The one with the random monday post!

Wow, talk about a crazy week!

I spent last week with 25 teenagers! Girls camp? No, even better,

Cheer camp!

We really have a group of talented, delightful girls

so i'm not complaining I was just worn out!

Then of course the weekend rush and

now the monday "catch up"!

SO I am blogging to wish you all a happy

week... full of all the fun summer activities we all enjoy!

Soooo happy swimming, shopping, eating, fieldtripping, and

whatever else you may be doing!

ta ta!

The one where......

My sweet little freckled face, six year old boy lost his two front teeth!!!
Yes its true Sam is finally hitting that stage, the first grader minus teeth!
He was so excited for this momentous occasion that it had to be documented
and I must say he is really a fun kid to put in front of the camera!
I love you sam, you are literally my heart walking(running, jumping, boarding)
around outside of my body!

The one with the fun photo shoot.

So my sister Sarah wanted some shots of her kids Tanner and Libby. Tanner plays the electric guitar and gets himself in that get "get up" to "rock out", he is so funny! And of course sweet Libby. It was really fun! I'm sure after I take my classes i'll be mad knowing how much better these could have been, but it's sure fun practicing!!!!

The one where we went.....

to LaGoOn!!!

and that's pretty much

all I have to say about it

because its Lagoon.

The one with the new obsession.

ok so let me explain,

last year i looked into a continuing education class at Weber for photography,

problem was you had to bring a nice camera to really make it worth your while.

Sooo, i didn't do it because i didn't have a good camera,

and for some reason i felt stupid....i don't know why?call me insecure.

So...now problem solved. After a long day at cherry hill with the kids

i came in and Josh told me to sit down because he had a surprise for me!

and VIOLA my new camera!!!!

i am so excited, i immediately enrolled in Ritz University(weber was full)

and took sam and eliza for a few test shots! what do you think?

i know i need some practice but i am really excited!

The one with the double header weekend.

Wow, what a weekend we had.

It all began with a friday night fathers day extravaganza date!!

My friend Rachel and I planned a date for our hubbies.

First we rented scooter's as our mode of transportation for the night!

It was awesome. We ate dinner up the canyon at RUTH's, and if you

haven't been there, go, it's yum with an awesome atmosphere.

Then we saw the sights of Salt Lake all from our scooters!

Next we went to the U2 laser show at the Gateway Planetarium, that was sort of lame.

(But something fun and different.)

And last but certainly not least...dessert at the DoDo, and again if you haven't been there Go!!

We had a fun night and we love the Ratchford's, only next time Rachel and I are flying

solo on the scooters!!!

Now on to SATURDAY!

We had a call from our good friends the Fishers!

We started our night at Corbin's, YUMMY.(do you see a pattern here?)

We like good food! But who doesn't?

We then took a drive up beautiful Morgan canyon to have dessert at Taggart's.

Now you have to go there!

It is some of the best dessert ever, the nice lady cut them in 4 so we could share!

Then we went and hung out at Owen's parents house, and I never laugh as hard as

I do then when I am with the Fishers. "Rabbey? Rabbey."

Thanks for the fun guys, you're the best.(and owen and i didn't even end up in a fight)

Josh and I have really been blessed with good friends, new and old.

We love date night. Even though we can't party like this every weekend,

we sure love it when we do!!!

The one where "this is the place!'

State Park...that is! Due to the depressingly cool June we are having we all had a slight case of cabin fever so we ventured out to This is the place!

For those of you that have not been there for a while its a whole new scene!!

My kids loved it...so much in fact that we bought a season pass.

Now you might be thinking that I just like it because I really should have been born in that era, which is partly true, but come on, where else can you walk down a dirt road and encounter women in full pioneer garb carrying baskets saying a cheery hello!!! But really the" place" is a lot better than in the past!!

You are welcome to join me any time, just say the word,

and we're there!!!

ps. thanks for the fun Rach, Shannon, and Melissa!

The one where It's a girl!!!

Please excuse my lack of blogging, but we have a baby girl at our house this week, so we'll see ya on sunday!

ps. this is what happens when you

stop reproducing, you are

open and available to tending

friends babies.

The one with Vegas Baby!

So now that I've done my wifely and motherly duty and blogged about birthdays(please fell free to still comment so my boys feel loved) I can blog about my fun, fun, super fun weekend! My college roomie Jeanette is getting married so why not a weekend in Vegas to celebrate!! We shopped, ate, layed out, and the highlight....Beatles "LOVE" by Cirque du Soleil. It was amazing and quite an experience, I wish everyone could have the chance to see it because to describe it does not do it justice! This is such a fun group of girls and I am already thinking of another excuse to get back, Vegas on the whole is pretty much gross, but the shopping is awesome and being there with friends makes it even better!!! Congrats JJ, I love ya!!!

The one wtih Joshua Neil's Birthday!

Today is the birthday of my main squeeze! I attacked him with the camera and he was a good sport! I just wanted to capture the true Josh! He is the best husband, father, and friend in the whole world. He does so much for our family, and he always keeps things light! When I start to stress out he always calms me down, that is one of my favorite things about him. He is always positive and willing to help, our kids love to play with him and I am so glad they can always play sports together! I could go on and on so I think I will:

10 things I love about Josh.
1. He is a hunk.
2. He is sweet.
3. He is a great listener, and problem solver.
4. He honors his priesthood(cheesy, I know, but it is so true)
5. He always lets me choose the movie.
6. He folds the whites.
7. He works hard for our family.
8. He is willing to help anyone!
9. He let's me win, and is always first to say I'm sorry.
10.He is a great kisser!! ( it has to be said, he was kind of famous for it in the early 90's)

I am so lucky that he chose me for his wife, for many more reasons than those listed above, so 3 cheers for Josh today! Hip hip horray! Hip hip Horray! Hip Hip Horrray! Love ya babe.

The one where Ethan Joshua turns 11.

Please someone tell me how this happened. It seems like it was just 12 hours ago that my water broke and 12 hours after that all 9 pounds of this beautiful, smart, happy, thoughtful, sweet, sweet boy came into my life. It was the moment that I had waited for, well forever is seemed (he was 8 days late) and he made me a mom. When I think about first babies you always think they were perfect and how could that possibly be true? but Ethan was perfect. He was happy, he was content, he was smart, and as I describe him as a baby that could describe him today. He is still the perfect son for me. He is in tune with the things this family needs, and is most of the time willing to help with anything. I could not ask for a better "oldest child". What an example he is to my other kids, they all adore him, well maybe not Emma but I know deep down she does. My heart is so full of love for my son that I could just go on and on, but I won't because most of you know him and know how I feel about him.....so happy birthday sweet boy and happy birthing day to me.