Parks

This summer our ward/neighborhood has started to meet at a park every other week. Wanna come, we would be happy to have you. This week we went to Hooper Park and I think that is a favorite of mine so far, it is shaded completely, very nice, and the kids loved it. I think one of these weeks we are going to go on a hike instead of a park, but make sure it is easy enough for little ones.
A couple of weeks ago we went to the Riverdale Splash park, it was nice the kids got wet and to dry off would run over to the dry park and play. It has been a lot of fun. Some weeks lots come and other weeks we only have a few. It gets the kids out so if it were only me and the kids, I think we would continue.

Echo

Our Cute Family

The Gang
Ridge, Amy, Austin, Garret, Tanner, Ty, Mindy, Brylee, Betsy, Jason

Just Hangin' OUT! Garret the Coke Mascot

Playing games, getting Warm, & Looking Strong

Kite Flying, Best Friends, & Fun in the Sun

Our Little Silly Brylee June

(Tanner playing kick the can, hanging with Ridge & Austin, & His New Kayak)

We went up for a quick two nights camping to Echo with our best friends the Wards. The first night was kind of crowded, but then we moved our camp up a bit and felt a lot better not so close to the other campers. I am not sure I would camp there again, but who knows maybe if they improve it some we may. Thanks to Jason's Dad who had a free camp pass we could use, that was nice. We had fun with the kayaks. Tanner got an early birthday present his own kayak, of course he has to share too. I think I like his better then our old one, of course I like to get sun on my legs too and it is one you sit on top of. Amy brought some fun games for the kids to play and kites too. We had a lot of good food, sun, & fun it is so good to have great friends.

One of our Favorites

Chick-fil-A

Yes we are in if it is FREE!! We are frugal, ok yes we are cheap too!! One of our favorite places to go is Chick-fil-A and we had to be included in on the free food day when you dressed up as a cow. This was our attempt. I know pathetic, but we all ate free. We really like to go on Wednesday nights because it is family night at the Riverdale store and they have a craft for the kids to do and for every meal you can get a kids meal free too!! BONUS for sure!!! When we go quite often we go with our good friends the Wards, and also see other regulars there too. Mark & Kristie Gertge and Marks parents come on occasion too, Joe & Neilene.
"EAT MORE CHIKIN!"

Shoot-Out & Ice Sheet

Amy, Betsy, Ridge, Austin, Brylee, Tanner
(in the background on the left is Lori Jo & her daughter skating by)

We went down town Ogden with the Wards a week ago Sat; they had a old shoot out throughout the day, wagon rides, and the farmers market. Then, Amy, Austin, Ridge, Tanner, Brylee, and me went to the RAMP free ice skating at the ice sheet. It was a lot of fun and not as crowded as I thought it would be. It was a fun day for sure. Brylee was a little nervous on the ice, but after a time around she wanted to go on her own, even after falling down a few times she would cry, be fine and off on her own again. Tanner just took right off and only fell when someone ran into him. We saw friends from the Daycare where the kids used to go: Mrs Lori Jo, Mrs Megan, Mrs Angela and their kids too. We love and miss our friends from daycare, but it is so nice to not pay the daycare and be home with the kiddos. We also ran into the Steeles from the ward, it is so fun seeing people you know doing fun things. These are the times that it is a bummer when Jason works Saturdays and we miss him.

Moments that Matter Most

http://lds.org/pages/mormon-messages-gallery?lang=eng#moments-that-matter-most


Copy, paste, and watch the video it is very well worth it. Helps me to remember what is most important for sure!! Not that I don't want a clean house, etc, but if I still have clothes to fold or dishes to do when Jason gets home, it is OK because that is not the most important.

4th of July

Every year we go up to Huntsville to celebrate the 4th of July. This year Jason went golfing in the morning, so he met us up at my Aunts later on. Our good friends the Wards met up with us and sat with us at the parade. We went to the parade, hung out at my Aunts for a while, then went over to the park for the cotton candy and shaved ice. Tanner played one game and won a 2ltr of pop and got to ride on Tyler's motorcycle, so he was happy. The kids swam, Tanner took the kayak with Connor & Payton across the street for a ride in Pineview, and they had a water balloon fight too. We had our traditional Shurtleff Family BBQ bring your own meat, drinks and a pot luck to share. Grandma Miner just moved in with my parents and it was good to have her at the BBQ and she said she loved watching the kids go down the hill on the slip-n-slide and just be out with everyone. I was so happy to visit and see her with everyone, when she got tired she laid on the couch and they didn't stay for the fireworks as Mom had to work the next day. I had desert this year and made some cute flag sugar cookies. Crew liked them so much he said "Betsy these are the best cookies, my Mom needs to get the recipe!" That sure made me feel good and I thought that was cute. We stayed late for the fireworks and then headed for home, we didn't get home until pretty late but the kids and I got to sleep in they didn't wake up until after 10.

I like to do a family picture when we can. The kids had already gotten into their warm clothes and Brylee loves her warm baby pj's and it was getting dark and I didn't have my big flash, so when I tried to lighten the pictures this is the best I got, but still thought it turned out pretty cute.

The above picture has the following people: (Left Side Eric, Dewain, Bodie, Leslie, Marshall, & Annie at the parade; Tanner, Navi, Brylee, Crew; Tyler and Belin at the parade; Brylee's priceless picture with her cotton candy; Payton & Connor at the parade; Bodie, Tanner, Brylee, Austin, Ty, Ridge at the parade; Bodie & Brylee Best Friend/Cousins! Right Side Brylee with her goods at the park; Leslie & Betsy lookin' cute; My cute family Jason, Tanner, Betsy, Brylee Ray; Austin, Brylee, & Bodie waving to get candy at the parade; Me and my kiddo's at the parade Betsy, Tanner & Brylee)