What's Larry doing?

I am frequently asked this question. Here's the answer with pictures to illustrate. This is the machine that Larry bought and has been using to spray farm fields to prevent unwanted things from infesting the crops. The above picture is of him pulling up to where we were parked as he was finishing spraying.

Here are the kids with the sprayer. He pulls it on a trailer behind a large water truck.

The tires are bigger than the kids.

We went up to visit Larry over Father's Day weekend. I love these pictures of Chloe and Larry.

Carter had been there all week attending football camp with Royal High School in Cheney, WA at EWU. Here he is with his cousin, Kent. Carter is #80. He really enjoyed the camp.

Our family went to Spokane and stayed a few nights there, picking Carter up from camp and getting some much needed time together.

This big wagon was in the Riverfront park in downtown Spokane. The wheels look about the same size as the ones on Larry's sprayer. Don't you think he should pull the sprayer in this? Chloe is at the bottom left of the picture in full temper tantrum mode about us saying it was time to leave.

We walked over and looked at the falls. Pretty spectacular.

There was also an antique carousel in the Riverfront Park that the little ones rode on.

Staying in a hotel with a pool, and basketball courts, not to mention all the ESPN, & Discovery channel was a definite highlight. While the guys were out shooting hoops, I even managed to squeeze in a few episodes on HGTV. When you don't have cable, it's such a luxury.

We headed back to Royal City and hung out with family at Mark and Marcies. This was a typical shot of the guys out on the front lawn.

Caleb and Ryker spent a lot of time together. Caleb was loving it!

Mark and Marcie's little girl, Madison, let Chloe borrow a princess dress.

She was in HEAVEN, and can't wait to see Madison again soon.

10 things I do in a day

1. I do multiple loads of this--each and every day.

2. This is how I try to make sure we end each day. 3. I go out in the morning before the kids are awake, in my pjs, to water these.

4. I spend too much time on this and my computer.

5. I am providing things (like pictured below) all throughout the day for my growing kids with endless appetites.

6. Since its summer, we seem to go here a lot.

7. I spend a lot of time trying to make expressions like these not appear (see #4 & #5).

8. I spend a lot of time looking at, coordinating, and talking to people about things like this.

9. I spend a lot of time chasing, dressing, laughing at, feeding, & entertaining this little someone.

10. I drive to alot of athletic events and lessons. Currently it is tennis lessons for Corbin and Caleb.

LOL

This afternoon I got into the car ready to leave with the boys, when Caleb (who just finished 1st grade) asks me, "Mom, what age is puberty?"
Completely taken back, I replied, "I don't know. Probably around 13 or 14."
Corbin chimes in with, "Well, a kid in my class went through puberty."
Since Corbin just completed 4th grade, this comment really caught me off guard and I questioned, "Really? In 4th grade a kid has gone through puberty?"
To which he replied, "Yeah. Twice."

10 Favorite Summer Pastimes

Today's 10 on Tuesday List: 1. Go to the Drive In Movies

2. Dine Al Fresco.

3. Read a good book.

4. Go Boating.

5. Hang out at the swimming pool.

6. Take the kids to summer camps.

7. Work on craft projects.

8. Hang out with family whenever possible. Luckily 75% have summer birthdays so we get lots of excuses to get together and celebrate.

9. Get shaved ice with cream. MMMMMM.

10. Grill dinner outside as frequently as possible. Who wants to be stuck in a hot kitchen?

10 Small Defining Moments

Today's 10 on Tuesday topic is to reflect on moments--not large ones like marriage or childbirth--that have helped define you in some way. I find this particularly challenging because it's far easier to think of the big pivotal moments than the small. So, here it goes...

1. Winning the 6th grade science fair-because it taught me how to put hard work and effort into something and give it my all. It gave me the confidence that I had the ability to do something on my own.

2. A letter from my Young Women's leader that she mailed me after she moved to Texas and I was still a senior in high school. It was a simple note of kindness that showed me she cared. It meant a lot to me then, but now as I think back to the fact that she had 6 kids and had moved across the country and took the time to write and mail a note to a teenage girl, it is even more profound.

3. When I moved to Arizona I felt completely alone and far away from my family and everything that was familiar. I had recently gone through very stressful circumstances and after a few months in a new, overwhelmingly large ward, was called to serve in a Young Women's Presidency. I remember the President picking me up for our first meeting (literally the first time we met), and when she opened the door for me to hop in her suburban being overcome with a feeling of love and hope. I saw the Lord's hand in my life and was extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve and live there and for the blessing of close friendships.

4. A delicious dinner being prepared and delivered to my family during a time of need. Also, being able to take dinner to someone else who may need it.

5. The first time I was given the opportunity to do a professional interior design project, I thought I was going to vomit and couldn't sleep, but I'm grateful someone gave me a chance.

6. The powerful role of prayer in my life. When we first moved to Arizona, Carter was in second grade and a few weeks after school had started it was his first day there. He would come home from school lonely, crying and saying he would have to sit alone during recess or walk around by himself. As a mother, this was heartwrenching to hear. One morning as I was about to take him to school, he was sobbing, so I suggested we say a prayer for comfort and that he may meet some new friends. That afternoon when I picked him up, he ran to the car with a big grin and announced, "Mom, the prayer worked! I made a new friend!"

7. I recently fell off a ladder and hurt my foot pretty significantly. I was unable to walk and my boys stepped in, cleaned up the kitchen, and took over household duties. Hearing their chatter, and the sounds of dishes and silverware clanking together as they loaded and unloaded the dishwasher was awesome. It was amazing seeing what they were able and willing to do.

8. Reading Marjorie Pay Hinckley's book Letters which was a compilation of letters she had written as a young mother and throughout her life. It was so motivational, inspirational, and humorous. That book has blessed my life and made me feel good for 'trying' and want to try harder.

9. Kind observations from my husband or children. Their opinions matter most to me. Nothing means quite as much as when I am doing well in their eyes and they take a moment to tell me something sweet.

10. Hearing birds chirping or water rushing in a stream. Seeing blossoms appear on the trees. Experiencing a heavy rainfall and seeing a rainbow peer through the clouds. Seeing someone cuddle their brand new baby. This may sound corny, but these small moments in nature strengthen my testimony of God and give me peace. They help me slow down, appreciate the world around me, and recognize that there is a bigger plan.

How cute is this?

A 13 yr. old boy in his NFL shirt, sitting at the sewing machine,

watching the playoffs on TV?

Chase, you rock!
Oh, and he can make a mean batch of lemon bars and throw a perfect spiral, too.

10 Favorite Memories of Dad

Today's 10 on Tuesday:My dad holding me when I was an infant.

1. Compassionate --My Dad would always be visiting with our elderly neighbors or those in need. He genuinely enjoyed visiting with them and would like taking us with him. He has made numerous friends from Beaver, Utah, our home in North Orem, and from his new home in Middle Orem. When my Grandma Widtfeldt was living her last years in Orem, he took special care of her and made friend with the residents and staff of the care center where she lived.
2. Competitive Spirit--He loved challenging anyone and everyone to one armed push-up, chin up, free throw, weight lifting, or one-on-one basketball contests. He especially loved taking on young, athletic guys and whooping on them. He would frequently take us to BYU to show of his high jumping skills where he could high jump his height of 6-2!
3. Hard Worker-- He would purposely look for the harder way of doing things. We had a hand push lawn mower that he would use instead of a motorized version. He'd push that around every Saturday and make it look like a breeze. I always wanted to try it because he made it look fun, and I couldn't even make it budge. He also works super hard in his profession and wins numerous accolades, awards, and recognition for his efforts (competitive spirit shows there, too).
4. People Person--It doesn't matter where he goes, he strikes up a conversation with anyone. It turns out he knows their ancestry, occupation, religious beliefs, family status, hobbies, political persuasion and more, by the time he says goodbye. He just genuinely loves interacting with people.
5. Funny--My dad loves joking around. Boy can he dish it out, but he can also take it. I love bantering back and forth with him and matching wits. Of course, he's no match for me. ;) He loves to laugh and have fun.
6. Family Guy--My dad loves his family. He loved his parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, and my mom's family, too. He always has great things to say about all of them, loves visiting them, and has told us special stories about most all of them. He also loves us. You see the gleam in his eyes whenever we are around. You just know he loves you and is proud of you. He shows this same love for each of his grandchildren and in-law kids. He makes each one of us feel special .
7. Farm Boy--My dad grew up on a farm and was proud of it. We would visit his parent's farm as frequently as possible when we were kids. He loved taking us on tractor rides and telling us the stories of his childhood. Since our own family lived in the 'city', he always took pride in planting a backyard garden, supporting the local produce stands, and working hard doing farm type chores. When I was really little he worked for an elderly dairy farmer in Beaver milking his cows. He'd take me with--I was around 2--and teach me the names of all the different breeds of cows.
8. He introduced us to delicious foods like avacado sandwiches, tomato sandwiches, scrambled eggs, asparagus. He still loves to whip up food for us when we visit. He especially loves fresh, garden produce and anything 'healthy'.
9. Performer--My dad is not one to shy away from attention. He loves putting on his magic sports coat and performing magic tricks for kids. He'll make pennies disappear, remove his finger, & cut bananas without peeling them. I loved having him perform for mine and my siblings friends. Now it's fun watching him carry on these traditions with his grandkids.
10. Gospel Lover--My dad taught seminary when I was a little kid. Loves doing missionary work. Loves studying and memorizing scriptures. Has always willingly accepted and magnified his church callings. He loved telling us stories from the Bible and Book of Mormon when we were growing up. He goes the extra mile to be there for baptisms, ordinations, and baby blessings. I have no doubt of my Dad's testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.