Good News/ Bad News

1) So the good news was we found the cutest park in the cutest town in Copperton Utah and had a blast with cousins.

2) The bad news was that during our trip to the cute park we lost cute Parker for about 50 minutes after a stray bulldog came running in and scared all the kids. We ended up with a search party of about 30 neighbors and the cops. It was possibly the scariest 50 minutes of my life. Tears were shed prayers were said and eventually we found Parker hidden inside a tire scared to death to come out. Once I knew he was ok I thought it would be appropriate to take pictures of the rescue.

 3) We went to Hogle Zoo and saw the new Rocky Shores exhibit with otters, seals and a polar bear.

4) We went to This is the place park where we rode ponies, held chickens and even got a taste of school 200 years ago. I'm pretty sure Anna if Anna wasn't afraid of kindergartentt before, she is now.

5) Thanks to Benson and Will Nelson is on his way to being potty trained. All it took was seeing them pee in a field one time and he's wanted nothing to do with a diaper since. Turns out he didn't realize what he was missing out on!

 6) Good News! Round two of lacrosse happened. We had a rematch and I had the greatest team ever. I mean just look at these guys!

 7)Bad news.... we're pretty sure Travis broke his foot in the lacrosse game. Luckily we found a boot that he's been able to borrow until he gets back to Iowa next week. And for the record my cheek has a big bruise on it and my toe's a little swollen. It was intense but totally worth it.

 8) We had a blast with Grandma playing spoons and running in her sprinklers.

9) BRIDGE CLUB! I got to hang out with two of my favorite people all week long. I woke up all teary eyed one morning so happy to be back with these two. With a 6 year difference between our husbands it's amazing that us three girls being the same age get to be sisters in law. Shannon and Tori have been best friends since 2nd grade and when I married Travis they brought me right in and I haven't stopped laughing since. When I'm with them I can't explain it I just go right into my comfort zone. While I have many blessings to count in my life having Shannon and Tori as my sisters and friends is one of my favorites.

10) Emilyne rode her first carousel The video is sideways and long but she's just so dang cute.

Utah or Bust

1) We survived the 16 hour drive from Iowa to Utah with only a couple of stories to tell. I don't know how we lucked out but we've got some awsome little travelers in our crew. Maybe its the reward of Grandma and Grandpa at the end of the drive. But they were awsome.

2) Of course the first thing we did when we arrived was head for the mountains to the  greatest campground there is. Granite Flats spot #39 up American Fork Canyon. 

3)I was able to use my favorite Karen mantra at least 100 times "thats what makes smart kids" I pretty much gage my effectiveness as a mother as to how dirty my kids get. 

4) This moose was just wandering through our campground which was amazing during the day. However, in the darkness that night when he returned with friends it wasn't as amazing. At the same time Travis' chasing them away with nothing but a flashlight and a marshmallow roasting stick was one of the greatest things I've ever seen.

5) I just about killed my dad on a hike to Upper Silver Lake. What was just a fun hike to do with some college friends 10 years ago was a little more challenging to do with 4 kids 6 and under and 2 senior citizens. But we made the almost 5 mile hike with a 2000 ft. incline. 

6) Nelson of course didn't give us a break from laughing and his new favorite phrase is "I'm just jokin" and I would say that pretty much sums him up.

 7 ) Apart from loving my kids filthy as can be I love at wiping away the film of dirt to find the cutest faces, brightest blue eyes and most adorable freckels on the planet.

8)I played in my first lacrosse game with Travis' family and I had no idea what I was missing out on. It was so much fun and I even discovered a few muscles I didn't know I had when I woke up so sore the next day.

9)I got to celebrate my parents 39th wedding anniversary with them at Tenpinaki. I think my parents have to be one of the greatest examples of marriage to me. I mean Dee and Dorth are as opposite as 2 people could possibly be. I know that phrase is overused, but for them it's an understatement. Yet they are so crazy in love with each other it's adorable. 

10) My Dad left for his last rotation in Africa. He's been there working for almost 15 years. Again he's set an incredible example to me of someone who always does what he feels is right. He's left his family for 6 months out of the year not because it was something he wanted to do to get him ahead in the rat race but because he felt it was right. And in doing so he has changed the lives of hundreds of Africans as he has "taught a man to fish" giving people who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. It has been so hard for him at times to deal with a very different cultural mindset on work but he's made the world a better place and I'm so proud of him.