Mmmm....THE Bread!

How do you make approximately 24loaves of bread in just an hour and a half ? Just invite all of your favorite Beehives and of course The Expert, Trish to come over and voila! We didn't quite get them in the pans or cooked, but we still had a great time learning how to make that yummy sacrament bread. Thanks Trish!

Did I mention that I'm still finding flour everywhere? :-)

Labor Day Adventures (or misadventures...) at White Horse Lake

Our neighbors invited us to go "camping" with them over Labor Day weekend. We, of course, thought "sure, we'll go" because our kids just think camping is the greatest thing ever! Anything to make the kids happy and give them outdoor experiences, right? Now, I use the term camping loosly, because for our kind neighbors who invited us, "camping" is done in a brand new huge camper with all the amenities of home....fridge, microwave, beds, etc...you get the picture! For us , think not so luxurious like tent, dirt, bugs, mud... oh, so fun! So, after spending a day and a half packing, trying to figure out a menu that can last in the cooler for 3 days with only the ice that you take and watching the weather reports that didn't look promising, we finally get into to the car for what should be a 3 1/2 hour drive. Well that 3 1/2 hour drive turned into something like 7 with all the "quick errands" we needed to do on the way out, horrible holiday traffic, "I have to go potty" stops and a few phone calls from the neighbors who had made it to the campsite earlier reporting that they were having torrential rain storms. We were sooo close to turning around and heading back home. In fact, I had my three day weekend "honey-do list" already figured out in my head! But alas, from the back seat two little voices said, "We don't care if it rains, we'll still have fun and not complain!" "Really?, No crying if you get wet and muddy?" Nate and I tried to confirm with them. "Really!" they said. So, we pressed forward! And fun they had even with some major downpours here and there. We took a hike, attempted fishing, ate too many s'mores, took in the cool refreshing mountain air and, amazingly, the tent actually stayed dry! (inside that is! :-)

Nate whipping up some pancakes!

Madison & Jacob doing some diggin'

Balancing Act

Got to love catch and release!

Girlies playing with the bait

Tanner really getting serious about this fishing thing!

Oh so happy that neighbors have dogs so I don't have to!

Yippee For Our Shining Star!

After watching her brothers start the new school year, Madison has been beside herself waiting for her turn to go to pre-school. Every day she would ask, "Do I get to go to "Shiny Staw" today? Unfortunately the answer was always "no, not yet!" Finally the day arrived...and this is how she came down the stairs in the morning ready to head off to her very first day of preschool...and the terrifying part--she is still only two!

After a little mother intervention and a lot of coaxing we made it out the door looking like this...

Ahh, much better! (Or at least a little more innocent :-))

We love this Shining Star!

A Relinquished Job

I'd venture out to say that when a child decides to take on a household job, most mothers are more than happy to let them take it on. Well my little Madison has decided to take on this job...

Yep that's right she is now my resident cricket, silver fish any kind of bug catcher! She is quick to get her tissue and once she has the culprit captured, into the toilet it goes! I have no intention of EVER putting this task back on MY "to-do" list!

Happy Fourth of July!

We've had a great FOJ weekend, felt spoiled to have our Daddy home for an extra day and a half, ate way to much and swam 'til our hearts content!

Madison taking a ride! Nothing like filling up on Doritos!

Chillin' in the "Hot Tub" with Alyssia in between sliding and swimming in the real pool!

We are so sad to say "adios" to our sweet neighbors, the Smiths. We will miss them wish them all the best in Alabama!

Around The World and Back Again

Ok, so it wasn't around the world, but it sure felt like it after logging in approximately 2,400 miles on our good 'ol travellin' van. Talk about living in your vehicle...by the end of our trip that poor van needed a bath inside and out! Even though the drive up to SLC is not the most scenic or pleasant, we tried to break it up so it wasn't as bad. Our first pit stop was in Las Vegas. We got a great deal on a hotel through one of those last minute travel sites and actually had good luck with a nice Hilton. We spent the morning swimming and as all tourist to Las Vegas must do, cruised down the strip (with me crossing my fingers the kids would not see anything they shouldn't...ugh!) After Vegas we hit the road and after many a potty stop (thanks Madison!) we made it to SLC. We spent the first couple of days with my parents while Nate left for a business trip to Idaho. We also spent some time with my family up at Park City at my aunt's condo and celebrated my parent's 40th anniversary. The weather was a little chilly for us Arizonans but it didn't slow the kids down. They loved the Alpine Slide (wished they could do it again but the parents are too cheap!), swimming, Cousin Camp activities and just hanging out! Tanner and Alex at Grandma and Grandpa's throwing bread to the ducks and fish!

Glazier and Anderson cousins

Cousins at Park City

We then journeyed over to South Jordan with Nate's parents and tried to get in as much time with Mike and Carol and their family before they departed for their 3 year stay in Santiago, Chile and Greg's 2 years to Concepcion, Chile (how lucky to be serving in the same country as his parents!) We enjoyed being able to attend their combined missionary farewell - what a spiritual feast it was for all of us. Each one of them will be a great missionary. Nate also gained another year (we won't mention which year! :-) while on vacation so we had to do a little birthday celebrating. We managed to hike up to Timpanogas Cave with the kids and encouraged Nate's parents who are in their mid 70's to join us. I think they had second thoughts about a 1/4 of the way up. Let's just say the 3 hour tour turned into an ALL day adventure, but we all made it down alive.

Glazier Clan

Hiking Timpanogos - "just put one foot in front of the other" was our motto!

After meandering between Salt Lake and Orem, we headed south and found ourselves in Moab. It has been many years since Nate or I had been there and I desperately wished I had had my mountain bike with me. I know those days are over, but I would have loved to have attempted Slick Rock again...it's only been 3 kids and about 15 years since my last "biker girl" adventure. Arches National Park was beautiful and absolutely stunning with the red moutains contrasted against the blue sky. We spent two days driving and walking around the Park and even conned the kids into another hike (after the Timpanogas adventure or misadventure) to Delicate Arch. After Moab, we travelled southeast to Durango, CO where Nate had some more business meetings. What a beautiful and refreshing town...who knew! I'm ready to go back already (maybe that's because it's 115 degrees here!) And, since we had just purchased the oh so pricey National Parks Pass (it went up by $30 bucks this year), we had to do Mesa Verde National Park which is just outside of Durango. We hiked (yes, the kids are all hiked out!) and toured the "Cliff Dwelling" which is part of Mesa Verde. Such fascinating people and way of life. How they actually carved out homes and lived in the sides of cliffs still just baffles me. From Durango, we headed back home making our last stop at Four Corners, something you have to do at least once in your life. We all stood in different states at the same time. So, after nearly 3 weeks on the road, it was nice to get back to our own digs. We had a great adventure and loved spending time with family and enjoyed seeing new places.

Tanner balancing Balanced Rock

Delicate ArchClimbing Walls

Cliff Dwelling

Four Corners

We Have A Swimmer

Alex started swimming lessons and he has come a long way in just a short two weeks. It started with a lot of tears, screaming and a determination NOT to get in the water or get his face wet, to finally saying, "I think I really like swimming and let's not be late!" Thanks Mrs. Pam!