Utah...then

Well, we're headed off to Utah early Wednesday morning.  We are going to make the drive with our whole family, Kirk's parents and his older brother Kevin.  We will caravan, of course.  We are going mainly to see Kirsten Klippel get married.  She is the oldest daughter to Lyle and Carolyn Klippel.  We are very excited to see friends and family for sure. 

The funny thing is that the last time I was in Utah, which you will see below, I can hardly remember a single thing, only that we went to watch General Conference live.  Other than that, I have no memories of what happened during that trip.  On that note, thank goodness for blogging because it has helped me to keep memories and document important events. 
 

Here are all of us fellow Mormons and friends coming out of the Conference Center.
 

Not only Utah then, but Kirk and Shauna then.  Back then we only had three kids.  Reece was a year old on this trip.
 

Mom and dad then.  But, they look no different to me today.
 

Tonight I went and did some shopping.  I stocked up on gum, crackers, fruit, and more food, some clothing for the kids and myself.  I also got my nails done using a gift card to InSpa that a girlfriend gave to me last year while I was in the hospital with a complicated pregnancy.  I finally got around to using it. 

We have lots of plans.  If we can just get through the drive...so this is Utah then.  When we get back we will see...

Utah Now!!!
 

Summer is close...

Summer is without a doubt on the back porch, and I mean the season, not the girl...folks.  :)  It is so amazing how we are ready for summer when it is near.  I love the winter, probably more than most, but I am ready for a change. 

The sun is up longer, kids are out playing, laughing, screaming, racing, skipping, it's a breath of fresh air.  And to start off this little photo stream I believe this is one of the best pictures to get us a feel for summer.  Priceless.  I love this picture. 
 

We got our Happy Hollow passes and went for the first time last week.  We went with the Macdonalds and VanTuyls because there is nothing better than going with friends. 
 

Reece and Georgia in line for "Danny the Dragon," (A train ride, and it's a dragon train.)
 

My beautiful garden!  This is definitely saying summer is so close!!!  My dad is so proud we've kept this garden alive.  I say we because we all take turns watering it.
 

Georgia has taken over feeding the boy.  Every morning she asks in her little voice, "can I feed William." 
 

Just chillin' on the trampoline with neighborhood friends.  They also stayed for dinner. 
 

I love Costco.  The melons, the tortilla chips the carrots, the oranges...it all says summer.  Very much summer foods.  :)
 

After loading up the groceries,  Summer said, "mommy, I strapped baby in, me don't sit there anymore."  Okay, "me"...we'll see about that.
 

Shane and Gwyneth bonding on the couch today.
 

It's a whole new generation of Jedi Masters in this house.  We haven't had light sabers in the house for a while now.  But, make no mistake we do now, thanks to the thrift store. 
 

Sisters doing some summer shopping. 


  Shoes for Gwyneth and athletic shoes for Kalen. 
 

Bathing Suits always scream summer!  Georgia's on the left and Gwyneth's on the right.
 

Kalen is filling out the required paperwork to go to Zions Camp.  It's the boys camp through church that they go to every summer until they are 18.  Camp kick off was tonight at church.  They prepare for this camp months in advance.  Fun times ahead for sure.  And they asked my husband to attend with the first levels.  So the official leaders for level one are my husband, Kirk Klippel and Matt Stepan. 
 

The other morning Kirk asked Shane, "why are your animals in jail?"  Shane said, "they're not in jail, they're just sleeping."
 

Baby boys that go in the swing really make me feel like summer is rolling in.
 

I just thought I would get proof that our kids do their own laundry starting at 8 years old.  I'm just doing them a favor by taking these pictures.  When they explain to their own kids that, "yes, I was doing my own laundry at 8 years old..." they will have the evidence. :)
 

Last but not least, baby girl eating her afternoon snack. 

Mango's definitely say, "summer is near..."
 

Boys...

Years ago I use to think there was something wrong with my family, mainly with the noise level in my home.  And, finally I realized that it was nothing I had done wrong, it was just the fact that I had boys.  This morning, the Sabbath morning no less, my sons decided to "wrestle" in my room on my bed.  I was getting ready for church just feet away from this amazing excitement, and noise, I might add.
 

This kind of stuff use to drive me mad!  I would yell things like: 

"How can we feel the spirit in this house when you are being so LOUD!!!"
or
"It's the Sabbath Day for PETE'S SAKE!"
or
"Somebody really is going to get hurt this TIME!"
or
 

"That is tooooo ROUGH!"
or
 

"Do you ever see the girls doing THIS!"
or
 

"You're driving me up the WALL!!!"
 

And do they ever stop...no.  So, I usually keep quiet now, trying to enjoy the fact that they are making memories as brothers, fighters, crazy people, whatever you want to call it. 
 

And I try to stay close because of course, "it's always fun and games until someone gets hurt."
 

But, luckily this morning after my husband walked in from church meetings,  to find these crazies, I felt relief and said, "hey-do you see what I have to deal with! :)"

And then I turned around to find this.  My husband, right in the middle of it all. 

And, I said to myself..."Oh yeah, he's one of them...a boy."
 

In Ten Years...

Will you still feel the need to sit on your poor little brother like this?  And will he take it so well? 
 

Will you still love to dance and host dance parties for all who come to our home?
 

Will you still be friends with Isabel?  I hope so...since you both love each other so much.
 

Summer, will you still be friends with Clara?  Maybe if you stop pushing her around-yes, I'm talking to you Summer Ann Klippel, I've got my eyes on you.  You're lucky she's even taking a picture with you... :)
 

Will you kids still go on runs with me?  You better. 
 

Will you still be buddies and play together so much?
 

Will you still be so cute?
 

Will you still look like a marshmallow with eyes? Ha!
 

Will you still looooooove Avocado?
 

Will I still be eating yams everyday?...most likely...yes.
 

Will you two girls still be kindred spirits?...I hope with all of my heart.
 

In ten years, will I still look like this?  Most likely not, but one can only hope.  :)
 

Will you still love your babies?
 

Will you still collect bugs and call them your pets and try and convince us that they can stay alive in sealed, plastic bags that have no air?  ( Note: she pulled this fly out of a spider's web.  The spider had tied the fly's wiings, so the fly could not "fly" around.  She loved that and thought it was so great that she could let it crawl all over her.  :)  We'll see what you think about that in ten years..."Bearny B."
 

In ten years, will you all be so happy, still?
 

Shane!  Will you still be obsessed with my phone and taking pictures of yourself and your tongue...for Pete's Sake!!!
 

Will you and Joe still be great friends...I hope so...


In ten years I will be 44, my oldest son will be 22 and my oldest daughter will be 20.  I think about how fast the time has gone by.  How much I've learned about myself, about my children, about raising a family.   Times are changing in my home.  I have real, life, big kids.  And so far it has been so wonderful.  I love having the bigger kids with toddlers and babies, all of us together. 

Another ten years is going to go by so fast.  I hope for so many things.  I hope my children, as they get older, will be able to weather the life learning that is in store for them.  I hope for their happiness.  I hope for their spiritual testimonies to grow and grow.  And I hope that they will look back on our family with fondness.