The Almost Tub

So... GUESS WHAT???? I HAVE AN ALMOST BATHTUB!!!!

It's true. It has running water, and the water drains (except for the shower head, that will come next time). I just can't believe that I have a tub. This may seem silly to you, but you have NO IDEA how long I have waited for just a simple tub. Of. My. Own. My friend Tayler the builder came down on Saturday and installed it for us. And now I pretty much owe him the world. Oh my heck... it was the best thing ever. It was as great as going to pick Rustin up from his mission after having him gone for 2 years. After Tayler left I went downstairs and just looked at it. And my eyes watered up, it was so exciting for me. You don't understand...I have been waiting for this for over a year. That night... periodically, like a crazy person, I kept going and opening the door, turning on the light and looking at it. If tubs could talk, I'm sure mine would say "Alright already! Do you think I'm gonna grow legs and walk away?" I just couldn't help myself, I wanted to keep checking on it. Haven't you ever gotten something that you were just dying to have and when you finally get it you can't leave it alone? That was this for me. Nic even told me that night that she hasn't seen me this happy in a long time. Nic has been great, she has tried so hard to get me in there, she is an amazing sister. I love her to death.

Sunday I cleaned the tub, with real bathtub cleaner. I have never been so excited to clean a tub in all my life. Then I dried it. Looked at it some more. Then I went in on my bed to read my scriptures and all I could think about was how I had a tub (I know, I'm pathetic). I couldn't focus on what I was reading. So... I got up and took my scriptures and my patriarchal blessing with me and I sat in my tub and read them. LOL. Not even joking. It was great. I just wanted you all to see it, cause it's awesome.

And this is how excited I am about my BRAND NEW ALMOST TUB!!!

We Share Everything

Okay... so many of you know that I teach the 4 and 5 year olds in primary. I love this calling, it is quite an adventure every sunday. (I was recently given a new calling though) SO... yesterday I was teaching the kids about "Letting our Lights Shine", which... I challenge you to try to teach THAT concept to a 5 year old. It's not easy. It was a merry-go-round. They just weren't getting it. They thought everything from being superhero's to using a flashlight. I tried to explain to them the scripture in the bible where the savior taught to let your light shine and not to hide it under a bushel. I asked if they had ever heard anyone say that or talk about someone's "light shining"? One girl said "Yeah, on T.V." I was like "Um.. No, we are not superhero's. We don't REALLY shine." I also asked them (after reviewing again what Jesus taught) how we can let our light shine for other people. A boy said "We can hold a flashlight." I was like, "Okay, let's go over this again." Anyway... it was pure entertainment trying to get them to grasp this idea. I settled on going for the "When you do things that make other people feel good and feel happy you are letting your light shine. When you stand up for what you believe you are letting your light shine." They kind of got it. SO... I do this thing with my class where I bring a children's book in to read to them that I can liken to the lesson. It's a hit and they love and they "get it" everytime. I always read the book first to make sure I know how to liken it perfectly. Well yesterday I forgot to read it and while in class I pull out the book We Share Everything. I thought... Sharing=Letting your light shine- in a way. I can totally use this book. So... they sit in a circle on the floor and I begin. This is a fun book. It is about Kindergarten- they are all starting kindergarten- PERFECT! So, I begin to read, it's about this boy and this girl who fight over EVERYTHING in class. All the toys and everytime the teacher comes up and tells them that "This is Kindergarten. In Kindergarten WE SHARE EVERYTHING", and they say "Ok, ok, ok, ok, ok... and they go on to the next toy to of course fight over it and so goes the teacher again. Everytime the boy and girl in the book would fight I would say "Hmm... is he letting his light shine?" and of course they would say "NO!!!!!" and I would say "Yeah, they're covering it up!" and they'd agree. It was going great! Anyway... this cycle goes on about 4 times in the book when FINALLY the boy and girl (in the book) get it and they begin to share. They first start to share their shoes. The boy puts on her pink shoes and is so excited. It was great, UNTIL... I turn the page and they start sharing THEIR CLOTHES!!!!! I was like... What in the.... I thought... what do I do, I can't turn back now, they are LOVING this book. But... we don't share clothes! That is NAUGHTY!!! That is definitely NOT letting your light shine. WORST TEACHER EVER!!!! LOL! Oh my heck... after the book was over I was like, "Are we supposed to share our clothes?" and they say "NO!!!" and I was like "NO! We aren't. They were just trying to be funny in the book. But it's not funny to share out clothes." Oh man! The one time I don't pre-read the book and I teach them to share clothes... WITH A BOY!!!! Not exactly a success story.

One Adventure After Another

**Disclaimer** I'm running on Nyquil right now... so if I post something that sounds a little wacky... that could be why, but I have been wanting to get this posted. Sorry.

So we all went camping a couple weekends ago. We went up Payson canyon. I have never been up Payson canyon but it was so amazing. When I got up there Rob and Mindy wanted me to go on a hike with them to find Lizard Lake. I went...

Rob of course (captain preparation) brought his compass and GPS. He frequently used it. He was teaching Mindy. I was never the teachable type, so I took pictures. Plus... I figured they had it covered. I guess it's not that I'm not teachable, but more that I don't ever plan to be out in the woods alone because I am afraid of wild beasts dragging me off and devouring me like a juicy double cheeseburger and I'm not a juicy double cheeseburger, I'm more of a chocolate sundae, soooo... I'll always just make sure I have someone with me that is more of a juicy cheeseburger type. That way, when Mr Bear is eating his main course, his dessert can run for the hills. Or call 911, which I HAVE been known to do.
Once they confirmed we were on track, which the big wooden sign with Lizard Lake and an arrow was my first clue... but then again, I'm not the boy scout... we ventured off... I tried to get the beautiful forest behind me... Hmm... all you get is my head and some grass mixed in dirt....

As we start off again, there are some cows blocking our path. Rob enlists himself to "scare them away", which involved him running and yelling while flailing his arms. I know... missed photo op. The cows moved a smidge, and slowly at that, while staring us down. It was as if they were saying.... "Screw you Bozo. Try anything and I'll romp you to death". I snapped pictures of their faces as I walked by, but I guess I didn't upload them from my camera. As I run to catch up with Rob and Mindy, and secretly I was afraid of the cows, I say to Mindy "So.... do you think Rob scared them away or just pissed them off? Cause I'm bettin' on the second. I think they want to kill us. They're back there plotting our death right now."Oh... Rob is running in this one... LOL!!!
This hike was about 3 miles I think.
Dunt..dah...dah...dah... LIZARD LAKE!!! Wait... where's the water? Yeah, my thoughts exactly...
There it is... you have get closer. Although.. this I would safely say is more like a wallow than a lake... BUT...I'm no wildlife biologist or anything.
It is home to none other than a herd of.... Wait for it....wait for it.... ELK!!! Yep... those are elk prints. And I kept saying that I was SURE that there were Moose that lived her as well. FOR SURE...
Sure enough.... right behind us is this tree stand. I wanted to climb up it but there were only nails for steps and I could see the end of that adventure and it involved me and mud in my face and up my nose.. I passed.
Here is a view from the top of the mountain. This is overlooking Utah lake... it was beautiful.
Dad built the kids a swing, he's such a great Grandpa. Not "Great" as in OLD, but Great, as in good- just to clarify.
Davey swinging...
Abby swinging...

Of course... Keili breaks the mold...My Dad brought his old bow, which is an antique. That sucker was used by my Grandpa when he was little. I shot it a few times- of course I rocked the house, but I burned my arm doing it. Hmmm... the price you pay for greatness I guess.
The kids loved to shoot it as well... I think these pictures are cute... My Dad just eats this crap up. He loves to play with the kids and teach them these types of things...
Case in point... Although, if you knew Alex, the last thing this kid needs is to learn to use another weapon... He is definitely a boy, this kid... and a bully at that. He can hold his own. He can take down Davey if wants to.
We hiked the Grotto hike. It was an easy hike and so beautiful. Don't ask me what Davey is doing. Having a seizure? Summoning the Gods? Throwing a gang sign... I have no idea.
Can you please look at Alex... I guess there was something on his shoe.. The picture after this one, which I didn't add... he was on his bum...
There were a few make-shift bridges like this one we had to cross.
Then at the end you reach a waterfall and small pool. The kids were in heaven.

We also went swimming in one of the lakes, it was cold, but eventually we all made it in. It might have taken me a few minutes to muster up the strength to just take the plunge- but it happened.
After swimming, we all dry off with a towel and plan to finish drying on the ride home, we are waiting at the truck for my Dad to come out of the restroom and I look over and literally my jaw drops and I say "ARE YOU SERIOUS? Look at him!!!" then I immediately run to the cab of the truck to get my camera because this is one of those "DON'T MISS" moments you have to capture on camera. My Dad, ladies and gentlemen... the cowboy. I told him the only thing that would have made this better was if he would have been wearing his cowboy hat. He tells us "Gosh, I started to put it on and thought... Man, I hope this fits, it's a little tight." I said "UH... Dad, that's beyond tight... that's like, Don't bend over or your seams will pop". He of course was laughing right along with all of us. Apparently he didn't want to ride back in his swim suit and he said this was all he could find in his truck to wear. We all dried on the way back, well all of us except Mr. "this outfit I had in junior high"...
LOL!!! Oh my heck Rustin, I hope you are seeing this.
Anyway... so after that we ate and I headed back home because I had to work the next day. This is a picture I took while driving down Santaquin canyon, it was so beautiful. I was totally snapping pictures while driving when I came upon a couple obstacles...
REALLY????? See the last cow with the white head. When I drove by, that sucker stopped walking and full on stared me down as I passed. I think the devil was inside that cow... it was creepy. I thought to my self... bring it cow!!!!... I'll run you down and I don't care how much my insurance goes up!!!
Last month my sister Misty and her family came in from Alabama. It was so much fun, we went to the zoo and just hung out. Here are some pictures from that time....
The kids, watching Zuri... their favorite part... (the baby elephant)
This is my sister Misty and her husband Brad is in the red. Sam is in the stroller, but I like to call him "Sam I Am", that's his nickname from Aunt Tahnee.
I love taking pictures of Sariah, all you have to do is point the camera in her direction and strikes a pose...
We all decided to tap into our inner child and ride the train. I was lucky enough to sit beside these two cuties...
They LOVED the train, to say the least... look how excited Sariah is. She is actually looking at me but I am holding the camera away. I was trying to get myself in the picture with them... hmmm... not exactly a success story.
Sarabeth with my Dad. I have to take this opportunity to tell you that Sarabeth... Uhem (clearing throat) ADORED her aunt Tahnee... heck yes she did. Misty was always come up to me and telling me Sarabeth wanted to walk with me. CUTE!!!! I thought this was a cute picture of Dad and Sarabeth, they haven't even seen in each other in like over a year... AWE...

The AMAZING bird show. This was so cool. The best part of the zoo.
I let Sariah and Bubba ride the carousel. Bubba wanted to ride the Ape so bad, but someone beat him to it. Here is the beauty of a 3 year old... they will believe you when you tell them that arangatangs are just as cool as apes, if you say it in a super excited cheerleadery way.

We come out of the Ape house and we can't find Miley... we look around the corner... There she is.... Measuring up.
I LOVE this picture. I love it because look at Sariah and Keili. Both posers for pictures, the rest of the kids are not even ready, but OH... don't you worry.... the girls are on it!!!
Back at home we had a BBQ and played some games. Sarabeth got to ride Keili's four wheeler. She hadn't ever riden one before. She loved it.



It was so good to see Misty and her cute family.. tons of fun!!!