Rigby Lake

We finally are able to go and spend several hours at our local lake. No one needs a nap and everyone has a great time together. We have our special spot that we like and we like to groan really loud when we drive up and someone is already in our spot. Sometimes the kids fish, from the shore or from their pontoon boats. Olivia is actually the only one that has caught one.

Rigby lake has great sand, grass, playground, walking path, a small slide that goes into the water, firepits and now a snowasis (not to be confused with a snow shack, which is by far the best snowcones ever!)

Usually I read and lay out because I find Lake water pretty gross. I prefer to waterski in it, swimming in it just grosses me out. Well today I surprised all the kids by running and jumping in and dunking all the kids. It was actually pretty fun as long as I did not think about what was lurking below!!!

My kids are HAMS! I don't mean the meat!

Monday night we went to a party at a new club in Rigby. The family hosting the party rented out the whole place so the kids were invited. The basement is a karyoke area, with a stage, lights microphones etc. Olivia was the first one up on stage to sing. She sang you are my sunshine and twinkle twinkle little star. Sarrah and Gabe sang poker face and Ethan sang a song from Linkin Park. I got up to sing it's Tricky from Run DMC with Stasha and Ethan ran up on stage and did the dance he made up at school (it is hilarious). The upstairs is a dance floor with lights, fog, DJ etc. the music is loud and the lights are cool. Olivia and Gabe tore up the dance floor. Olivia was doing her spins, leaps, splits, floor rolls. Gabe was breakdancing. Olivia then wanted to request a song. She went up to the DJ and said she wanted to hear Move it Move it. He turned it on and everyone was dancing and Olivia loved it! At the end everyone was chanting Ethan, Ethan trying to get him to sing his opera. He wouldn't do it, so I invited everyone over on his dish day, that is when his opera singing begins. He says it makes dishes bearable! Love my kids!

Proud of my boy!

I am so proud of Gabriel. He just finished his Wolf in Scouts. He has two great leaders right now, Maureen Thurstan and Christy Crandall. I am so grateful for people who take this calling seriously and help these boys love scouts. I am grateful to my parents for taking Gabe camping and helping him pass off so many things. Gabe is so excited and I love seeing him feel so good about accomplishing something so great. He is such a wonderful boy, with a good heart.

On a side note..Gabe was holding his hamster "Jack" we have had Jack for awhile now. Jack sometimes gets overly excited and pees. I could smell Jack from where he was curled up in Gabes lap. I said "Gabe let me see Jack for a minute." I looked at Jacks underside and low and behold Jack was missing a couple of things and had nipples. So there you have it. Jack is now Roxy!

We are off the spend the day at Boy Scout Camp with Ethan and Jeff. We miss them and today is the day families get to come up for activites and dinner. I am excited to see my boys, won't be long until Gabe is there too, then me and the girls can have a nice non stinky, non loud week!

The JOB JAR!

So Sarrah and I were watching some show called "worlds meanist/strictest parents" something like that. This family was LDS and had 2 bad teenagers come live with them for 2 weeks. One of the things that this family had, was a JOB JAR. Whenever anyone was fighting, teasing, back sassing etc. instead of getting angry with the kids, the parents just held out the JOB JAR and all parties invovled in the trouble had to pick a job out of the jar. So I sat down and typed up all the little jobs around the house that I would like done that take me awhile to get to and some others that were nasty (toilets). Now every Wednesday is bathroom cleaning day anyway, but boy do I love on Monday when one of the kids draws "clean all the toilets in the house" I now have the cleanest toilets, cleanest base boards, cleanest kitchen cupboards!

Temple and Family Pictures

I am working as a teacher for a company called Poppyseed Projects. I just wanted to show you a sample of the two options I have right now for my classes. There are several different temple prints available with new ones being added. There are also different options for the family picture. Check out this website to see the options. These are large pictures 26.5" X 32.5". If you are interested in doing a class or interested in earning a free picture by hosting a class email me at valariehoopes@poppyseedprojects.com.

http://poppyseedprojects.com/TempleAndFamilyPortraits.html

Temple pictures

I'm going to start teaching this great new class. It is huge in Salt Lake and Logan right now and just starting up here in Southeast Idaho. I will post some pictures of what I will be teaching.

Fourth of July

We had a nice weekend. I started my festivites on Thursday with a girls night out to dinner and to see Eclipse. Friday a fun BBQ with a kickball game. Our team lost, but we also had all the really little kids on our team and they pretty much were done playing after the 2nd inning. It isn't about winning though, it is the fact that we were all having a great time, even though my friend Sukey heckled me everytime she got on first! I did realize how old I am getting.. I had to run in twice to pee (darn bladder!) and I had to go in and get my shoes with the orthotics in them. It won't be long and I will be running bases with a walker and depends!
Saturday another BBQ and fireworks with friends, Sunday...nothing but naps...I love Sunday's. Today swimming lesson start, a trip to the lake, a parade and fireworks.

Jeff left early this morning with 6 -13 year olds to Scout Camp. These dads that go are so amazing, to take a week off work to hang out with these boys. Thank you, Thank you!

Sarrah has been working so hard lately. She started a pet sitting business last summer, this week she is watching 3 bunnies, 2 cats, 3 dogs and 1 crazy puppy. On Tuesdays she volunteers at our Veternarian office, watching and helping with surgeries, cleaning up and walking dogs. I wish Ethan could find something he is good at to earn some money. I don't pay very well for babysitting and extra jobs.

Well I am off to supervise the kids on Monday's jobs...oooh bathrooms!