Happy Birthday Tanner!

Happy Birthday Tanner Man! You are 5 already and a 'handsome' little guy (you correct anyone that says you are cute) We celebrated your birthday early as usual on the mountain with our family, mom was a slacker this year and let you pick out a cake at the store in Beaver, you were so excited that they wrote 'Happy Birthday Tanner' on it. When Braxton turned 5 we held his party at McDonalds so I guess maybe we've started something....we did the same for you and invited the McFadden's, Marshalls, and Morgan and Haiden from your daycare class. Their birthday pack includes 10 happy meals, a cake, and party favors - really not a bad deal at all! It was a short party since we all needed to go to back to school night, but it was short, sweet, easy, and the kids had a ball! and no mess at home!

When Braxton turned 5 we held his party at McDonalds so I guess maybe we've started something....we did the same for you and invited the McFadden's, Marshalls, and Morgan and Haiden from your daycare class. Their birthday pack includes 10 happy meals, a cake, and party favors - really not a bad deal at all! It was a short party since we all needed to go to back to school night, but it was short, sweet, easy, and the kids had a ball! and no mess at home!

Smith Family Campout 2012


We had our annual Smith family camp out up to Tushar the second week of August and as usual had a blast! Things were a little different this year since the new Forest Service guy is being a real jerk,  and we really had to 'camp' in one of the big campsites instead of all of us parking and leaving our trailers by my parents all summer,  but it really turned out to be a great spot up against the dam and the kids LOVED climbing up on it, feeding and chasing the squirrels on the rocks and it had more shade than where we usually camp..  We canoed, played in the dirt, Braxton worked on scouting things, played baseball, water ballon volleyball, rode the 4 wheeler, and ATE lots of yummy food! Thanks to all my sisters and my parents for a great time, we always look forward to it and always hate to come home!

Doing a little shopping in Beaver before heading up the mountain.  The kids love the little shopping carts at Mike's store!

Kason -our little fruit lover- would've eaten the watermelon rind had we not stopped him

Kason had so much fun with Carson!

Troy put some foam around the hitch so kids wouldn't run into it and it got turned into a shark!

The new spot minus 2 trailers

game time

Who new shaving cream and food coloring could make such cool pictures?

Braxton finally lost his wiggly tooth thanks to Uncle Brent and Carson

Everything just tastes better in the moutains!

 The inlaws, minus Eric

 Make a wish Tanner!

The kids learned some fun facts about Beavers.  Grandpa made them all 'beaver cookie' necklaces', & Grandma made YUMMY beaver tail treats!!

 we made cool glow in the dark luminaries

Now that's a filthy face!

The marriage proposal....

I have to blog this before I forget...it's too classic.
I work with Kristen in Radiology, who's little boy Camden is in Camrie's same daycare class.  They've been best little friends for the last year or so, and when one moves up to the next class and leaves the other behind, it's makes for a  very sad day.
Yesterday I got a facebook message from Kristen and when she picked up Camden the other day he told her that Camrie kissed him on the lips.  He acted all giddy about it, and Camrie was right there and said "well, my dad kisses my mom on the lips" (so i guess that made it alright??).  Last night she saw my wedding ring on the counter:
C: "Mom, that's a pretty ring, I want to wear it."
Me: "That's my wedding ring, it is pretty isn't it."
C: "Yes, I want one just like it."
Me: "Well, someday when you get married you can have a pretty ring too."
C: "Did dad give it to you?"
Me: "Yup, he's my very best friend"
C: "So you married you best friend mom?"
Me: "Yes I did."

Today I drop her off in her class and Camden was there playing on the floor.  I bent down and told her no kissing the boys....she said ok.  So she immediately walks over to Camden and says:
C: " Hey Camden, my mom says that I can marry my best friend and get a pretty ring like hers and you are my best friend!"
Me:  totally melting onto the floor.....The look on Camden's face was PRICELESS - the biggest smile I've ever seen! I wish I would've had a picture of it.
I told Ms. Maria she better keep an eye on Camrie and I better watch what I say!! 

Sheesh....she's only 3...we've got some crazy interesting years ahead of us!!!

Another School year....

Here we go with another school year...

Braxton started last week and is in 3rd grade, he wasn't too sure about having a male teacher, but Mr. Roberts is awesome and Braxton really likes him.  Mr. Roberts told us at back to school night, he doesn't teach like a girl....that's probably just what Braxton needs, a little less lovey, and more to the grind!  Mr. Roberts is very 'techno' oriented and kids at this age love that! We also found out that I work with Mr. Roberts' mom and sisters, he married a girl from Beaver, and he also served a mission in Austrailia (so did Troy) and Braxton is totally consumed with Austrailia, so naturally he rocks in Braxton's book!

Tanner started Kindergarten today - I think he grew up over night! Troy and I both work in Hurricane today, so I drove back in to take him for his first day.  As we pull into the school this was our conversation:

T: " Mom, I can just go in by myself"

Me: " Oh no its your first day, I have to go in with you."

T: "Really Mom, I can just go in alone."

Me: "Really? do you remember where your classroom is?"

T: ( a bit irritated) Yes, Mrs. Doty's room, AND I'm going home with Morgan's mom!"

Me: sigh...OKAY!

He was almost on a dead run to the door, I had to walk pretty fast to keep up with him, and he as we got closer to the door, he let go of my hand...apparently it isn't cool to walk into Kindergarten holding your Mom's hand???  But he went right in, put his back pack away, sat down, posed for a picture or two, and forgot all about me! BITTERSWEET  I say!

I don't think that smile can get any bigger!

Thanks to Minda, Morgan's mom, and one of my co-workers, for volunteering to pick up Tanner on Monday and Tuesday - her days off, and let him play with Morgan until I get home from work. YOU ARE AWESOME! He will walk home with Braxton the rest of the week.





Webb Reunion 2012 - Panguitch Lake

We had a great time camping at Panguitch Lake last weekend with Troy's family.  Because his silblings live from Utah to Texas, they have their reunions every other year so it's a much anticipated get together!  Due to a newbie at the forest service in Beaver who is a complete jerk and just wants to throw his weight around, we have not been able to leave our trailer on the mountain all summer in 'our spot' - ARRGGGG!! so this was our first camping opportunity and I was ready to go 2 weeks before the reunion!  SIGH - I digress.... We went up and over Bear Valley, and as I expected somebody was going to have to used the bathroom....So we stopped on the side of the road and let Tanner ( ok, and mom...) do their business. Yes, I did it - it is what it is, and I'd rather not entertain the options! With the second and third truck doors open, it's almost like having your own little stall, and our trailer helped block the view too.... a little tip for you just in case..... And we were off!
I have only driven past Panguitch Lake, and Troy pretty much grew up at the lake so I was pretty excited to go somewhere new.  We had a great little spot and after getting our battery and water issues resolved I was relaxed and ready to enjoy our weekend.  Troy's siblings are card playing fools, me? not so much, so I hung out with the nieces whom I can relate with a bit better and made super cute duct tape rings! Who knew duct tape could be so fun? they were making all kinds of cute things.

Kason and Uncle Larry

As usual the food was awesome as was the company - I love Troy's family! They have always been so accepting of me and Braxton right from the start! I'm sure glad that Braxton, at the ripe old age of 2, gave Troy permission to marry me (yes, Troy did ask my parents too:). 
Saturday morning we rode down to the lake and the kids could've stayed there all day throwing rocks in the water, they LOVE it! but really what kid doesn't? Tanner almost launched himself in the lake once, and there were only a few close calls as far as Kason throwing rocks and hitting either Tanner or Camrie in the head...really, that boy's arm better make us some money someday!!  While we were at the lake we missed out on the fun games back at camp, but we also drove around and found some other potiential fun camping places!

Most everybody left Saturday evening, but the real troopers stayed that night and endured a good  hard rain storm! It was so nice!
After packing up Sunday morning, we parked our trailer in Panguitch for the afternoon and headed over to Tropic for a long overdue visit with Dana one of my college roomies.  Dana, and her daughter Emilee, had lunch and treats waiting for us and the kids loved jumping on the tramp up to Herb and Dorie's.  It's always just like college days when we get together, too bad Jana lives in Co! When it was time to go we headed back to get our trailer and off to Beaver we went to visit my parents and leave our trailer for our next camping adventure this coming weekend.
Thanks to Lori and Gary for being in charge this year and doing a great job, we had a blast and can't wait for next time!


Kason hanging out with Emilee while we visited in Tropic



"The Rains Came Down and The Floods Came Up...."

There was a skateboard hiding in all this water that I ran over!



The water leaking through our complex brick wall



My drive home on Indian Hills -  this road took the brunt of the storm!



Bluff Street was a huge fast moving obstacle course! had to dodge all the big rocks!

The wash completely full behind my sister's house - usually you can't see across it because of the trees



Church clothes + Water and mud = a happy boy!  He loved playing in it while I bailed out the backyard!  

 When it rains, it pours lately! or maybe it's because everyone in Green Valley/Santa Clara paid their tithing this particular Sunday???  I was on call and had to nearly float home! At one point my wipers couldn't keep up and I seriously prayed nobody was abruptly stopping in front of me!! Some people in our ward that live right above us found their brand new car floating in their garage, and the firemen had to cut holes in their brick wall to let the water run out from around the homes, which ran on down our direction.  My next door neighbor had their living room carpet ruined, I was very surprised to find ours totally dry, but our backyard water logged and pooling!  Had we not walled and backfilled our backyard recently, the neighbors below would've had a huge pile of mud in theirs!  The kids had a ball playing out in the rain and riding thier bikes through the deep puddles.

Utah Summer Games - June 21-23, 2012

Braxton's baseball team played in the 9 and under division at the Summer Games last week, however out of all the team in their 'division'...I'm pretty sure they were the only team who was really 9 and under...we knew for sure there were a couple of 11 yo boys on the second team we played...so frustrating.  So obviously they lost playing against boys twice the size of them, but they held their own pretty well.  Braxton got pelted in the thigh with a pitch a while ago, and he's been quite nervous when batting and backs out of the box hoping for a walk instead.  So there could have been some bribery, and this weekend may have cost Troy and I $40.00, but he finally stayed in the box and got a few hits! Whatever it takes right?
Braxton's big sister Miranda, who lives in Cedar, came and hung out with us for the day at the games.  We had lots of fun with her and Braxton was so excited to see her- It took a bit for Tanner and Camrie to warm up to her, but then they stuck to her like glue! I took Kason out to Troy's niece Angela's house during the games, he had a great time, took a long nap, and watched a little baseball with her husband Tyler.  A big thanks to them! It was so hot at the games with no shade, or grass so he was better off with Tyler and Angela.
After the games and dinner, we stopped by Grandpa Webb's house for a couple hours to visit and eat popsicles until it was time to go see the Green Show at the Shakespearian Festival. I had heard they were changing it up and so I wanted to go see it. My kids need culture, and I needed one of their famous yummy lemon tarts! We loved the greenshow, it's still wild and crazy fun, but more with a storyline instead of a variety type show. We had a fun fun day, sorry our hardworking dad had to miss it!

Randi and Braxton





Popsicles and fun in Gpa Webb's hammock....wish I had a picture of them trying to get out of it!!!





Gpa pulling Camrie on the gardening seat



The Green Show




They were totally enthralled with the performance!





My poor thumb that I slammed in the car door at the games...with the amount blood involved, I was pretty sure I'd find the tip of my finger inside my car.....OUCH!