California Monson Boys came to Visit

In July, Matt's brother and his family came to visit. One night, Matt and I, slept over at his parent's house, so Matt could have a sleepover with the boys, Sam, Nate, and Eli, in the backyard.

First, we had a water party.
Second, we set up the tent.
Third, we light fireworks. In California, were the boys live they can't have fireworks, but with the new laws this year allowed us to light some really cool fireworks. (Thanks for spoiling us, Mitch! Hope you enjoy the pictures, because your boys sure enjoyed watching them.)

After the water party, the boys decided they need to sit on Matt in order to get dry.

Starting to put up the tent. Matt, Sam, and Nate

Sam was a big help. He was able to put the poles together himself.

Nate also helped with the tent poles

Eli wasn't as much help, but was cute to watch.



Matt and Nate posing for the camera

Sam and Matt posing for the camera

Eli had all the tent pegs, lets just say he lost a couple while the other boys were trying to hammer in the pegs that they did have with them. Eli even lost a couple in the grass. We found them the next morning.

All of us together. Matt's mom took the picture for us.

Eli requested ranch dressing and thats all. I really mean all he wanted was ranch dressing, so Matt's dad (Grandpa) gave Eli a bowl, a spoon, and some ranch dressing.

The Monson boys had a tank war. They loved it.

Sam picking out the firework that he wanted to light. We told the boys the rules for fireworks were that they had to watch the fireworks from the chairs and if it wasn't their turn to light the fireworks with Matt then they had to be on the chairs. They said okay and could always be found on the chairs waiting for their turn to light a firework.

Waiting on the chairs for their turn to light a firework.

Watching the show with Grandma and Grandpa

Waiting for the show to start with Grandma and Grandpa



Sam and Matt lighting the fireworks



Eli hanging out with Grandma

Nate and Matt lighting the fireworks

Eli and Matt getting ready to light the fireworks.

 We had a lot of fun with the Monson boys.

We were sad to see them go back to California.

Trips for work - Part 1

In September, my work sent me on two different work trips back to back. I went to Scottsdale, Arizona from September 12 to September 15th. This trip was for a Sustainability conference as I am my company's "Green" Coordinator. I have learned alot about being "Green" and what that entails for the last year especially focusing on recycling and composting programs.

While I was in Scottsdale, I was able to drive to the Pheonix Arizona Temple. It was really beautiful and nothing like what I thought it would look like. It reminded me of the Mayan or Inca Ruins down in Mexico.

I also got the coolest rental car to drive around...A jeep wrangler, which was Orange, but it definitely helped me from not losing it in the parking lot.

The conference was also at a beautiful resort. My room was gorgeous and huge. Best place I have ever probably stayed.

I also went out one night to try and go hiking, but the hiking area closed at sunset, which is the time I arrived. So I couldn't go hiking, but I got a great picture of a sunset and where I could have gone hiking.

I was glad to come home and see Matt for a day before I had to leave for my second business trip.

Girls Camp - July 2011

We had Stake Girls Camp for the Young Women in the Stake. The Stake leaders are in charge of this camp. They ask for volunteer leaders to come to camp and supervise a group of girls. The girls are mixed together from other wards, so they can get to know each other.

I volunteered this year to be a camp leader. I also volunteered Matt to come up and be the priesthood during the camp. Before camp started, I was informed who my girls would be in my group. We got together before camp 2 or 3 times. We did this in order to get to know each other, come up with a group name, and to practice our skit.

The girls ended up picking "Funky Monkey Mormon Mafia" for our name.

For our skit, we based it off of the TV Show, America Best Dance Company. All of us performed and at the end of the skit, we got the whole crowd dancing the "Funky Monkey" or as you might know it the "Chicken Dance" done at weddings. We came up with our own "monkey" moves instead of the "chicken" moves.

Here are a couple of pictures from the skit.

The night of the skits, the Bishops and Young Women Leaders could come up and visit. Here is a group photo of all the members from my ward at camp. I had 11 Young Women at camp. It was fun watching them learn new things.

I am so glad that Matt was able to come with me even though he had school during the summer. Here is a picture of us together in our "Funky Monkey Mormon Mafia" shirts. Matt drew on the monkey.

Summer of Hiking

We love being outdoors. This past summer we went hiking with our friends, Laura and Charlie. It is quite funny as we introduce Laura (she grew up in California) to the great outdoors of Utah last year with a couple of small hikes, Ensign Peak and Donut Falls.


This year, we went hiking up to Dog Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon and the the Brighton Lakes also up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Our last hike was up to Timpanogos Cave. All the hikes were a blast and the mountains were absolutely beautiful. Dog Lake Hike Pictures:

Timpanogos Cave Hike:

Happy Birthday Matt

Matt turned the big 30 on September 19th while I was away in Atlanta, Georgia for a work conference. I was kinda bummed about missing his birthday, so I decided to have a small surprise birthday party for him on Sunday, October 9th.

For his cake I decided to make him a Mad Hatter cake. Lets just say I have never made a cake besides a Betty Crocker cake in a pan and I don't like frosting it, so Matt usually frost its.

First was the baking of the cakes, then freezing them, so they would be easier to frost.

My sister, Kali, the cake expert told me how to make butter cream frosting. So I started with that. Lets just say, she forgot to tell me it is really think and I was suppose to thin it out to get the consistency I wanted. Well, my mom and I finally got the icing to be manageable. So we put the cake together, added some icing, and I added the final touches. See the steps and how it turned out.

Let me know how I did on my first cake....and probably last as it took forever!

 

You can teach and old dog new tricks

Today, I got back from Arizona from a work trip and ask Matt to take me to his parents' house to get some tomatoes before going home.

Well we arrived at the house, Matt's mom (Dianna) wanted to show us something in the shed. Matt's dad (John) had bought two new bikes. Why you may ask, because he is in the 11 year old scouts and they were going on a bike ride and he needed a bike. So since he needed a bike, he bought Matt's mom one too.

Now for some background information:

• Dianna hasn't been on a bike since she was 14 years old and tried stopping the bike by riding it into a house.
• Dianna didn't even test out the bike at the bike shop, but she finally did try sit on it in the backyard once it was at home and out of sight from the neighbors.

After Matt and I were shown the bikes, we decided to take them for a test run. When we got back, I suggested that we go on a bike ride, being unaware of the Ma's background information. While Matt and I went to my parent's house to get my bike and a bike for Matt to ride, Ma was suppose to be practicing on her bike. Well we got back in enough time to find out that Ma and Pa were on there way to the DI to see if they could find Ma a smaller bike. Well Matt and I decided to help Ma remember how to ride a bike.

Check out some of the picture and videos of teaching an old dog new tricks! (Love you, Ma!)

Well once I put the camera away, Ma decided to slam on the breaks and fall off her bike. She scrapped up her knee and hand a little was able to get back on.

So instead of riding the bikes to the trail area, Ma and Pa loaded their bikes in the back of the truck and drove them to the trail. So instead of going for a bike ride, they took their bikes for a ride.

We had fun and hope to be able to go again...once Ma has had some more practice though!

Thanks for the fun Ma and Pa!