MAYLIN2007

As I said in the previous post, we got to the campground around 6 and all campgrounds were full so they put us in an overflow area where we shared a fire pit with a family from San Francisco. That turned out to be a blessing. The next morning we both headed out and found a regular spot in the campground that someone had just left. We picked two just across the river from each other and we had easy visiting access via a bridge. Anyway, the night we got there we unpacked and the boys set up our tent. Maylin had never slept in a tent except in our yard and she was a little nervous. She took such care in setting up the inside of the tent. She even made little beds for the two dolls she brought. She was so cute. We all slept in one tent, except for Jay. He had his own tent about 20 yards away.......he snores. This was a planned move. He didn't feel bad. He knows how bad he snores. The boys also saw that we were right by a river and they were kicking themselves they did not bring th...

I grew up in a family where our idea of camping was a cabin or a hotel. We weren't real tent and campfire people. I don't know why. It is just how we were. Girl's camp with my church group was fun, but I got to say I had anxiety every year over the whole tent thing, dark at night, cold showers and not being able to wear my contacts. Back then you had to plug in your contacts and boil them every night...... so glasses were the thing during camp. I wasn't thrilled with camping showers or lack there of and I definitely hated camping bathrooms. However, last year for Spring break, Alex and I went on an adventure hiking all over Utah. We loved Bryce Canyon and Escalante. We didn't get to spend much time in Escalante so we vowed to go back, but this time with the whole family. I planned a camping trip for a few days over Spring break. All the kids could come, but Kens who did not have Spring break at the same time as the rest of us. We were sad she could not come. We...

I've posted so much today of all of our activities and I have more to go, but I wanted to post something personal. Something that I think mother's can all relate to. This past year has been one of the hardest I have had as a  mother. It seems as if each one of my children have had some sort of trial or difficult hardship. Some of them haven't even realized they are going through something, but as a mother I have. It is hard to watch your children choose things that may not be the best for them, have their hearts broken, make poor choices, fail, be in pain and not understand what they are feeling or doing. I know motherhood is the hardest thing we will ever do. I didn't ever realize how hard it would actually be until I was in the middle of it! I have spent a lot of time this year reflecting on how our heavenly parents do it. How do they watch us? How do they handle our heart ache and pain? I have come to understand that they obviously have greater knowledge than me. I...

McKenzie had to do an extra credit project for her Interior Design class. She had to go to the Grand American hotel and check out their furnishings and write about them. She came home and we took the two girls and drove downtown for a fun night out. When we got down town we realized Trump was there for a rally. As we pulled up to the hotel, there were tons of protesters and we realized his rally was right across the street. We hurried an pulled into the hotel and started to walk around only to find TONS of police also in the building. Apparently, they were using the hotel as their headquarters. We walked around quickly and got what she needed and left, just as they closed the parking garage! They had us take a back entrance out and we were barely able to get out of downtown before they closed off the streets. Our evening ended early, but I guess you could say we were apart of the history of this year's election.

On Saturday, Maylin and I shopped to get all the supplies for the next day. She got to meet the "Easter Bunny" at Walmart and I snapped this cute pic. We also went to a special mother daughter dinner with Kens that night. Maylin made the centerpiece for our table. She did a great job on the windmills. Sunday, we attended church and afterward Austin and his girlfriend and Alex and his and the girls all had time together. We watched a movie about the Savior's last few days. It is always so wonderful to relearn that beloved event and then celebrate His great resurrection. We then had dinner and had an Easter Egg hunt in the yard. The kids also found their baskets. We usually do that on Saturday, but Alex was busy with his girl friend and I wanted all of us to be together. I made a great dinner. I even got a little creative thanks to Pinterest, and made pudding dirt cups with strawberry carrots growing out of the top. Alex had to leave shortly after the hunt to go to his...