Father Knows Best

On our way home from church last week the kids wanted to dive right into some chocolately treats that Kameron received for Father's day from the ward. Kameron, the softy that he is couldn't say "no", but knowing he didn't want the boys to make a mess on their church clothes came up with just the perfect solution: A Diaper Bib!

The boys loved their treat and I loved that my kids and car stayed clean. Good job Dad!

a little transformation

I've had this mirror for a long time. When I first saw it at Target I just had to have it. I saved and scraped until I had enough money to splurge and get it. I have loved this piece and have not tired from it.

However, it doesn't really match my decor anymore. All the furniture in my house is black or white or red, there is no brown or wood tones other than my piano. So, after reading some of my favorite blogs (this one in particular), I decided to bring new life to one of my favorite splurges yet!

 I love how the glaze gets in the nooks and crannies giving it more dimension.  

Giddy Up

I bought this little horse at a yard sale last year before we moved to PA. I brought it out of hiding a couple months ago to see how Carter would like riding it. At first he didn't like it, probably because he didn't know how to get off! Slowly, he learned how to climb on and off and then to rock it by himself. Now this kid rides his horsey like nothing else. He is usually found standing on the back of it rocking it back and forth, looking as though he is about to flip over! He's crazy on this thing!

*Sorry for the not-so-great pics. They were taken on Kam's phone. 

Kirtland

My cousin Greg, who is living in Philadelphia going to Dental School, called me a few months ago and suggested that we go to Kirtland, Ohio for Memorial Day. I am so glad he did because we ended up having a wonderful time sharing this beautiful and historic place together. 

We visited the Temple first. It was a little strange to me that we were able to go an a tour of the temple. I realize that since it is no longer owned by the LDS church that this temple is not used the same way as our temples are today, but it was still strange. During the tour I was really amazed at the beauty and intricate details of the temple. I also felt of the great importance that this temple had for the saints in the early days of the church. I didn't feel the spirit like I do when I am at an LDS temple, but I did feel the spirit share with me that this temple was built under the direction of our Lord to carry out the purposes of building and strengthening the church at that time. 

The Kirtland Temple

After visiting the temple we headed to the LDS Visitors Center where we were able to go on a guided tour of some of the other historical sites in Kirtland.

Newel K. Whitney Store

The Whitney Home

Johnson Inn

The Sawmill

This saw cut the lumber for the construction of the Temple...

and it was powered by this. It only took a few inches of water to make this work!

The Ashery: Potash was produced in the ashery and exported to eastern markets.  Funds from this were used to sustain the Church. 

The John Johnson Home (Hiram, Ohio): The Prophet lived here with his family for a year and while here, the Prophet, Joseph Smith was tarred and feathered and the next morning gave a sermon on the front steps.

We really enjoyed being able to hear the stories and testimonies shared by the sister and couple missionaries at these historic sites. My testimony grew so much and my appreciation of the early church members was increased. I am very grateful for their desires to follow the Prophet and do all they could to help establish this, the only true Church that I am a member of. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan and a purpose to all things and that if we trust Him, we will be blessed.

The day after visiting Kirtland, I took Jenna and the kids to Mammoth Park to go down the GIANT slide. It was so fun to watch Brinley go down the slide, she was so excited! I bet she went down 20 times before we could leave and even then was not ready to be done. Braden and Carter enjoyed it too. 

Braden and the Famous Slide

Carter watching his Brother...he went down too but I don't have a good picture.

Disaster

Do you remember the beauty that was this?

Well, it now looks like this:

All of the hard work that was put into making the yard beautiful has been washed away. The creek took out the bridge and almost 30 feet from the southwest portion of my mom's property. As well as about 8 feet by the waterfall and 6 feet of the flagstone patio that was just finished a few weeks ago. 

Do you see where the white chairs are in the background?

This is what that part looks like now

Another BEFORE taken at the wedding.

And NOW

So SAD. 

At least they're still SMILING...kind-of.

There's No Place Like Home

We had the best time in Utah! I am so thankful that we were able to go and I already can't wait to go back. We were able to do some really fun things and be part of some pretty special things too, but more importantly we got to be with our family who we absolutely just can't get enough of.  

The Wedding

Our first order of business was getting ready for Aubry (my sister) and Brennan's wedding. There was a lot of work to do before the big day.

We had LOTS of Bricks to Lay

and Flagstone to Arrange.

(Pappy, Gooey, Gary; take your pick)

(Even the Kiddies Helped!)

The House Needed to be Painted,

(Garteth, my Brother)

Treats needed to be Made,

(Ashley, my sister)

kids needed to be watched
(BTW, Megan is the best Babysitter EVER!!!)

and so much more! But after 2 1/2 days of working hard and looking like this

we were ready! 
And it was the most beautiful day...
 made even more beautiful by this blushing bride!

Susan, Coen, Brennan, Aubry, Goo and my Momma

The Balloon Lady was a HIT

(I pretty much love K's face in this picture, totally cracks me up!)

One day I'm hoping this kid grows some Hair

Ashy and the Mother

Carter and his Bestest Friend on the Trip

(My sister Megan)

After the wedding we were able to some relaxing! In fact I don't think we did anything the day after the wedding other than eating and laying around on the grass. 

Carter loved the Trampoline

Braden loved going under the tramp to find hidden treasures

and getting so sticky eating popsicles that multiple baths in the sink were a must.

One of the days we went to the School to visit my mom at Work and the Kids got to help Grammy drive the Golf Cart around the parking lot to give out parking tickets.

Braden was super funny on this trip. I'm with him every day and yet am still surprised by the silly things he will do or say. For example, K was trying to get Braden to play dress-ups with her but Braden being the "Manly" little boy that he is told her, "Boys's arn't princesses." And later Ashley came asking me where Braden was explaining that K was looking for him. I told her that he had gone upstairs to watch a movie on Bo's bed and she decided to let K watch the movie too. Anyway, when she took K up there Braden told her, "Um, I was only planning on one to watch the movie. This is two. I was only planning on one." He also started this crazy thing where he makes faces for the camera, posing I guess, but it always turns out that he has his tongue out and his fingers are usually flashing some sort of sign...Boys...I don't get it!

On our last day at my mom's house Braden got up early so he could Eat breakfast with Uncle Peter before he had to go to work.

Discovery Gateway

Heidi and Abi were the first people we got to see when we came to visit. They picked us up from the airport and made us feel really special by making "Welcome Home" signs to greet us. Unfortunately, we didn't get to spend a lot of time with them but we did get to go to lunch and that was really fun.

A few days later my dad was able to come up for a couple of days to hang out with us before Ashley left to go home. He took us to dinner and spoiled us with a day of fun at Discovery Gateway. Usually when we do things with my dad Heidi and Abi are with us, and even though they couldn't come back up and play with us, it was really nice to hang with just my dad.

Braden loved watching the balls get sucked up this pipe...

especially since it "blew wind" on him.

K in the ball bucket.

Nothing like climbing in for some hands on "PLINKO" action.

Just keep turning, just keep turning...

We tried hoisting Carter with the Crane. He didn't like it too much.

"The Worker Man" as Brady called himself.

Shopping

Making a "Samich"

K, the princess, checking out.

"Yee-Haw!"

After all the fun my dad had the brilliant idea to go to Carls Jr. for dinner. It really was the perfect choice. They had a face painter there and the kids got to play some more while we visited with Dad. 

Princess K

Braden the Green Tiger

We got a kick out of Carter eating this lemon. He ate the whole thing, rind and all!