Wicked Fun!

So we got invited by my sis to go to "Date Night" at Lagoon...yes for real. It has been years since I had been and even longer for Spencer. We had a blast, going on all the big roller coasters and rides there. We made it on 7 rides in only 3 hours! Most everyone was done, a little woozy in the head, but I definately could've kept on going! Woohooo, roller coasters are so fun! To see Matt's crazy hair after the new Wicked ride (which very much was wicked) click here Carla. This is our screaming, having a good time face (on the rickety old White Roller Coaster, woowoo!)

Salsa Time

I am proud to say my salsa turned out much better this year...and everything in it was home grown in my garden! Tomatoes...of course, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, onions, garlic and cilantro. And a couple hours later, mmm mmm spicy good.

RIP Artie

It was sad to see him die, but our taste buds and tummies were in delight, so the death(s) were not in vain. Deaths...yes, we did get an Artie Jr. and Artie the III. They were all so yummy. We can't wait for another couple years. Until next time...

Caution

We are trying to add a template to this bad boy, and it has deleted our whole right side panel, which is ok, we can always add it back! Just glad it wasn't the blog postings. So that is the reason all our fellow blogger links are now gone. But don't worry, they will be back soon, and hopefully a cool template behind it all.

Another Year Older...

Spencer darling turned #28 today. I surprised him at his office after lunch with some cupcakes and cookies, then took him away with me! (I had my sis post the below blog right before I surprised him at work). I took him to play 9 holes at Old Mill then we stuffed ourselves on dinner at Market Street Grill. We then had some of our friends come over for a little party with cheesecake and ice cream. Thanks friends, it was fun seeing you all! Happy birthday sugar, I hope you had a good one. Spencer's cubicle at work





The cupcakes and balloons for surprise!

Us at the Old Mill & Some of Spencer's new presents: BYU and Utah Jazz Golf club covers!

SURPRISE!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPENCER...

Going Once, Going Twice...

SOLD...in 5 days. The rumors are true, we are moving as we bought a new home in the same area, just a couple blocks north. Here are some highlights of our home of 3 1/2 years we will be leaving behind on August 30. New landscaping. Our modern room, My personal favorite

The Split entry, biggest reason for the decision to move.

Park City Getaway

August 9, 2008. We went for a night up to Park City, staying at the Westgate Resort. We actally took the bait and perks to see their time share presentation, which was not as bad as others have been! We made the best of this, eating dinner at a mexican place, Baja Cantina. Way Good! Then over to the zip line. It was crazy fun, I screamed the whole way down! Kinda freaky but worth it! We then went "school shopping" all day on Saturday, needing to replace some old old clothes.

You Play Ball Like a GIRL...

August 2, 2008. We watched Spencer's neice, Camry, play in the Malad Championship Fastpitch Softball game. These girls are tough and really bring it! Ages ranging 8-13 they really know how to play the game. They train and learn the game. We were really impressed with it all, great coaching Jeff! Spencer wanted to jump in and hit a ball so bad, so he got to help a little in the in between game practice! In the end, after 8 hours, our girls, the ChubbuckFLASH win the championship! Good job girls, you rock! Our tough Camry at bat
Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars...We also took this opportunity to find the little campground in Malad, ID and do a little camping! We loved it here. It was small and quaint, the trees were thick and the dark nights made the stars shine brightly. The campfires were hot and the smores were mmm mmm good! We love the outdoors.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

July 12, 2008. The night we got home from the 4th year hike we had tickets to see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at the Sandy Amphitheater. We rode our bikes there, as it is just up the street from us. It was a great concert. The music is upbeat and fun and makes you just want to get up and dance. I need to get on teaching Spencer some more swing! He really likes this band and has one of the cd’s. We really liked the new music they have come out with. It is fun, clean and old school, makes you think of back then.

4th Year Hike

We’ll start with the 4th Year Hike. July 11-12, 2008
Spencer and I, well I guess it was me, volunteered to take the 4th year girls of our stake on their overnight backpacking hike. We decided to make it small and close, trying to get all the girls there we could. We decided on the Silver Lake Trail up American Fork Canyon. It was about 2.3 miles up and back, about 5 miles round trip. It did have like 1300 elevation gain in just 2.3 miles, so that was where it challenged us all. We ended up with 8 girls and 7 leaders. The hike went very well. We did not hear any complaints, except the heat. We made it to the top and the girls were so happy to have that behind them, and felt great about what they accomplished. We taught the girls how to filter water, then set up camp and made dinner. We had a beautiful view of the valley on top of the rocks where we were camping. After we hiked down we took the girls to the “Alpine Butt Slide” which is a natural water slide in the outskirts of Alpine. The girls loved it. Overall we had a great time and I think the girls had a really nice experience. We heard a lot of the girls say they felt accomplished with it all and they would like to go backpacking again!

For the Beauty of the Earth

One of my favorite things to see on this earth are flowers. I love to see, grow, smell and have them. They are so beautiful and bring a simple smile to everyone. Here are some of the flowers in my life. All are found around my yard, including daylily's, daisy's, artichoke, squash flowers, petunia's, and Spencer delivered the bottom right one's to me at work, he's such a sweetheart!

Cold River Rafting!

July 18, 2007. This weekend's adventure was spent river rafting on the Snake River up near Jackson, WY. It was loads of fun. We went with some ward friends who own 2 sweet rafts! Woke up before the "butt crack" of dawn (5:00AM) so that we could get 2 river runs in and be home late that night around 10:00PM. We had a great time. The water was freezing (I'm surprised I didn't lose a toe). Great day long day! Thanks Chris and Brandon! Also thanks to http://www.floatographs.com/ for the picture.

Lunch Counter Rapids (Melina and I are in the back)

Daddy's little girls...

The Glade family welcomed the 3rd grand-baby to our bunch. Sweet Ella Rochelle Glade came on Father's Day to K.C., Heidi & Landon. Weighing in over 8 lbs was tough on Heidi and made for a few complications in delivery, but she is a gift from God and is a precious, cuddly girl with lots of dark silky hair! (2 weeks old) Other new (and not so new) arrivals are:
Ashlyn Lindsay Maughan, proud parents are Brandon and Lindsay Maughan. She was born May 28. They have 3 wild boys, and finally got their little girly girl, who has a cute bow for every outfit!






Last arrival, which was actually 9 months ago was the 2nd grand-baby to the Glade bunch. Gary and Noelle welcomed their first little girl, sweet Julia Lenore. She is looking a lot like the Glade clan every day! In the end, these ladies are daddy's little girls and we are so happy for these sweet spirits!

Grand Teton National Park

Day 1 (7/3):

Over the 4th of July, we took the opportunity to go and see one of our favorite National Parks, the Grand Tetons (http://www.nps.gov/grte). We weren't able to leave on Thursday until about 4:00 PM which didn't put us into the park until 9:45 PM. We were very nervous that we weren't going to be able to get a camping spot in the park (because of the busy 4th of July weekend). But, we were pleasantly surprised when we pulled up to the entry gate and saw the sign that said "Colter Bay: Open". YEAH!!

We drove in, found a site, started setting up the tent and we hear a "Yoohoo. Excuse me". Some guy that just pulled up was apparently trying to get our attention. He tells us that we are in his spot. We didn't see any tent, no trailer, no camp chairs, nothing that would say it was his site. But then, if you looked closely, there was a trailer hidden in the trees just off of the main camp site. I guess the camp hosts said it was ok to park where he was because his tent/trailer thing wouldn't fit in the main parking stall for the site.

Anyway, so we throw the tent into the car and head off to find another site. We finally found a site, right off the road, but it seemed to be the last in the entire campground. phew! We got lucky, we're in. After setting up the tent, we go straight to bed. It was a long day!

Day 2 (7/4) Happy 4th!:

We decided to go on a long hike on Friday and then we would go kayaking and a small hike on Saturday. The long hike was a combination of a couple lakes, Two Ocean and Emma Matilda. It was a fairly easy 10 miler. Spectacular views of both lakes and one amazing view on the top of Grand View Point (steep climb to the top but worth it) of the entire Teton Range. We couldn't have asked for better weather. Clear sunny day. When we were about 1.5 miles to the trail head, we caught up to a couple staring off into the distance at a black bear. Unfortunately, we weren't able to see it but from then on we constantly clapped, whistled, and called out "Hey bear!" to try and keep it from coming over and eating us for lunch.

Grand View Point View

After the hike we got back to camp and started our delicious dutch oven dinner. We decided to have Calzones! WAY GOOD! We love our dutch ovens! After dinner we rode our bikes around Colter Bay (area on the north side of Jackson Lake - largest lake in the park) and enjoyed watching the boats come in and out of the marina. We then went back to camp for smores and our version of fireworks - an actual fire! HEHE! Happy 4th!Day 3 (7/5):
We decided to head to Pocetello and see Emily and Jeff and also to get Melina a haircut and color from the best haircutter this side of the mississippi. So, we had a lot to do before leaving the Tetons. We wanted to go on a small hike (around 4-5 miles) and then go kayaking on Jenny Lake. We packed up our camp and headed for the trail head for Taggart and Bradley Lakes. We first went to Bradley Lake then over to Taggart. This was a pretty easy hike but we really enjoyed the veiws of the Tetons as we hiked across the open meadows.



Once done with our hike, we headed over to Jenny Lake for our kayaking adventure. We soon decided kayaking is more fun than canoeing. It's a little easier, you sit lower to the water, and you can go faster (well, at least it seemed faster). We enjoyed sitting and relaxing in the kayak on the beautiful lake.
Around 2:30, we were off for Pocetello. That night we were able to go to dinner with my parents, Emily and Jeff, and Tonya and Bryan. After dinner, I went with Jeff, Bryan and his boys to "Hancock". Pretty good show. Really funny! We saw the movie while Emily cut and colored Melina's hair and WOW, did she (Emily) do a great job.

Day 4 (7/6):
Time for church. We went to church with the Nields. I kept Sarah and Aubrey occupied all the way through Sacrament Meeting, and didn't hear a single word the entire meeting. Then back to Emily and Jeff's for a delicious breakfast. Then back home.
Wow, what a weekend. Great times! We LOVE the beautiful outdoors!

Bike Ride to Work

So today was the second time riding my bike to work. I was so tired after my hill this time, it killed me! My ride is really a pretty simple 8 miles with one long gradual hill. For any avid bikers it'd be easy, but I am just getting into biking, for fun really, and am not used to the leg workout! But that is mainly what I am doing it for, the workout...and to get some awesome fresh air in the morning and to be more eco friendly, I love it, enough to do it again. Here is a little pic I took w/my cell phone. You can't see how beet red my face is very well, but it is! Thanks Carla for the bike haha! (P.S. Thanks Emily for my cute haircut and color)

Artie Artichoke

See the first fruits of our labor from this years garden! One fun surprise veggie we have given special tender love and care is...Artie the Artichoke. For real, right there in our own backyard! We also have already gotten some red potatoes, beets, garlic...yes garlic, and berries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. Mmmmm. The garden is so fun. We also have some onions, tomatoes, peppers, squash and zucchini coming later. It is so amazing how these vegetables can grow from that tiny seed!






Fresh Fruit Delight

Stake Youth Conference

Stake Youth Conference was this last week, June 24-26, at Camp Williams. We had a great time with all the youth and leaders from the stake. I would recommend Camp Williams to other stakes for Youth Conference. We live in a great area with great people. I am the Stake Young Womens Secretary, and I love it! Work w/3 awesome ladies I couldn't have asked for better women. Unfortunately Carlene couldn't be there, so that left Denise, Elise and I to all the food prep and cooking. So we found ourselves in the kitchen most of the time, with a few breaks to attend the various activities we had planned for the youth. Very tiring, but worth it! Email me if you want more info for the future.

Denise, Elise, Melina

Repelling Tower and the Leadership Reaction Course. The youth had a great time working together at these activities, but admitted it was harder than they expected, but it was a lot of fun.Ultimate Frisbee