First Grade

Summer 2011 part 2

As I start this post I would like to note how I remember all these trips. I have a notepad that stays in the trailer, and I write a brief bit about everywhere the trailer is taken. Its really fun to look back on the previous years and remember where we were, who was there and what we did. And its great for getting caught up here :) Mortensen Family reunion Deer Creek July 13-17th This was a great trip filled with 4 full days of boating, hiking, fishing, playing with cousins we don't see regularly, swimming and alot of family time. There had been 2 drownings in this lake within the few days of our arrival since the temperatures were so low, and it made me very nervous. But the kids had no fear and we spent many hours swimming/wading in what I would call a freezing lake. This is a weekend we get to spend with cousins that live far away, and the kids all took their opportunity and lived it up.

I always get stuck riding with the kids :) But I will take any ride, love tubing!

Its now Monday as we head home. But we only have a few short 36 hours to unpack and repack and leave for Lake Powell/Capitol Reef. Where it will be much much much warmer. Too warm! Gone from July 20th-28th That will have its own post, as the pictures are just amazing. Its defiantly a place you need to visit if you have never been. Lava Hot Springs July 29th- Aug 1 2011 This is a trip the girls look forward to every year, they just love it. But Trever and I were so tired, with only a few hours to recuperate and repack. Also I think the novelty is wearing off for me, but I do love seeing them so excited and this was the first year Kristin and Shawn joined us.

All the kids were excited to be there

We got some river time in, but this trip was a little colder then normal and this was really the only day that was warm enough to tube. I somehow ended up being the driver and picture taker, but it was great seeing the girls having so much fun!

The adult girls then took a trip to the warm stream by the river, and upon our return the guys decided they were going to the bar. Well as the girls realized we had babysitters we too decided to hit the bar. We found Trever, being the nice wonderful caring guy he is, had agreed to give a lap dance to a girl that was there for her bacholrette party. What a good guy I have :) No really she actually had a great time, it was fun for all of us.

Then Mike bought our mascot. We danced, giggled and enjoyed company of great friends all night.

Then we woke up to this? Of course its Idaho after all

We made the best of it

That is one close race with Kennedy and Riley

Its now Monday and very rainy as we head home. We dont have another camping trip until my Birthday, my 21st birthday p

Where or where did the summer go?

I know I feel like this every Fall, summer is just too much fun. But all good things must come to an end, and really after a none stop summer the down time is nice. But you can count on me being more then ready for Spring in a few months. I pretty much sucked keeping the blog up so I will do some quick updates on the summer and start fresh :) I blogged about our first camping trip to the Dunes. There are many more that followed. There is so much to say about each trip, we always have a great time. But in order to get caught up I will keep it brief. May 20-22 2011 -Wasatch Campgrounds This was a first for our family. Very pretty place and so close. And golf in walking distance, does it get better? The rapidly growing river close by was very scary, which would deter me in the future with small children, but other then that what a great camping spot.

It was nice to have a playground very close, the kids sure liked it. June 9-12 2011 Double Boogie Open- This is always a fun weekend, non serious golf.. yes! Kristin and Shawn joined us as partners this year. Kylie joined us for the first time, she is going to be a good little golfer if we keep her going. Although the tournament was earlier in the year this year we were still able to make it to the Payson city pool. This part is for the kiddos, and they love it there. Although I did realize Kennedy is in major need of swimming lessons, she doesn't even have the the doggie paddle instinct she just sinks. Makes for a very stressful swimming trip cause she will just jump in without anybody knowing. At this moment I'm not finding any pictures, but I know I took some so stay toned. Bear River Service up Uintas July 8-10 2011 Trever came off a graveyard so we headed up around 6am. It was cold, it had rained and I wondered why in the hell we were going camping in the high Uintas. By the time we arrived our buddies had breakfast ready, hot chocolate and coffee and I talked myself into thinking it would be bearable. The girls did not seem to mind the mud and went right into camping mode. As the day went on the sun came out and everything dried. This was the first trip Maddy was able to ride her very own first four wheeler. The first ride gave me heart failure, but we all survived. (for those that dont know, she hit a rock, high centered the four wheeler and flipped over the handlebars I heard the thud that was her helmet hitting another rock, she jumped up yelling "Im OK so glad I had my helmet on" as was I. It took me a good couple minutes to breath normal. The following days were great weather. We had a large group and ended up renting several 4x4's, rangers and four wheelers. Enough for our whole group to go on a long trip.

Found a very old log home

Our destination was a lake, however we ran into a snow block, so instead we had lunch and played

SO much water

Then we found a yurt!

Then back for some fun!

And the kids decorated their shirts

And this was the genious idea to keep the little ones safe

This was a great trip, we all had so much fun! To be continued.

T-ball

Maddy played Spring T-ball, she really had a good time and wanted to play again. Since I played softball for many years I was excited she was taking an interest in the sport. For Summer I signed both girls up. Both their games ended up being Tuesday and Thursdays, add gymnastics to that and it was pretty crazy trying to be many places at once. But I had so much fun watching them play. Kennedy and her team had a really rough start, honestly they are just to young. The kids would hit and then run after their own ball, or run to second base, or run off chasing butterflies. But it was fun to watch them try, and by the end most of the kids pretty much had the concept down. Linkin was also on her team which was fun. Maddy really enjoyed playing, at this point she wants to play again on the fall league. She got to where she was hitting the ball on the first pitch just about every time. Although she still has a problem with stopping on each base to clean them off rather then paying attention.

Bugsssss

Why oh why did I have to have a problem with bugs??? And more importantly why was it passed onto my daughter. I have always felt pretty sorry for myself, every time I go camping I would always end up with way more bites then anybody else. And now I have passed that on to my sweet daughter. We just don't do bites well. I had to take her into the doctor the other day for some bites. But it was so bizarre. I first noticed these 2 bites (on her forehead and back thigh) on Tuesday night. Wednesday they flared up pretty good but nothing some children allergy medicine couldn't handle. (OK to be honest I knew something wasn't right, but the meds seemed to take the swelling right down so we all went to bed). The next day she seemed fine so I went to work, Wonderful Aunt Malinda was doing crafts with the girls when I got the call that the bites had swelled back up. How bizarre, 3 days later and swelled up twice and gone back done. I called the doctor and was told she needed to come in right away. I knew she was fine, but better safe, right. So we held up the cm aping crew and headed to the doc. It went very fast and we made it out of town only a few minutes late. Basically she is allergic to bug bites and we need to drug her with benadryl every time we go out. That is not going to happen, we are out camping way to much and I will not have her in a haze the whole time. So we will keep a very watchful eye on her bug bites. This is just the one on her head

Sailboat ride on the Great Salt Lake

What a wonderful, neat, cool experience! I am always watching the citydeals, or KSL deals ect and came across one for a 2 hour sailboat ride on the Great Salt Lake. I had never been on the lake, nor had the girls so I bought it. Trever, BJ, Barb, girls and I went on the ride. Captain J.R. gave us the best experience he could considering there was little to no wind. But it was still so neat, very pretty out there. We all learned so much about the lake. The girls actually really enjoyed the ride as well, and they even got to drive the boat. After we headed over to the big rock I have seen many of times driving along I80 but had never stopped at the rock. Amazing rock, so disappointing that so many people have graffiti the area so bad. Maddy floated in the lake. The rest of the family got it in, but not in enough to float. But enough we all had saltie legs. After we headed over to Seven Peaks (Raging Waters, which is what it will always be in my mind). Fun day

Visiting Dad/Grandpa

Maddy calls the cemetery Grandpas Forrest.. sounds good to me. Kennedy never had the opportunity to meet my dad, but she knows all about "grandpa Ed", Im so thankful Maddy remembers him.

Z00

This was the first time Kennedy went to the zoo and really understood and knew what the animals were. It was also the first time any of us had seen the new dinosaurs around the zoo. Kennedy is much more cautious then Maddy. It was a nice day for a family outing



Buggggs

Maddy loved the new dinosaurs

Kennedy not so much

And again

again.....



The train. Kennedy didnt seem to care to much about it. I have this same picture but Kennedy is only a month old. Ill have to find it.



The snake slide

Homestead

I got a great deal on citydeals.com for a night stay at Homestead resort with 2-18 rounds of golf for an excellent price. A few friends joined us and we had a blast. The course was gorgeous, and the atmosphere around Homestead was so fun. We sat and listened to music outside our rooms while enjoying a cocktail. It was a great get away with our friends and enjoyable getaway from the kids. Thanks mom for taking them the night.
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I wish I had not forgotten my swimming suit

Tasha graduates!!

Did we think it would happen? I sure have my up and downs with this girl. But I love her like a daughter and would not expect anything less then graduating high school. And I reminded her every.single.day. I know there were several mornings she was cursing my name, but it was all in love. She did it, and with a pharmacy tech license to pave new opportunity.
Little Miss Tasha came into our lives a few months after we moved into our new house. She was so smart and full of enthusiasm, I'm sure that's why we fell in love with her. She was 11, I believe. She quickly became part of our family. I hope to see all the hopes and dreams she had at 11 years old come true. My girls view her as a sister and I hope that never changes.

Maddy graduates Kindergarten

We made it through Kindergarten and with flying colors! Maddy had so much fun, she really just loves school. I am so grateful I was able to volunteer in her class most Wednesdays, it was such a joy getting to see her at school and getting to know all her friends.
My dad made a deal with me when I was a little girl that if I missed no days of school (other then being really sick and cant go) I would get to pick any toy I wanted from Toys R us at the end of the school year (I'm sure it was within reason, but I don't remember ever being told no). So I started the same tradition. Maddy missed two days of school, one was when she had 102 temperature and momma bear made her stay home despite her pleas, the other we were going on our first camping trip of the year and that's important. She climbed Sand Mountain and rode four wheelers that day, I'm sure she learned way more then she would have in school that Friday. So she did get to get a toy, she chose a zooble home, and was so pleased with her choice. I remember one year I chose bridal bears it came with decorations, marriage license, invites and all to have a wedding for your bears. I remember the ceremony well :) I hope she remembers her chooses.
Maddy went into Kindergarten a very smart little girl, and while she came out a little smarter what I noticed most was she came out a girl. It was like she went and grew up on me. She had her own thoughts, opinions, suggestions and attitude. Oy what the next 12 years will bring :)
Diamond Ridge, Maddy's school has a French immersion program. We registered her for it at the beginning of Kindergarten. Its a lottery who gets in, and only a percentage is from the school. So its pretty slim chance, well she got in. I was very excited she would have this opportunity. Months later, I get a letter from the district stating Maddy has tested into the districts "gifted and talented program". Another great opportunity for our very smart little girl. We really weighed our options on what would be best for her education and decided to keep her at her home school in the French immersion program. I sure hope we made the right decision. Time will tell. I didn't expect to be making these life changing decisions at 6 years old.

Doing her gymnastics routine for her Kindergarten program

End of the year program. They learned the National Anaheim in sigh language

Mrs. Miller her kindergarten teacher

Christmas photo of the kindergarten class
I was grateful to make it to her field day. I remember my field day as a kid, it was so fun and exciting.

Let the games begin

Maddy playing games

Popsicle s after a hot field day

Kenna had her fun at field day too

Dad and Maddy on the last day of kindergarten