If you have ever thought I was a loser................ well think again!! I always knew I had a "winner" inside me waiting to win. Look at the darling apron I won from the blog "The Walkerz."




I had Carver take a picture of me in it, Isn't it sooo darling!! (I am kind of scared to get it dirty).
I had to answer the question "what inspires me" AND I WON!!! Well, I just had to share the moment with you, it is not everyday you are the "Chosen One."
I keep telling her she needs to sell them, thus next time you need a gift for someone special, or a gift for someone who is not special, think of Kelly's amazing aprons!!!
Cheers,
The Chosen ONE.

Cowboy Poetry

Chad's parents were getting ready to go to a concert. Chad's Dad decided to wear a very out of date (sort of western looking) vest with his slacks. The following conversation took place in their room:

Rita: "You need to change you can't wear that vest it doesn't match and it looks dorky."

Greg:"What do you mean it looks dorky, I love this vest. Jan gave me this vest for Christmas, it looks great!"

Rita: " You can't wear that, that is sooo old and out of date."

Greg: "It is not out of date, I like it and I am wearing it!"

Rita: "Well, I think you should wear something else."

Greg walks out of their bedroom and into the kitchen were he is greeted by Taylor (at age five) who says, "Nice, vest Cowboy!"

Greg then returned to his room to remove the dorky vest. AND that is Taylor always good for a one liner to get the point across. He just says it like it is and lets the cards fall where they may -I love that quality in him.

IQ Test

Two nights ago my nephew Luke got really serious with my Dad and sat him down to tell him that I was not as smart as his mother because I burn Mac 'n Cheese. My Dad broke the news to me the next day -lets just say, what doesn't break you, makes you stronger.

Look how happy these kiddies look to be climbing straight up a mountain to get to Timpanogos Cave. Have you ever seen more enthusiastic children?

A few smirks trying to hide their excitement.

Taylor giving Carver "bunny ears." Apparently this "bunny" has three ears.

Here is the crew inside the cave. The famous saying for the hike came from Zach man. He said, "if I keep putting one foot in front of the other, I am one step closer to the top. Wise words from a very wise boy.

After hiking Timpanogos they drove out to see the Bingham Copper mines. Because why stop with just one Utah landmark when you can see two?

Ice Breaker.

Taylor's Favorite Joke:

What did the number Zero Say to number Eight?

-NICE BELT!

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.
~ Henry David Thoreau

Our impromptu day at Bear Lake.

We spontaneously spent a day up a Bear Lake after Taylor's soccer game in Logan. We had to stop at a store and buy swimsuits, towels, buckets, shovels and balls. That night we got a room in Logan. We didn't even have anything to "carry" into the room, but thrill of living in the moment. I always say it but, my nirvana is laying around on a beach somewhere watching my boys play in the sand and water.................having Nanner's shorts fall off in mid air was an unexpected bonus. Carpe Diem.

Tanner and the Toilet Seat.

Last week Nanner got LuLu's potty training seat stuck around his neck.

It was identical to the one in the above picture. The kids came tearing in the back door yelling that Tanner had a toilet stuck on his head. Tanner was a few paces behind them, walking with his head down, supported by a large white collar. He looked something like this:

A few questions have entered my mind in the days following the incident.

1. Did he look at the seat and think, "I wonder if I can get my head through that hole."

2. Was the seat currently sitting on a toilet at the time when he thought the above mentioned thought. (I have to add -was the toilet empty??)

3. Also, in the past I don't recall ever speaking with other mothers about what they did when their child got the toilet seat stuck around their neck. Thus, I believe I might be a pioneer in this area, braving uncharted territory.

And on that note, I will end by saying pioneering can be dirty work.

River Trip

Every once in a while, Heaven is really earth.

We spent the week before the 4th of July floating the Main of the Salmon River, A.K.A the River of No Return. I think they call it that because, after a couple of days on the river you have no desire to return to your "former" life. It was a magical trip, the only thing missing from it was Zachary.............and Tanner. Here is our trip in snapshots.

This is the gear and the rafts at the put in.

Part of the crew.

Our raft.

The Bros (-it was so fun to float w/ these two!)

(Look how muscle-y my arm looks in this picture, I might start wearing a flotation device on a regular basis to help with my "curb appeal")

Taylor lining up for nut toss. This game is taken VERY, VERY seriously on the river. There was even a river trip tournament.......with brackets and everything. Guess who ended up in the finals??.................None other than Mrs. Kelli Booth. But, I have no photos to prove my rise to the top. But, Taylor and Carver have bright futures in nut toss, I can see them following in their mother's footprints.

Chad and Clay dueling to the death.

Brothers and bunny ears.

The result of brothers and bunny ears.

The bros at the hot springs.

Chad radioing to the other rafts.

I think 84% of all pictures of me are when I have something in my mouth. Another 14% I have my eyes closed (the last 2% is hit and miss). Needless to say, we ate like kings, hence, in remembrance of all the good food I will post one of many pictures of me eating.

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Chad and Tommy Striking the same pose

Chill'n

Taylor Back flipping off the raft

Carver Jumping off a bridge

Under this splash is Taylor.

This is a picture of my oldest son jumping.

I loved this rocky beach!!!



I forgot my sunglasses at home. Hence I ended up buying these bad boys at a gas station in Salmon Idaho. $11.99, for these Jackie O's. By Day three I was getting really attached to them.

Unfortunately for me day three was the day, I fell out...er. did I say fall out?? It was more like ejected out of the raft. That event turned this cute little girl above into looking.......

Like this. It broke my glasses and I lost my FAVORITE hat. No more Jackie O, for the rest of the trip. Trust me -we all suffered.

The local wildlife.

The boys taking over the raft.

Chad videoing while the boys man the oars.

A crawling tree.

Camp #4.

This camp site was out of a fairytale.

Look how cool the shower was.

The sunset on our last night. We had a small rain storm blow through and when it cleared the sky turned the most amazing color.