Busy Busy

We have been so busy lately. It feels like we have been going a million miles an hour. Our good friends from Clinton, The Canovas came up for a barbecue one weekend. It was really good to see them and catch up a bit. Corbin has had swim lessons going on since last week. They are in North Ogden so it has been a lot of time and fuel:( He has been doing great though.
On the 24th, we had a BBQ with some friends up here in the Valley and then our family went hiking at Snowbasin Ski Resort. It was very beautiful. Our kids are quite the hikers. Near the middle of our hike, Tyson challenged anyone who wanted to participate in a race up a VERY steep hill. I accepted, as did Jaden and Corbin. Jaden made it about halfway, Corbin ran most of it, as did Tyson and I. Even Ross joined in the fun.(is that the right word for it?!?) Tyson beat all of us. We all made it but I had a nasty pain in the ol' lungs by that time. Hill running does not work for me but the point is, we did something hard and we had fun. The hike back down the mountain was much more leisurely.
In between all of this, my dad had a birthday. Happy B-day Dad! You're one in a million. We also had a fun sleepover with a family that lives up here in the Valley. Normally, we don't allow sleepovers. But Ross and I have been friends with the parents for over 13 years now (crazy!) and they were participating in the sleepover as well. We had a great dinner, climbed the rock wall, made home made ice cream, watched movies and played games. We went to bed at about 1 that night. It was a riot. I have to plan this kind of thing with more families we are friends with. It was fun to have the grownups with the kids.
We have a lot more to do coming up here these next couple of weeks, what with birthdays and weddings and the Weber County Fair. I will post when I can. I have to let you all know about some good books I have been reading lately to add to your piles of must-read-books.
Cheers!

What Do You Remember About Me?

My blogging buddy Heidi posted this tag on her blog and I thought it was kind of fun.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

(side note: if any of these memories can in anyway incriminate me in any crime, please reply to my e-mail;)

Obedience

We had a great lesson in church today about obedience. It has gotten me thinking about it a lot today. Why is it so hard to do it sometimes? I know the blessings I get when I am obedient and I know how much better I feel, yet I seem to go in this vicious cycle. Sometimes I am so solid in doing what I should and I think, "I really got it this time. Nothing can stop me." And then, I get lazy I guess. And it seems like pulling teeth to get out my scriptures or to say my prayers.
I know that when life gets hard and frustrating we can usually look at ourselves and see what we are NOT doing that would bring us to that state. Then we have an a-ha moment when we realize it was us that caused it the whole time and we need to get back on track.
I had one of those moment earlier when I was having my giant pity party, wondering why things are really getting to me lately. Strictly my idleness, I think. I need to anxiously re-engage myself. As of right now, consider it done. No more of this whiny, sissy stuff. Until the next time, of course.

Validated

I am really having a hard time the last couple of days. Maybe that's why I haven't felt like posting. I know we all have our times when we just feel a little lost. I am a little lost right now.
We had a family party tonight and sometimes I get a little envious of my sister who I love dearly. She is totally amazing. She has always had this great relationship with my parents that I sometimes don't seem to have. I am always trying to be validated but she seems to shine brighter than I do. It would help if she ever did anything wrong but she never does!
I have posted before about my 3 friends. I also love them dearly. We had a chance to hang out this last week because it was Megan's b-day. It was such a good time but sometimes I feel like I don't quite fit, like they are all better friends with each other than I am with them. I guess most of the time I just don't think I am all that interesting. I don't have a bad self esteem I just don't know why people would like me.
It bugs me that I feel the need to be validated. Why can't I just be happy all the time and let it roll off my back?
Writing it down has made it sound kind of dumb but there it is. I feel a little better. Thanks for joining in on my pity party.

Delicious

The other night we were playing the game Apples to Apples. Tyson got a card that he instantly started to giggle about. He made the comment that he was going to use it for something good. Well the card "delicious" got thrown. Tyson's description of delicious? CHEERLEADERS! He laughed and laughed and Ross awarded him the card. Like father, like son. Boy do I have my work cut out for me! I guess I would be more worried if he didn't think that.

Great Book

Just finished The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom. Same guy that wrote Tuesdays With Morrie. This is a fictional story but such a good book. It is only 196 pages so it is a fast read. I highly recommend it.

Happy 4th

We have had a great time today. We went over to the Huntsville Park this morning for the days festivities. We went to the breakfast in the park which was pancakes, eggs and sausage with orange juice shooters. Good stuff. Then we watched the town parade. It's so fun to live in a small town where everyone knows everyone and it's just a good time all around. There is a friendliness that is always in the air. And it wouldn't be a small town parade if you didn't have a tractor in every color from every era finishing it all off.
This afternoon we went with the Walker side of the family to see the movie Wall-E. It was really cute.
We are going to grill and then tonight head to the park again with the Adams side to watch fireworks. Good times.
It's a good time to reflect on the great country we live in and how much people sacrifice for it to be that way. God bless America.