Oregon Coast

I have found my new love. The Oregon Coast. The kids and I spent all last week there and it was fabulous! I am a little overwhelmed about how to blog it all so I'll break it down day by day.

Monday, July 27th
Becca Albert and I left Monday morning. I think it was 7 am by the time we got loaded and out of Vale. (Important side note that I have to mention: Kurt had the pick-up washed and vacuumed out, laundry done and folded when I got home from Youth Conference late Saturday night. He is a gem! I finally went to bed at 2 am Sunday morning and I know it would have be uGLy without his help. I have to say that I have bragged quite a bit to my friends. I'm a lucky woman!) Back to the trip, we made lots of random stops here and there. Switched kids from each vehicle. Endured lots of construction on a one lane highway. Watched the Oregon scenery make subtle but dramatic changes. It seemed to take forever (I'm just use to going on my road trips. NO stops unless its an emergency!)


Spencer, Jacqlyn and Emma Lynn on the trek over

We finally got into Lincoln City around 5:30 pm. We unloaded, stretched our legs, reconnected with our other campers (Dena, Tudy and their kids) and had some dinner. I was anxious to see the beach so we all (4 moms and 13 kids) piled into Becca suburban and drove the 4 blocks to the beach.



It is the only beach on the coast that you can drive onto. There are lots of tide pools (and therefore lots of sharp, slippery rocks). Lincoln City is known for being the best place in the world to fly kites. I believe it! The wind was chilly and biting. But the sunset was magnificent.


Kite Capital at sunset


My boys at sunset



We had 3 tents set up. A small one for the boys (Gage, Lake, LeBraun, Austin, & Colt) and a big one for the girls (plus Spencer and Rye. There were 4 adults and 8 kids in that tent. There wasn't a single inch available for anything else!) The last tent was just for bags and clothes. It was a really nice way to keep everything organized. Austin felt like he was pretty big stuff to be sleeping in the boy tent. It felt weird for him to be so independent. I was curious to see how the sleeping would go in the big tent. But by the time night rolled around all the kids were so exhausted that they pretty much just pasted out. Most nights Spencer came to me and said, "I'm tired. I want to go to bed." Sounds good to me!


Austin, Colt and LeBraun feeling special to be in the big boy tent



The first night the kids found a stray cat. They said it was evil and it was trying to kill Colt. So they were running away from it and screaming and creating all kinds of noise. Naturally the dumb cat follows them back to camp. We spent the rest of the trip trying to get rid of the stupid thing (sorry for the bad language! but it really was a bad cat!) We told the park manager and the park ranger. They were not very diligent in their efforts to rid us of the pest. In the middle of the night 11 month old Rye woke up. Tudy looked up and saw a large dark shadow on top of our tent. But that shadow was in between the rain fly and the tent. So basically there was just a tiny thin layer of netting between us and the shadow. IT WAS THE DUMB CAT!!! Tudy grabbed something and started hitting it, and luckily it jumped down. It definitely took a few minutes to go back to sleep after that.


Rooster girl playing in the tent

I'm getting a new nephew!!!

My awesome and amazing sister Elaine is prego (yay for her!)

She is due December 30th (I'm praying for 2 days late!)

And she found out this morning that she is having a BOY!!!

They are currently out in the retail world of blue stripes, dinosaurs and bugs. It's such a fun world. I'm so EXCITED for them!!!

Youth Conference

Friday and Saturday was Youth Conference in Garden Valley at Camp Glenwood. I had 8 Young Women go. We had a great time and it was also a spiritual feast for me. I love going to events like this, meeting wonderful spiritual giants and totally being strengthen. It really makes me want to step up my game. I feel re-energized! I CAN DO IT!

We got there early and it was so hot. So we went on a walk to find the river to cool off. After a good climb down we found the most ideal spot! It had a sandy beach point, and excellent rocks to jump off. After about 5 minutes of stewing over should I vs should I not go swimming I couldn't resist the water any longer and jumped in, clothes and all. It was so cold it took your breath away. We progressed to a high cliff (around 15-20 feet) and it was a fun adrenaline rush. The swimming was (one of) the highlight of the trip and as soon as it was over on Saturday we went back for more. Only draw back was that our spot had become popular and it was too crowded.

There were the typical Youth Conference events: games, lots of wonderful speakers, dance, musical numbers, good food, service projects and a few impromptu that we added like sleeping under the stars and swimming.

A few things that I learned at Youth Conference:
~ The past week the spirit has really been humbling me. In this humility I have turned more fully to the Lord. And it gives me courage to stand taller and try harder because with God all things are possible.
~ Attitude is EVERYTHING! There are lots of things in life that we don't have control over. But attitude is one thing we do. We can choose to be happy and positive during a trial. We can choose to overcome great odds and we can choose to become and accomplish anything we desire with the right attitude.
~ I want to look into what it would take (education wise) to become a seminary teacher. I want to start studying the scriptures to become seminary teacher material.

I love my Young Women. I love spending time with them. They are amazing girls. I am impressed with their character and their strength. I am honored to rub shoulders with them and be apart of their lives. What a blessing for me! I hope they know how special and important they are to me.


We got to meet Shawn Bradley. He is overwhelming tall!


The cabins. They left me feeling a little claustrophobic (that's why we slept outside!)


Sleeping under the stars




The Vale crowd on "the rock"


Leaders Tiffany Johnson and me

Vegas Road Trip Continued

Sunday we went to church with Grandpa and Grandma Waite. Their church didn't start until 1 pm. It was a recipe for disaster. 4 children by myself, late late late church, unbearable heat and close quarters. IT WAS NOT A GOOD situation! Definitely one of those aaahhhhh I'm going to pull out all my hair moments!

After we got through sacrament meeting it was all good. Emma Lynn actually went to her Primary class all by herself. I WAS SO PROUD of her!!! Ruth and I were doing hall duty so we joined Spencer in nursery. (Next month she is official ~ crazy!)

We spent the rest of the day at Grandma's house. We enjoyed the time to visit and the kids weren't too crazy or loud so hopefully we didn't completely wear them out! Grandma had lots of pirate stuff from Cousin Capers for the kids. Naturally they LOVED it and had so much fun. ARRRR matey!







Monday we hung out and had a nice dinner and FHE with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Caroline, Herb, Pam and all the kids. The highlight was playing in the flood irrigation water. Don't ever underestimate the fun power of mud and water. Thanks Matt and Dawn for being such great hosts! It was a great trip!







Tuesday morning we got back on the road. I decided to come home the Utah way (I was thinking it would be really nice to actually see people while I was traveling especially since I was by myself with 4 kids.) We stopped in Fillmore, and Layton, UT and Mountain Home, ID. 3 stops again ~ way to go guys! They make it really tempting to want to keep traveling (don't worry I am!!)


Ruth LOVES water bottles! She plays for hours taking the cap on and off and "drinking" (dumping) water.

We did miss Kurt tons though!
Austin, "These trips just aren't as much fun without dad."
Emma Lynn, "I just miss dad so so much. I want to see him!"
Spencer, "I'm going to sit on his head."

It's always good to be home.

Family Forever

Saturday night was Tessie and Ben's sealing. I know that I will not be able to adequately describe this event. It was so special and so spiritual. It was the first time I'd seen Ben since he joined the church. I cannot believe how much his countenance has changed. He is glowing with the light of the gospel. There is nothing so sweet as that complete, pure change of heart. Tessie and Ben were so beautiful and so happy. And then entered their precious (and gorgeous children.) A new eternal family unit was established. I couldn't think of a more worthy and deserving family.

As I left the sealing room I was more emotional than during the sealing. I think it is because the reality of what happened hit. It was a long road, a long time coming. To think about their progress, where they were and where they are now and know what they will become was so inspiring. The Plan of Happiness is so detailed, so intricate and so personal that it truly is the only plan that can bring eternal happiness.

My heart is so full that a friend I treasure and love can now have this blessing.

Vegas Road Trip

Last week I decided to take a road trip to Vegas. My dear friend from Iowa, Tessie was being sealed to her family. I really, really wanted to be there to support her. Kurt was wonderful (as always) to support me in that endeavor. Plus I could spend more time with my family since our time seemed so short at the reunion.

The kids and I left Friday morning. By the time we made it to Boise Ruth was ready to stop. I thought to myself, "Oh boy, this is going to be a LONG trip." We went to Target and Barnes and Noble to use some gift cards (stocked up with new music and books for the trip, so fun! Now we're ready to hit the road.) We only stopped in Wells, NV and Alamo, NV after that! What great little travelers! Austin was completely submerged in the world of reading alternating between a book (Beast Quest) and comic book (something about Spiderman the Incredible Hulk.) Spencer and Emma Lynn slept, looked at books, colored and did pages in their workbooks. Plus lots of snacks and sing-a-longs. Good times, Good times! Ruth was riding shot gun and because we could talk, laugh, sing, make faces at each other she was able to overcome her urge to bust out her car seat and scream her lungs out.


The fabulous gas station in Alamo, NV

Saturday Cousin Capers was still going on so the kids and I did a little exploring to get out of the way. We went to The Valley of Fire. That has always been one of my favorite places since I was a kid and I knew Austin would love it. It was 9 am and 104 degrees. Gotta Love Southern Nevada! We played and explored until we were too hot to enjoy it and got back into an AC pick-up.

















We headed to Mesquite, NV after that in search of a car wash, movie theater and swimming pool. We found all 3 but didn't end up doing the movie theater. They have a fun facility at their rect center. We took advantage of their outdoor swimming pool. It reminded me of the pool in Nampa but with less fountains. We had a really good time. They had a big curvy slide and after we had been there about an hour I looked up and saw Austin climbing the stairs to go down. I was really surprised because usually I have to really convince him to try some thing new. He loved it and did it again and again. Of course we didn't have to ask Spencer twice to try it. Shortly after Ruth and I joined in the fun! Emma Lynn watched from the bottom.









I couldn't believe it when we got back in the pick-up to find out that the temperature was 120 degrees! Gotta love Southern Nevada!

30 years celebration

My SIL Julie turned 30 yesterday. I knew this was a big birthday for her so I wanted to do something to help her have a special day. We sent her on scavenger hunt through Vale with the last stop being a surprise party. I think it went well. I appreciated everyone's help to pull it off.

Happy, Happy Birthday Julie! Thank you for blessing us with your good and righteous life. There is so much celebrate, 30 years of greatness!







ALL the baby girls are growing up fast!