Ever heard of the Fish Rodeo??

Finding things to do while we waited

One of the few moments Cole was actually still and patient


yea-the fish finally arrive


The kids wait in line


Congratulations You waited 3 hours and paid $5 a piece-you get a half dead fish in a bag
Sarahs fish-hoping she had a new pet, but actually got home with water in bag was put in freezer to throw out at a later time
Seths fish-Too sad to keep and watch die for no reason-only kid that asked to put fish back in holding pond
Eastons fish-Squished to death while examining, all water leaked out of bag stunk like crazy

We got up Saturday morning hopped in the car and headed down to Spanish Fork for the fish rodeo. It was supposed to start at 9 or 10 and we were afraid we were going to be late, so we rushed there, bought tickets and then waited around for about two to three hours for the fish to arrive so they could start. The line was huge, but we found things to do while we were waiting. It was pretty fun, but I think one time was enough. All of our kids got a fish, but they didn't win any of the big prizes.

Just call me HANDY WoMANNY

I love my washer because we have had it about 10 yrs and never had any problems with it, but lately it has needed a little tlc. It isn't a fancy washer, but it handles all of the dirt and grime we dish out to it with a husband in construction, four little ones, and guest bedding that needs to be washed quite often. About 2 months ago it stopped washing and I researched all of the possibilities, took it apart and figured out it was the lid switch. I got on the Internet and figured out how to replace it, called to find the part and put in the new one. Just recently I went in to change out a load of clothes to find that the floor was covered in water. At first I thought it might be the washers way of telling me it was done. I again researched the different problems it could be and found it was a leaky water pump. Once again I got online to figure out how to replace it. I took it apart once again. Ry helped me out this time by picking up the part I called in. He brought it home and I installed it and the thing ran like new. I am so proud that I went to the effort to do these things mostly because it saved me lots of money, but I also have always had an interest in seeing how things work. It also finally forced me to clean all the muck around the washer and dryer.

All of the towels I used to soak up the water from the laundry room

The washer taken apart

The new water pump I installed

The kids having fun in their very own time machine

So this post may not be so humble, but I write it for several reasons:

1: to inspire all women to at least try to fix things before paying tons of money for some guy to do it

2:to let my children know that mom didn't always take the easy way out

3:to advertise my skills just in case I have to do this for money one day (ha ha)

4:most importantly to brag

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

We took our children and Eli to the open house of our new temple. We also met Calli and Ryan and their kids there. It was so beautiful and I loved being with my children in this sacred place. They have always asked to go in and this was their first opportunity. They loved it and were very well behaved. After we walked through we went to the refreshment tent outside and there was a beautiful player piano going. The kids thought it was so cool that the keys were being pushed down all by themselves. Easton asked me how it did that and I jokingly said maybe it was a ghost. He obviously didn't get the joke and because the night had been spent talking and thinking of Jesus throughout the open house , responded "is it the ghost of Jesus?" I turned to Calli to tell her what he had said and she said "tell him it's the holy ghost"--We had a reverent laugh and then he learned how a player piano really worked.

Seths Pine Wood Derby

Seth with his super cool car

ready to race


Seth and all the cub scouts with their trophies

Seth enjoyed his first pine wood derby this year. We did have a fewobstacles though. Ryan got started early with his car. Seth drew out the design of a test tube and Ry went to work shaping it, but by the time it was about finished being shaped we realized it looked like something else and decided to save that car for the previous posted rocket car race at Papa's. Seth then came up with a new scorpion like design for his new car and he and daddy went to work. I helped with the paint and tail. The night of the race Ry had to work late so I had to put on the wheels and hope the weight was right. When we weighed in it was still a little light, so I ran home ( with all of the kids in tow) and got some quarters and electrical tape. I guessed how much to put on and weighed in again=this time it was perfect. Just as the race was about to begin the cub master came to me and told me that Seth's car had illegal wheels on it. I have never been involved in a pine wood derby and had no idea. I guess when we were in Mona the week before making cars we had several different brands, but I thought they were all pretty much the same. When we came home we just grabbed enough stuff to finish Seth's. The wheels we brought home were not from the Boy Scout Pine Wood Kit and therefore illegal. I ran home once again to see if I could find some other wheels but couldn't. He was still allowed to race, but if he placed he would not get his medal. After the first run I could tell that was not going to be an issue-his car and his buddy's car didn't make it across the finish line. I was freaking out because they will let you try to graphite the wheels or fix them and Ry was not there. I didn't know what that meant, but luckily one of the dads there helped me out. Every run after that his car did better and better. He didn't place, but he did win the trophy for Showstopper. I love my boys and had a lot of fun watching him design and race his car. He is such a good sport and always has a good time competing.

7 on July 7: Happy Birthday Easton

The little ones on the tramp


Sista to the rescue



Friends having fun


Eastons lovely cake

Pinata time

Easton had his first friend birthday. I let him just invite a few friends and we had an outdoor swim party. He also requested a pinata. He is not a big cake eater, but wanted white cake with blue icing with an E on it. This was the closest thing the local Wal-mart had that day and with the addition of a large E this was the end result (pretty funny if you ask me). He wasn't too happy with the cake, but loved the E. He got lots of great presents but was most excited about playing with his buddies. Big thanks go out to Calli for all of her help-picking up pizza, holding Cole while I managed the games, etc......... I got a pretty bad sunburn on my back and shoulders, but other than that the day was great. I just can't believe my little E guy is 7 years old. He was the funniest baby and toddler because he always held the most serious face-even when doing his little one arm dance. He also always had the most loud and annoying cry. He is a little monkey with natural gymnastic abilities and super limber like his mama. He is one of the few boys I've ever seen that can do the splits. He is a lover of all things outdoors and such a great little helper when it comes to babies and younger ones. Easton loves to help in the kitchen and already had a bad addiction to guns just like his daddy. He can't wait to gut his first Elk or deer and loves to hold anything slimy. He is all boy and he's growing up way to fast. We love you Easton and enjoy having such a fun energetic little fella around.

July 1, 2009--He Walks

Cole just decided it was time to start walking on July 1, and took off across the living room. He had taken a few steps here and there, but it was pretty much a one day decision just like his older brother Easton. Some people say that they don't like it when they start walking because they are into everything--I beg to differ. Cole has been into everything for a long time already. He can pull himself up onto anything and can open any drawer or cabinet, so walking will not be that much different. He doesn't put as many things into his mouth now that he is up off the floor. He is just way faster now and having a ball. Too bad he couldn't have learned this about one week earlier so that he was not crawling around in the dirt while we were camping. This video is not that great because he was already sick of walking by the time I pulled out the camera. ( I always wait to long to start filming)

July 3, 2009
We finally went and got a little pool. The kids had a blast playing in it and listening to the radio. Seth chose to stay inside and hang out with his uncle Eli who we brought back with us from Idaho on our way home from Yellowstone. They are so excited to have him here with us. Summertime is here and it is HOT!!

July 4th 2009

The 4th was lots of fun. We spent the day down in Mona and some of us made pine wood derby cars with engines in them. The put hooks in the top of the cars and hooked them to a string that was pulled across the yard and pasture. They then put a rocket engine in the back and sent them into the chain link fence. I have some pretty funny video, but I am having trouble downloading the video. We of course had a bar b que and lit fire works. It was a great day spent with our wonderful family.

June 25-29 Yelowstone and the Madison

Our summer vacation this year was up near Yellowstone. We camped with Mike and April and their kids at the Campfire Lodge near the Madison River. We each had our own little cabins and we had lots of fun. It was great to get away for a few days and just relax. I think our husbands needed the break and just being in the outdoors does something great for ya. I think it is so refreshing. The guys (Mike Ry Josh Jared) loved going fishing down at the river, and while they were doing that April and I would do crafts and play games with the younger ones. A couple of mornings we took all the kids down to Hebgen Lake to fish and one day we spent driving through Yellowstone Park. I think everyone had a great time and I was sad to have to leave. Sometimes I think I could live in a little house in a place like that. You just forget about the things of the world for a while and it is very nice-I love the simplicity!!

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Happy Fathers Day

Although it was a while ago-just wanted to say how much I love all of the men in my life. We celebrated fathers day by making dad breakfast and then going down to Mona that evening to celebrate with PaPa.

I sure love and appreciate all that my father did for me growing up. There wasn't anything that man couldn't fix and he was always up for a game of baseball. He coached us many years and was always involved in the Little League where we lived. He worked so hard to make a living for our large family and supported my mom in parenting. He loved to get on the floor and wrestle with us and it always amazed me how he could hold all of us down at the same time. I was always equally amazed that although he had a thin frame his arm muscles were so big. I just knew he was the strongest man in the world. Being blessed with so many daughters he was always willing to let us play with his coal black hair. He would let us put curlers or clips or pony tail holders in it and it would usually put him to sleep. He couldn't carry a tune, but I loved to hear him try. Our annual camping trip was always a blast. We would go to the river for a week or so and float the rapids and just play outside. He didn't cook much at home, but put him in the outdoors and that man could make some good grub--my personal favorite was his biscuits fried in bacon grease. I have tried to make these, but have not mastered it yet. I wish I had learned how he did it before he passed on. I am sad that my younger siblings did not get to experience all that us older kids did and hope that one day they will get to know him the way we did. I love him and always think fond memories of him on this day.



My husband is the absolute greatest father and man in my life. He has many of the wonderful qualities that my own father had and sometimes I think that is part of the reason I fell in love with him. He is so giving of his time and he can be a kid just as much as all of our children and sometimes even more. He loves to play any kind of game and hates to lose. One of the bonuses I got by snagging this fella is that he loves to cook-and he's dang good at it. I didn't grow up with a dad that cooked much, but my kids love it when he is the chef. He also loves to be in the outdoors. I think he would live up on the mountain if he didn't have to work. I love to see him when we are all out together though--he is definitely at home outside. He is the hardest working person I know and I hope that my kids develop the same work ethic he has. Most of all, I love that he is so kind and I know he would do anything for me and our children. He is always finding ways to show me he loves me--my favorite being back rubs. I am so grateful I was blessed with such a wonderful partner in life. I love him so much. (Sorry to all you ladies out there who only got 2nd best-jk)



I was not only blessed with a wonderful partner, but with him came a great father-in-law. I have gotten to know this man more over the last 11 1/2 years and I have to say that I am so glad that I could have such a great man around. He can fix anything just like my own father and he loves the outdoors as well. He loves to take people out on 4-wheeler rides and is known to take the "short cut" or scenic route. He is a wonderful father and grandfather. He does so much for his family. The grandchildren are so lucky to have such a wonderful Papa. He has built them a wonderful playhouse and zip line at his home in Mona and the kids are always so excited to go there and play. My husband inherited many of his dads wonderful traits and for that I am thankful.

To all the wonderful men in my life including the unmentioned brothers and brother-in-laws, uncles, cousins and those whom I never got a chance to meet--happy fathers day. I am such a lucky gal to be surrounded by such great men.

These two are up to no good

I couldn't find the baby or the dog...........

Beatty Family Reunion June 2009

Wednesday night I got to sneak off from the reunion
and see my best friend from TX. The kids stayed in mona while
Ry and I and my sis Calli went with her and her husband
to dinner and then out for sno cones. She was staying in
Orem with her brother and his wife who we were also
able to sit and visit with that night. It is so great to
see old friends-it sure takes you back to when you were
young. I miss having her around and the sweet nature
she exudes. There is just something about those TX folk
that makes you just want to go back to TX with them.

Friday--Yuba Lake
Well it was windy and a little chili, but we still had fun.

Saturday morning I got up and ran the Springville 5k with Calli. Thanks for inviting me to

come and enjoy the pain that comes when you haven't been running much and you try to

bust one of these out (that explains the extremely red face). Back in Mona the rest of the gang ran their own 5k and all did very well.



Saturday afternoon we had the Beatty Olympics. Each family competed in various games and got points for any one they won.

June 4-7 was a blast for all who attended. Big thanks go out to Debbie and Lance for all their hard work and dedication to get this whole thing together. Thanks also to Ma and Pa Beatty for letting us all crash their pad for 4 days.