Craziness!

So last week was insane! It started with a trip to the zoo on Monday with Melanie and her kids. Plus, Mel was watching Matson that day because Mom is still in California with Gary, Bliss and Riley. We had a lot of fun at the zoo, even though we didn't get to see the baby elephant. We did see a baby giraffe, baby meercats and a baby snow leopard. Parker asked the whole time if we could see snakes and crocodiles. We finally got to the reptile house and he was so happy! Except when he saw the crocodiles he was scared and wanted nothing to do with them! We also got very up close and personal with a snake that one of the zoo keepers had out. I told Parker he had no idea how brave his mommy was holding him up that close to a huge black snake. YUCK! He wouldn't touch it, which surprised me since he was all about touching the one at family camp. We also fed the ducks and played on the playground which are musts when visiting the zoo.

The baby giraffe was so adorable!

Parker got so excited when he finally saw a 'nake!

I say last week was insane because I was trying to pull everything together for our RS retreat that Saturday. A family in our ward has a cabin that we use for a little get away for the sisters in our ward. (Thank you so much Stacie! We missed you!) We go up on Fri and have dinner and a little program and then stay up way to late talking, playing games etc. Some of the many things that needed to get done were: get all the food, cook ten pounds of hamburger, arrange enough rides for everyone going, make sure we had enough priesthood holders going with us, etc. My enrichment leader and committee were amazing and helped me pull it off. We had a lot of fun getting to know everyone better and I did something that I never thought I would. I am really scared of heights and they talked me into riding the zip line. I had about a million false starts and I had them take a picture because I knew Bryan wouldn't believe me. I did it and my heart didn't slow down and my hands wouldn't stop shaking for about an hour. When I brought it back up the hill they said, "Do you want to go again?" and before they were even done asking the question I said, "NO!"

One of many false starts, I was so scared!

There I go! I screamed all the way down!

Dawn teaching us a song that went along with a wonderful talk that Jane gave
Some of us singing the song

On top of all that I had to get done that week, Bryan's best friend from high school was in town and the only night that worked for us, since I was going to be gone Fri and Sat and working Thurs, was Wed. We had several of his friends and their families over for a BBQ. It was so much fun to see all the boys playing together (the big and little boys). Everyone has boys except Lance has two little girls who didn't come. I tried to get a picture of all the little boys together and as you can see I wasn't successful! It was great to see Seth and Melanie again and we are hoping that someday they might move back so we can see them more often.

Most of the little boys

The big boys: Seth, Lance, Bryan, Joe and Jon

Happy Birthday!

So, last week was Parker's birth father's birthday. We made another sign and took pics to email to him like we did for his birth mom. Parker gets so excited when we make things for his birth parents. They are coming for a visit next week and we can't wait to see them! We love them and consider them part of our family. We are so grateful to them for all they have given us. So happy birthday and we can't wait to see you!

I have a problem....

Hi, my name is Lindsay and I might be a little addicted to diet coke. As I mentioned in my previous post, the first night we were in St. George, we went to Mike and Susan's condo for a BBQ. Apparently I have a reputation for being a bit of a diet coke-aholic. When Parker see's it in the store he calls it mommy's drink. (He also calls mt. dew Heather's and pepsi Dustin's. It might run in the family.) Suz and Lou remembered that I love diet coke with lime and made a special trip to the store to buy some for me to drink at the BBQ! They also insisted that I take the twelve pack (minus the two I drank that night) with me when we went back to the hotel that night. They are so sweet and I couldn't believe they did that just for me! Thank you ladies for thinking of me and for the wonderful time in St. George! (Lou, I just might have to come visit again after baby Ty arrives!)

Hotter 'n H-E double you know what

The second annual Hotter 'n Hell Golf Extravaganza was held in St. George this year. It's a trip that Bryan's uncle provides for his agents that meet a certain production level. We left Sunday afternoon and after checking into the hotel, headed to Mike and Susan's condo for a BBQ. The next day the boys had meetings in the morning and golf in the afternoon. I did a little shopping for Parker in the morning and then Suz treated the girls to lunch at Bajio and then pedicures! That night we went to the Pizza Factory for dinner. It was really yummy, especially the bread sticks! After dinner we all headed to the pool where the boys provided our entertainment. They were launching each other in the air and doing flips, building pyramids and even performed some synchronized swimming! It was hilarious! The next day was basically the same schedule. We went to Olive Garden for lunch and Suz ordered a bunch of different desserts for us to share. We would take a bite of one and then pass it on to the next person and take a bite of the next. It was amazing! After lunch we played Bunco! It was a loud, crazy time! Bryan had the camera that day, so I didn't get any pics of bunco! That night we went to Tuacahn and saw Footloose. It wasn't what I was expecting, but it was really fun! They sang the songs that are in the movie, but they also added some songs to make it a full on musical. I had fun singing along to the songs I knew and the girl who played Ariel had an amazing voice! They had a mechanical bull that some of the guys rode before the show and that was pretty entertaining as well! Bryan's wrist has been hurting him for a while, I think the golf made it worse, so he didn't try the bull. It really was a fun trip! It was nice to get away and spend a little time together (in the evenings anyway). We drove home Wed and I have barely seen Bryan since we've been home. He went straight to work when we got home and worked all day yesterday too. When we go on these trips, it's really fun, but he's not making any money because he's not out working! Hopefully we'll be able to spend some time together as a family this weekend.

Ashley, Ashlee, Laura and Tami at Bajio

Stacey & Holly from the home office, Megan, Suz and me

The girls all lined up for our pedicures

All our pretty toes!

The boys building their pyramid

Bryan in the 'sand' the same color as his 'Hotter 'n Hell' shirt

Bryan teeing off

Smart Family Camp

Every year, for 40 yrs, the first week in Aug, the Smart family goes up Fairview Canyon and camp in the same general spot. We've only been twice since we've been married, but this year we decided we would go. So Thursday we packed up and went with mom and stayed until Sat. We borrowed Heather's grill and used Mom and Dad's tent and managed to camp without the used of Melanie and Tracy's tent trailer! I was very proud of us! Parker had a blast! I have too many pics of all the things he did! I will include a few, but list off all the the camping experiences he had: rode in a wagon, on a pony, on a four wheeler, in a Rhino (see pic below) played in the dirt, touched a snake (gross), threw things in the fire, played in the dirt, played rock paper scissors with his second cousin, saw four deer, was obsessed with looking in the non flushing potties (double gross) played in the dirt, played catch with the football, played baseball, followed his second cousin when she took a bike ride and gave me a heart attack when we couldn't find him, begged treats off of everyone starting with a popsicle as soon as we arrived, wanted to pet the chipmunks and ground chucks, watched his second cousins catch frogs, tried to hula hoop, took a nap with daddy, wanted to 'catch fish in the water' (maybe next year bud) gathered firewood with grandma, slept in his Lightning McQueen sleeping bag (for one of the nights). Phew! I think that covers it! Parker was constantly asking to go on a ride on anything that moved! I feel like we owe everyone gas money for hauling our kid around all the time! I think we will probably be getting a four wheeler at some point. We really did have a lot of fun (despite the freezing cold temps at night) and are planning on going again next year. We were sad that Melanie and her family didn't come with us (they had tent trailer issues) and are hoping to have them join us next year! It was so fun to visit with family that we don't get to see very often. It was different not having Grandpa and Grandma there, but we are glad that the family is keeping the tradition going!

He wasn't really sure about riding any of the horses,
but decided to be brave and ride the little pony

This is the look I got while trying to take a picture
of him playing baseball:
"Put the camera down and pitch the ball lady!"

This is the Rhino, it's kind of a four wheeler/jeep combination.
He loved it!

Kate and Parker played rock, paper, scissors on these stumps.
They never really did paper or scissors, just rock, rock, rock.
It really was the cutest thing!

Bryan's cousin Dan found this snake and brought it over
so the kids could see it.
The next day Parker asked me to help him find the snake!
I said, "Hello have you met your mother!?"

Our happy camper all tucked into his Lightning McQueen sleeping bag

What we've been up to

We have instituted a new reward system for Parker. He picked out some rocks at the dollar store and I got a little jar that he gets to put them in when he does something good. It took a long time for him to fill it up the first time, but he finally did it! We took him to the dollar theater to see Monsters vs. Aliens. He didn't really like the theater experience, so it might be a while before we do that again. We got him a little bag of popcorn and they even had booster seats for him to sit on. He was more interested in the video games out in the lobby than the movie.

On our way to the movie, should have been our first clue how it was going to go

He did get excited when he saw the poster for the movie

He would have been happy to just play on this race car game instead

Daddy and Parker with popcorn and booster seat, red of course

I have been canning like crazy with Bryan's mom and sister. If I see another apricot again it will be too soon! We did apricot nectar, jam, more jam and still more nectar. I'm not sure how much total we did, but it was a lot! I am kind of glad that mom and dad's pear tree and garden didn't produce very much this year because I am so done with canning for this year!

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This is some of the jam from one of the days that we canned

The weekend of the 24th we headed up to Idaho for camping (for the boys) and to celebrate my nephew Carson's 2nd birthday. Friday night, my brothers, nephews, Zack, (Alison's bro), Bryan and Parker went to their first annual Man Camp! Parker loved throwing rocks into the water and sticks into the fire. The girls enjoyed a night of haircuts, hair color, making cards, popcorn with m&m's and Dr. Mario. The next day we all headed to the reservoir to play in the water and celebrate Carson's birthday. We also surprised mom with her birthday present, a plane ticket to TX to visit her sister. She of course was so surprised and cried when she read the card. It was a great weekend full of fun times with our family!

My men at 'Man Camp' (my nephew Jackson took this picture)

Carson and Parker throwing rocks

Parker riding his gigantic whale that Jack and Al gave him for his birthday last year

Carson enoying his birthday cupcake

Mom gasped and then said, "No way!"