Summer Begins

Eating sushi and laying out in the sun in beautiful St. George. Like Haddy said, "This is the life!"Matt looks like he is eating it but he is NOT a fan of sushi.

Haddy was so glad to be back at the pool after the hike. She was so excited to notice that her friend, Cody, and her cousin was staying at the same hotel and they were able to swim together. Cody's dad was being deployed and they were spending some time together before he left that night.

Trying to cool the kids off with the Mister. It really wasn't that hot and it wasn't that long of a hike but the kids thought they were going to die. It is my goal to teach my kids that they need to keep going when they feel like they are going to die and when things are really hard so they realize what they are capable of. It is such a good feeling to realize how strong you can be when you push yourself and I want my kids to realize this. Someday they will thank me hopefully.

So glad some of my family was able to come. I love spending times with my family.

This is venturing out on a hike above St. George. I had told my family about this spot that I used to go when I was in college where you had to squeeze through a rock about 50 yards. I hadn't been there for so long and it was fun to find it. There was some rock climbers repelling down the rock and Judd had to tease us saying that they thought he would be able to get through. I started through and the little twins were right behind me. Riley tried to get through and just couldn't contort his body to make it. Matt didn't even try to get through it. It was a really fun hike.

I asked Judd what the shirt was about and he said this is his baby Carlos...haha he is a funny guy.

Joni being health conscious and drinking diet.

Kristina had an Ipad with an app that you could record a song and then put it to a studio recording so it sounded professional. So this is our recording session.. My brothers love to sing.

Maile and Jabin playing with the Mister.

We had planned our summer vacation this year on Haddy's birthday. We stayed in St. George and got to swim, enjoy the sun, hike, eat good food and see The Little Mermaid at the Toucahn.

Happy Birthday Haddy Po! 7 years old...Grandma and Grandpa Taylor sent you some money and Grandma and Grandpa Robert sent you a darling school outfit and a horse you got to paint with some spending money. I let you pick out some cute jewelery at the Scandinavian Festival to wear to the play. We all agreed that you had a pretty special and spoiled birthday and you deserve it. What a joy you are to our family. We love you Hadden!

We got to St. George after stopping at A&W for rootbeer floats in Cedar City. The kids could not wait to get in the pool. Riley and Kristina and their girls were able to come down and Summer and Judd and Wendie. After we all got checked in we swam until the pool closed. Riley, Judd and Matt launched the kids in the pool until everyone was wore out enough to go to sleep.

Kristina and the cute twins. Joni was a complete water duck and just went a thousand miles an hour kicking her little legs with her head in the water. She reminded me of Dallas. Boy does it wear you out to chase 2-year-old water ducks but Riley and Kristina have it down.

Scandinavian Days....

We are usuallly out of town on Memorial Weekend when they have Scandinavian Days so this was the first year we were able to go. Jabin rode on Cody's Gym float with his wrestling team. It was a great parade and lots of booths and fun to enjoy all day.

The girls with a viking walking around during the parade.

May Day......

This is the kids much anticipated performance at the end of the year. I really enjoyed the program especially having a 5th grader in the Classic May Pole dance. Dallas was a little nervous but did really well. She was very sad for the year to come to an end. She had a very special teacher, Mr. Hansen, that she absolutely loved. I am so thankful for good teachers, it truly makes a difference to kids to feel that they are special and talented. Teachers have such an impact!

Jabin's dance was to a Tarzan song. I don't have a lot of pictures because I videoed their dances. I thought he was so handsome and new the moves really well. I think Jabin enjoys to sing and dance even though he probably won't admit it. He is good at it too.

Haddy's dance was to Zippity Doo Da and I thought it was so neat. They used these huge air balloon-type things and made designs and had them mushroom up and then back down. It was so fun to watch.

I wish I had more pictures but I had videoed the dances instead.

On May 24th my sweet friend Amberly Rhodes passed away after suffering with pancreatic cancer. she has a beautiful family of four boys. Davin is Jabin's age and then she has twin 6-year-old boys, Aaron and Collin, and little Nathan who is 3. She was such a special, talented and beautiful person, loving wife, mother and friend. She has made such an impact on me and how she dealt with things so unfair to her. She had amazing faith and hope and constantly lifted others when she was the one to be comforted. I was so thankful I was able to visit her the weekend of Mother's Day. I will never forget the sweet words she said to me as I could tell she was in such pain. I will strive to be a better person, mother, and wife because of Amberly's influence. What a special angel. I don't know why she was called back so early and that her sweet family has to endure this heartache but I know there is a reason. I admire her husband, Jason, who also had to endure so much pain as he was always by her side. I can't imagine what they went through. I took great comfort in the words said at her funeral, especially about ministering angels and that Amberly will have a greater influence on the other side and will be a comfort and guide for her young boys. Amberly was so loved. I loved her and was so touched by having known her and shared her friendship.