I HATE GRASSHOPPERS!

I hate grasshoppers! I hate how ugly they are with their grotesque eyes and long back legs! I hate how they kinda stick to you if they land on you and I hate that black stuff they sometimes spit on you. Truth be told I don't like them at all, they scare me!!


Today I wandered upstairs to take some mail to the mailbox before the postman came, I didn't want to drive to the post office again (it's almost a daily occurence for work) so I was in a hurry, but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this...


So, since I was the only one home, I had a major dilemma! How do I get this monstorous beast out of my house?!?!? Solution?



That's right, I quietly snuck up on the fiend, put the cup over him and scooped him up into the cup while blocking the opening with the bowl, I then ran like a madwoman outside where I proceeded to huck the cup and bowl as far from my person as I could get them! And it worked!!! I thought for sure I'd have to leave the cup and bowl on the lawn all day but nope, the hopper finally left and I was able to throw the bowl and cup away! Hooray for me! I was my own brave hero today!

Pioneer Day? Heck no! Pioneer Weekend!!!

I love Pioneer Day! Outside of Utah, mention July 24th as if it were a holiday, and people think you've gone bonkers, but where I come from it's a day to CELEBRATE! I like to celebrate that God put me in the day and time he did, the guy knew what he was doing by NOT making me a pilgrim! I would never have made it! Imagine no real running water! No toliets and who knows what those people did for toliet paper! Not to mention no regular showers and probably no deodorant. The wind, dirt, smelly animals, sometimes freezing tempatures and sometimes blazing heat, etc, etc as you tried to cross the plains in a dress! Not for me! I am happy though to celebrate that those people did what they did so we could live in this fabulous state and celebrate!
Our celebration started on Thursday night when we went to the Quidditch field (Rio Tinto Stadium) to watch Kenny Chesney! I was totally bumed that Sugarland didn't make the expected appearance but we enjoyed Lady A, Miranda Lambert and especially Kenny (mostly because the sun was down at that point and we were no longer melting!)
Friday morning we woke up early, hitched the trailer to the truck and drove to breakfast to meet our friends the Silcoxs! We then had a fabulous breakfast and drove to Bear Lake for the weekend! Friday afternoon we just lazed around, the kids played a little on the beach, and then we had a wonderful fire and smores! YUM!
Saturday we spent all day at the beach! Playing in the water, riding on boats and wave runners, tubing and having tube wars, just hanging out and having fun! Darrell's mom came up and rode 1 of the wave runners and we had a wonderful dinner before sitting around the fire and relaxing!
Usually on camping trips the last day consists of cleaning the trailer and our campsite then heading home but this time we woke up and had breakfast then headed back to the beach for a couple more hours of fun in the sun! I didn't want it to end! We didn't get home until 10pm and even though Annie sprained her ankle pretty bad, I have bruises on my back from falling out of the trailer, Shawna's little face is swollen from being in the sun so much, and we're all burnt to a crisp on various body parts, WE HAD A BLAST!! Can't wait until next time! We are so thankful those pioneers went through what they did so we could have something fabulous to celebrate!
Here's a few pics...

Grandma Gladys on the wave runner

Shawna waiting at Merlins for a shake!

Lana, Shannon and Randi on the tube

Little Riley sitting at the campfire looking thru his

star brochure trying to find constellations

Annie and Pooski sitting by the fire

The man is back in the house...

Last week/weekend Darrell went on a guys trip to Island Park. They took their motorcycles and met some friends from Spokane. Luckily Darrell's uncle owns a cabin up there and let them use it for their trip. Here's some pics...

The cabin, my truck and the trailer used to get the bikes up there.

Darrell's bike, the green and silver one.

Above: a bald eagle.

Below: all the bikes lined up at the Yellowstone Park entrance.

A HUGE SCARY BUG ON KEN'S BACK! Leave it to Darrell, he grabbed the camera before saving Ken!

It looks like the boys had a really good time, and Darrell got some needed away time from work! I'm just glad he's home now!

WE MISSED YOU HONEY!

Painful morning for Shawna

A week or so ago Shawna was complaining about 1 of her K-9 teeth hurting, the new teeth were coming in on both sides but the old teeth weren't wanting to fall out. We saw the dentist 3 months ago or so and he told her to really work on them but that obviously wasn't working so I made the appointment, we went in and he YANKED 'em right out! She was such a trooper! And her wonderful big sis took pics!

Since she did so well at the dentist I thought "SHOTS!" So I drove her over to the county clinic and had them give her the immunizations needed for middle school, poor Shawna, she only needed 1 to be caught up but they suggested 4 so we went all out and did 4! Annie also had 1 and my guess is that's why she didn't bring the camera in with her this time!

Luckily my kids are now both happy and healthy! No hurting teeth and no need for shots anytime soon! YAY!

Camping, a little bit of heaven!

Enjoying the world God created, feasting on the food He provided, and spending time with the family He blessed me with! What a wonderful way to spend the weekend! The Provo River Falls

Grandma and Grandpa at the fallsThe Grandma's with baby Dunc

Darrell and Annie at the falls

Annie and Grandma Marilyn at campOne of my cutest little neices, Lo, at camp!

I am so glad that we were able to spend the weekend with my sister and brother, their wonderful spouses and the cutest little kids ever! I'm also grateful that my grandparents and parents were there too! SO MUCH FUN! I can't wait 'til next time!!

Happy 4th of July!

Our family wishes everyone a happy and

safe 4th of July! We are so

grateful to be free and live in the

best country in the world!

Shawna July 3rd at the Real game