I Won !!

On my mission I had a companion named Sister Harris, they called us two peas in a pod. She was so much fun and I enjoyed every minute with her. We have kept in touch over the years and it has been so nice to keep in touch. Just recently she had a cute little baby boy. Before she gave birth she had a contest for her family and friends to guess the date he would be born and how much he would weigh. The winner would get a 8x10 print of her husband amazing art work. I took a guess at it and I guessed his right weight.

I got to choose a print and I chose this one called Four Braids. Sister Harris; her name is Jodi, Jodi's husband is very talented and he does amazing work. If you go to his website The Art Work of Dan Lewis you can view his other paintings. In College he study under Del Parson, Dan has been in many of the church magazines you can go here to read his bio. I think you can even purchase his art work. Thank you Jodi and Dan for the beautiful picture I will treasure it always and congratulations on your new little one. Sure do love ya!

PGE Beach Clean-up

On Saturday September 17, Serena and I took the kids to the PGE beach clean-up. Where mom and dad were at. Dad has been putting this together for so many years. It was down at Fort Stevens beach. The last time that we came here was four years ago.

We didn't make it down to the ship wreck then. When we came to the beach and the kids saw the ship wreck they were in awe.

Jaron couldn't believe how it was sticking out of the ground, I thought it was kind of odd too.

As we were trying to do the clean up on the beach the wind was blowing so hard that we had a hard time. After about 20 minutes on the  beach I decided that we needed to go on the other side of the sand mound and pick up litter leading to the beach. There the wind wasn't blowing at all.

Serena, Karlee and I

After the clean up, on the way home we stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory, had to get us some cheese sample and yummy ice cream.

And of course I had to get some yummy caramels.

I Love to See the Temple...

On Sunday September 11, I took the kids to the temple. They were giving tours of the temple grounds and I thought it would be good for them to hear. The tour last about 20 minutes and we walked around the temple grounds and they told the purpose of the temples. We ran into a security guard who told us a little more about the temple that I didn't even know. It was really neat and I am glad that we went.

The tour ended at the reflection pool, I wanted to get a picture of the kids standing there with the temple in the background. The three older kids did great and were ready for the pictures but Karlee had other ideas. She decided that the water would be better to wade in. (It was REALLY HOT out.)

She her flip flop got away from her, I had Kallie kick off her shoes quick to get them.

She still didn't want to be in the picture.

I love how the leaves are changing color, fall is on its way.

 The girls wanted their pictures by the pretty flowers.

Here is Kelsie, the sun is kind of bright in her eyes. We turned a little for Kallie's picture but the sun was still bright. But they are beautiful girls.

We had a great time at the temple and I the kids all said that they felt peaceful there. :0)

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school. 

All the kids were so excited.

Here they all are ready to head off to school.

Jaron 3rd grade

Kelsie 1st grade

Kallie 6th grade

Jaron at his desk ready to learn

Kelsie at her desk, so excited for school.

Karlee gets another year home with mom, which I am so excited for. The kids just grow up so fast. I can't believe that kallie is in middle school, I remember her first day of kindergarten when we both cried as I left her at school . How time flies. Here is to a great 2011-2012 school year!

Surprise Weekend

We went up to Heidi's house for the day and had so much fun, it was like end of summer party; games, movie, pizza and a lot of playing outside. Thank you Heidi and kids.

Becka and Kallie

On the way home from Heidi's we called Kyle, knowing that we had a 1/2 hour drive ahead of us. At first we couldn't him, but by the second try we were able to. As we were driving he would ask us to tell him the land marks what we were passing to see if he could guess where we were. As we got closer to home he said that he had to go. We said our goodbye. We got home, Kallie and Jaron were the first to get out of the car and to front door. When they open the door Kyle was standing right there. We were so surprised and happy to see him.

We were all so excited to see him. We took a walk to get some dinner and stopped at a park for the kids to play. While on our walk we got a family picture, Karlee didn't want to be in the picture.

On Friday I put Kyle to work and we went to the storage unit to fin the kids toys. And gave more stuff to the Goodwill. On the way back from the storage unit we stopped by G3 house, and surprised her with Kyle- it was so cute when she saw that he was here, it made his day. Later that night Serena set up her projector in the backyard and watch "Rio" while eating mom's yummy caramel popcorn. It was a fun night.

On Monday we had a birthday party for our cousin Chantel. All of Kyle's family knew that he was coming back and about two weeks prior Leti almost gave it away that Kyle was coming, but I was still clueless on that. Chantel turned five and had a Hello Kitty party at Jimmy O's. The kids were in heaven playing all arcade games and enjoyed pizza and cake.

Here are all the girl Kenner cousin.
 

On Tuesday we took a bike ride/walk through town as we checked out who the kids teachers were going to be and where their classrooms were going to be. I thought that it would be a short walk up to Kallie's school taking the short cuts that I did when I was a kid, but it seem so much longer with three kids on their bikes (Collins Crest is kind of steep hill). But we made it up and Kyle was able to meet Kallie teacher and see her classroom. Kallie was kind of nervous to start middle school. But I really think it helped that we met her teacher and saw her classroom, she was more excited for school then. On the way back got to go down the hill, Kelsie wasn't to sure of riding her bike down the hill. So I gave it a try (after thought maybe it isn't a good idea to ride a training wheel bike down a steep hill, it was fun but I am still feeling the effects from that seat three weeks later. I also hope no one saw me. :0) Kyle said goodnight to the kids. Then Karlee and I took him to the airport. What a fun surprise, and it was nice to have Kyle give the kids father blessing before the first day of school. We Love you Kyle!

Day of Games

Alycia, Cody and Lulu treated us to a fun day at Provo Beach Resort. We played a game of bowling, (which was really good because it help Jaron pass off a merit badge for scouts). We all had a blast, I think the last time we went bowling was five years ago at the Guptill Family Reunion. It was so much fun.

Our family of bowlers

It looks great for Kallie as the ball is headed down the middle.

Kelsie with the granny style of throwing the ball, later she opted for the ramp.

Karlee got the hang of bowling quickly and loved it, always eager for her next turn.

Look at the spin that Jaron put on his ball.

Alycia and Lulu

Had to show off our stylin shoes.

Lulu also had a turn with the ball, the shoes didn't really fit right.

We also played a game of croquet, it was like a mini golf coarse but a different game. Then we played in the megaplex playground. The kids played  in that for two hours and I had to drag them out. They were having so much fun. Thank you Campbell's for everything and opening your home to us, we love coming and visiting  you and look forward to it every year. We Love you.

Caramel Dip

With Fall coming on, and wanting some caramel apples, my mom found this yummy caramel dip in the family cook book. We all loved it and it is so easy to make. Here is some Yumminess!!

Caramel Dip

1 8oz cream cheese

3/4 cup of brown sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla

Mix all the ingredients together, until fluffy.

Great with apples or just about anything you would like dip in caramel.

recipe from my aunt AnneGene.

FHE Campfire

The kids wanted to go camping with Cody when he went while in Oregon. We planned on it when we went to Utah to go camping, but never worked that we could do it. But we did the next best thing for the kids, (but the best thing for me) we did a campfire just up Provo Canyon. Where we made tin foil dinners, and had smore's and had so much fun. Thank you for all the hard work Cody and Alycia, the kids had a blast.

 Jaron was so set on wearing Cody's head lamp, ready to use it when it got dark.

He pick up the shovel and said he was a miner.

 While we waited for the tin foil dinner to cook, we told stories around the campfire. Karlee had one to share but hers included a dance and Scooby Doo, very creative.

 Here we are enjoying our yummy tin foil dinners.

 Cooking our Smore's and then the kids enjoying the

YUMMINESS

What a fun campfire we had.

Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point

We went to Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur Museum for $2 Tuesday. 

Our friends from Klamath Falls were also in Utah visiting family and came to the museum. We didn't tell the kids that they were coming so it was surprise for them. They were so excited to see them. It is fun because they have kids the exact same age as ours, they had friends to do things with through the museum.

Karlee, Lulu, Jaron, Kallie and Jane checking out experiments in the notion of motion exhibit.

Kallie and Jane

Kelsie and Ruth making steam clouds

Lulu and Karlee catching a flag as it blew in the wind.

Jaron , Jane, Kallie, Anne, and Ruth trying to pedal a light bulb on.

Shark Attack!!

Cathy and I

Peterson and Kenner kids

Alycia, Lulu and us.