Bum Deal

I just had to share....Adam is back up in Portland, OR this week finishing up some site surveys for work. It just SUCKS!!! The kids are so bummed that he is going to miss their last soccer game for the summer. I guess "we don't always get what we want." Hopefully this will be the last of his week long traveling for a while. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!

Cabin Fever.....Becky & Keith's Cabin

July 5, 2008

Wow...what a fun day!! Jen's Aunt Becky invited us up to their cabin for dinner and s'mores with Jen & her kids (Madison, Nathan & Sara). Not only did I feel instantly relaxed the second we got up there, but we ALL had a blast!! The kids hiked, built fairy houses, navigated the ponds, even fell in a creek or two but all had so much fun. Thanks so much to Jen, Keith, and Becky for having us up. Now Adam and I have CABIN FEVER!!!!

Me & Jen posing as usual

Taylor collecting wood for her fairy house

Cole slowing crossing a log...thank god for the poles!!

Adam & Taylor checking out moose

Jen "stuck" on the gate...dang short legs!!

What a beautiful girl!!

BFF!!!!!!

Our Coley boy

Happy Birthday, America!!!

God Bless the U.S.A.

Before I go on and on about how we spent our 4th of July, I just want to say how proud I am to be an American. Even with gas prices sky high, groceries going up, and wages not quite cutting it, we are so lucky to be living in this country. Thank you to all the service men and women who protect our freedoms at home and abroad. Today we will be celebrating you!!

So....our day was spent relaxing with friends & family. We went swimming of Grandma & Grandpa's, and brought along Cole's soccer buddy, Cade. They had a blast doing tricks off the diving board and just having fun. Taylor got a little swim lesson from Dad...with no floaties!! She did so good. She & Cole are going to be starting private lessons in the pool. They both are very excited. After that, we went home and bbq'd burgers and waited for it to get dark enough to walk over to Tanner Park to watch the FiReWoRkS. Man...that is a longer walk than we thought. But we made it...me, Adam, Jen, Taylor, Cole, Grandma & Grandpa. We had a great view of Sugarhouse Park and the Salt Lake Country Club. The FiReWoRkS were amazing!! After making the LONG trek back home, we did a few FiReWoRkS ourselves. Definitely not as good as the other we had seen the last 2 days but the kids LOVED it!!

Real Salt Lake vs Houston Dynamo

Well, for those of you who don't follow RSL, the game on Thursday, July 3 against the Houston Dynamo was a VERY important game for RSL. They are currently tied for 2nd place in the Western Conference, and a win for either team would have put them in a tie for 1st place with the LA Galaxy. Though the game ended in a tie, it was definitely an exciting game. My favorite player, Chris Wingert, got into a fight and received a red card which resulted in him being ejected from the game, along with Kyle Beckerman receiving a yellow card for the same incident. Needless to say the fans were NOT happy. It was another fun game though. We brought Jen along with us for our 2nd Annual Real game & 4th of July Fireworks. We all had a great time.

The "fight"

Not so happy fans

Watching the fireworks


The Les Olsen Firework Show

Who'd of thought copiers were such big business?

Cole, Jen & Tay


Me & Adam

Adam & Jen

Me & My BFF Jen

GGGGGOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!

Way to go, Cole & Taylor!!!

Tonights rec soccer games were pretty exciting. Taylor scored her VERY FIRST GOAL!!!! We both were really excited. Here I am supposed to be on the field helping the kids, and I was jumping up and down, cheering. What a dorky soccer mom I have become!! She did so good. She actaully dribbled the ball down the field, took the shot, and SCORED!!! I am so proud of her!! Way to go Taylor!!

Taylor hustling down the field...I love the ponytail!!

Go Tay, Go!!!

Cole doing what he does best...making the play

To top it all off, my soccer stud, Cole, scored 3 goals and had 3 assists. It is so much fun to watch him play. He is such a play maker, and has a true love of the game. This kid makes me more and more and more proud everyday. You are one AMAZING kid, Cole Braden!! I am so proud to be your mom!!

Adam Anniversary Update....

HE MADE IT HOME FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY!!!

I just wanted to let you all know that he made it home today. He called me at 12:00 and told me he was coming home on a 2:00 flight!! We were all so excited. No, we didn't do anything fancy for our anniversary.....just dinner at Robintino's (Adam's FAVORITE place) and played with the kids. It was fun though. I was so glad that he made it.....I guess he caught my little hint!!

Bad to the Bone

My Wild Hog

Cole thought this motorcycle was "SO AWESOME"!!! He begged me to take his picture next to it because "Dad would think it was so cool!!" So here you go Cole...your wish has come true!!

Soldier Hollow Pow Wow

The annual Soldier Hollow Pow Wow was on Sunday in Midway. We decided to take the trip up there with Grandma & Grandpa....boy are we glad we did!! We had so much fun. Taylor and Cole were mesmerized by the indian head dresses and clothing....they both loved with then did traditional dance. Personally, I LOVED all the jewelry vendors. Honestly, what a neat culture. I really admire their beliefs and how they truly focus on "earthly things". It is just nice to see people sticking to beliefs from many years ago, and live them tride and true to this day. It was an amazing day. This head dress was made with feathers passed down from his ancestors

My Little Indians

Cole & Taylor waiting patiently for the dancing to begin

Me and my buddy, Cole

Cole just after he got his face painted

Taylor after she got her "pace fainted"

Up, Up and Away

On Sunday, we went to Wasatch State Park in Midway, Utah for a picnic. I just had to post these pictures. I love them with the clouds behind them. It was such a nice day up there...not too hot with a light breeze. The kids had a great time playing on the playground, feeding the ducks, and just being silly. I have found that sometimes you need to literally lay down on the ground and take the shot upwards to get the best cloud effect. I just loved how they turned out. I am so proud of my beautiful kiddos!! Love you guys!!

Our 10th Anniversary!!

Happy 10th Anniversary, Adam!!

Well it is official....we have been married for 10 years!! Wow how time flies by!! I was just talking the other day with a neighbor about our wedding....you never seem to forget even the littlest detail. This picture was taken on our anniversary last year but I love it. Though we have been married for 10 years, we have actually been together for 15!! That is almost half of my life!! It has been 10 years full of fun, laughter, love, tears, hugs, late night pillow talks, wrestles with the kids, date nights, family fun, fun with friends new & old, fights & make-ups. I can honestly say that things happen for a reason, and look at us now!! You are an amazing husband, friend, and daddy. I love you so much, Adam!! Here is to many more years of all of the above. Happy Anniversary!!

P.S. I am still keeping my fingers crossed that I will get a big anniversary surprise....you calling me from the airport telling me you are home!! Hey, it never hurts to drop a hint, does it? Love you, sweetie!!