Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

The girls of the family go together this weekend to have a little getaway.

It was much needed for all of us.

Sarah invited us all up to her Dad's cabin in Bear Lake. It was beautiful and cozy and perfect. We even had the opportunity to see 3 moose outside the cabin.

There was more food there than we could ever haven eaten. 

We did a Favorite Things exchange. 

That will be a fun tradition. Heidi 

brought the best thing...a massage therapist!

She treated us all to a half hour massage.

It was divine! 

Grandma Hale brought everybody a pair of jammies. The little girls jammies

needed some alterations done so Grandma brought up her sewing machine.  

We watched movies, took naps, played games,

did crafts, made jewelry, 

you name it we did it.  

Speaking of games...we played an epic

game of Sardines. This is a photo 

of all of us hiding in the bathtub.

The girls loved it.

Sunday morning we held a devotional.

Julia and Evelyn led the music.

The older girls did the prayer, Young Women theme, a scripture and a thought. 

Then my Mom talked to us about the importance

of Motherhood and I read a talk by Sheri Dew.

Before we all started to leave we took a 

group photo together. We can't wait to go back. 

Jennifer, Ronda, Tana, Julia, Megan, Ally, Shaylen, 

Evelyn, Sarah, Sawyer, Heidi and Sydney

Christmas 2013

Christmas Morning came (very early) and went. Every year it sure seems to take me a little bit by surprise. The kids went to bed around 11 pm last night but managed to stay awake well past 1 am. They decided to sleep in Evelyn's room and we could hear them whispering and giggling for hours. It made for a late night for us. Then again just before 5 am we could hear them rousing. They claim they went downstairs to watch a movie and DID NOT set foot in the blue room to see if the Jolly Old Elf had stopped by. By 6 am they could not wait a second longer. Despite us telling them the night before that they had to wait to wake us until 7 am. So at 6:05 am we were awakened by blaring lights, giggling, jumping on the bed, and a chorus of "It's Christmas Morning! Wake Up! It is time to get UP!" 

I have discovered the fastest way to get them all to cooperate for a family photo! Keep Christmas Morning presents hostage!! I made them sit on the stairs just outside the Blue room for a picture. Fastest picture ever. I didn't have to threaten or bribe for great smiles or to sit by each other or anything! I joked to Nate that our family pictures are going to be scheduled for Christmas Morning from now on!!!

From Santa Evelyn received a doll that is for hairstyling and she LOVES it! 

Santa gave Ryland a Halo mega bloks set. Ryland swears up and down he is not ready to get rid of his thousands of Legos, since he so desperately wanted this mega bloks set. I tease him that he is cheating on his Star Wars Legos by playing with these. haha He swears they still hold the biggest spot in his heart. 

A while back I got myself a new blanket for our bed. It is the softest thing EVER! Well, Ally and Ryland have coveted that blanket since the second they touched it. So, like a good Mom, or at least a Mom who wanted them to keep their grubby little paws off of her blanket, I got them both one. I LOVED capturing this moment when Ryland opened up his blanket. SCORE!

Santa gave Ethan a newer, nicer camera to upgrade the one he received a few years ago. 

Ally received from Santa a large HOT PINK makeup kit! She was super excited! She also got a large lighted vanity mirror from us. Once the morning excitement was over she spent quite a bit of time getting acquainted with it all. Her world will never be the same again. 

Evelyn asked for a 'Merican doll just a few days before Christmas. Since I had already gotten this AND wrapped it AND I knew she didn't really know what an American Doll even was I stuck with this. She was thrilled with her 'Merican doll. I am seriously wondering how long this will last. At some point she will get wise when someone else shows her their ACTUAL American Doll. In my defense, I NEVER actually said it WAS an American Doll, I just never corrected her either. (Why do they have to be so blasted expensive?)

After her Mexican Celebration of Learning we found out they were selling some of the skirts. We quickly snatched up this cute purple one for Evelyn. She is in twirly skirt heaven!!! Plus I am going to make her wear it for Halloween next year! Double Score!! 

Since the snow has started to fall this winter we have discovered how trashed our current sleds were. Pathetic and mostly unsafe, gotta say. So we sprung for some new sleds for Christmas. Now all we need is some fresh new snow to test sled these puppies on. Kids are super excited!

Once the kids were all done opening up their gifts, it was our turn.

We received some wonderful art work from the kids and some yummy treats. Ally also knitted me a beautiful pink/white scarf, which is perfect with my shorter hair, my neck gets cold easy. 

I gave Nate his Dad's old Chess table and set. LaVere bought it in Italy about 25 years ago. The chess pieces are from England. The table is inlaid wood and is BEAUTIFUL. The set is quite heavy and ornate. Nate was super excited. He has always wanted it if they were to ever get rid of it. They asked me last month if I was interested, I seriously had no idea if he would want it and I told them I would think it over. Not ten minutes later Nate walked into the room, headed straight for it and said, "If you ever get rid of this, I am the first to know!" I thought, SOLD!! He was VERY surprised! Thankfully he has Ryland to play with. Ryland loves to play chess and is even in the Chess Club at school. I wonder where he gets it from?

Let's just say we were all done before the first hint of light appeared outside. Ethan declared that that should be our family tradition. I told him thanks to them it already was. I honestly can't remember a year that they waited til the sun came up to wake us up. Even the year the power was out and we HAD to open our presents by FLASHLIGHT!!

We had a wonderful visit from Grandma and Grandpa Hale that morning as well. We couldn't remember how to use the self timer on the camera so Nate graciously took one for us. 

We spent the day playing with new things, eating, sleeping, watching Studio C, and enjoying one another's company. In the evening Grandma and Grandpa Burke arrived for Christmas Dinner. We apparently had too much fun eating, playing games and watching a wonderful Christmas movie that they brought that we forgot to take ANY pictures with them! Two nights in a row. tsk tsk 

St. George Siesta

Because I didn't get everything done with Grandma Lundberg's family history stuff that I wanted to I decided to head back down this last weekend. So I didn't have to go alone I invited Heidi along. When my Mom caught wind of our little trip she made arrangements for her Temple job and joined us. We had a GREAT time! Super relaxing and super fun. We visited, shopped, sat in the hot tub, went for walks/runs and I got a ton more done. I ended up bringing home a lot of stuff to work on. It is so fun to learn more about your family (or your husbands family) history.

We ended up getting matching sandals while we were at the outlets. So cute! Cannot wait til we can do this again!

Flashback Friday: Sydneys Baptism and the Lodge 2008

We always enjoy our time as a family up at the Laketown Lodge. But this particular trip up was even more meaningful. We had it planned to go up for the weekend of our niece, Sydney's baptism. It was the first weekend of March. Well, the fourth of February is when my Dad and his wife Fran, had their moose accident. My Dad ended up only being released from the hospital the day of the Baptism. They allowed he and Fran to travel up to the Lodge to participate in the Baptism and then he headed straight back to the hospital for one final check and was then released. He had been in there for a month. We were so grateful we were able be together with him in celebration instead of in mourning.

The Lodge is always full of good times and good food and this day was no exception. We returned after the Baptism to eat a feast and to take some pictures with Dad.

Dad with my brother, Travis, and his two boys, Garrett and Tyler.

Sophia Kelsey and Grandpa Burke

Evelyn, Nate, Ryland, Ronda, Ally, Dad and Fran and Ethan Mills

Garrett, Sarah, Travis, Julia, Dad and Fran and Tyler Burke

Jennifer, Shaylen, Ridge, Dad and Fran, and Sawyer Skidmore

Kai, Joe and Sophia Burke with Dad and Fran

Wyatt, Dad, Sydney, Fran, Heidi, Logan, Travis, Carson and Megan Muirbrook



Mother's Day 2012

We had a great time having my family over for a Mother's Day dinner.

 Travis, Jen, Heidi, Mom. Ronda

 It was so much fun hanging out.

 Evelyn, Shaylen, Megan, and Julia

 Cole, Ridge, Ryland and Carson

 Wyatt and Tyler

 Bob and Travis

 Garrett and Ethan

 Ally and Logan

I Love You Mom!

Photo Shoot Sunday: Grandma Hale

(october 2010)

"Those gasps of astonishment, those shrieks of pleasure, those sighs of delight, lost long ago when your children grew wise and worldly-are suddenly given back to you by your grandchildren. What seems to be the same small hands clutch yours, dragging you from one excitement to another." - Author Unknown