Sidewalk Paint

Need an idea to do with your kids this summer to keep them busy? Try sidewalk paint! All you need is water, cornstarch, food coloring, and a container (I used a muffin tin).

Combine 2 tablespoons water + 2 tablespoons cornstarch + a few drops of food coloring to each muffin tin.

My kids loved seeing the colors change and watching what happens when we add different colors. Stir with paintbrush or spoon until the cornstarch is dissolved and the food coloring is all mixed in.

Give each child a paint brush and let them go to town on your sidewalk!
It is washable, non toxic, and a lot of fun!

A new little friend

One night Nate came home from work so excited to show the kids something he had found in the Bone-yard (That is where he keeps his work truck, it's just up the street from our house). So the kids raced over to see what daddy had found and did a little looking but eventually found their new little friend.
Ty came running home "Mama! Mama! Come quick! Come see what we found!" So I went out not quite sure what to expect and said to Ty "Well, where is it?!" Mara has it she's holding it!
What could it possibly be?
A horny toad!

Sure enough there was Miss Mara holding a horny toad in her hands so excited to show her mama!!

Mara has no fear of such critters, or creepers! She loves bugs, spiders, and snakes too!
I rather look from a distance thanks! I did touch it with my finger but didn't really want to hold it!

It was kind of cute and Ty and Caleb thought it was pretty cool too! They all wanted to keep our new little friend and have him for a pet, but we decided maybe it would be best just to let him go and keep living where he would feel more comfortable!
I'm sure this wasn't the last 'pet' my children bring home! And in fact with a dad like theirs I'm sure we will have plenty of interesting little friends come into our lives!

A "Berry" Special Daddy!

We spent Father's Day Eve with Mimi & Papa. Our dessert for the night was absolutely scrumptious:

Ice-cream with black-berries, raspberries, and strawberries! WOW! Yummy and delicious! The kids can always count on a treat at Mimi's! Whether it's fat-boys, cookies, cake or ice-cream Mimi always has a treat up her sleeve! I love it, because that's how my grandma was so it's just like going home to Grandma Clegg's! She would always have fat-boys in her freezer, or ice-cream floats, she made the best rice-balls, yum I loved them!

Ty always asks Mimi: What's for our dessert Mimi?! He knows she'll have something! He thought this was one of the 'best treats ever!'

Notice Mara has had her bath, she is in her jammies, it is time for bed--but yet there is still time for a treat! Yes my kids are very spoiled at Grandma's house!

Caleb loved the berries as you can tell from his face! He thought they were quite delicious. Ice-cream on the other hand is not his favorite! It must be too cold for him!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY NATE the GREAT!!!
For Father's day breakfast this daddy had blueberry coffee cake and a bowl of cereal with fresh blueberries and strawberries= his favorite!
Our daddy loves berries! He just can't get enough of them!

Nate is one BERRY special Dad because:
he loves his wife and kids
he likes doing fun activities with his family
he is a hard worker
he is a good listener
he is patient
he has a strong testimony

he's funny and makes us all laugh
he makes the best pancakes
he plans fun trips and vacations for his family

Thank you Nate for being the best father in the world! We sure do love you and are grateful for all you do for us. I am rather lucky to have such a great eternal companion and thankful every day that our paths would cross and that we could meet, fall in love, and have a family! I think our children are super lucky to have you for their dad! You simply amaze me!

Service With A Smile!

Service Project Round 2!!
For Grandpa Lewis's Father's Day we gathered as a family to finish the project we started on Mother's Day. We finished painting the fence and wanted to start on more....but well we didn't get it all done!

Here is Ty with his smile and paint brush! Ty was all geared up to paint--which he did! For about five minutes! He wasn't as excited to serve this time as he was last time!

We wanted to paint the patio furniture. Here is the before AND after shot of our work. I felt bad not getting it all done. We did finish painting the back and front fence but when I start a project I like to finish it! So I guess we will have to have round 3 and get it all done!!

We had to hack down all the lilies to get to the fence so we could paint it. I felt bad taking them all out--hopefully they will all come back next year and look beautiful. The fence really looks good!

The kids were more interested in the bubble machine than actually working--go figure! Thanks Aunt Trish for bringing the bubbles! It kept them busy and happy while we got things done!

Cook-out in the canyon

Last weekend we drove up North to Salt Lake to see our families for Father's Day. Aunt Chelsie called with a fabulous idea to have a cookout up the canyon on Friday night. FUN! So we headed straight up to Big Cottonwood Canyon for a little hot-dog & marshmallows roasting! It was so beautiful. Oh how I've missed the mountains!

Caleb loved going for a little walk he was so excited he would barely hold still for me to take his picture!

We went for a 'hike' more like rock-scramble up the mountain. It was pretty steep and led to no where so we turned around and went back down.

These two little cuties love being outdoors! They were also really happy to see their family!

Ty fixed his very own s'more! But look closely he added a secret ingredient: A chip!! Yuck! He said it was delicious and loved it! Funny boy!

Caleb was one happy boy being out in nature! He loved the fire and kept putting his hand up to say 'hot'!

Chelsie and Aaron--cute couple, funny picture!

Mara with her grandma!

Caleb started yelling and freaking out--so Chelsie mimicked him!

Aunt Beanie just chillin' by the fire! My favorite part was just sitting around the fire together talking and laughing.

No rock is to high or too big for these kids!

There's a Grandpa's Boy!!

A perfectly fun night with family!

Ty is part chip-munk! Can you say 'fuzzy bunny!' How many marshmallows did he put in his mouth?

It's a good thing Grandpa was watching Caleb--he kept wanting to wonder off and explore the area!

Oh the beautiful mountains! It's good to be back!

This is hilarious--it looks like Ty is doing a 'blue-dart'! It looks like his bum is on fire!!

Ty is a little snuggler! He's just giving his grandma such loves!

Ty's trick--or shall I say Tarzan?!



Mara's trick:--our little tumbler!

Blast from my past!

Look at this park below:
Does it look familiar? Look closely? Now can you tell where it is?If you've ever driven to Lake Powell, Moab, Arches or Canyonlands you have probably passed this park on the way. It is just outside of Price in a little town called Wellington.
My family used to drive to Lake Powell every summer. We went for many years until I married Nate. Then the tradition stopped. It was a tradition every time we drove down to stop at this park and take a pit-stop and play at the park and have lunch. (Usually tuna or chicken salad sandwiches.)
The park back then only had a metal slide, monkey bars, and swings. Now the park has a great playground--in fact three! It was fun for me to take my kids to this park --the memories came flooding back. They loved playing at this park, and it's only five minutes away--I'm sure we'll be going back many times!

Caleb's face says it all: it was a fun day playing at the park! I love happy boys!

Whatever Ty does--Mara wants to do! She is getting more and more brave!

Her favorite thing to do at the park now is the monkey bars! Sometimes she can do it on her own, other times she needs a little help!

This little boy has no fear of heights or speed! He'll go down the slide backwards, upside down, forwards--however he wants!

Mara's favorite this has always been the swing. She can pump herself and no longer wants a push!

I think Ty is part monkey--climbs like one, hangs like one!

This is the slide I remember as a kid. It's one of the tallest slides I've ever seen.

Here goes super baby-backwards!

Here she goes--can she do it by herself?! Almost!

There is a good chance we are going to Lake Powell this year (yay!) but we won't be stopping at this park this time! That's okay, we can go anytime! It's nice living closer to all the great places like Lake Powell, Arches and Canyonlands! Can't wait to explore and play in these hot spots this year and for a good while!

Hawaiian Luau

Aloha from Alpine Utah! A few weeks ago we went to Nate's cousin's wedding luau. It was a fantastic party! It was so fun to see the extended family on Nate's side. Marla did a fabulous job with the decorations food and all!

Caleb tried and tried to get this ball--it as attached and wouldn't come off!

Aloha Ty! Looking very handsome in his Hawaiian shirt--even though he had to wear his warm jacket! It's not as warm as it looks, but we were grateful to see the sun. As we were driving through the canyon it was pouring rain and snowing at the summit. We wondered whether or not we should really go! But it turned out to be a beautiful night.

What a nice looking group of Hawaiians! Mara is looking a little sad or shy in this photo--

Oh there is our sweet hula girl, with a smile on he face!

Bubble time! Cousin Garrett blowing bubbles with the kids. What a great idea.

I love this bubble boy's face!

My favorite part of the night wasn't the bubbles but the fact that not one kid fell in the pool! I had to watch my kids like hawks because you know how much they love water--they wanted to get in so bad!

Doesn't Mara look beautiful in her pretty Hawaiian dress! Ooooh-la-la what a babe!

They had the perfect little rock pit for the boys to play in!

Caleb and Aunt Chelsie!

Here is the chocolate fountain! Yum! They had almost everything you could possibly think of to dip in chocolate: fruit, marshmallows, graham crackers, even gummy bears!

Hello sweet chocolate face! Mara just couldn't stay out of the chocolate fountain! (who can blame her!)

Here is Chelsie & Aaron's piece of cake! Cute!