My Mom is the Best Mom - No Need to Argue..You Would Lose!

Here is my mom with 8 of her grandkids (my kids & my sister's kids). They all call her "gram" instead of grandma. I love my mom SO MUCH! She is the most hard working, dedicated, talented woman I know. I hope to be half as wonderful as her someday!

What a Long Strange Trip...

So back on July 11th I drove 12 hours to Lehi, Utah ALONE with my two kids. Here is a pic of them in Mountain Home, Idaho..and they are still alive..question is how is mom?? Thank goodness for a TV in the mini-van to keep Carlie comatose and a HUGE box of toys & grahm crackers on the front passenger seat that I would pass one to Berk every few minutes. Seriously, we would not have survived without those things (thanks Corey)!

Here is the BIGGEST reason we went to Utah. My sister had just had twins (she now has 6 kids ages 8 and under) & my mom was at her house for the summer to help her survive. I decided to go add to the chaos! Here is her baby announcement - yeah my sister is pretty talented.

While we were in Utah we were pretty laid back, but here are some pics of some of the things we did......

Playing out back on all the cars & bikes was one of Berk's favorite things.

Doing tricks on the trampoline

bouncing with the older cousins

Posing with the new light saber she insisted on having because her cousins are obsessed with Star Wars CRAZY HAIR


Pretty hair in a pretty new outfit (I did WAY TOO much shopping)

Carlie, Berk, & I meet two of my best friends from the college years MB & Joanna Brooks at This is the Place Park - what a great place! It was so wonderful to see those lovely ladies - I miss them and wish I lived by them. I only got pics of Joanna with my kids..no MB..so sad..speaking of forgetting to take pics...One of my very best friends from that same era Erin Payne also lives in Utah and I got to see her & hang out with her a little and I got to see her prego belly..SO EXCITING! This is Benjamin Franklin Johnson's Saddlery at the park. He is my great, great, great grandpa on my mom's side...yup I am hard-core pioneer stock on BOTH sides. He was friends with Joseph Smith back in the day!

Johannasburg & Berk MC

Carlie O getting a haircut - look at those scissors!

Carlie on Rescue Day at Swim Lessons

Carlie sorta cooperating with her awesome teacher Suzie

Big kicks and she isn't crying!!!!

New pink goggles means Carlie...... goes underwater ALL the time now...she would not do it

EVER before swim lessons!! HOORAY!

Berk chillin with the bike trying to figure it out!

Super sweet water slides at Michelle's with my cousin Jill & her kids, & Carol & her kids! I forgot to take pics of Jill & I - AARGH!Carlie loves to slide


Took the kids on the Alpine Loop - memories of my friends & our drives while I was a BYU listening to our mix TAPES, singing, & talking, & laughing!

Self-portrait

BEAUTIFUL ALPINE MEADOW

Wrestling on the floor

Check out Carlie's new pumas that she would NOT take off! She is four and I bought her a size 3!!!!!!!!!!

Gavin & Carlie being silly

look at all his cuts and bruises on his face..he think he can run downhill :(

Berk loves hats & corn on the cob

African Ice - CHEERS!

Matthew, Gavin, Dallin, & Carlie