Back in the Saddle again!

 After six years I finally went snow skiing again...lets just say it wasn't the greatest day to relearn the sport in 30 mph winds and pure ice with a little snow added on top.  Despite all the awful conditions...our newest skiier loved it, Mikayla. 

Post Skiing Hair Do...plus we matched so we had to take a picture!

President's Day Weekend

 Over President's Day weekend we went down to St George to see Patrick's family and to attend Braden Forbes mission farewell. 

Braden Forbes...future missionary

Janelle and Patrick

Langston family

Julie and her family

Visiting Grandpa Gates grave.

 On Monday before traveling home we went on a picnic with the Langston's in La Verkin.  Lavell making our hamburgers. 

 We were able to use some of the Langstons' friends canoes and kayaks and have a picnic....some kids got really wet.  One got a little spooked by a spider and bailed over board thus getting soaked and it wasn't a warm day.   

 

Right after our picnic we headed home to Clearfield....ahh silence!

And on our way home we stopped by Lowes to buy our new washing machine.  We looked in St George but had to order it at a store near our house....it was a surprise that you can order at any store to have it delivered somewhere else.  We are just so excited to not have a vibrating washing machine that could break any minute.

Kids say the Darnest Things

Patrick took the kids and their cousins on a hike in Hurricane Utah.  Tristan asked along the way did Heavenly Father make the mountains and Patrick said yes...to which Tristan replied, "He is a bad designer."  You have to understand Tristan is very scared of heights thus the mountains shouldn't be so steep and scary. 

And then I earned Mom of the year by almost leaving Mariah at Taco Time in Nephi.  I had asked her to use the bathroom several times and finally right before we left she decided to go to the bathroom.  I headed out to the car with the other kids and Patrick also was in the bathroom.  We were just waiting in the car and once Patrick came out and got in we backed out and were leaving.  Mariah came shooting out of the building with a frantic look on her face (I really wish I had it on camera) and I just couldn't stop laughing after she made that face and I realized what I had done.  Good thing she was fast or I would of drove off without her.  Oops I guess we all forget something sometime.  Poor kid thought we were leaving her.

Grandma Potter's 90th Birthday Party!

Patrick, Grandma Betty Potter, Melissa

 We went down to my Aunt Debbie's house for my Grandmothers 90th Birthday party.  It was a lot of fun to see her and lots of aunts, uncles and cousins we haven't seen in years.  I think one of my favorite memories of my Grandma was recently when I came to visit in 2010 and stayed at her house for a few nights.  She went out of her way to make us feel welcome...even had groceries delivered for her us.  I told her I could go pick up whatever she needed but she insisted.  The best part was sitting and talking with her about her memories of her kids and being a mom to 13 children.

David Pabst and Melissa= my cousin closest in age to me...

I have over 60 first cousins on my father's side of the family thus I have only kept in close touch with a select few.