Vegas, July 20-23

Wednesday, July 20th-

On our way to Vegas

This morning the kids worked REALLY hard and we got our paper route done really quickly, packed up the van and headed to Vegas. We were all super happy to see Cleod and it's always fun to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house.



We have arrived. SO HOT!

Swimming

Thursday-Saturday Summary...

• We played at the park once, even though it was SO HOT! Sometimes you just have to get outside and run around.
• We went swimming Thursday and Friday afternoons. It was about 110 degrees out but we put tons of sunscreen on and everyone but Ryan made it without getting burnt. Ryan ended up getting close to Heat Exhaustion on Friday and took a 4 hour nap!
• Deni and the kids came swimming with us on Friday. The kids get along really well!
• Grandma and Grandpa helped Ryan pass off some Bear requirements. Grandma helped him make a paper hand and she bought his a robot which Grandpa helped him make.
• Grandma had bought Cleod a pirate ship model and with Ryan's scout stuff, Grant was feeling a little left out. He didn't complain but he was digging around Grandma's house trying to find something to do. Grandma was able to sit down with him on Friday while I took the other kids out and together Grant and Grandma make a little leather container for a compass. He was beyond proud of himself.
• The kids and I (minus Grant) went to DI and found tons of shirts for the boys as well as some awesome toys. We also went and got some yumminess from Nothing Bundt Cake.
• We rented the old Pete's Dragon...because Grandma told them they couldn't see the new one without watching the old one. Haha. We don't have plans to watch the new one just yet, but it got the kids excited to watch the old movie.



Helping with peach pie filling

• Saturday morning we went to Grandma and Grandpa's ward party. Pioneer Day is tomorrow so they had some pioneer games for the kids and there was a pie contest. Grandma made a yummy peach pie. Grandpa also made yummy sour dough pancakes too!
• After the ward party, the kids and I headed to St. George. We met Dad at Costco and went shopping for Rowley Reunion. I probably got 2/3 of the groceries purchased. Lots of work but I'm super excited. (And we're happy to see Daddy!)
• We went straight to the Warby's to celebrate Kianna's birthday which was Friday. We had a great visit with Brett and Deruchette and the kids, as always, had a great time together.

Ryan at the park

Molly ready to swim

Robot hand

Grandpa helping with robot

Molly feeding Cleod

Grant's compass pack

Happy to be with Grandpa again

Molly playing with Kaylie

Stapling something at the ward party
 

July 17-19

Sunday, July 17th-

The kids had a hard time sleeping last night. They missed Cleod so much. I talked to Cleod before bed last night too and he was a little sad. It's good for them to realize how much they missed each other. Church without him was weird too. The whole day was kind of weird.

Tonight after dinner we went to the Williams's home for cake and ice cream because Kaden turned 11 this week. There were a few other families there and we all had a great visit and the kids played well together.

Monday, July 18th-

• The kids are super cute and miss Cleod a lot. They slept in the hallway today together last night although they kind of always sleep weird places in the summer. 
• For Home Evening tonight we took the kids to Park Discovery. It is a super fun park but we don't go their very often because it's hard to keep track of the kids there. But with Silas running after Molly, it was much easier.

    




Molly reading Calvin & Hobbes and eating Cheetos.

Molly at Park Discovery

 Tuesday, July 19th-

Leksi's birthday was back in May and we owed her a birthday date. Cleod and I took Kianna out for a treat and shopping when she turned 9, so Ryan and I wanted to do it for Leksi too. But the summer has been crazy busy.

Well, today we made it happen. Deruchette watched the other kids and I took them to pick out toys, to get lunch and for ice cream. They were spoiled. Ryan got to pick out stuff for himself too because this was his "birthday party." We will be in Washington state on his birthday and will celebrate it with family but he wanted a kid party. I talked him into doing a bigger date with Leksi instead and he was super excited. Yea for Warby friends!

Ice Cream

Donated money

Lunch at McDonalds

July 15 & 16

19 years

Friday, July 15th-

Today is 19 years since Silas and I met. We hadn't even remembered to plan anything but since we were going to Girl's Camp today we ended up having a little adventure for our anniversary. Mom came up from Vegas to watch the kids and we headed up to the Richfield area to meet up with the girls. On the way we stopped at a cute little sandwich shop in Beaver.

Lunch date

Hanging out with the girls was great. We played some games, went white water rafting and had a yummy dinner made by Clint and Jim. I had a headache during a lot of the time so I didn't get to chat with the girls as much as I'd like but I'm still really glad I went. Silas did a great job talking to the girls about setting goals and testimony meeting was great too.


Camp game

Me
Artwork by Cleod

Saturday, July 16th-

This morning was a wonderful experience. Today was the funeral for Pres. Sherratt. Silas didn't have to conduct the whole funeral, which he thought he might, but he did officiate for the Family Prayer after the viewing and for the Graveside Dedication after the funeral. On both, he did a great job. There were so many men there to give him support and remind him of what he was supposed to say so it worked out great.



Flag from fire department and the casket leaving the Hunter Conference Center.

Graveside

The funeral was amazing. There were wonderful musical numbers. My favorite was "Bring Him Home" sung by the guy who played Jean Valjean at the production put on by the Shakespeare Festival a few years ago. He was truly amazing. And although the funeral wasn't an LDS service (which is why Silas didn't have to conduct) most of the speakers were LDS and bore powerful witnesses of a loving Heavenly Father as well as life after death. I am so grateful I know this things as well.

Grandma headed home an hour or so after we got back home. Cleod went with her too so that will be an adventure. We miss him already. We took the other kids to Tiki Shack tonight to spend some time with them since we've been gone so much. We love our crazy kiddos.

Tiki Shack

 

July 12-14

Tuesday, July 12th-

• Swim lessons again. Molly is like a whole new girl. She is trying all kinds of things and listening a lot better.  
• While Cleod had his lesson, we went to the store so the kids could buy some treats with their own money. The treats are for them to eat tomorrow during papers.
• We picked up Cleod and had lunch and ice cream at DQ.
• When we got home, the kids were super nice and did their chores without complaining!
• Skyler came over and played with Grant this afternoon. They moved around from Legos, Angry Birds and playing outside.
• They rest of the day was full of normal stuff: Laundry, dishes, blogging, etc. It was really nice because we have had so much going on lately that I have neglected a lot of the normal chores I do.
• In the evening I had Relief Society and Silas stayed home with the kiddos. At RS we played Bunco and laughed a lot! It was so great for me to get out and laugh. I love our ward!

 

Wednesday, July 13th-

• Swimming lessons went well again today. One more day!
• Had playgroup at the Lake on the Hill. We were the only ones there for a little while but when other friends came the kids had a great time!
• Did papers in record time today! They delivered all the papers in less than one hour. Cleod was especially improved on his speediness so that helped a lot.
• We got all junked out eating our treats during papers today. The kids thought it was great. Maybe we should do fruit next week? haha

Cleod eating too much chocolate

Thursday, July 14th-

• Last day of swimming lessons!!! The kids did so well. All the boys jumped off the diving board outside. Cleod did and then swam the whole length of the pool. Yea! No more lessons for that one! Ryan wasn't scared at all, which is great since he has been more concerned about it in the past. Grant, who is my daring boy, was the one scared but he finally jumped too.

Grant's jump!

Cute Granty

 

Cleod's splash. I had a hard time getting a photo of him mid-air.





Ryan

• This afternoon I made a couple batches of apricot jam from some fruit that our neighbors gave us. Then I gave the rest away because I didn't want or need that much jam. :)





Apricot jam and leftover fruit

• Silas and I went on a date this evening. We walked around campus at SUU and then had some dessert at Chili's. He is feeling anxious about speaking at Girl's Camp tomorrow and then doing his part at the funeral on Saturday. We had a good talk and I think he is feeling better.

July 9-11

Saturday, July 9th-

• Darin and Nicolle came in town last night. They are here to spent time with Brooklyn but she had a few things going on today so we got to hang with them some of the day.
• The Elders stopped over to give Silas a report on some investigators. While here they mentioned that it was one of their birthdays and they were heading to lunch but they didn't know where because the other Elders they were meeting with didn't have much money. Silas offered to take them all out so he was gone in the afternoon for a while. I'm glad he could do that for them.
• It was a good distraction for him because we just found out last night that Gerald Sherratt passed away. He was a member of our ward, although not active for years. He was formerly the president of SUU and mayor of Cedar City. We don't know yet how involved Silas will be with the funeral so he is SUPER nervous.
• While Silas was out, the kids and I ate lunch and then watched Random Acts (a BYUtv show) while eating ice cream. It was a fun, relaxing afternoon. When Silas and Darin & Nicolle got back, Darin "exercised" with the kids...and then Nicolle and Silas.

• After a couple hours, Darin and Nicolle headed out again to have an early dinner with Brooklyn so we took Odie on a walk. Once we got to the church, Silas realized that we might need to clean the church because the assignment wasn't made on Sunday. I took Odie back to our house and then walked back to the church. There wasn't much to do so someone must have come and cleaned it. Another random distraction for Silas.
• We had waffles and ice cream with Darin and Nicolle tonight. We recently found a recipe for waffles that taste like waffle cones. They are super sugary and delicious!

Ryan and Odie

Sunday, July 10th-

• Woke up and fed Grandma Warby
• Said goodbye to Darin and Nicolle
• Church
• Went on a family walk

Monday, July 11th-

• Bryan and the kids came to Cedar today and we were able to spend the afternoon with them.
• We went to Pastry Pub for lunch!
• Swam at the lake...for a little while. The water felt really cold today so they didn't want to swim much.

• Came home and showered and then headed to the Green Show at the Shakespeare Festival. It was WEIRD. I have been to lots and Bryan was a theater major and he even thought it was weird. They sang lots of new pop songs with Irish accents and weird dancing. Some of it was like the past, older songs and traditional dancing, but as a whole it was strange.
• Silas made nachos for dinner and the kids got along really well the rest of the evening.

July 6-8

Wednesday, July 6th-

• Swimming lessons day 2 of 8. Molly still says no. The kids seem to be enjoying themselves and Cleod is happier with a harder class.
• Took fast showers and headed to playgroup at the park right by the pool. Cleod joined us when he was done with his lessons and shower.
• Ate lunch at the park and drove again to New Harmony to have story time with Becky, Ben and Katie. Today there was a lady from Home Depot that brought a building project so the kids really enjoyed hammering.
• Back to Cedar for paper route. Cleod had a headache during part of it so Grant helped a little again. They had a hard time because one of the scooters is crocked from being run over last week and the new ones we ordered aren't here yet. Next week should be tons easier.
• Cleod went fishing with the Young Men tonight. Had a good time but was bummed about not catching a fish.

Thursday, July 7th-

• Swim lessons day 3. Molly is listening a little better.
• After lessons and showers we picked up Pizza Cart and took it to Katie's house to have lunch with her and Jamie and the kids. It was yummy! We always have good conversation together but we really got into some hard parenting stuff today. I think it was good.
• Had some frustration when we got home. The house has been neglected because of swimming lessons. The kids aren't in the habit of doing chores this week so today when I really wanted them to help me...we just got frustrated with each other and it was not fun. I need to chill about the house and sometimes I am really good at ignoring it and moving on to the next activity, but today was one of those times when I couldn't just let it go.
• Ryan had scouts today and they passed off something he needs which is great since he only has a month left.
• Silas went to hang out with Brett after work because it is hi 34th birthday! Deruchette is out of town so Silas helped with some yard work and then they played computer. I had Book Club so I ditched the kids and had a VERY enjoyable night with my friends. We were discussing a book by Brene Brown and we had a very insightful discussion.

Friday, July 8th-

• Swimming lessons, 4 of 8. Molly is listening really well and getting more comfortable with the water. The other kids LOVE their teachers and love having swim lessons.
• Today we came home and really CLEANED the basement. We also rearranged the boy's bedroom. That helped us get rid of lots of stuff and also made the boys super excited about trying to keep their room clean.
• We made smore's at the Slades with some other ward members this evening.
• Darin and Nicolle came in town tonight!

Hanging out with friends

Cora's cute pony tail after her bath

July 3-5

 

Sunday, July 3rd-

Ryan trying to make a scary picture

• Silas didn't have early meetings this morning due to the holiday weekend, so he was able to go with the kids and I to Danielle's baby blessing.
• The kids and I went to the luncheon for the blessing at the Froyd's house. Had some super yummy BBQ chicken and great company.
• The kids and I went to our ward in time for Primary. Of course when we were heading from the car to the church it RAINED like crazy. We had umbrellas but by the time I helped the kids in (took 2 trips) my feet were soaking wet so I went barefoot for the rest of church.
• Cora gave a talk. I wrote down what she wanted to say earlier in the day and at Primary she just read it and seemed really grown-up.
• I taught Relief Society today!!! About the temple!!! It has been 2 years and it was SO fun. I loved every minute of it. Because of the holiday weekend there weren't a ton of ladies there but that made it nice.
• Went on a walk after church. Barely could tell that it had rained earlier.

  

  Ryan and Grant created this "scary" photo

   

Monday, July 4th-

Silas "loving" the parade



Happy Independence Day!




 

 

Hiked Cascade Falls with Josh, Tina and boys. It was an easy, short hike but really pretty. Cleod wasn't super impressed but with the little kids we couldn't go too fast.

Cute kids

Silas cooked pork ribs for dinner. We had Josh & Tina over and also enjoyed visiting with neighbors.

Watched our neighbor's fireworks and then walked down to the high school to watch some for a few minutes. We missed most of the city fireworks which looked way more impressive this year than in the past.

Tuesday, July 5th-

• First day of swim lessons. Molly and I are doing lessons together and she says, "No" or "I don't want to" to me a lot. This is going to be *great*.
• We were originally supposed to all have lessons from 9-9:45am but we had some confusion so Cleod was going to have lessons at 10am. Today was way too easy though, so we were able to move him up to the next level. Only problem is that it is at 10:30-11:25am...so we will be at the Aquatic Center for a while the next two weeks.
• Were late for guitar lessons but Mr. Shirley was super nice and understanding.