Temple Fork - Old Ephraim's Grave

We had a unsuccessful trip up to Old Ephriams grave a couple of years ago because the gate was still locked near the top and I have always wanted to go.  Old Ephraim was a HUGE bear killed like a 100 years ago by a sheep herder.  It's as tall as the rock, really think about that.  Bryan is 6'4 and it's like 10 feet tall.  Last Wednesday Bryan was itching to do something so we met him at his parents, borrowed their truck and headed up.  I took the opportunity to grab my new camera and get some pictures. I was having a little too much fun and took too many  but oh well. 

Look at Stocktons face.  It's the only picture he was sad in so I'm not sure what the deal was.  

 A rare photo of me- I decided I need to jump in a few more photos so my kids know I actually joined them on a lot of these trips. 

 Love this picture of Stockton

 Bryan offered to hold the boys up and touch the top of the rock to see if they could be as big as the bear.  Ty did it and was totally fine.  Blake wanted to do it and had second thoughts on the way up.  He thought Bryan was going to drop him.  This set him off for the rest of the night and he was mad and throwing a fit for the next half hour at least.  It didn't help that Ty was teasing him either...

 On the way back out Bryan stopped at this really, really beautiful spot with this awesome view of the mountains all around us.  A couple of months ago this would have been breath taking with the field covered in flowers but they were all dried up and dead at this point.  It was still pretty even with dead flowers. I really want to go back up their next summer and take some family pictures.

Excuse my son as he itches his bum.  What can you do with little boys?

 Muscle men

kick ball!

My cousin Roxie sent me a message in  July about signing up Stockton onto her kickball team she was coaching with her boy. I've never done that with my boys but thought it would be fun for Stockton to have his own little thing that is just for him.  So I signed him up and he LOVES it.  Seriously he gets so into it.  He always tells me how he is going to beat everyone and win! It's super low key though so really every kids kicks and runs around the bases.  Win for everyone.  But he loves it so that's all that matters. 

 We could only find his cowboy boots this day so that is what he played in.  I think it was really cute.  What a boy. 

 That's my boy in the middle playing in the dirt. 

Look at his face?  He is getting ready to kick the ball. 

Stocktons little team with my cousins kids Tayson (front left) and Ellie (next to Tayson) 

Top of Utah

Bryan has been running for a couple of years now and he finally decided to sign up for a half marathon.   We have been having really cold temps for August and lots and lots of rain so I was worried what the day of the race would be like.  Lucky for him it was cool but not too rainy so it was just perfect! 

 Of course the boys and I went down to the finish line. We were so proud of him! The finish is like two blocks from our house so that really worked out.  =)

 He finished at like 1 hr 49 mins or something close to that. He was hoping to be under 2 hours and close to 1:45 so not bad!

 Our friend Scott and his son Austin ran it as well.  A year and a half ago Scott was in a horse accident and was near death.  He had major brain damage and had to relearn a lot of stuff so to see him run this race was inspiring.  Made me tear up a bit .

Stockton insisted on wearing Bryan's medal for awhile.  

Stupid Cancer

A good friend of ours found out he has stage 4 cancer last week.  It's been hard for me I'm not going to lie.  This family isn't one that we do everything with but I have always considered them good friends.  They are the type of people that would give you the shirt off their back even if it was the only one they had. They have 6 kids- 4 of which are at home still.  It's a little bit of a reality slap in the face to me.  Crap happens and it seems to happen more to good people then bad for some reason.  I don't know if that's because God knows they can handle it or whatever.  

Bryan and Alan after they won the church ball regional championship. 

 Our trip to yellowstone with the Blad family. 

 It looks like he has cancer in his head, neck, lungs, spine (it broke one of his disks in his back) and abdomen. At least the ones I know of.  He has been in the hospital for a few weeks. I've been really, really touched to see how many people in our ward and ex members of our ward have reached out to help them.  Even some that are not really close to them want to help.  It makes me tear up a little bit at the kindness in the area that I live in.  I hope if something ever happened to me or Bryan my ward and friends would step in like this.  Bryan spent part of last week fixing things that are broken in their home and members of the relief society and I (me only a little) have been helping deep clean their home so it's clean and germ free when he finally gets home before his treatments start.  Life is so fleeting.  You know I honestly am not afraid of death but I am afraid of leaving my boys.  I want to be around while they grow up. I imagine Alan feels the same way.  I pray that he gets that wish.

First day of school- ::tear::

My kids have been driving me crazy this summer.  Ok I admit it! They are always fighting and breaking things just because and complainging they are board. I can't take them to the store because it would be "the worst day of my life!" "why do we always have to go to stupid stores!".  Makes me want to rip my hair out somedays.  But here's the thing. I miss them when they are gone! Ty has been in school all day for two years now so I know what that is like.  But my little Blake being gone now too! Be still my poor mother heart! He is my little buddy! I thought it would be easier sending him after I've been through this with Ty but it's not! The good news is they both seem to have great teachers this year and Blake was at least excited. Ty wasn't as much. 

I bribed them a couple of days ago to go to the school playground for some back to school pictures. 

 These are Blake's tough and thinking faces. 

This one I almost feel off the ladder to get. 

And Stockton was stung by a bee this week and his eye was all swollen.  But he wanted a picture too even though we are just doing preschool at home this year. 

Bode and Grandpa's 89th

Bryan's sister Becca gave birth to her 4th baby this week- after three little girls she got her boy! I went up to see them in the hospital and was lucky enough to be there when her girls came to see him for the first time.  That is one of my favorite things in the world is when my kids meet a new sibling.  It makes me tear up every time. It's amazing to me the instant love they feel for a new brother.  These girls were no different.  They were so so excited to see and hold him. 

This is McCall with Bode.  She was the cutest of all.  She had him held really close and just kept kissing and hugging him. She was not willing to give up her turn holding him without a fight.

More pictures of Bode to come.  I don't have time to work on pictures and blog as much as I really need too... 

Last week was my sweet Grandpa's 89th birthday! I love my Grandpa and feel so lucky he is still around to celebrate with! His health stinks still and he seems to be going downhill even more.  I hope we can be with him for his 90th! 

We were at his cool park and there were some guys playing freebie golf. Brett thought it was fantastic.