Camping

Our friends Holly and Brian called and invited us to go camping. We had a homecoming the next morning, so we just went up for the night. It was really fun to be out and enjoy some of the few warm days left of the year. Our kids were busy the whole time trying to "rock climb" as they called it.

Nate

Sage

Aspen

Remembering Grandpa Roylance

As a tradition growing up, I have always gone to my Grandparents house on Sundays. As I have gotten married and had children, it is still something we try to do every week. My grandpa Dirk passed away about four years ago and I really miss him. As the kids and I were driving to my grandmas, I decided to make the day about my grandpa. I remember when I was little, he would often take me, my siblings, and cousins to McDonald's to get ice cream cones. Then we would go over to Sugar House park and play. He didn't talk alot, but it was always a very special activity to me. So before we made it to my grandmas, I stopped by the same McDonald's and started to tell the kids how I used to do this with my grandpa. I told them alot of stories about him on the way to the park. When we got there, we played and played. It was so fun to think about him and remember him. Not because it was his birthday, or a Holiday. But because we can turn any day into a grandpa day and remember people we love.

He taught me many things that I am so very grateful for. I remember his always showing me his National Geographic books. He always wanted to have fun and go boating. Even though most of the time the boat didn't work. It was fun to be on the lake anyway. I love and miss you grandpa!

State Fair..

It is our tradition to go to the State Fair every year. Nates parents work at a booth there, so we always go visit them. They give us passes to go, and the kids just LOVE it. This year Nate worked so I took the kids and their cousin Raegan. We usually just look at the animals and go down the huge yellow slide. But they had wrist bands for a great deal. So we changed things up this year and rode all the rides. I could not believe how fearless they all were. They went on everything. Poor Aspen was too short to go on all or them. She cried and was so mad she is so little. But it all turned out great in the end. We held hands and raced from one ride to the next. I was so grateful for such sweet kids. They kept hugging me and thanking me for taking them between each ride. I love my kids so much!!
They have a little village that is so darling. Its made up of different houses. The kids go from one to the next, planting a garden, collecting eggs, and milking a cow. At the end they sell there goods to the general store and get to buy a treat.
This is where they collected apples. McKenna planting her seeds, and picking vegetables.
Sage and McKenna

Family Retreat

We went up to the cabin again and brought our good friends Katie and Ken Wirfs. It was a quick stay, but so needed. It was so beautiful with all of the leaves starting to change. The air was so clean and crisp. The kids had a wonderful time getting dirty and running where ever they wanted.

The two Katies

Nate had fun taking the kids back and forth across the river.

Even our dog Bodie loved being somewhere different for a change.

Sage loves it when I take his picture, can you tell?

Sage was in pure Heaven, the only thing he wished was that he brought his fishing pole.

Aspen and McKenna

Aspen and I tried to get some near by horses to come visit us. Their food was more important. But she watched them for at least half and hour. Thanks Aspen for sharing my love for horses.

We watched movies and had a great ping-pong competition. Nate and I lost to the Wirfs. They are some serious ping-pong players!

Family Reunion

My Grandmas brother Ardell Brown invited the Brown family clan to his estate. It was so fun to see so many people we are related to. He had a wonderful catered dinner for all of us. Nate had planned to go hunting this weekend. I told him he would really enjoy seeing Ardells cars. I explained how many hundreds of hot rods he has, and how much fun it is to tour his barns full of them. When we got there and Nate walked in, he stopped in his tracks and stared. He looked at me and said "Wow Katie I have to say I thought you were exaggerating, but you didn't even give the cars justice." It was so fun to see them. My favorite was the 1969 fully restored Shelby Mustang.
The only down part of the day was Sage getting shocked. He shares my love of horses and went to pet them. We didn't know there was an electric fence. As he reached for the horse he somehow touched it. He jumped back crying hysterically and screamed in front of everyone "Why did you do that mom, that was so mean!" I asked him what he was talking about and he yelled "you just threw a boulder at my back." It was so sad. I explained to him he had gotten shocked. I asked him why he thought I would ever hurt him. He explained that when he turned around, I was the only one there, and he was sure he had something big hit his back. It was sad that he really thought I threw a rock at him. He was pretty shaken up for the rest of the day. I cried too, it was so scary watching it happen when there was nothing I could do.

Zacks Baptism

Happy Birthday Zack! I have five little nephews that all turned eight recently. Its been fun to see them all make the choice to get baptized. Sage loves his cousins, and I am so happy he is such great friends with all of them. Even though they can not see each other all the time, their friendships remains so strong. The are all so strong and spiritual. In a blessing Sage had, he was told that they were all sent together because they will accomplish many great things together. I look forward to when they all turn 19. Hopefully we will have five amazing missions to watch unfold.