Spending time with family and friends

It used to be when I would look at blogs for my friends and family, I would wonder why it would sometimes take so long in between posts. Now I realize that it is not always easy finding time to sit down write an update. But I want everyone to know that I do check their blogs daily and love to read the posts and see the pictures.

We have had some fun times in the last couple of weeks. On the 17th, my sister Darla and her 2 boys flew in from Chicago to spend a month here in Utah. We went down to Parowan for the weekend and it was a great trip. Parowan was celebrating Pioneer Day on Saturday and the theme was "A day in Nauvoo" or something like that, so we were able to get together with much of the town for dinner and visit different booths depicting what life was like in Nauvoo. They also had horse drawn hay wagons going around town pointing out different historical landmarks. It was great being able to see friends that we haven't seen in awhile and spend time with family.

This week was pretty crazy around our house. We had Chalise and Ammon come up on Monday and then my parents and Darla and the boys came up on Tuesday. We spent much of Tuesday and an event called "Taste of the Valley" where about 20 different restaurants from around the valley set up booths and give away samples. It is amazing how full you can get and we probably only hit about half of the places. But it is an awesome tradition that we do each year. Yummy!

After that, we came back home and tied a quilt (outside in the rain, under a canopy). We then had a BBQ and watched the fireworks. At this point we also had Denny and Anne's family, Kyle and Lena and their children and Lena's parents as well as our friend Jamee and her boys. It was pretty loud and wild with all the kids but it was so much fun being able to spend time together. At one point, Nick and I snuck out with Chalise and Ammon and took Seth and Addie to the carnival for a couple of rides. Pioneer Day is a big day here in Spanish Fork. Give us a couple of years and Seth will probably be doing the mutton bustin at the rodeo (as long as we don't have to stay for the whole thing--I'm not that much of a S.F. gal yet).

On Wed we went to the Zoo. It was a great time. Of course Seth's favorite part was the train ride. As soon as it was over he said "How about we do it again". The weather was perfect. A little overcast for most of the day and not too hot. We hit an Olive Garden for dinner and then went on a tour of the Humanitarian Center and donated the quilt that we had tied the day before.

Next week we are going to Bear Lake for 3 days with our friends Shane and Allyson. They got a boat and want to go try it out up there so I guess we will just have to suffer and be supportive friends. :-)

Well, Sam is now needing my attention and it is getting too hard to type with one hand. Here are a few pictures of our latest adventures.

On the swing at my parents house

Going for a ride on the hay wagon (with my dad in the background)

Seth and Nick with the horses

At the zoo after the bird show (which was awesome)

Seth going a little crazy with the hose during the BBQ

Nick and Sam at Taste of the Valley

Tying the quilt in the rain

Seth and Addie at the carnival