July 14th, 2011

After cheer camp I headed to Blackfoot to celebrate my Grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary! I was super excited to spend this special day with them, but also to spend time with my Aunts, Uncles, & Cousins from the East coast as well. I have 2 little cousins that are hard to call cousins because they are the same age as my kids, but are super fun because my kids have someone to play with while they are there! We got things ready for the party for most of the day, but of course tried to talk to each other in between. My mom & her siblins sang "Count Your Many Blessings" & the grandkids sang "I Am a Child of God" in honor of my grandparents. It was very fun and I loved spending time with all the kids! I am so blessed to have such a loving example of love and marriage in my life & my kids. Love you Grandma & Grandpa!

Another anniversary happened on the same day which were the Richards..2 other people I love and admire! Happy Anniversary you 2! Six years and still strong!! <<33

*Kali*

Tate & Bryce...pretty much how Bryce spent his whole trip when the kids are around! Poor Bryce I should get him a massage packet somewhere!

Tate kept trying to run away so this was me trapping him & this was him crying the whole time until he was free!

My dad :)

Maya & Jessica...Maya took the picture she's six..extreme close up of 2 beautiful girls :)

The singing kids..my kids did not join in on the singing because we were not singing "I Love to See the Temple" silly kids

All the first borns :)

*Martice*Vanessa*Mom*

All the siblings together :))...from oldest to youngest & shortest to tallest :)

They took this same picture about 5 years ago....a lot has changed since then lol

They held it together long enough for a picture

Cheer Camp 2011

For the past 4 years I have been doing summer cheer camps with Cassia where we go to schools around the magic valley and teach them new material for the upcoming season. Do not get me wrong, I love working with the cheerleaders, making extra money, and especially having time with CASSIA, but it kills me physically by the time the camp is over. Last year after Jerome's camp I was signed up to run a 10K but I was so sore and sick I could not do it; horrible!. Anyways, when this summer was rolling around we decided to do things a little different. We held one BIG camp instead of doing a bunch of little camps. To make things better Cassia hired on more instructors to make each squad feel like they were still getting their own material and not just a couple dances taught to all five schools. Well just like the years before I was dreading the camp because of being killed once again, but I was nervous to work with 3 different girls that I had never really met before. On the Thursday before camp we all got together to teach each oher the spirit dance, but it was still pretty quiet as far as meeting each other. Pretty soon the weekend was over and Day 1 of camp begun.....

This pic was taken at the end of the day (after all the make-up sweated off lol) and I can honestly say it was a great day. We were all pretty quiet still towards the first half of the day, but when we went to lunch together things started to change. We were all talking getting to know each other & being in Jerome with all of us wearing matching outfits the girls got to see my extremely sarcastic side because any time someone would ask us what we were doing, I would always reply we're just hanging out, we are all best friends! But they would all try to answer the inquirer honestly :) Then while we were in the Subway line; Alea & I shared a foot long sandwhich but we could not tell if the girl cut it or not...so while we were sitting there asking each other we asked McKenzie in front of us to the question she replied, "Cut what?" I answered, "Her hand." Oh and the friendships began! ha ha....I had a ton of fun with them every day of camp & each day we got to know each other a little more.

This is a picture of all the schools plus the 5 staffers hidden...it's where's waldo type of picture see if you can find us?! The five schools were: Castleford, Hansen, Jerome, Oleary Middle School, and Kimberly High School. I did not die after day three and everything went very smooth. It was nice because I did not have to learn every one elses chants, cheers, and dances while teaching mine, but I wish I would have learned everyone's dances because everyone did an AMAZING job. Great, great choreographers in our staff selection!

I was so so so glad I did this camp and had the opportunity to meet new girls in the process. They are all very unique, beautiful and amazing cheerleaders but we all had a great time together. I seriously got my girl time level up to high because we laughed...A LOT while we were together and just had fun. I always love teaching the cheerleaders no matter when or where, but working with these 4 girls made it 100 times better! Thanks girls for an AWESOME week! <3

June 5th-9th

After the 4th we kind of took it easy (doable right?..wrong!) We hung out at home on the 5th & just played in the sun while I worked like crazy getting baby shower gifts finished! Then on the 6th we went to Nat-Soo-Pah again with Grandma Stanger, Brianne & the kids, & Shelly & the kids. It was a lot of fun, but a monumental trip because Tate went down the slide ALL BY HIMSELF!! No more rides for me YES! That is kind of sad to say because can you ever imagine yourself actually not wanting to go down the slide? or high dive? I have really entered the mom world lol :) On the 7th I got to meet my fellow camp instructors for the next weeks cheer camp. We were all pretty quiet and shy when we met, but that did not last long once camp started..I'll post that next :) The to finish the day off I did a Dezigner Dudz party with Cass in Jerome so the kiddos hung out with my momma.

Brittley's tube dress :)

On the 8th we headed to Boise for a baby shower. One of the stars of the baby shower and yours truly my best friend since the 6th grade: Jessica! The other star was her sister Laura; Laura was having a boy & Jessica is having a girl. I did not know that Laura was due here soon because Jessica is not due until September so I thought I had more time before I had to start my projects, but sure enough the invite came in the mail & I had 2 weeks to get things done! SO I got my sewing game on and the crafting began! I was super excited to create stuff because I have another friend having a baby girl in September (Jess if you see this be surprised when you get your gifts!!! ;)) Plus I want to have another baby so it all works out! The shower was in Boise so on the 8th we headed up to celebrate two little bundles coming into this world! Love you Jessica & Laura & congratulations on the babies!

Jessica :)

Laura's car seat tent! Turned out pretty good, I got the idea from Sarah & I did everything but the top stitch around the tent because I am so new to sewing that I cannot stitch a straight line if my life depended on it (well maybe then I could!)

I got the blue fabric from quilt barn which was blue and brown and had a vintagey look to it (that was the look Laura was going for) I did not want it to be just one big, blue tent so I added the brown strip at the bottom; I did not do that correctly because I had to sew the ribbon over it to hide the edges. Still pretty good for my first ones!

Jessica wanted bright colors with brown & of course being for a girl I got to "girlie" it up a bit, by addding the flowers on the straps and a ruffle around the edges :) Loved the fabric for this one!

Wipes case for Jessica

Wipes case for Laura

The baby blankets!

Tate swimming at the baby shower. The crazy story about Tate being with me at the baby shower: When I first got the invite and saw that the shower was at 6 on a Friday night I was pretty sure that Clay would not be able to go with me. So I figured I would just take the kids with me for a fun trip to Boise, but as I got to thinking about the shower I just did not want Tate to come with me. SO I asked my mom because they were supposed to go camping near Boise if she could just bring me Tate or we could figure something out that way. Well my dad was like we'll take the kids camping...so first thought COOL I can go to Boise alone and enjoy the baby shower, but the next thought umm..I should convince Clay to go so we can GO ALONE! Perfect idea right? Well Clay said yes at first, then it was no I will not be able to get off of work early enough. So I was going to just take Brittley, then my mom said they were staying home & that they would take both kids. Tate, however, knew we were going to Boise & was very firm about going. Clay called said he was going, so I told both kids they were NOT going to Boise so yeah I was getting my weekend ALONE with Clay. Well he got home and Tate was just crying about going to Boise; he comes flying out to the car saying I get to go. I ask Clay, he was all I told both of them they could go. Well Brittley wanted to stay with my mom at this point. So Brittley stayed & Tate, Clay, & I went to Boise. When we got to the shower Tate was supposed to go to the movies with Clay, when he saw me get out of the car he lost it. I took him to the shower with me which was not too bad but being Tate there were a few threats and a swat because he was getting out of control. There is my long story about how we finally made it to Boise!

Jessica & Laura making silly faces like usual :)

The other sister Kristi :)

Tate going under the waterfall in the kids pool

Swimming at the hotel ;) So I took these pics on purpose because of the kid in the picture. He reminded me of the guy off of office space that always stutters about his stapler. He had his shorts past his belly button and was a little on the heavier side. What got to me though was when he came up to tell me, "I, I I read there are pool rules. Rule #1 says no running. Rule, Rule #1 says no running. That boy down, that boy down there...#1 rule says no running." He marched on down to tell the boy running in and jumping to not run, so cute. Then later he came to tell me the same thing and for me to tell him not to run; I just told him that his dad will let him know. He looked at me like what? Your not going to tell him...so he went to tell another lady the same thing. Very entertaining for a Saturday morning :))

My toes

***Let Freedom Ring***

4th of July was once again a GREAT day! I absolutely love this holiday because it always means being together as a family and just having fun (which everyday in the summer should be:)) Anywho...Clay got up early to go boating before the family did with Clint, then around 10ish he called us to come boating too. Brittley was still recovering from strep throat so my mom came and met me to take her to her house while Tate & I went down to the river to boat. Right when I got there Clay's was all, "Let's get you wakeboarding!" So I went; it was the 2nd time that I have wakeboarded and the last time was on my 19th birthday so it's been awhile! I got up, but I crashed a lot as well, but hey I can only continue to get better right??? I hope! After boating I went to the parents' house to pick up Brittley and we hung out for a little while. The kids played outside & Grandpa launched a rocket for the kids so it was fun for them to see. After that we headed home to get ready for the Stanger bbq.

I always love just hanging out with everyone, eating good food, and then watching fireworks. This year Maryann held a watermelon toss; Clay & I were partners (bad choice) I was just thinking this is not going to end well. The one partner would stand pretty much in the weeds & the other would keep taking steps back. All was going well until Clay was about 12 feet maybe a little less away from me. He kept saying bend your knees, are you ready for this? Well I got in position (all those years of cheer helped ;) and Clay lobbed the watermelon...I caught it and then went crashing to the ground. Everyone was very stunned, but it just took out my whole body. I caught it, but I got pretty bruised! The same thing happened the next time, but I knew it was me throwing it back that was going to be the bad part. So I lobbed it and it barely went five feet before crashing to the ground!! That was my first watermelon toss and probably my last, but it was a fun experience! Later we got ready for fireworks!!! The Stangers really out did themselves this year because it was ahh-mazing! LET FREEDOM RING!

Mommy & Tate Tubing

***Tate**Grandpa**Brittley***

Getting ready to launch

Looking for the rocket

hmmm....where is it??

I think I found it!!

This is what happens after playing in the sun all day & eating a donut on the car ride home :)

I love this picture because Paul was probably thinking...Clay please don't land on me!

Paul & Clay

Clay throwing for 500

What a stud right??!

The kiddos sporting their 4th of July wear

beautiful brittley :)

Lighting the sparklers...it took a few times for Tate to realize that you don't touch people with them, to not grab the hot end once they are done, and what to really do with them at all

My cute little kiddos

Silly faces with Tate...he was laughing so hard and so was I...too cute

Silly faces with Brittley