The Dog Days of Summer.

Oh Summer. 

Glorious Summer.
I love you so.
Why do you come and go so fast?

We had SO MUCH FUN this summer.

My top ten twelve summer 2010 memories are:

1.  Birthday parties! Some of which included:  a cool party at Chick-fil-a, a sweet kickball game at the park and a jam session in the backyard.  The Tanner kids are all a year older.

2.  A major house remodel.  WE ARE LOVING OUR NEW LOOK!

3.  Camping - Amazing Flaming Gorge, Gorgeous Idaho and the Beautiful Uintahs.

4.  Fireworks with Friends.  ITS THE BEST.

5.  Spending ALL DAY at Boondocks - just me, Chad and the kids.  And laughing.  A LOT.

6.  Picking raspberries.  And eating them.  YUM.

7.  SWIMMING!  And lots of it.

8.  A weekend get-away to Las Vegas for our 18th wedding anniversary!  WHAT? 

9.  More swimming.

10.  A new adventure... Young Women's President!  WHAT? 

11.  Watching Jordan live his dream of front row Jack Johnson on his 17th birthday.

12.  Boating and playing at the Lake.

And here some pics of my sweet summer memories:

(Jordan wake boarding at Flaming Gorge)

(Shaye was finally talked into driving her own car on the race track at Boondocks!)

(Non-stop laughing at Boondocks - oh ya - and Cade had a mullet for about a week.  It was sweet.)

(Miss Gabrielle perfecting her high dive jump.)

(Me and Superman on our 18th Wedding Anniversary in Las Vegas)

(Our awesome house remodel - credit goes to Superman - isn't he amazing?)

(Jordan a.k.a. Jacks #1 fan, and Minden, FRONT ROW at the Jack Johnson concert on Jordan's 17th Birthday.  And yes, Jack wished him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY from the stage.  Needless to say, it was a very happy birthday and according to him - the best one yet.)

(Me and my cutie sis Cindee - enjoying Jack Johnson a little farther back.  Love my sisters.  LOVE.)

(One proud mama, with her A.MAZING Boy at the Jack Johnson show.  Man I love this kid.)

(Swimming.  Swimming.  And more Swimming.)

(Shaye and Luke - cousins - enjoying a soda and swimming at the Lake.)

(Caden skiing at the Lake.  LOVE this kid too.  What a smile!)

(Savana and Gabi - cousins and BEST FRIENDS - holding on for dear life.)

(Hot summer nights, jam sessions and songs around the fire, and don't forget the perfect s'more.)

Farewell Dog Days of Summer.
I will miss you.

Good Times, Bad Times.

Its that time again.  The summer is drawing to an end.

My kids all celebrated birthdays this spring and summer.  

Each one is a year older.

Time is ticking on, and some days it doesn't just tick...  

it whizzes by as fast as a roller coaster, and your standing there thinking,

"what just happened"?

Good times - Bad times.

School starts in a few days, and so starts a new routine.

No more late nights and lazy mornings.

Up at 6:30 to work-out, make breakfast and lunches, and have family prayer.

Then off my children go, into the world.

Good times - Bad times.

I finally made some time to get some new photos of them.

My kids hear the words "photo shoot" and turn into difficult little subjects!

You would think I am putting them in a torture chamber, 

instead of pointing a camera at them.

Good times - Bad times.

Good thing they are so dang cute, and that I am good at my job...

Good times - Bad times - 

I will take it all because that's just life 

and I love mine!

Favorite Time of the Year.

Oh how I love summertime!

It's my favorite time of the year. 

In fact, as we were laying on our blanket the other night,  cuddled up together,

watching the magic of the fireworks explode above our heads, 

I whispered to Chad that this has to be my favorite holiday.

(Shaye and Cade at their birthday party)

We've been busy the last few weeks!  (ha, what else is new??)

At the end of June, and first of July, these two darlings each had a birthday (6 days apart).

We had a fun celebration with our families at the park. 

We enjoyed dinner, conversation, music, laughter, babies, yummy chocolate cake,

and a sweet game of kickball.

Cade and Shaye have a very special bond - they adore each other - and I adore them.

Sometimes I stop to take in moments like these, and thank God for my blessed life.

(Cherry Days Parade)

To celebrate the 4th we headed down to the main road in our little town to enjoy the parade.

The girls loved it and ended up with way too much candy.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous.

I love my Freedom.  I love my America.

I love the men and women who have served

and those who are still serving to keep my family safe.

(My little pixie at the parade)

(darling Gabi at the parade)

(my teenager ((WHAT??  How did that happen?)) at the parade)

After the parade, we had a nice, yummy BBQ at Ryan and Eva's house in the valley

and finished off the day watching the fireworks at Weber High with some of our best friends.

Yes, it was a VERY. GOOD. DAY.
I was HAPPY.
And my heart was OVERFLOWING.

I love it when that happens.  :)

(The Tanner house is getting a Face-Lift)

Oh, and have I mentioned that we are under construction?

Yep.  We must be seven kinds of crazy.

We are stucco-ing and rock-ing the entire outside of our home.

I am so excited/nervous to see the end result.

I will be sure to keep you updated.

That is, if I am still sane.

Happy Summertime Everyone!

Happy Birthday to Me.

So, yesterday was my birthday.  I am another year older.

Time is a funny thing, isn't it?

It marches along... always marching... and most the time, we don't even notice it.

You just wake up one day and you have teenagers, wrinkles and aches and pains.

I don't worry too much about getting older...

My superman hubby tells me I get more beautiful everyday.  

My dad tells me the same thing.  

Granted, they have to say that... they are my hubby and my dad!

What else would they say?

Even still, I am glad they say it.

I am a lucky girl to have these men in my life.

(blackberry pic of me and Superman on my birthday)

I awoke to the sound of my family singing to me "Happy Birthday"

(except for Shaye who refused to get out of bed for such nonsense).

Then I was showered with gifts - the wonderful kid-made, home-made kind that make your heart swell and then I wonder  - how did I get so lucky to be blessed with these cute kiddos?

I also got a new vacuum - a Dyson - and I am so excited!

(does this make me a nerd, or someone who just loves to be domestic?)

***

We decided (well, I decided) that the rest of the day should be spent in the big city.

We sent the kiddos off to school and set out for a day of fun.

Some of the highlights:

*Lunch at my favorite spot - RED ROCK in Salt Lake City

and something else besides the AMAZING food that made it all the more special ~ 

my server was MATT.  I just love him.

*Shopping at The Gateway ~ need I say more?

*The megaplex ~ Robinhood ~ Russell Crowe ~ need I say more?

*Having an entire day alone with Superman 

(who, by the way, was such a good sport about shopping all the day long and listening to me talk about my philosophies about life, people, the world, politics and really understanding my wants and dreams and hopes for the future and indulging me in conversations about fashion, design and technology.  This man really knows me and he really gets me!  And that makes me so happy.)

*All the love shown towards me in the form of phone calls, texts and Facebook messages.  Seriously, you guys really know how to make a girl feel special!  I must be the luckiest girl on the planet to have such amazing friends and family!  I love you all so much.

(obsessing over pillows in Anthropologie) 

If getting older means I get to have perfect days like this one, then bring it on!

Happy Birthday to Me.

Natalie turns 2! {Utah Child Photography}

 

Happy Birthday Natalie!

You can see more of Natalie over HERE on the Shoot Shoppe Blog!

Happy Birthday To You!

Dear Jordan, 

15 years ago today, the Lord blessed us with an amazing little soul.

I can't believe how fast the time goes.  

I am the luckiest mother on the planet to have you as my first born.  

I love you more than words can say.

Happy, Happy Birthday to my gorgeous, sweet, funny, 

musical, artist, multi-talented, smart, 

German-speaking, darling, fun, best friend.  

We love you!!

Hurry home from camp, will ya?!

We miss you!

Caden... Finally!

OK, so Cade has been asking me and asking me 

when I am going to "blog" him!  

Soon, I would say, Soon!  

But, you know how life goes with 4 kids and a crazy schedule... 

but today, finally, I am blogging all about my Birthday Boy Cade!!!  

YIPEE!!  

Here you go Cade - This is for you!  

I love you to death and thanks for always being so patient with me!  

CADEN

Amazing, Smart, Energetic, Funny, Kind, Excellent at Rock Band, Energetic, 

Creative, Fun, Thinks Big, Sports Fanatic, Darling with little sis Shaye, 

Adventurous, Computer Genius & did I mention Energetic?

Happy Birthday to my little friend who is growing up so fast!

What a FUN day we had yesterday.  You Rock.

Schedule of Birthday Events:

1.  Pick up best friend Matt.

2.  Go to Dad's office.

3.  Play on Dad's cool dual screen computer.

4.  IM Ryan.

5.  Shopping at Guitar Center for a Drum Set.

6.  Chili's for lunch.

7.  A Molten Chocolate Cake Dessert at Chili's for my B-day!  YUM.

8.  Take Dad back to work.

9.  Head to Fat Cats and Bowling!

10.  Hit the arcade.

11.  Win 400! tickets on Deal or No Deal!

12. Buy a Football Gum ball Machine for my room with all my tickets.

13.  Head home and Play, Play, Play.

14.  Finish off with some pizza for dinner and a slurpie.

15.  Go to bed thinking this was the best birthday ever.

You've had a Birthday, Shout Hooray!

Happy Happy Birthday to my amazing little sweetie!  

5 years ago today, my world was changed when you came into it.  

You have been a source of amazing joy and you have helped me stretch my wings as a mother and you have taught me a lot...  

(where did you get so stubborn, anyway?)  

I feel so lucky to be your mom!  

Happy Happy Birthday to the most beautiful 5 year old who ever lived.  

Love, MOM       

Gabi is 8!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABRIELLE!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, wonderful, perfect, sweet, fun, giggly, kind, sassy, smart, darling little artist, dancer, singer - talented daughter!

(I know I am bragging, but hey, I'm her mom... I can do that!)  

You are one of my GREATEST joys.  

The day you were born was one of the most 

amazing & blissful days of my life...

I am so lucky to be your mom!  

I can't believe your 8!  I love you siss!

Have a Happy Happy Day!  

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Happy Birthday to my fun, smart, handsome, generous, 

joke-telling, kind, loving, amazing, awesome Dad!

I love you Dad!  Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Nana!

Happy Birthday to a very special Mom and Nana!

We Love You! 

Happy Happy Birthday!

Just the Best Friend Ever!

Expert at so many things!

Nice (except when playing cards).

Neat (can your house be messy just once?!)

Impressive - seriously so smart.

Fashionable - always lookin' so cute!

Excellent in every way.

Remarkable - you rock!

Have a Happy Happy Day!