Hike to Battle Creek Falls

Looking out towards American Fork to Mt. Timp temple

Ammon

Battle Creek Falls

Thursday morning, my two brothers, Erik and Karl and their families and me and my children meet at the trailhead of Battle Creek Falls and hiked to the Falls. It was a fun time together although the hike was rated easy, it was not so easy for me. It was steep at places and we were really close to the water which was running fast and furious. I am glad that we kept all the kids safe. Ammon wanted me to carry him but we encouraged him to walk. I could barely carry myself, I couldn't carry him! He was so tired when we got home! So we made it to the Falls and then we sat and enjoyed the noise of the crashing Falls and had a snack of fruit snacks, granola bars, goldfish and bottled water. It was good for the cousins to be together and make memories. We have so enjoyed having Erik and Stephanie and their kids here this month. It is hard to believe that the month is over and they are their way to Erik's new posting in Oklahoma.  The kids want to go back to Battle Creek Falls for a FHE sometime. They want to share it with their dad since he had to work when we went so perhaps we will go back soon.

Pioneer Day celebrations and 5K

Saturday I ran my last 5K run of the summer. We got my brother and sister-in-law all excited to run a 5K when we told them that we were running the Freedom Festival run on July 4th. They came into town from Kentucky on July 3rd and just weren't able to do it. So they had signed up for the Pioneer day 5K run (a couple of months ago) and asked if anyone wanted to do it with them and I was the only taker! And I am so glad I did. It was great to be able to spend more time with Erik and Stephanie since we don't get to see them that much. I did my best time 44 minutes (I did 58 minutes at the Running with Angels in May and 57 min at Freedom Festival) which was a big improvement. I couldn't have done it though without Steph encouraging me. If you really want to know my feelings about running, I really don't like it :-) Run fer fun, what kind of fun is that! My asthma flares up and I have a hard time sometimes but I will tell you why I do the 5K runs.  I really enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done and I love the comaraderie of all the people running (or walking) beside me.  I love the feeling of accomplishment after I do something that is hard for me to do.  That is what I like. And I like staying in shape and doing something healthy!  Maybe someday, when I get serious about running, I will try a 10K and then a half-marathon and maybe even someday a marathon. We shall see. For now, I will stick with my 5Ks.  There seem to plenty of them around to pick from.  This last one was great because it wasn't too big...in fact when I made the finish line, they announced my name and where I was from. That was kind of fun. It was a Pioneer Day 5K put on by Trapnell Orthodontics and we ran it over by Timpview High school in Provo.
Today, we are celebrating Pioneer day even though it was yesterday...July 24th.  The day the Pioneers came into Utah in 1847.  I had sharing time yesterday in Primary and I had fun talking to the kids about Pioneer day and some stories of people in the handcart companies that came later and we sang some pioneer songs.  Heritage is important and it is important to pass it down to our children.  We are celebrating later today with my extended family with a BBQ and in the evening we will do fireworks. July is one big party and I love it! School is right around the corner and I am counting down. I love being with my kids, but the summer is sure longggggg. This week we have done some school shopping and bought some clothes and school supplies and I have been getting exciting about all our upcoming activities.  My 20-year high school reunion is this week which I CANNOT believe I have been graduated that long. I am looking forward to seeing people that I haven't seen for awhile. Sometimes it is hard to reach out and be outgoing, but I really am going to try at the reunion.  August brings swim lessons, ward campout, Kael's scouting campout, Aidan's baptism and start of cub scouts, and in four more weeks Kalli will start jr. high. Hard to believe.  Well, I must end this post and get ready for the evenings' festivities. I have caught a summer cold and it is making me really tired and wanting to just sleep. But I can't complain; I have really been healthy for a long time and shouldn't complain about a little old cold. The pioneer stories I have read recently have really encouraged me to have a better attitude of gratitude.  I have heard some really good things about the movie 17 miracles and really want to go see it soon. My mom was telling me about it the other day and I really want to go see it now. Happy Pioneer Day!!!

Grandma with her 25 great-grandkids

So we had quite the Saturday. After the wedding we traveled up to Herriman to my cousins house for a BBQ with my side of the family.  My aunt has done a Ribs Party for 16 years now every summer and I really look forward to it.  This year, since Erik and Stephanie's family are in town for a rare visit, we had all the great-grandkids there.  My mom has 17 grandkids and my aunt has 8.  So, my aunt Gayle wanted to have a picture with all 25 great-grandkids with grandma.  Well, easier said than done.  Especially since a majority of the kids are so young and don't like to sit still for any amount of time. Pictures are torture! But we tried. I included some of the before pictures of trying to get all the kids together and the top picture is my grandma with all of our great-grandchildren. Pretty neat picture. That's a lot of posterity!

Wedding

The Gorgeous, newlyweds, Vaness and Matthew Smart

Cassie, Kalli, Adrianna, and Caitlin

Ammon almost asleep after a tiring day!

Saturday, my niece got married and we were so happy that we lived close enough to be part of the festivities. Scott's sister Ellen lives in Washington and it was her oldest daughter, Vanessa that got married.  Kalli got to be a flower girl with her cousins and she got to be part of the wedding which was pretty fun. I asked her why she looked sad though and she said that she was sad that they weren't getting married in the temple. I told Kalli that sometimes it doesn't work out that way but she should be happy because they were working towards the temple and we could celebrate their marriage and that getting married was a happy, joyous occasion. It was a wonderful day with the Wendt family though. We don't always get to spend a lot of time with the Wendts so it was a great experience to be there.  Vanessa and Matt were married in Murray Park and it was a beautiful, gorgeous day. We traveled up to Le Jardin in South Jordan for the reception which was a beautiful reception center surrounded with flowers. We thought it was funny though, that it was right next to the cemetery. Vanessa and Matthew made such a happy, beautiful couple and I wish them every happiness.  Family is so important and we were so grateful to be able attend the wedding and be a part of their day. Scott's brothers and sisters live all over the United States so we don't always get to go to our nieces and nephews weddings like we would like to.   I'm so glad that we were able to attend Matt and Vanessa's.

Happy 8th to Aidan

Birthdays are so magical to kids. It's so fun for them to have them and they are so excited! I really had a hard time feeling the enthusiasm this year. It's not that I don't like birthdays; I do. But I just wasn't very excited to go to Chuck E. Cheese. The place that Aidan had picked for his party. I should love that place but for me it is a lot of sensory overload. Lots of noise, lots of chasing kids, lots of stress.  But we made it through and Aidan had a great time with his friends and mission accomplished; he had a wonderful birthday.  And that's what counts.  He got a lot of great presents that he has really been enjoying and we are so excited that he turned 8! He will be baptized in a couple of weeks and I am so proud of Aidan! Happy Birthday, Aidan!
I think back before Aidan was born and it is like it was yesterday.  When Kael and Kalli were young, I felt like I wanted more children and it just wasn't happening. I was willing to have a third child in our tiny 2-bedroom apartment but years passed and I wasn't pregnant.  We bought the house that we live in now and I thought, "Finally, it will happen. We have a big enough house that we can fit a few more kids. I know I will get pregnant now!"  It was so frustrating sometimes. People would tell me to be grateful that I had a boy and a girl and I was. But, I still wanted more children.  I was so overwhelmed with joy and so excited when I found out I was pregnant again. I had been going to the doctor to see what was wrong with me and I was so elated when I found out that I was pregnant. Some of my friends told me how happy they were for me and that they thought it wouldn't happen for me and they thought Kael and Kalli would be my only children. I just had to be patient...which isn't one of my virtues ;-). So when Kalli was almost five and Kael was nine, Aidan was born and I was bursting with joy. Aidan, I am so glad you are in our family. I waited so long for you and the wait was worth it. I am so blessed to be your mother.

Birthday Fun!

Sister-in-law Stephanie brings out the birthday cake

We have two July birthdays in our family. Aidan and Ammon's birthdays are two weeks apart and they are five years apart in age. I started this blog around the time when Ammon was born and I can't believe that it is three years later and I'm still writing! The birthday rule in our family is friend birthday parties are allowed for children ages 8-18 and then only every year (so their even birthday). This year, Aidan turns 8 so he gets his first friend party and he is so excited. If only I could get as excited! Kalli turns 13 this year but since she didn't get her friend party last year at 12, I said she could have one this year.  So, two friend parties this year. Yikes! I just felt that I couldn't give each kid a party every year. That's five parties a year and I just wasn't up to it!  This way, it is a little staggered although 4 of my kids were born in an even year and Aidan is the only one born in an odd year. But, it still works out because Kael has his last "friend" party next year when he turns 18 and Aaron and Ammon still aren't old enough...anyway, I know it sounds complicated but it works for our family.  Also, we don't allow any sleepovers with friends (only family like cousins) at our house or the kids going to friend's houses. I know that when I was growing up, sleepovers were fun but I stayed up too late and never got any sleep and I always came home grumpy because of lack of sleep.  Kalli feels like we are the meanest parents because of this policy but you know what; we live in a different world now than when I was growing up and this is something we feel strongly about.  When she is a mom, she can make her own rules! ;-) Anyway, off my soapbox.  Aidan is having his very special birthday of 8 years old and he is getting baptized next month. We are so excited and so proud of him! Ammon is turning 3 at the end of the month and I am so thrilled that he is potty-trained and not quite three yet!! So awesome. So the pictures above are the family party we had Sunday. We celebrated Elizabeth and Katie's birthdays also. Ice Cream and cake of course and lots of fun and family togetherness. Since Erik and Stephanie are visiting from Kentucky (well now Oklahoma!), this was one of the rare times that everyone was there! All the siblings, spouses and 17 grandchildren were there. Makes for a little chaos and noise! But a lot of fun and love.

Wendt Family Reunion

Lodge we stayed at Reid Ranch

We had a great time at our Family Reunion last week. Matt and Chantelle and their boys stayed with us Monday and Tuesday which was wonderful. I wish they could be our neighbors. it is really great to catch up with family. Matt helped Scott with some projects with his shed and Chantelle and I chased little boys. It was great fun! Wednesday we spent the day at 7 peaks Waterpark with the whole family which was really fun. My kids loved being with their cousins and we all enjoyed swimming all day.  Thursday morning we all headed out to Reid ranch which was out by Roosevelt, UT past Strawberry Reservoir. It was a lovely drive until we hit the lovely dirt road! We had a lot of fun together at the ranch. there was lots to do: Horseback riding, archery, swimming, a playground for the kids, Frisbee golf, boating, and much more.  We ate all three meals cafeteria style and it was nice to not have to do dishes this week....the best part was the Wendt Olympiad and the family skits. So much fun to be together. the wendts always have such a good time together. Love to be with family but it will take me a few days to recover! :-) We have three more years till the next one and Scott's brother and Nathan and also Scott are in charge. it will be a lot of work but it is always worth it. It is fun to gather for coast to coast and see Scott's family. He has 11 brothers and sisters and they live all over: Vancouver, Canada, Delaware, Montana, Idaho, California, Utah, Colorado and Washington. I loved hanging out with my sister-in-laws and we just all had a great time. I am so looking forward to the next one in 2014!

5K run

Happy fourth everyone! I started out the Independence day holiday great! My parents picked me up and Katie, Aaron, Mom and Dad and I drove down to Provo.  We walked most of the route. I took some pictures of the restoring of the Provo Tabernacle that we walked past. We got to walk down some of the Freedom Festival parade route in Provo and that was fun to see all the parade goers.  My brother, his wife and two kids, two sisters and their husbands and my mom and I all participated and that made it even better. My dad had quite a time finding a parking spot after he dropped us off and it was just craziness with so many people there this morning! But it was a lot of fun and I'm glad I could start out the celebrations of today with my extended family.  This afternoon we are going to have so much fun with our family-BBQ and fireworks later on tonight. I love holidays!