brandon was needed to fill in for a babe ruth team, so of course he did that and I headed to the shack.  Jonah actually loved riding his scooter around the park all night and getting birthday wishes from his friends.  Turned out to be a great 5th birthday for him!