June

Material items come and go.  You buy, don't use, get rid of.  Then the cycle continues.  But in our 13 years of marriage this stuffed cat has stuck around.  Let me tell you why.

It is because of this fluffy brown kitty that Cam and I are married.  True story. 

13 years ago Cam was working in a medical-supply shop, unpacking boxes and stocking shelves with items ranging from circulation socks to wheel-chair parts.  It was during this job, and 7 months into dating that our relationship began to get rocky (well, rocky for me.)  Cam was not interested in marriage any time soon, and that did not meet my criteria.  I knew marriage had to be in the 2-3 month forecast or we would end up not getting married in the temple because let's face it, we were young and attractive, and hormones were raging.  To avoid any trouble from occuring, I was going to break up with him until he figured out what he wanted to do.  I made the phone call, set up a time to "talk" and awaited his arrival.

Cam arrived that night with his backpack slung over his shoulder and eyes red and puffy (it was apparent he had been crying which cued me in that he knew what was coming.)  We first made casual conversation, things like, "how was your day?" "how are your classes going?"  Then it was time to get serious.  The tension was so thick, you could cut it with a knife.  Cam avoided any eye contact as I began to deliver the blow.  But before I had the chance to utter a word, Cam told me a story.  He said at work that day he was unpacking a box labeled "   ."  But as he sliced open the box, and began to unpack the goods, came upon something fluffy with a tail.  Then he pulled out the stuffed cat from his backpack.

For some reason that silly stuffed cat was all we needed to break the ice.  We began to laugh, and then cry, and then we were both hugging and telling each other how in love we were and that we never wanted to be apart.  Sappy, I know.  But someone, somewhere accidentally loaded a stuffed cat into a medical supply box and unknowingly created a blissful marriage and 4 kid family.


This month we traveled to the ever-so-beautiful Lake Powell.  The Smith family once again deemed us worthy to travel with them on their houseboat.  The kids have been counting down since March, looking forward to this trip with great anticipation.  And it didn't dissapoint.  We had such a fabulous, fun filled, utterly exhausting time.  It was nothing but play play play for the kids.  Here are some pictures demonstrating the party!

The fun all started in St. George.  We spent 2 nights at the Smith's house, helping them to buy all the food and pack it all up.  The kids had a blast.  Aaron owns a power sports store, so they had toys galore! 

Daxton riding a dirt bke around the block.

All the kids loaded up for a ride.

This is a small sampling of the food involved to feed 31 people for a week.  Mind you, this is only the unrefridgerated/frozen items.

Josh and Porter going for a ride.

 

Then it was time for Lake Powell!!

Amelie loved to throw the sand

The houseboat.  We once again found the perfect cove and Captain Aaron maneuvered this giant boat into it.  Amazing!

Jumping into the water.  Look at that backdrop! Beautiful.

 

Best buds

Playing in the sand.

This girl is part fish, I'm convinced!

We went hiking for "treasure."  The boys found some cool rocks, a fishing pole, and a dead bird.

The girls found a trash-can lid, a bone, some bottles, and charcoal.

Love God's beauty!

Our sleeping quarters.  Josh on the floor, Amelie, Dax and I in the bed with Ella on the end of the bed.  Comfy cosy! (Cam slept on top of the boat, in case you're wondering)

Striking a pose.

Wave-runner rides!

Amelie loved being the "flag girl" on the boat

So handsome.

Cam surfing.

 

Jocelyn and I made good use of the charcoal we found on our treasure hunt.  We climbed up this hill, and drew a target for the water-balloon launcher. 

Ready.....aim......

FIRE!!

Josh, Porter and went for a hike.  Just look at this place!

 

 

Cam and Tom helped the kids fishing.

Jocelyn and the girls made this turtle.

21 kids + 10 adults + 1 houseboat= Crazy fun

Tug of war contest.  "Iron-woman Jocelyn" helped the boys, so of course, they won. 

Josh

We have been in Midway for one year now.  Time has flown and we have truthfully loved every minute of it.  However, last Summer was rough for my Joshy-boy.  We moved right as school let out, so he had a whole Summer of no friends in a tiny cabin in a new city.  He was miserable and made it miserable for the rest of us.  My prayers were focused on my eldest, "Please let him find a good friend."  Our house was completed at the end of September, and lo and behold guess who lived across the street? Josh's new best friend, Abe.  These boys are peas in the pod.  Same sense of humor, same laugh, good kids.

"Hey Josh, have you seen the movie Constipation?"
"No Abe! It hasn't come out yet!"

 Well last month Abe was mowing his lawn.  By some random happenstance, the mower sucked up a nail and shot it into Abe's chest, piercing his heart.  He was flown to primary Children's hospital where he underwent open-heart surgery to remove the nail.  Two days after the surgery we went in to visit Abe.  Only a few days after surgery and Abe was up and walking, smiling, and joking "Can I keep some of these tubes as souveneirs?"  It is truly a modern day miracle that this boy survived.  The power of prayer and effects of the Spirit are real.  I know that undeniably. 

Josh with his buddy

The nail

Abe always teases Josh because we put our kids to bed so early, so we sent this picture to him when Josh was up way past his bedtime. :)

Wasatch Gangsta

 

Daxton

 

 

Josh had his pinewood derby last month, and since then, Dax has been beggging to do a car of his own.  After months of pleading, I finally agreed and asked my dad for some tools.  With scroll saw, and drennel tool; we set to work building Daxton's "shark car."  He did a great job with the drennel tool.  He finished sanding, added some spray paint and a face, and his shark derby-car was born.  All ready for next year! (if it survives that long)

 

Ella

 

Ella is growing taller by the second.  She has lost any "baby" she had left in her and is now a full-fledged little gir complete with a spray of sun-kissed freckles across her nose.  She's also trying to grow out her bangs.  We'll see how that one goes.

 

Here are Amelie and Ella with their favorite baby, "Vivs".  Amelie is sitting by my side right now and just said, "Mom, Vivy's is the cutest."

Amelie and Ella have become quite the duo.  They play all day long with one another.  Tea party's, house, dolls, you name it. In this photo Amelie is pretending to be the photographer while Ella does "yoga."  Awesome.

 

Amelie

 

It's 9:44 p.m. right now,  and Amelie is sitting alongside me, refusing to go to bed.  I made the mistake of letting her nap today for an hour, so now she is full of endless energy.  She's asking me to play with her, "Mom, I'm da mom, and your da sista." That seems to be her favorite game as of late.  It makes me realize the words I say most often, as Amelie, acting as the mom, quotes me verbatim.  Thankfully, the word most often used is "sweetheart."  She'll say things like,

"Can you watch my baby sweetheart?  I'm going for a bike ride."

 

Pj's, boots, and shades. All ready for the day.  Gotta love her.

 

Amelie loves her tub time.





 

Cameron

 

 

Cameron

Cameron bought me a road bike, and together we have been having a great time biking together. Whether it's road, or mountain biking, Cam has it in his heart to stay slow enough for me to actually enjoy the ride. Good times!

Toegher biking Dutch Hollow. The trails are just around the corner from our house. Awesome!!

Cam found a snake and was smart enough to stay 10 feet away from me with it. Phew!

Cindy

This month we were also able to stay up at the "Chateaux at Silverlake" in Park City with my side of the family. It was a great time. The grandkids had a blast, and all shared a room together. Good times! A big thanks to my AMAZING sister in Law, Meghan, who put the whole trip together for my mom's 60 birthday. You rock megs!!

Beautiful scenery!

Dad and Scotty hanging out on the deck

Biking in the kitchen? Heck ya!

Pool boy/Noodle boy

Dad hanging out by the pool

All the grandkids

Happy 60th Mom!

I also need to include pictures of the surprise Ella left for me the other day:

I started on one end of the string, and followed the paper arrows that she had taped to the string:

Which led me to this treat (X marks the spot)

Thanks Ella! Delicious chips!