First day of school

Yea! School has begun and we are all so excited to be back on a schedule. How handsome is my first grader? He said that his teacher told him he was the handsomest kid in class. I told him that she is so smart.
Posing....
And my preschooler. He seemed a little nervous but glad for the attention he was getting. Yea, Trevon I'm so proud of how brave you are.
His cool backpack that has all sorts of pockets. His favorite is the one for his phone, if he had one. Seriously, does this smile make you melt? It does me.

10 years of sheer bliss

What does marriage mean to you? To me it means having someone to come home to, someone to share the most important things in life, someone to laugh with, someone who helps you become better every day. I am so grateful for my marriage to Brook. Someone was definently looking out for me when we met. We've had our ups and downs (that 7 year itch stuff is real) but I can say that he is very special and I am so blessed to have him as my companion. I love him very much and hope that I can show him every day what he means to me.


So, to celebrate 10 short years, we went to Deer Valley and stayed at the Silver Baron Lodge. We also went to hear the Utah Symphony and the Mo Tab at the outdoor ampitheater. We were unprepared because we didn't have snow hats and coats. It was cold so we stayed for only half of it but it was really great anyway.


But back at the room they had bathrobes for each of us.....
A nice fireplace......
A big comfy bed....
and a jetted tub with candles. (we went and bought bubbles just for this occasion ; )

We also had a personal jacuzzi outside on the balcony. It was beautiful and amazing but it wouldn't matter where we were as long as we were together.

Is this the End?

I hardly think it can all be over. Even though I wanted an ending to all of this madness inside my heart and head, I can barely think of not reading about the Cullens'. I l..o..v..e..d loved the book. It was surprising and different and sometimes a little random but I don't think Stephenie could have ended it better than she did. I'm glad I can think of something else for awhile at least until something else of hers comes out but I will be waiting anxiously for whatever comes next.

Celebrating Utah

We started the day with breakfast at IHOP. Mmm New York cheesecake pancakes topped with strawberries and whipped cream. What a way to start the day. Then, I don't know how it happened but somehow we ended up at Petsmart buying goldfish and everything to go with it. One minute we're having a delicious breakfast and BAM next thing you know we are pet owners. I don't even remember saying yes but needless to say we have already been back to replace one of the fish. My kids love "Luke" and "Yoda" but if I have to clean the tank again I may be helping these fish to fish "heaven".

We heard a little from the new band in town. Actually it's just some neighborhood boys having some fun but they sound better and better every time. The kids stand outside the "practice" room and dance, dance, dance.
When it was dark we went outside for a big firework show put on by Brook "firecracker" Talbot. The kids enjoyed being outside in the dark but they all covered their ears or ran for the house when it got loud. We always have a good time visiting with our neighbors on warm summer nights.

Tagged

I've been tagged by Stacey weeks ago so I guess it's time to respond.

10 Interesting things about me......

1. I love sugar! There is always room in my belly for something sweet.
2. I was homecoming queen in High school.
3. I'm the oldest of 5 girls and lived in a 2 bedroom house until I was 12.
4. I love to read almost anything, especially encyclopedias with my oldest son.
5. I want to be a nurse when I grow up.
6. I want to have a vacation home in Hawaii someday.
7. I used to be chunky, chubby, full faced. Whatever you want to call it.
8. My husband and I are complete opposites.
9. I've always wanted 5 boys!
10. I just stopped biting my fingernails after 30 years! You can do anything if you want it bad enough.

Ok now I tag Jessica, Tiffany and Rachelle

Baby Cohan

This is my nephew who was born on May 22. Isn't he adorable. His name is Cohan Michael Leavitt. His sister, Lily, who is 2 1/2 is so glad to have him here and she would rather no one touched or held him unless they clear it with her.

Trevon just loves babies and can't keep his hands or his kisses off this little guy.
This is big sister Lily and Tyce having a bath. Lily taught him that its ok to lay down in the water. I'm really glad he will do it except that I can't get him out.

Independence Day

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful country filled with wonderful people. I'm gratiful for the freedoms I enjoy and the men and women who have fought and are still fighting so that I may have these certain unalienable Rights, such as Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. I'm grateful to God for giving us this beautiful land and hope that I can do my part so that we can be blessed to live here for generations to come.

There is nothing like the small town celebration on the 4th of July. We went to the parade in Parowan in the morning and to the park for childrens races and water games afterwards. It was overcast. A perfect day for a parade.

Trey has never appreciated the sirens on the fire engines in any parade we have ever been to. At least this year he has a smile on his face and didn't run for cover crying.

Most of Tyce's pictures show us his "outside" face. It is still cute but not as cute as his smile.

What is summer without camping at Yankee Meadow. It's a small lake and campground our family loves to frequent especially when it is 98 degrees in town. My boys love the outdoors and fishing. We even had a deer walk through our camp. The boys were filthy dirty in the first hour but had the time of their lives. The great thing is they play so hard during the day that they sleep so good at night, even in a tent.

The boys fished the creek for 15 minutes then when nothing was biting we had pine cone races. Much more action than holding that darn pole and waiting for the tiniest fish to bite