A weekend at the Lake

My friends and I had been trying to arrange a fun camping trip for quite some time now. We all have such different lives and schedules that it was much more difficult to plan something than we had thought. One weekend we just planned it though, we were going to head up to Bear Lake, if you weren't able to make it then sorry maybe somet. Fortunately Lover Boy, Little Princess, and I were able to. We are so lucky to have friends who don't mind (and truth be told I think they prefer it) when we bring the kiddos along. We left little Man with my parents because I'm just the trooper mom who knows how to camp with little babes.

I rode up with Sergei, which turned out to be a nice drive with great conversation. Lover Boy, Little Princess, Maria and Steph all rode in the other vehicle. They didn't have as peaceful a ride. Little Princess played "I spy" with all of them the entire way. LOL, what fun!

Right after we arrived at the destination, Dana and Emily stopped by for a little bit. They were going to stay the night at Dana's Families cabin not too far away because they aren't big on camping. It was fun to have them there for a little bit with us.:)

As we were setting up camp, the unavoidable happened...Steph and Maria were trying to set up their tent that was borrowed from our friend, but it had no poles!! We thought of all sorts of different ways we could jimmy rig it; but since town wasn't too far away we ventured to the store for poles. A new tent would be more cost efficient than poles.

Little Princess was just beside herself with excitement to sleep in a tent that she kept asking if it was bed time. Finally I told her that in fact it was time for her to go to bed, and off she went. Simple as that.

The rest of us had a blast laughing around the camp fire. We also attempted a late night swim, but I tell you what, that water was freezing!!! The ground was rocky and it totally was NOT worth it, but it was fun still.

We played at the beach (in still freezing water); I burned the corn on the cob; fought with a mouse that was much too near my tent (it was under my tent)...let me expand on that because it was so funny. Steph was in her tent napping, Maria and I are screaming and pointing (near the point of hyperventilating), Lover Boy and Sergei are laughing and running towards the little creature, and poor little princess was confused with all the ruckus. The mouse ran right under my tent, Lover Boy was able to push it out and Sergei was there waiting for it...The little mouse thought he was all big and bad and could take on Sergei. It was just as hilarious as it was disgusting to watch this tiny thing jump at Sergei's foot. While it jumped it squeeked. It was so funny. Fortunately we didn't see it again; I would've freaked!!

Mom, it's FREEZING!!

Yep, I'm still cold....

Kissing by the Campfire, so romantic

This was so hilarious. Maria got her shirt tangled in her bathing suit. LOL

The little things....

"Mommy, can we PLEEEEEase go in there?"

"Sure!" mommy replies quite surprised that her little girl is asking to go into a clothing store, a quite bland and rather empty store none-the-less.

The little girl runs straight to the back of the store where there is the tri-fold mirror awaiting. Red Hot Chili Peppers are rocking out in the background.

Up go the arms, head is banging, feet are jumping.

Moms heart smiles first, then her face, next comes a little tear to her eye as she watches her 4 year old daughter jam to the music and watch her reflection. Air guitar!! This little girl knows how to play the air guitar!! She rocks backwards then forwards and then tips the air guitar up all the while strumming her imaginary chords.

Time for banging again. This time she jumps wildly throwing fists this way and that. STOP, check out self in mirror and goes some more.

Mom thinks to herself "Where on earth did this child learn those moves? She's right on beat and looking better than I ever have!!"

Song changes. It's house music now. A little techno. Little girl freezes and stiffens her body. Arms go out while being bent, body leans forward slightly, arms swing. She's doing the robot!

Another small tear of complete happiness forms in the corner of mom's eye. Shoppers have now stopped and are laughing at the Little girl's complete ignorance of their presence.

"What a darling little girl" compliments one woman to the oh-so proud mom.

"You must have your hands full, and if not now you soon will with a girl moving like that" adds another shopper.

Song changes. Little girls moves change to the beat. Air guitar is busted out yet again. Head is spinning wildly, hair is making a lovely circular pattern.

Mommy stands there trying so hard to fight back all the emotion of watching her little girl do her thing. The lump in her throat is becoming harder to fight back.

"Time to go sweetie" mom says trying to beat the emotion that is ready to flow at any given moment.

"ok, but Mommy can we please come back here again, this is my favorite store."

These are the moments I love, watching my children be themselves and not care that everyone is watching!! I wish so badly I had my camera to record her performance, it truly was priceless.

Slumbering Babe

I just love the cute times when you peek in on your baby and they are sound asleep in the cutest little positions.

Mom's birthday celebration

Every year on my mom's birthday my grandparents have a dinner for her and her sister. Their birthadys are only a day apart. It's such a fun time each year for them to have all the families together, that seems to be really the only time each year that everyone is together.

Happy birthday mom, next year the big 50!

Qualities that I admire in my mom:

• the most caring person. She'll do anything that she can for anyone, regardless of how well she knows them. She's always doing service for others, and not because she ever feels obligated, but because she simply cares.
  
• Honest. She can't lie, it's impossible for her
• friend. My mom has always had so many friends. I've never really noticed because I think I was just raised with her always have so many that I didn't realize that's really not that common. She is a great friend and that is why she is able to have so many. She makes time for her friends and deeply cares for each one of them and their families.
  
• She loves to laugh and have fun. She's taken me with her many times all my growing up with her to various activities and let me just tell you she is so funny. She has yet to grow up and i love that about her. I've seen her bounce on hotel beds, do the splits, do somersaults and cartwheels, skip, paint her face, and the list goes on.
• She loves being a mom. She has always taken time to do fun things with us as kids. When I was younger I remember spending our summers at the waterslides, taking trips to Salt lake to go to Jobbers (a fun cheap store), lunches at Burger King, going to DI to get dress up clothes, and once again that's just a tip off the ice berg. I hope to be like that with my kids.
• She understands what it's like to be a kid. Let me explain...When I was in high school my friend and I snuck out and got our belly buttons pierced. We vowed to each other that we would not tell our parents because both sets would be so upset with us. But as soon as we got home I went straight to my parents room and showed them. My mom just laughed and said that she probably would've done the same thing when she was my age.
• She's accepting of everyone. Regardless of who you are or where you come from my mom will love you!!

I LOVE YOU MOM:)

Another fun filled day at the Gateway

So we were bored yet again, and decided to take a little trip to Gateway. Why do we feel the need to go all the way there when there's a splash pad less than 5 minutes away and pools much closer you may ask... because we like to is the only thing I can think of. lol. We just love it there!! It's so much fun to watch my children, including the one who's taller than I just play and in enjoy themselves and then yes we take a quick jaunt through my favorite stores. It's a win win situation:)

It's just so fun being a mom and watching your children grow and interact and enjoy life. It makes me sit back and forget the worries in life. Ahh, to be a kid again...Actually I'm great where I am in my life, just will enjoy the life of a child through my children. Life is great when you take a moment to remind yourself of the simplicity and what's truly important.

Hannah Montana lives at our house

Yes, that's right, I have my very own darling little Hannah Montana living at my house. Either that or she's a darn good impersonator! The lyrics are original to the artist. The most recent one she asked me to write down as she sang it so she'd never forget it.



It's titled Best Friend, Believe in me

Ramo all the way
Ramo all the way
and I love you Mommy

Now I believe that
so I can believe my mom
So I love You
I'd like you to believe in me
Yaaaahhh, I love you both

A pat on the belly button
and I love you both
No more gagaga
No more mamama
Yaaaaahhhh

Copyright 2009

Visit from our favorites....the DeVere's

We were so lucky to have our friends stop by while they were in town visiting:)

The girls of course had a blast dressing up and the babies had fun rolling around and playing with toys.

Love you guys. Love the visits. Love the conversations. Love the memories we share.