Fun at the Lake

This past week was a Lake Powell marathon. We went down with friends and then we were joined by family at the end of the week. Lake Powell is an integral part of our summer fun and this was our first family trip for this year.

Although I try to get there as quickly as possible (I HATE the drive) ... once there, I'm not in a hurry to do anything. We do things at a more leisurely pace. There is no rush to relax.... just kick back and do things like...

play -






go off the slide -





ski -


molecule -




chill out -





cliff jump -


go for a boat ride -


fish -



This is a view of Navajo canyon when our boat was racing down looking for a great place for a canyon lunch.



This is a view of Navajo canyon a couple of days later as we were being towed out when our boat broke down.



I not only survived 8 days at Lake Powell (I don't usually go that long) but I had a great time. Thanks to friends and family for coming and making it a great trip!

Friends Are The Best!

Don't you love it when your friends just know what you need right when you need it or even before you need it? I just love that about friends.

As you know I have had mixed feelings about moving and I really don't like change but my friends' support and offers of help has been helping me as we have moved over to the new house this week.

The fixtures in the new house don't match the fixtures in the old but a friend gave me a giftcard which I'm excited to use to find items I need in my bathrooms. Speaking of bathrooms ... one of my boys yelled to me "we're out of soap!!!" and I was able to quickly hand him some soap that another friend had given me just the day before as a house-warming gift (or a "I'm so glad you're gone gift" she wasn't very specific come to think of it... hahaha!!!)

Then this morning as I was reading in the Ensign from a past Conference issue (I couldn't find the current one as I'm sure it is safely packed away in a box somewhere) I read a talk from President Monson about change and how we should take joy in the journey. I realized that my most important friend, my Heavenly Father was speaking to me about the change we have made and to make the most of it.

I'm so grateful for friends of all kinds that do different things for us at different times in our lives.

Here are a couple of pictures of friends taken in the last couple of days:







We look forward to making new friends here and keeping our friends in our old neighborhood.

It's Done

It is official and the sign is on our lawn. The house is now up for sale. Of course getting to this day has been very difficult with all the painting and packing and cleaning in order to make the house presentable (don't look in my storage room or garage as those don't count!!!)

My house has never been cleaner or more de-cluttered.



DON'T ANYONE MOVE!!!! (that would make footprints on the floors) NO PLAYING, NO EATING, NO CHANGING CLOTHES OR SHOWERING, (that would create laundry), NO TOUCHING WALLS OR WINDOWS (fingerprints). Frankly, I'm exhausted and not a single showing has occurred yet.

I know we need to get over to the other house so that this one will be empty and will show well for potential buyers.... but I don't want to leave. I don't want to say goodbye to my friends. Can't I just take everyone with me???? I have 10 years invested in this neighborhood and it is hard to let go.



















Maybe I'll take the sign out of the yard and keep this as my summer home.

Feeling Like a Heel

A few minutes after sending Sheriff off to bed I heard a strange sound coming down the hall. Within 2 seconds I recognized it as the sounds of his crying. Now this was not ordinary crying... this was sobbing... deep down to the bone grief. I didn't think he had had enough time to fall asleep and have a bad dream but then - if he takes after his dad who falls asleep in two seconds it was possible.

I wrapped my arms around him in the hall and as he continued to sob I asked what was wrong and through his garbled words I finally understood.... he didn't want to move... he would miss his friend Reagan. It took some time to comfort Sheriff and he is still not convinced/bribed enough regarding the new house. I can't say I blame him. He has lived his whole life here and has so many friends here. It was all Brett and I could do to not break down and cry with him.

So here we were in the midst of trying to comfort our son and feeling like big giant heels for uprooting him from his friends and his school. Sheriff has a real flare for the dramatic when pouring on the waterworks and the guilt but he has a good reason this time.

Sheriff and Reagan have done so many things together over the years sharing classes at school, t-ball,



going to the zoo, dinosaur park, going to Utah Lake, Lake Powell, riding bikes, playing video games, family game nights and getting together and playing after school and on week ends. Reagan will always be welcome in our home where ever that may be.