Cramming....

I feel myself starting to panic because summer is almost over. With that crazy wet June, it really feels like summer just started! I feel the need to do as many things as possible before the kids go back to school Aug 19th! That is only 3 weeks away! Whatever happened to starting school in September?

Last weekend we hit two concerts, both fun in their own way. Friday, Brent and I went to the Collin Raye concert (stop laughing... ya take what you can get these days...) Bonnie & John came with us and it was a blast! We sat on blankets and lawn chairs while thunder clouds blocked the sun and made for the perfect evening. Thankfully, Collin mostly stuck to his "greatest hits" which is the only way a fare weather fan like me can enjoy a concert. He played all my favorites, including 'Little Rock' which has the ultimate, cheesiest, strait talking line in country music, "Jesus will forgive, but a Daddy don't forget!" Can you get any deeper than that?

Saturday, the whole family went up to the Homestead for a little free concert on the grass. We spread our blanket and listened to two bands--well, can't really call them "bands", more like, husband and wife "duo's", play. Beautiful setting, laughable lyrics and a whole lot of fun. Collin Raye had some stiff competition for the corniest lyric contest. Could you keep a straight face while singing, "I want to know you. Really KNOW you, but not in a BIBLICAL way?"

Kesley had the best time dancing around in the mosh pit (the grass just in front of the band--I mean, duo) with 3 other kids. Has anyone ever seen a little girl do ballet movements to bluegrass? Totally cute. Wish I'd taken my camera.

Tuesday, I called Liz and we took an impromptu trip up the Uintas. Best way to beat the heat, and we had a GREAT day hiking, eating, throwing rocks, examining dead fish and eating s'mores...and I did take my camera on this trip!

Kids--locked and loaded for the LONG trip! In-car DVD players are the best invention ever!Ahhhhh, Mirror Lake. We ate lunch and then took off for a 2 hour adventure hiking around the lake!Kesley REALLY wanted to catch a fish. She kept asking if she could just reach in and scoop a fish up--I think she was remembering some cartoon or something. I told her it was probably not going to happen, but she wasn't taking "no" for an answer. Here she is contemplating the catch--just before the big let down! It was such a PERFECT day. We took our time, stopping about every 20 ft! to enjoy the views!After the hike around the Mirror Lake, we drove down to Trial Lake. I think we all know it's not a Uinta trip without at least a drive by of Trial Lake! The lake is full, which was surprising after seeing it so low last year. It made it easy to find a great spot, right next to the action, to sit and enjoy.

Here's Gavin perfecting his rock skipping skills. "Did you know Grandpa taught Dad how to skip a rock, Dad taught me how and now I'm teachin you!"Somewhere, nestled in the middle of all those trees is Star Pond....We threw rocks and explored dead fish shores for hours! And finally, the end to a perfect day: A campfire, campfire roasted hot dogs (I did say it was impromptu) and S 'MORES!!

AH HA!

Life is full of, as Oprah would put it, "Ah Ha" moments. Moments you see things like you've never seen them before. Sometimes its good, sometimes its not so good. Here are a few of our most recent "Ah Ha" moments...

Gavins dream job:If you ask Gavin what he would like to be when he grows up he will reply, "A mechanic!" If you see my face as he is saying this, you can see me thinking, "A mechanic??? REALLY?" I do understand that this dream has everything to do with his LOVE of old fashioned cars and his desire to buy one with his dad and fix it up, but really? The VanCott in me can't just let this go. I see this as a teaching moment. I see it as a critical moment when I can mold his future and expand his horizons...help him set the bar just a little higher... Anyway, I explained to him that AFTER he goes to college and picks his high paying career *of his choice*, he could be a mechanic as a hobby and THEN he would be able to fix up the really cool cars he is dreaming about........way too much reality for a 6 year old.

A few days went by and we were driving in the car. I am listening to the conversations going on between a 6 yr. old, a 5 yr. old and a 2 yr old--HYSTERICAL! Kesley says, "I think I want to be a mechanic when I grow up!" (She is quick to follow G in just about everything.)
Gavin sorta slumps his shoulders and says in a low, defeated voice, "Naa Kess. They done make much money."

Kesley and her first experience with Spaghetti-O's:I HATE Spaghetti-O's. I don't feed them to my kids, which I can see may be shocking for anyone who knows my cooking habits... Well, the kids went to Aunt Shannons house for the day and when lunch time hit, she grabbed the easiest thing to feed 8 hungry kids--Spaghetti-O's! Shannon said she watched Kesley take about 2 bites of her Spaghetti-O's and gagging said, "This is...YUCK!" Trying not to laugh, Shannon hears Naomi say, "We don't say it's YUCK. You have to say something good about it before you can say you don't like it!" (Hello VanCott rule #102!) Shannon really got a laugh when, after another attempt at a bite, Kesley said, "Um...Shannon? Um...can I be done....because this is..just....not...so...tasty."

Jenna really *sees* her mom:We were running from the pool back to Grandma Smith's bathroom for the UMPTEENTH time that day. Jenna could probably tell I was getting a little annoyed with all the bathroom trips. She takes her time and then yells, "MOM! I'm DONE!" (It's cute and annoying at the same time!) Anyway, I lean over to wipe her bum and she smiles really big and says, "YOU'RE MY MOM!" Then she grabbed both of my cheeks with her hands and said, "AND THIS IS YOUR FACE!!" It was so cute. She saw me as person and not just an appendage. It took me back to my own "Ah ha" moment when I really LOOKED at my own mother and saw her as a person...a time shortly after high school...with the help of an illegal substance...a long story for another day.

And finally, my own realization... A couple of weeks ago I got suckered into this info-mercial on T.V. Has anyone seen the one for a really amazing product called, "The SLIM and LIFT?" They make it look so AMAZING, you know, with...bamboo fibers and...extra lifting in all the right places. I was sold! I knew Brent would kill me so I hid in the laundry room to make the phone call. The conversation went something like this:

Lady: What size would you like?"
Me: "Hmmm....what size do I want to be or what size am I now? Ha Ha....(silence),... Anyhoo, do they run big or small?"
Lady: "Small."
Me: "Well I am a size...12 (cringe), so what would you suggest?"
Lady: "Let's see, that would be the XXL."
Me: "WHAT??? Did you say XXL?"
Lady: "I know it sounds bad, but that is the size they suggest."
Me: "Who is sizing these things? Do they WANT to make a sale? ...XXL??? Well....I am actually more of a size 10-12...(at least I was last November when I had lost 15 pounds--but that's what I am going to be again as soon as school starts and I can start running again...) Hmmm...I really don't think I would need an XXL..."
Lady: "They suggest an XL for a size 10, but it's up to you."
Me: "Why don't we try the XL. I am sure that will work just fine."

Well, it took two weeks to get here, but when I saw the package I was so excited I could hardly stand it. I tore open the box, ripped the UNI-TARD out of the wrapper and started to panic! That thing was SO SMALL it looked like it was the size of Kesley's tights! I am not exaggerating! I sat down and put both feet in and tried to pull it up...nothing. I stood up and tried to get a better angle and more pull...nothing. That thing wasn't going any higher than my knees! Grrrrrr.

So, I called the lady back.

Me: "Um...maybe I am more of a size 12-14...."

This week in pictures...

I had to open with the best photo of the week:

"I CAN DO IT MYSELF!!!"

We had a fun Ward playgroup up the canyon this week. Kesley had the attention of every 5 year old boy in the ward...welcome to the next 15 years of her life!

"Kesley and her Posse."

Gavin, on the other hand, was "King of the 3 Year Olds!" They followed him everywhere and this just happened to be the butterfly chase.Kesley obviously found my camera and went on her own photoshoot.

"ME" by Kesley

"Bones & Bones" by Kesley

"My Mom...why can't she loose 40 pounds and put on some makeup?" by Kesley
And finally, "Jenna & Paige." Jenna sure LUBS her Paige. These two had the best time dressing up and belting out 'Barie, Diamond Castle' songs! My baby is all grown up!

4th of July!!

Love the 4th of July.

In my mind there are certain things that must happen in order for the holiday to be complete. Hot air balloons, Grandpa Smiths breakfast extravaganza, Shannon & Duanes BBQ swim party and the firework show on the cement in front of the stadium. It's tradition! This year was so great, but I am feeling a little incomplete because we skipped the hot air balloons and missed Grandpa Smiths yummy 4th of July breakfast because they were out of town. Still fun--just not complete! We did make our own YUMMY strawberry & blueberry waffles and had a GREAT time at the BBQ!



My new tradition is a delightful little dessert I call the Patriotic Cream Cheese Delight. It's a guaranteed crowd pleaser & very festive if I do say so myself. Here is the recipe:
1 1/2 cup coarsely crushed pretzels
3 T melted butter
3 packages (8 oz) softened cream cheese
1 cup sugar
2 Cups whipping cream (fresh)
2 packages (3 oz) raspberry jello
2 packages (10 oz) frozen raspberries
10-12 fresh strawberrys
1/2 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 400
combine pretzels & butter in 9 x 13 baking pan
Bake approx. 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool.

Layer 1: Beat 1/2 of the cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar until smooth & creamy. Fold in one cup of whip cream. Spoon over top of pretzels. (much easier if you spoon small spoonfuls so the pretzels stay in place.) Cool in fridge for a few minutes.

Layer 2: Boil 1 cup water and add jello. Stir till dissolved. Break up 1 package of partially thawed raspberries and add to jello. Chill until begins to thicken and then spread over Layer 1. Chill until set (about 15 min)

Repeat Layer 1

Repeat Layer 2

Spread whip cream over the top and decorate with strawberries and blueberries!

SOOOO Yummy!--and everything is 0 calories on the 4th of July...