June

We are finally back from all our vacations and I don't feel like I am going as crazy so I have a minute to blog about our June.

Bear Lake Trip 1
Last summer I entered a drawing and won a FREE 3 night stay at Ideal Beach Resort at Bear Lake.  I planned it for this summer.  I won the family suite that sleeps 16.  Found out it would have cost me $1,500 if I had to pay for it.  LUCKY ME!  Perfect way to start off the summer!

 They offered free s'mores on the beach the first night we were there.  YUM!

 There was a moose wandering around the resort!

 We made the Resort's face book page!

 My kids LOVE the art center.  The mornings were cold so it was perfect to have something to do indoors.

 On the way to the resort we picked up my friend Jessica from the airport so she could come join us.  It was so fun to have her.  Love ya Jess!

 Afternoons it warmed up so we went swimming!

 We always have to go to Bear River Pizza while we are there.  I invited several friends to join us on this trip.  One family (the Hoge's our neighbor friends) made it and they came just in time for dinner so pizza was perfect.

 We played at the park

 Me and Jessica going for a walk

 Looking for fish

 Beautiful sunset

 One night was midnight madness glow in the dark mini-golf.  Laser lights, black lights, and glow stick golf balls.

 One of the days my kids swam for 5 hours!  I finished a book and they fell asleep so fast that night

 Kayzee playing dodgeball with the one of the Hoge boys

 Kayzee and her friend

 One night Memphis asked me if he could have some alone time with me so we walked down to the lake.

 Love my friends!  And love their little baby

We had the pool all to ourselves one night!

 Last day all done packing up the vans

 Good bye Bear Lake!  We were not too sad to go because me and my kids were going to go back in a couple weeks for Bear Lake Trip 2

Teaching Conference
When we got back from Bear Lake I had a week long teaching conference.  I took a lot of fun classes on how to integrate the core curriculum into my PE curriculum.

 Auntie Nita watched over my kids so I could go.

New Family Pictures
Since we are a new family of 3 we needed new family pictures.  These are just some of my favorites. My sister-in-law became a professional photographer (britroyerphotography) so I was so excited she was willing to take them for us.  She is amazing and I highly recommend her.

  My Mr. Memphis would not smile normal but she captured his personality perfectly

  Kayzee loved the camera

Summer Days

We love summer and the little fun things that we do each day...even if it's just being silly!  As long as we do them together...

Memphis and his crazy hair.  It's like this every morning.  Time for a cut!

 Snow Cones on hot days.  This is the smallest kiddie size by the way

 Reading...seeing my kids love reading makes my book reading heart happy.  Kayzee is now on to chapter books!

 Kayzee got some roller skates.  They are so cool because they grow with her from size 12 which she is now and they stretch as big as size 5.  And the wheels can be exchanged for roller blades.  She is getting so good at them.

 Memphis had his pine wood derby for scouts.  Our neighbor was so nice and cut the shape out Memphis wanted and then Memphis did the rest all by himself.

 My crazy Kayzee

 Memphis got a cabbage plant at the end of the school year.  One of the 3rd grade teachers told him that if he kept it alive during the summer he would get a pizza party when he got back.  Memphis is so good at taking care of it.

 His pine wood derby car all finished.  His car won first place on one round but didn't win anymore after that.  He didn't mind:)

 My friend sent me this new phone case.  She knows me too well.  I LOVE BOOKS!

Memphis had scout camp one day.  Me and Kayzee decided to go out to breakfast and then get pedicures. 

Classic Fun Center
My kids played and skated for 4 hours!  We love places like this during the summer.

Kangaroo Zoo

Another fun place to go play.  It's a big warehouse with bouncy houses and slides and obstacle courses.  They also have an arcade now.

Hang Time
Memphis and Kayzee got some free passes to Hang Time.  A Trampoline warehouse.  The place was so nice they let us jump for 3 hours for free. Another great summer activity to wear my kids out!

 Kayzee got really good at the swinging ropes

 Memphis got really good at front flips

 Memphis was so sweaty and exhausted by the end I found him just laying there.  HA HA

Funtopia
One of our favorite places.  We have a punch pass.

Yard Work Started
First of all I just need to say that my next door neighbor is amazing.  He has been over at my house for countless hours getting my front yard and backyard done.  I don't know how I will ever repay him for his time and his generosity.
Rocks under the front bay window instead of dirt...the quail came from my Grandma Astle's yard.

 One day some of my other neighbor friends came and helped.  The hills of dirt and grass were taken out and rocks laid down in front of the basement windows

 I had a path of flat rocks that I didn't want anymore so trying to grow grass instead

 My backyard is the biggest job of all.  My backyard is HUGE.  It was covered in tall weeks and trash.  My neighbor cleared the weeds, and we got rid of the trash.  My neighbor also fixed my sprinklers.  Like I said, he is amazing!  Waiting for the fall to plant grass seed.

Father's Day
Happy Father's Day to my dad!  My dad is the best dad and grandpa ever!  I was so excited to go to Washington to see him.  He is the most hard-working and supportive dad I could ever ask for.  He has been helping me and listening to me cry a lot lately but I know he loves me and only wants what's best for me.  Thanks dad for everything.  Love you.

I didn't think I would have my kids on Father's Day because I wanted them to be with their dad but he didn't so I got to have my kids.  I was having a bad weekend so they definitely cheered me up.

Divorce Finalized
In June I was supposed to celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary but instead I got my final divorce decree.  Just a little ironic.  But now I can finally move on.  I follow Ashlee on her blog "the moments we stand" and I loved her quote about divorce..."divorce is sometimes God’s answers to our prayers.  It is just as brave as staying, just a different kind. With the same leap of faith required of us to love, sometimes He asks us to move forward in ways we never thought possible—or right. He asks us to bravely walk away from something He once gave us strength to fight for. Sometimes the things that feel like a curse, are really a blessing."     

I do feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I am finally free.  I didn't want to get married knowing the things I did going into it but I have no regrets because out of all that struggle I have my two adorable kids who are my whole world and keep me going every day.  Now we are just on a new adventure!

Family Reunion
My mom's side of the family had a big family reunion in Logan.  This started our big family vacation.  I had to pack the car for the reunion and staying in Logan for a couple days.  We were headed straight to Bear Lake from there for 4 days so I packed all our beach stuff.  Then I drove from there up to Washington for  a week.  My van was definitely packed full!  And it was a long trip away from my bed but we had so much fun!

At the reunion we had a big blow-up slide, lunch, riding scooters, snow cones, water balloons, ice blocking, soccer, playing at the park, and visiting with all my cousins and their kids, and my aunts and uncles.  I also got to play with my nephew James!!!  My Mom, brother, and my sister with her little James came to the reunion and Bear Lake and then I followed them back to their homes in Washington.  It was the best.  Just wish my other sister and her little Max could have made it.

 I took a few turns down the slide.  It was fun!

Logan
We stayed in Logan for a couple days before we went to Bear Lake.  We had fun exploring two really fun parks and swimming in our hotel pool. And I went on my first date since my divorce was finalized.  Let's just say it was interesting and dating in my 30s being a mom is a lot different than when I was young and single before I got married.  Excited but not excited to go on this new adventure.

My nephew is seriously the cutest!

 James was my new best buddy on this trip.  Love his smile and laugh.

 Kayzee had fun playing with James as well.

 We played a lot of hide and seek.  I didn't think I could hide myself very well considering my kids could fit in smaller spaces than me but I won every round!

Bear Lake Trip 2
After Logan we drove over the canyon to Bear Lake for our 2nd trip to the lake this summer.  So fun to play there with my family.  We stayed in our family time share condo.

 I bought a water proof case for my phone so I could take it in the pool with me and take pictures.

Drive to Washington
What should have only taken 13 hours in driving time ended up taking me 16!  I have been trying to refinance my house to take my ex's name off so I could keep the house in just my name and of course they call me and say the closing date, and my need to go in to sign papers so I could keep my low interest rate, was during my trip to bear lake.  On our last day there I woke up early and luckily the lender had an office in Ogden, (two hours in the wrong direction of washington) and I went in and signed the closing papers.  My mom, brother, and sister cleaned the condo and then we all met back in Logan and were on our way.  Whew!  We also stopped at a few cool touristy places along the way.

Following my sister...

 We stayed in a hotel in Oregon.  We had just driven for 10 hours so my kids went a little crazy in the hotel.  Kayzee asked "Are we there yet" at least 100 times...

 Yay Washington!

 Dick and Jane's spot in Ellensburg, Washington.  Cool random house!

 Rest stop viewpoint

 Stop for lunch.  So happy to not be in the car!

Woodinville, Washington
Finally made it to my 2nd favorite home...my parent's house in the trees.

On the last day of June while we were in Washington staying with my parents, we went to the mall and Kayzee got her ears pierced!  I told her she could for her 8th birthday but she wanted it done before so she could wear different earrings by the time her birthday came around.  She was so brave and didn't even cry!

 Penny wishes in the mall fountain...

 Riding the animals through the mall

 Kayzee loves trying to make James laugh because he has the cutest laugh ever!

Well, June flew by and we continued to have the best time in Washington but that's another post!

May

We have been so busy and having so much fun I realized I haven't blogged about our May yet...

Kayzee started off our May with her 1st grade program

 She was chosen to do a speaking part.  She was so nervous but she did awesome!  After the program she started crying and I asked her what was wrong.  She said she didn't want 1st grade to end.  A part of me didn't want it to end either because that means she is growing up.

Had to post some cute pictures of my nephews.  They are growing up so fast and I am missing it!  I am excited to see James next week and hopefully Max in October!

Mother's Day was in May.  This picture of me and my mom was taken last year.  Anyone who knows my mom knows that she is just simply amazing!  She is an amazing mom, friend, daughter, sister, wife, and grandma.  She has been an amazing example to me of faith and love.  I love my mom!!!  She always loves and supports me through the good times and the bad.

This year has been a year with new firsts as a single mom and our new little family of three especially with each holiday.  I was thinking back over the years and I can honestly say that this has been the best Mother's Day I have ever had!!!  I woke up to the two most important people in my life in my arms, these two kids who made me a mom.  My kids spoiled me this weekend.  They cleaned the entire house all by themselves and I didn't even ask them to.  They made me breakfast in bed (pop tarts:).  We had a movie night and sleepover.  And they gave me presents and told me all day how much they love me.  They definitely know how to cheer me up.  These two kiddos of mine are what keep me going every day.  Yes, life has been really hard lately getting a divorce but knowing I have these two precious kids by my side is all that matters.

 Love this sweet boy of mine.  He definitely looks out for me and is always checking to make sure I am ok.  He tells me all day everyday how much he loves me and is the first to give me hugs and kisses.  I am so grateful he came into my life when he did.  So blessed to be his mommy!

I don't know what I would do without this crazy beautiful girl in my life.  She is just the sweetest.  I am excited to grow up with her so we can do girly things together.  Whenever she is not with me she has to have a picture of me and that just melts my heart.  So blessed to be her mommy!

The end of the school year is always exhausting!  One day I got home from school and took a 2 hour nap!  Sad thing was it was only a Monday and it was early out day.

Dance Festival was so good this year!  I loved all the grade level dances and especially the teacher dance!  They did a parody of Greatest Showman.  It was hilarious!

Kayzee danced to the "Best Day" of your life.  Love that my kids go to the school I teach at so I don't miss anything!

 Memphis danced to a mashup to a bunch of superhero songs.  He can sure bust a move!

On Memorial Day I got to spend the day with my kiddos.  We went to a really fun park in Orem.

 Then we headed over to the new children's play place in the University Mall.

 We also had to do some Virtual Reality.

Mrs. Dibb is the best teacher in the world!  She loved my Memphis EVERY day no matter what (even when he started a fire at recess!).  Memphis learned to love reading and was so excited to go to school every day because she made it so fun.  She also understood what it felt like to have parents divorce so she took extra good care of Memphis.  Thanks for a great year Mrs. Dibb, we will miss you!

 Kayzee was so lucky this year she got to have TWO amazing teachers.  Mrs. Clements and Mrs. Astorga are the most kind and loving teachers you will ever meet.  They loved my Kayzee every day and Kayzee loved them right back.  They also loved her a little bit extra and watched over her during the divorce.  Kayzee learned so much and did so well all by herself I know I don't have to worry about her.  Thanks for the best year Mrs. Clements and Mrs. Astorga, we will miss you!

Last day of school YAY!!!  Another school year done!

Look at how much Kayzee has grown this year!

 Memphis!

 I had the best school year and had a lot of fun with my students in PE!

This divorce has broken me.  Everyone keeps telling me how strong I am and what an amazing mom I am.  I am definitely trying and some days I feel like I can take on anything that is thrown at me.  But right now I feel like I don't belong where I am at.  People are treating me different even some people who I thought were my friends.  I just want to move away and start over.  But I also have some amazing good people in my life.  They are my solid ground when I feel like I am falling.  To my closest friends and family I LOVE YOU!  And a special thanks to my next door neighbors.  They are the best people anyone could ask for.  They have helped me the most through all this and I don't know how I will ever repay them.

I am so grateful for my part-time teaching job so I have the summers off.  I am so excited for all the vacations I have planned so I can escape my real life for a little while.  My summer is going to be vacationing, reading, relaxing, playing, swimming, and spending every minute with the two loves of my life-my kids.  My two kids are my whole world and I am so blessed to have them.  They definitely take care of me when I am struggling to take care of myself.

April

April was definitely a roller coaster of emotions.  There were amazing good times and some very sad emotional times.  The first week of April was spring break.  YAY!  No school for a whole week.  And the week was even better because it was Easter on the 1st, my birthday on the 2nd, and my parents came and stayed the week with me and my kids.  I am so grateful for my parents and all they did to help us while they were here.  I couldn't survive without them!  They are so supportive and we can tell they love us and want what's best for us.  LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD!

I have had a rough year and the week before my birthday was just awful dealing with the divorce.  A couple of my friends decided to throw me a surprise party and invite a bunch of friends and neighbors to cheer me up.  I had no idea it was such a big surprise.  Cheered me up.  Great way to start celebrating my birthday.

The day day before Easter the kids and I had a fun day!  We went to Coconut Cove and Discovery Park.  We played for 4 hours!!!  Then we went shoe shopping.  When we got home we cleaned the house for my parents arriving the next day.  Then we dyed and decorated easter eggs.  Such a great day I love spending time with my kids.

 Kayzee drew these cute animals on her eggs...

 Sunday April 1st was Easter.  The Easter Bunny came to our house!

Monday April 2 was my birthday.  My mom took me furniture shopping for my birthday.  Then we decided to go walk around BYU campus with my parents.  Crazy how much it has changed since I went there, and especially since my dad went there!

 Every year for my birthday I always reserve a party room at Brick Oven Pizza and invite family and friends.  We had a fun crowd this year and they made me wear a crown helping me feel ridiculous by singing to me too.  These two ladies have helped me a lot through my crazy life.  I couldn't do it without them.  I also love my next door neighbors.  They were out of town so they couldn't make it but they help me the most with everything.  Thanks Amy, Allison, and Angela!  I love that we all start with A:)  I had to blow out 35 candles this year and I did it in one breath.  I still got it!

 My sister sent this pic of her James at Grandma and Grandpa's house getting the mail but they were at my house.  He is a cutie!

 The weather in April this year was CRAZY!  Lots of hot days followed by a snow day.  Some days we woke up to snow and then by the afternoon it was hot and sunny no snow.  I hate Utah weather.  Hopefully May is better.

 Like I said this month was very emotional and sad dealing with everything that goes into getting a divorce.  One night I cried myself to sleep.  The next morning I woke up to so many texts and emails from so many friends and family.  Even ones that I have not spoken to in a very long time.  God knew I needed comfort and inspired them to reach out to me.  His way of giving me a hug.  Words of encouragement and love.  I know I can get through this even though it's HARD!

 April 20, 2018.  SAD. HARD. DAY.  We officially signed Divorce papers.  I held my kids a little tighter.  I feel very lucky.  I have heard horror stories of other divorces that have been nightmares.  We got through ours uncontested and pretty quickly.  But no matter what it's been hard.  I worry the most about my kids.  They are reacting in very different ways.  But we are learning that we can do HARD things.

 We had some wonderful warm days.  We went and played at a lot of parks.  Can't wait for summer!

 Danny came and got all of his stuff out of the house and garage so he is officially moved out.  One weekend I decided to see if I could fit both of my cars in the garage.  It took me two hours of cleaning and organizing my stuff but I did it!  No more shoveling snow off my cars and scraping icy windows.

 And speaking of getting excited for summer...we decided to create our summer bucket list.  Probably won't get to it all but we are going to have fun spending the summer together and that's all that matters!  I am so grateful that I have a job where I don't have to work during the summer so I can be there for my kids.

Here's to a new life as a family of three...