Steel Days

So, I found these pics when I was getting our steel days pictures for this blog. On the day of the Alpine fire we just happened to have a little cousin party at the Alpine splash pad. We saw the fire go from a tiny dot on the mountain to a raging inferno. Within 40 minutes the fire was engulfing the mountainside. It was crazy. The kids were very worried. They ran off to the edge of the park and those young cousins decided to say a prayer that the fire wouldn't get the houses and the firemen could get things under control. :) Good kids. Anyway, it was a day we won't be forgetting anytime soon.

This week was Steel Days in American Fork. I remember Steel Days growing up. :) We always looked forward to it. Anyway, Nate surprised the kids by buying some ride tickets. So we went on Friday night and had a pretty good time on the rides. Sarah enjoyed the ride with her daddy but the highlight was when she went with Emily and Rachel. She was just glowing with excitement flying around on that little saucer.

Benjamin and Rachel decided to conquer the Fire Bolt. This ride is just a big circle that take you upside down about 10 times. Poor Ben and Rachel...they started out so excited. Nate tried to go with them but they refused. They wanted to do the experience on their own. When the ride started the cars moved about half way around the circle. Kids still smiling...but as soon as the cars went full circle and upside down we saw their countenances change into total fear. They were terrified. I hate to admit that Nate and I giggled a litte at their complete change...I kind of wondered if one or both of them was going to end up throwing up. Luckily, they made it through the ride. I went around to the exit to meet them. As soon as Rachel saw me she burst into tears. They both said it was so scary and they hated it. Hopefully we didn't scar them for life allowing them to go on that ride. I didn't think much about it before hand since they have done some pretty big Lagoon rides. I guess this was different. Anyway, at the very least, they conquered the ride and can say they did it.

We ended with some happy and simple rides...so we still went home happy. Steel Days Carnival...we will come back next year.

The Day I Hit a Hoe!

So, perhaps some of you have experienced a run in with a hoe before...but by my calculations it is a rare and unfortunate experience. One that I hope you won't have. So, last Wednesday Ben had a day camp with the scouts. Since it was just the girls we (I) decided to blow off all chores and have a girls outing to the mall for lunch and play at the treehouse. We were all excited. We hurriedly got ready and headed out the door. Everyone in the car...check. Air conditioning on...check. Music up... check. Smiles present...check. Off we went. As we drove happily a long on the freeway we were unaware of the danger that lie ahead. Well, I was unaware until a split second before contact. I looked ahead and a flash thought went through my mind... "Is that a hoe?" Alas, the thought came to late for any action and I ran right over it. Someone's blasted gardening hoe fell out of their truck and on to the freeway. We were blessed in that the hoe only blew a huge gash in my tire. I suppose it could have flipped up and done more damage. But our happy journey came to an abrupt stop as I pulled off to the side of the freeway. It all ended well. I called my dad..since Nate isn't much use to me when he is at work in SLC. However, before my dad got to me a good Samaritan stopped and changed my tire for me. I was glad...I was feeling pretty guilty making my dad change my tire. Anyway, thanks to that blessed man who stopped to help and thanks to my fabulous parents who made sure that we were safe and well, including my dad making sure my spare got some air in it so that I didn't lose that tire as well. I now have a pretty new tire. Oh yea...and we still went to the mall. Do you really think we would give up that easily. :)

Juggling July

Hmmm...It's Sunday...sleepy Sunday. :) I decided to update my blog because my missionary in-laws wanted to see pictures. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't bother with it. So far we have had a really fun summer but it is busy and going by too fast. I really wish I could slow it down. August just means I go back to work, which I am not ready for yet. Oh well. Focus on the present. So, summer at our house this year has meant sleeping in almost every day. I know. It's awful. My kids don't get up until at least 9am. Consequently, I lounge in bed most mornings reading and being lazy. I feel guilty about it. I was supposed to get active this summer and become Wonder Woman. Just keeping it real I guess. My one accomplishment so far is cleaning the house almost everyday...and making the kids do chores everyday. That will have to be enough. July has brought a lot of good times our way. We had our Baxter cousins visit from Oregon over the 4th of July. We participated in the Provo Children's Parade the weekend before the 4th. Nate and I were not really that excited to get up and walk in the heat on a Saturday morning...but memories needed to be made. It was actually kind of fun.

As if one parade isn't enough, we also went to the Provo Freedom Festival Parade on the 4th of July. Poor Nate woke up at 4am to help save a spot for us. The tradition of going every year will probably continue for a long time. At least we have found a spot where we don't have to spend the night on the parade route. I remember the year Nate and I got engaged we were the designated spot savers. We spent the night out on the lawn, only to have the sprinklers come on at 3am. I was so dead asleep I just pulled my bag over my head and continued sleeping until Nathan pulled me out of the grass.

We thought it was pretty funny to watch Ben. Apparently the parade is not what it used to be for him. He read Harry Potter the entire morning. :) Anyway, after the parade and a nice lunch with our Baxter family we went home for afternoon naps. My mom and dad had us over for dinner. The Stalker family is less active on the 4th these days so it was just us and my padres. Actually, that was fabulously peaceful and made for a fun evening. Nate took the kids to the Pleasant Grove fireworks to wrap up the day while I spent a quiet night at the house. Babies do not care about fireworks as much as sleep.

Last week my parents took us boating at Deer Creek Reservoir . We had a super nice time. I wasn't sure how bad I wanted to go as I got all of our stuff together but once we were there I was really glad we did it. The kids had a great time on the boat. Sarah absolutely loved it. Ben and Rachel both tried out the wakeboard. I was nervous for them and thought it would be too hard...but they both showed me. They were great and even though they didn't actually stay up long enough to go anywhere they were both able to get upright on the wakeboard. I was really impressed and proud of them for their persistence.

There you go. An update on our summer. Mary and Tom, hope you enjoyed it. :)