Moon Lake- Part 3- Dirt

Camping With Kids

equals


Constant filth

and
more stickiness
than any amount of wipes
can overcome.

Moon Lake Moments- Part 2- Fishing

I convinced Ryan
that
it would be fun
to take the kids out fishing on the boat
all together.


They were
beyond excitement
and they hopped and danced
all the way down to the lake

It was evening,
so the water was beautiful
and the temperature was perfect

Our
Handsome Captain
Took us to all the best spots

and then
gave Caden some pointers
on casting and trolling

He wasn't big on the waiting thing
He just wanted to
catch the fish immediately
and move on to the next one

We caught two,
but one hopped right back off the hook
and jumped back in the water
before we could grab him.


The kids thought
I was laughing at their silly dancing
all the way back to camp.

I was really wondering
how they could even walk
with the intense life vest wedgies
they had going on.

Moon Lake Moments

Shortly after arriving at
Moon Lake
the men were already fishing,
and
the natives were getting restless.
So we decided to head to the lodge for a treat.

He we are being Kangaroos
on our walk up there.

I looked up from talking
and thought,
how cute,
they must have found
a caterpillar
or a butterfly
or a grasshopper
or something.
( I so wish I could still sit like that)


Not so much a grasshopper!

and as soon as we finished shrieking
and yanking the kids away from it
Bryn decided to stick her brand new shoes on it
and squish it some more.

I almost puked,
and Holly the germ-o-phobe
didn't know what to do.
One of us screamed
and one of us yanked her off it.
It was a blur of grossness.
(Forgot to take a picture I was so grossed out)

We eventually continued on our way
and ended up at the lodge for blow pops.

You better believe
we took an alternate route back.

To our supreme happiness
The Carcass was gone the next morning.

For the Love of My Mother in Law and All Things Mongolian

My Mother In Law

has this insane memory
for names and faces
Her address book is about a mile thick.
She remembers and keeps in contact with
friends from 50 years ago.
And considers them friends still.

And so two weeks ago,
while having a family reunion of sorts,

The MIL anounced with undisguised excitement
That we were all expected to attend a wedding reception.
All of us.
All 6 of the kids, All of the spouses
and all of the grand kids.

For whom?
you ask
I have no idea,
I went to the reception
and I still have no idea.
A family friend
from the military's daughter
is all I remember

It was at the Provo Library
In the smallest of the small rooms,
that was quite possibly
smaller than my bedroom.
We couldn't even fit in the door.
Half of the people there couldn't
We all ended up loitering in the hallway.

This gave us the perfect view however,
when the blond haired, blue eyed
bride
came out
dressed like this
to throw the bouquet.

I was confused
because I had seen bridesmaids
that looked like this,
and from the glimpses I had seen from the doorway
of the inside of the reception
the swags and decorations and such
were sage green and lilac.

We finally got into the room
as everyone else was exiting
in order to catch the bouquet
so we could get the cake
that the kids were screeching for

Notice the lilac table clothes,
(Now picture the bride's screaming red dress)
Confused?
See what I mean?


The food threw me off too.
Normal wedding food
at a
half Mongolian
themed wedding.

We had just settled down at a table,
when the brides father,
in full military dress
to add one more genre of clothing to the mix,
announced
that reception was over,
and could everyone start helping take things down.

Ryan shoveled in a few more bites of his plate,
and got up to help.

All the girls and the kids escaped
to hang out on the Provo Library Steps
While the boys helped with the tear down inside.


I told my sister in law Tiffany
That when she got married
If she even thought that I would wear a dress like that
she had another think coming to her

and that if she decided to wear a dress like the bride wore,
I would laugh through the entire day.
Not that it wasn't stunning in its own way,
but I decided that I am big on finding one theme,
and one culture,
and sticking with it
for the entire two hour reception.

As we were walking to our car
I caught sight of this,
and had to run over for one more picture

Seriously?
I have no idea what the Chinese
(or whatever that is)
says
but if my family even thought
about writing that on my car,

We would have a serious throw down,
and just when I was getting over that

I saw the back.

Wow.

To my new acquaintances (the newlyweds)
Ashley and Munktur
(I had to text the MIL
and of course she remembered their names on the spot)
Best of luck in your future together.

and to the MIL
I still and always will
love you
Thank you
for providing me and the fam
with such a diverse cultural experience

and
in case you were wondering
the Coconut Chocolate Things were delish.

Happy Fourth of July (a week late)

We spent the Fourth
with Ryan's Family

6 of the 7 kids
were in town,
so it was
a huge party.

We started off by showing Aliyah
and Stephanie
Thanksgiving Point's Farm Country.

Our friend Margaret
was working the Pony Rides,
so we got an extra long ride,
all to ourselves.

We decided to take the wagon ride too.
When the driver heard
we were going to be late to the movies
she drove us right up to the movie theater
at the front of Thanksgiving Point.

We felt pretty cool
being delivered to the movies
by horse and carriage.
Evidently other people did to
( we got lots of funny looks)

Then it was home
for the family BBQ
and games.

And
trampoline time.

Miracle of Miracles
We actually got a picture
of all the grand kids
in one place

It took about 15 shots to get
1
where they were all looking


And then of course
Sparklers for all.

I let Cohen do sparklers,
and didn't think a thing of it
until Ryan gave one
to the little neighbor boy.
who is four
(Cohen is two)
The mom freaked out and yanked it away.
Muttering how could we have given him one
and how very very dangerous they were.

I guess I am a crappy mom
who loves sparklers
and the Fourth of July.
But Cohen and all the other kids
(except the four year old neighbor)
had a blast.

So did the big kids.

So sad
that Ryan's sisters
already had to head back home.
It was fun to all be together!

I found where my stress free existance went...

It went to
the
Zermatt Resort and Spa
in Midway Utah.

Well,
that's where I found it
anyway.


I had forgotten
that I had purchased
a membership to this club
that gave us a weekend getaway
for Ryan's Birthday
Last Year.


It was going to expire
on June 30
so we thought,
shoot,
this weekend sounds good.

Ryan's mom graciously agreed
to watch the kids
and off we went.


There was a huge brunch
Huge,
$30 bucks a person huge
(brunch for 2 was part of the package)
and
I royally screwed the diet
and ate whatever I wanted.

We then checked out our room.
(Which was awesome)
and headed to the pool

see the pictures of us
both
sunburned.

We used the Resorts
Gym,
(had to work off that brunch)

steam room,
(eucalyptus mist and blue and red lighting)

and relaxation center
(Think dreamy quiet room, with soft music,
dim lighting, comfy chairs, a fire place
and essential oils being diffused.)


Then headed to dinner
which was also amazing.
(and included with the vouchers so FREE!)


A round on the 18 hole putting greens
(again, included in the vouchers)

and a little shuffle board.

All feelings of stress melted away.

The bed was lovely and comfy.
I didn't want to wake up.

Need to get away?
Need to relax?
Need to reclaim your stress free life?
This place was primo.
and the customer service was
Beyond Compare.
I would go back tomorrow.

We loved it so much
that we renewed our membership
so we could go again.

Little slice of heaven,
right there in Midway Utah.

and I am happy to report,
that we have been making
some rockin progress
on the board o' projects.


Yeah for my stress free life coming back!
and for my favorite man ever
who works his tale off to make me happy.
Lucky lucky girl
Right Here.

P.S. Ryan wants me to mention
that we have done
TONS of other projects and cleaning
in addition to what was on the list as well.

OVERWHELMED in all capital letters

I
normally
have a very
non stressed
outlook on life

if things don't get done,
then they don't get done,
I will get to it.
(Notice clutter in the background)

If my kids are in pajamas all day,
(Okay, if I am in pajamas)
and there are dirty dishes in the sink
oh well.

Lately
I have been
LOOSING it.
My non stressed lifestyle
went flying away
to some far away land
that I cannot find.

Wouldn't yours
with laundry piles a mile high
(dryer currently broken)

and stacks of bills and papers
to file and shred
like this

and
with a sewing project pile
like this

and a million painting projects
that look like this

I could go on.
But Ryan would hate me
if I posted a picture
of my master bathroom
on here

During one of my meltdowns,
Ryan suggested
he take a week off of work
just to stay home and do projects.
Deep clean and sort and paint
from top to bottom.
Things we never get to.
That have been stacked away for
well,
yes,
years.


I started a list.
It just kept growing
and growing.

My friend looked at it
and said

"My, that's ambitious"

Yes it is,
but I feel like if these things were done,
breathing in and out
would become easier.

Today is day #1
Three items off the list already.
My heart is lightening
as we speak.
as is the load in my closet.

I keep trying to visualize my happiness
when all of the someday projects
get done.
instead of focusing on the mess,
that true organization creates
before it can get better.

Wish me luck
or some Xanax
I might need that too!