Oh... what do you do in the summertime?

When I was little one of my favorite songs to sing in primary was

"Oh... what do you do in the summertime"

This past week we all had a taste of my childhood...we played in the pool!

Growing up in St. George (with its 110 degree days) summertime meant swimming...EVERYDAY!

We didn't have a pool in our backyard then , but we would go to the Bloomington Country Club pool!

We would load up with our cousins, the Trumans...take a cooler of treats, get our nose plugs that looked like silly putty and head out!

I can't really remember that sunscreen was the top priority it is now... so we all got VERY TAN!

Sometimes for a really great treat we would all head up to Veyo pool.

Anyone that is a St. Georgeite has been to Veyo pool...

the corn dogs, cherry 7-ups.. and the wall of chewed gum... and the sign that said " welcome to our ool, notice there is no "P" in it...please keep it that way"...ahhh memories!

My favorite was when my dad would come swimming with us!

He would chuck us and let us dive off his shoulders he was the biggest kid in the pool.

As I got to be a teenager... Las Palmas was THE summer hang out.

My family bought a membership and we were there EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

I would go with my friends, but I had to take my little sisters and brother with me. We would be there from about 11:00 am to about 4:00 pm... one time we took one of Brock's friends... one of Brock's blonde- blue eyed, fair skinned friend. I wasn't very responsible with the sun screen. When it was time to go he was laying on the lawn chair with the towel wrapped around his sunburned eyes and face....OOPS!

I later taught that kid in high school and on the first day I reminded him about almost killing him... He could remember...YIKES!

There were diving boards, hot guys, fun music, and so many fun times. We ruled the world!

This past week we were in St. George and swam every single day. My 78 year old grandma even came down from Cedar City to sun and float in the sun. One day my dad came home for lunch and ended up swimming with all of the grandkids. He had them laughing and crying all at once... just like old times.

We had good treats, lots of cool drinks, & popsicles by the dozens... and this time the kids had sunscreen check every 30 minutes!

I was taken back in time... but, this go around I didn't look so hot in a swimsuit!

A great day!

Last week I got a Viv, Grandma Connie, & Dear Lizzie fix all at once.

Viv and Connie came up for a few hours to get Viv's hair cut, and attend some sort of meeting.

They were here only about 18 hours, but we still managed to have a lot of fun.

We met my cousin, Diane, at Dear Lizzie for lunch.

It was a great lunch date.

Viv+Connie+Dear Lizzie+fun cousins= A GREAT DAY!

Happy Birthday to the Queen Mother!

Viv!

Happy Birthday to the QUEEN MOTHER!

Here is a little bit about her...

She loves Mary Englebreit

My kids call her their "pot head Grandma" because she LOVES, LOVES, LOVES pots and flowers... Her whole back yard is potted flowers. One of her biggest goals in life is to work in a greenhouse.

She is a whole lot of fun! Everyone likes to go with Viv... because a good time is guaranteed!

This pic was taken at Bette Midler last summer... we had a blast!

oops... How did this picture of the Relief Society President make it on the Internet?
She is just a normal down to Earth babe!

She supports all of us in everything we do.

This was taken last weekend at Mitch's baseball game!

She has been married to my dad for 40 years...

She has stood by her man through thick and thin... and they still even like each other!

Here is their wedding photo...

What a dish!

What a pair!

My dad looks like he is about 11 years old.

She is the oldest of 3 kids and was always a little mother to her brothers...

She still likes to take care of people!

She is the world's best aunt, cousin, friend,

MOTHER!

She has got PERSONALITY PLUS...

very outgoing, GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR!

Viv is the best! I am so lucky to be her daughter!

She means the world to everyone that knows her...

Happy Birthday, Viv!

We All LOVE you!

I know People...

I know people who have all the right hook-ups...well that and they just like to have fun! When we lived in St. George we ran with quite the rowdy crowd.... they are still running and we sometimes get to jog along! Lat week I was in San Jorge for my dad's party and they "friends" called and told me they had 1 extra ticket to Joel McHale in Vegas. I thought about it for approx. 1/2 second and was ready to go. The plot thickened when they told me we rented a 15 passenger van so we could all travel and laugh together. Laugh we did! Remember last week when I said I needed to "belly laugh" more... I did it! I don't know if I laughed more on the ride down, at dinner, in the Jared scented elevator..., at the professional comedian, or on the ride home? It was so great to just have a relaxing time with people I love! It made me miss living around these Yayhoos- we were always getting something going. Back in the day when we each only had 1, maybe 2 kids...we would bar-b-que every weekend- sometimes both nights. This group of friends has really been together for a long time. I moved out and a few new ones moved in...but it is still so much fun to get together and just be. This is the kind of friends that I would never dare to "break-up with" they know the real, true, down and dirty on my and my man. We have to keep these folks close! Thanks for the VERY enjoyable evening and morning ( we got home at 3 am)! You guys are the best!

This was a pair of very sexy underware we took to have Joel sign. He said it was the strangest thing he had ever signed. He even autographed Ryan Seacrest's name in the crotch area... funny stuff.

The Big Kahuna's Surprise!

Thursday was my dad's 60th birthday and I went to St. George for the ultimate surprise of the year. My dad is usually not really into the crowd and the chaos of a party, but about a week ago he started asking my mom is she was going to do something really great for his BIG birthday.

She kept telling him no, but we had already decided to copy the one I put on for my neighbor and just keep it a surprise from my dad. He hinted and talked about having a party... we all just laughed and said that nobody could come and that it was a crazy night and that we would celebrate it over the weekend. He even kind of sulked because nobody was going to do anything... we all were laughing our butts off about it. On his birthday I called and told him Happy Birthday and I was sorry that I couldn't come down to celebrate it with him. I was calling from my sister's backyard. He didn't even know I was in town, because I stayed at my sister's house until that night. We sent he and my mom to the spa for massages while we got everything in place. She was so mad that she wasn't with us getting ready... I learned all of my party skills from her. Viv has MAD party SKILLZ! It was a fabulous party! My sister Jody made the cutest cake EVAH! There were about 50+ people that came..we had a Polynesian dance program that lasted almost an hour, great food, everyone hulaed and danced and sang, and most importantly...he was surprised! As I say almost every post... We partied like Rockstars- This time Hawaiian rockstars!

Meg & Olivia...A girls weekend for little girls!

Watch out there is going to be an explosion of pink, glitter, and everything girl! Our dear friends, Crystal and Olivia, are leaving their baseball playin' boys home in Idaho and flying down for an all out girls weekend! Our families were neighbors in Boise... she had 3 boys and I had 2...perfect! Great Friends! We both got pregnant and were due 2 days apart... we both wanted a girl sooooo bad...I went 4 weeks early and she went 2... so our girls are two weeks apart and have loved each other since birth. They are the best little lunch dates in history...they've been going since they were born! Now we moved when they were just three, but we've kept in touch and they still love to play together and have such a good time. Livi is in a dance competition on Saturday, but until then we are going to party! We are hooking up with Tonia and her little girl Alexa for a little glitter fest, going shopping, eating fun lunches and just going to laugh and love each other! Crystal and I have felt sad that our girls don't have sisters, so we have made a pact that Meg and Livi will always remain friends and be a sister to each other. Can't wait for the fun to start!

Three Reasons I like being a mom...

1. Mitch- My first little baby! He is so handsome and smart. Mitch has a great sense of humor! He is funny, and friendly and kind. All of his little cousins love him and he is especially sweet to Meg ( when he is not teasing). He is such a leader and his social life is ever increasing... he is now a teenager and so cool. I can't believe he is getting so big!

2. Jackson- Jacks is my little love! He has such a tender and kind heart. He is so smart in school and tries to do him best! He is a total hottie... and a great friend to all. Jacks is very persistant... he won't give up ( sometimes a good thing...sometimes not). Jacks loves to play baseball and is going to be my giant boy... He is the best babysitter in the world. He is so good when he has to babysit Meg. He has a great personality and I just love him!

3. Meg- My little princess! She is everything a mom could want in a girl. She is sassy, and confident, likes to shop, and loves clothes. These things are cute now..hopefully they will stay cute. She loves to play with friends...very social! THis is her first year in dancing and she LOVES it. She is the boss of our house- she owns the boys and especially her daddy! She is everything I dreampt about in a daughter and more!

I am so lucky to be the mom to three amazing kids. All of my kids are unique and different and have special qualities and talents. I am glad that this week is Mothers Day...I am going to try to reflect on how great my job and life really are. I know that every crow thinks hers are the blackest...but this is my blog and so my kids ROCK!!!

I am tagging anyone who wants to play along ...come on brag on your kids...What makes your kids the cutest inthe whole world?

My favorite photo of my mom...

Tiburon has thrown a fun idea out into the blogosphere and I decided to play along... In honor of mother's day I am joining in on showing a favorite photo of my mom. I have two... the first one is at my mom and dad's wedding reception. I love the beehive on her and the buzz on him. They both look about 12. The next one was just taken last November... LOVE IT! It shows that a lot of years and hairstyles have gone by, but they are still so cute!

Happy Day...Tasha

Happy Birthday to my darling friend, Tasha! She is not only my friend...she was my kid's awesome babysitter while I was in Mexico. She is the big 2-7 and we had so much fun celebrating her day! One thing I love about Tasha is that she loves everyone to know it is her birthday and all the celebration is about her! This might make her sound bossy and bratty...but the greatest thing is- She is SO not bossy and bratty...just loves her birthday! I love it because I love my birthday too! The party was at the cutest place...Dear Lizzie! We shopped, and laughed, and ate , and had such a great girlfriend day. I was first friends with her mom and I am so glad that she and her sister are my friends too. Tasha is such a sweetheart! She has the best husband and the cutest baby, Ruby. She is a great mom! She is so funny, and kind, and fun, and responsible... and the list goes on and on! Happy Birthday Tash!