Weekends at Grandpa Horsey's House

My "old" Home Sweet Home

Oh how I love going to my dad's house. The smells (fresh air, skunk, manure, and just a home smell), the sounds (coyote farm, the quakies in the breeze, the river, MC band practice, birds, crickets, horses, 4 wheelers, etc.) Growing up we were used to the loud sound of the coyote's howling (the coyote farm is just up the hill from us), and most of the time didn't even realize they were making any noise, well someone who had never been there would get these wide eyes and ask what the heck that noise was. We would usually tease them and say it was a baseball game...which it kind of sounds like....or try to scare them and say "oh no, the coyote's are coming". It was an amazing place to grow up!

Anywho, we've been going out to papa horseys as Maecee calls him every Sunday (and sometimes more often, when I try to brave the exercise machine there). Maecee begs me to go so she can feed apples to the horsies. I have loved going to my old home and introducing my kids to everything there. Too bad there are so many fences up now, cuz in the "olden days" we could actually ride (on snowmobiles) from our house up to the coyote farm/deer fence. We spent lots of time outside, and even though my parents will deny it, they had NO CLUE where we were. We were hiking up to the face, or riding our bikes to Canyon View or Minute Mart, or we would be in the raging river, or the canal, or the willows, just wherever sounded good that day. We had some good times! I will say that sadly I wouldn't let my kids do half the things we did...I'm way to overprotective, and I know it! Here are some pictures of some fav spots.

A fishing hole in the Blacksmith Fork River. We spent alot of time fishing or swimming in this river.

Skipping rocks in the same river.


Riding 4 wheeler in the back yard. See all those fences....Sheesh!


Our Family with Grandma Shirleen and Grandpa Cordell at Hallee's baby blessing.

Pictures on the rock in grandpa's yard. The 3 amigos

The Look of Maecee...isn't she sweet!?



A big thanks to Grandpa Horsey and Lisa for making us feel so at home and letting the kids run free :) We love you guys!

Mother of the Year Award

Oh boy have I got a story for you. Although if you don't want to think I'm too crazy you may not want to read the below post. But for most of you that do know me...you'll just laugh!

Okay so it's Saturday morning and Ethan is on one. He's torturing his sisters, wanting some attention, etc. I had put off going to the grocery store to get stuff for Hallee's baby blessing. But I had already made a cake, the crust for my fruit pizza, and was evaluating what I still needed to buy for the taco dip. I was not in the greatest of moods, (in other words I woke up hurting more than usual) but was trying not to let that affect my day and the kids attitude.

So when I finally realized Ethan just needed some attention I was ready for it. He was trying to KARATE his sisters...not ok...so I decided he and I would play Karate (we have watched Karate kids a couple of times and enjoy it :). So he shows me some moves, I do some pathetic moves (again if you know me and my lack of coordination you'll be able to picture this). He does "the bull" move to me which is basicly just ramming his big head into me. We played for a little bit and then just when we were winding down I lifted my knee up, he put his head into "the bull" and boom*&^%@@# his eye socket connects with my knee. OUCHIE! Right when it hit I knew my sweet boy was going to have to tell everyone that his momma gave him a black eye! How sad is that! He cried like crazy and said he wanted to call his dad! The phone conversation went something like this:

Eth: (in the saddest voice ever) hi dad, me and mom were playing Karate and her knee went up and my head went down, AND SHE GAVE ME A BLACK EYE!
Brett: Playing What??? (at first he thought Eth said me and mom were doing pilates????) Are you ok? Why is mom playing Karate?
Eth: Um I don't know
Brett: Did you put some ice on it?
Eth: No, mom I want to put some ice on my eye
Brett: Let me talk to mom.....
Mother of the year: Hi (timidly) I feel really bad...
Brett: Honey....you are not allowed to play karate with the kids. You know that either they will get hurt or you will.
MOTY: Sorry....He was just spunky and I was trying to play with him....
Brett: NO more Karate. I'll be home soon.



Can you see it? It's definately not as bad as I thought it would be...but still!!! (His right eye)



He then had to remind me later that day when I was getting on him to get ready and being stern about it....remember mom...YOU GAVE ME A BLACK EYE! Ouch that stabbed right to the heart. Hopefully today at school no one asks him what happened?

Peaches and stuff

So I got a little crazy bug this year and decided that I wanted to can some peaches. I did some probably about 10+ years ago (when we lived in Blackhawk and McK was a baby). I loved having them during the winter time. Especially if we were craving peach pie.

Well I had Brett's mom to guide me along back then. Unfortunately I thought she'd always be around to help me, guide me, do it for me (just like I thought she would always cut Brett's hair, so I never tried to learn, I just asked her to cut it) you know how it goes, and I definately didn't listen too much to her advice! Naughty me! She used to have shelves and shelves of stuff that she had canned in her basement. It was amazing and reminded me of my grandma. I loved to help my grandma do things like that. It's been kind of interesting the comments I get from people when I tell them I am doing it this year.

• I didn't think you did stuff like that or I didn't know you were "in to that"


• What are you trying to get your 3 year supply..dad it's 1 year not three
  
• OH YOU ARE???

Pretty much....you're a little crazy Heather....but whatever you say :) Well luckily I had asked my mom so many questions that she decided to come and help me out. Which I am SO grateful for because it went so much faster with her help! We had a great time and accomplished it with 2 toddlers and a baby. Thanks momma! We decided we will branch out and do lots more variety next year. I'm excited about that and will definately have to get some different set up to get the cans out of the water...because I was close to saying naughty words because I kept getting burned and the darn jars kept slipping out of my hands!





Here they are. Not up for a blue ribbon I'm sure but hopefully they'll taste ok. That's all that matters anyway! But do you want to know the best part of it all! Brett told me it took him back in time when he came home and could smell and see the mess of peaches being bottled. It reminded him so much of his mom! She used to do everything you can imagine, so the canning process would take days not hours! He said he was more excited about seeing them being done than actually eating them! We all still miss her so much! I still can't believe that it's been 8 years. Time sure does fly.


Here is sweet Hallee. Heidi and I went shopping to find her a blessing dress. We had a great time and had to try it on her the second we got back home. Heidi asked Brett to bless her. We will be doing it tomorrow at my dad's house.


Maecee and Hallee---I just wanted to type that so you'd see the double ee's :) There is also Tawnee! They are laying under the toy that has been a big hit with all three of my kiddies. And now it is Hallee's.

Sent Home....

McEvoy in Russian

(look how long Elder is)

I wanted to get a close up of their missionary tags because I think they are so neat lookin'
Okay so the real scoop is that Elder and Sister McEvoy (our very cute and devoted missionaries) had to come home from the MTC----not because they were naughty or anything :)----but because their Visas didn't go through as expected. So now they are leaving Sept 19 for a LONG flight to Russia. Actually it has been fun to see them one last time. But they are all business and having great missionary experiences here. I love the Spirit they carry. It is very catchy. They also speak some awesome Russian. They are quick learners.

Anyways....we love them and are so proud and happy for them. What great examples they are to all of us family. The Russians are going to love them too!

YEA WATERSKIING!

Our awesome neighbors took us waterskiing on Saturday to Cutler Dam. We had a blast. I was feeling sad because I didn't think we were going to be able to go boating this year and then we got the call from Duff. I love being out on the water, it's so relaxing....even when my imagination gets the best of me thinking of all the yucky fish lurking under the water..... I have a small phobia about that. So here are some pictures. I did ski but when Mary tried to take a picture of me the memory card was full (go figure) so I don't have proof that I skied :(

McKenna tried to waterski for the 1st time..She stayed up for about 4 seconds, then fell. Also the first time she wrecked she wouldn't let go of the rope. We were yelling at her to let go. I was proud of her for trying though!
Maecee chillin' in the boat.
The Flag boy
Maecee's first time boating
McKenna knee boarded for her 1st time
Hunka Hunka What is that a 12 pack?
Eth first time kneeboarding. Duff had a tricky way of getting the kids up on the knee board. They would start at the back of the boat laying on the board then he would slowly let out the rope and when they got out far enough they would get up on their knees. I was sooo surprised that Ethan did this. The first time he crashed the board flipped over and we didn't really tell him what to expect....well he freaked out! He said he forgot that his life jacket was on and there we are leaving him in the boat. He was terrified, so Duff dove into to save him. It was cute because Duff said that when he got to Ethan he goes...Hey Duff what are you doing? You got wet. But it didn't scare him enough not to do it again. I was really proud of him.

Morning hair do
Going to church do
No pictures please...
Beauty..see post below for more details.