Heaven on Earth 2011

Ah... :D

The cabin is my heaven on earth. Nothing even compares to it. Unfortunately, instead of being up there for 3-4 weeks, we only got ONE week. But we made the best of it:) Over the 4th of July weekend every single person in our family was there. We spent 3 days ALL together. That NEVER happens! It was so much fun. Spending the week with my family at the greatest place ever equals a wonderful time. I took hundreds of pictures and we had a blast!


On Friday morning, Cailey, Adam and I rode in Curry and Cody's car. Mason and Madden kept Nani and Papa company. It took us 6 hours instead of 4 because we took the scenic route, but it was totally worth it. Mesa Falls was awesome!


While everyone was up, we took lots of 4 wheeler rides. We rode to the trestle, the fire station, a spring, big springs, fire tower, you name it! 4 wheelers aren't exactly my "thing". I like driving them at MY speed. I'm not a huge fan of jumps and bumps and going really fast though. I maybe, possibly got scared a couple of times and therefore got mad at Adam...ha ha. Good thing he's such a good sport and is nice when I'm a baby:)



On Saturday we all took a ride & hike up to the fire tower. Never in my life have I been up there with my entire family! (too bad we were missing Carson & Nicole, but it was almost everyone...) We all went at our own pace, laughed and talked. Minus the little kids, the mom and the prego girls, everyone climbed it! That DOES included dad! He definitely redeemed himself of chicken rock! Way to go Pops! After we climbed down, we took pictures, climbed the outside, and then made our way back down the mountain. It was so much fun!


After the fire tower, we went to the trestle and whoever wanted to jumped off. Chiara, Colter, Cody, Judd, Madden, Cailey, Adam and I jumped. Everyone on that list did it happily and enjoyed it! I, on the other hand, may have cried a little bit because I was terrified but felt like I had to do it. I'm a baby and I'm not afraid to admit it! I live life smack dab in the middle ha ha, none of this "live on the edge" crap ;) Beside my scraped knees, and Cody's scraped chest and face, all went well.


Mom and Dad (Curry and Cody) took Cailey, Adam and I into the park. We saw some animals really really far away, but also ran into a herd of buffalo-yay!




It was so fun to go somewhere besides Old Faithful! It's cool and all, it's just a one time thing. We made a day out of it, and if you can't tell, it was my favorite part of the trip. These pictures are from Yellowstone Falls. We went to the Upper and the Lower Falls. It is absolutely incredible. It is the most amazing, gorgeous place I have ever been. The pictures do not do it justice, so I'm telling you-GO THERE!


Doesn't get any better than this...



The best thing about being at the cabin is just hangin' out with the family. We watched Field of Dreams, played Phase 10 and Catch Phrase, read books, sat inside, ate, moose called, went into West, and did a LOT of mosquito killing. This cabin trip, though short, was wonderful. I miss it already. Can't wait for next year!

I Am Ready For...

This.


This is the one and ONLY reason why I want time to hurry up. Can't wait!! :D

Lions & Tigers & Bears...Oh My!

I went to the zoo again-yay! It was the perfect company, weather and location for a fun summer day. Cailey brought her twins that she nannies and Chiara brought all 4 of her kids plus 2 that she was watching for a friend. There was a LOT of kids roamin' around, but between Mom, Chiara, Cailey, Adam and me, we all got home safely :)

I have figured out what my blogging issue is. I always take WAY TOO MANY pictures and want to post them ALL. Taking the idea from Chiara's blog, I'm trying out a collage technique so I can add all the pictures I want without making my post extremely long!

We saw just about every animal in the whole zoo and had a great time! My favorite was the gorilla. When we walked up to his window, he put his sheet over his face like he was saying "please just leave me alone and let me sleep!". After much begging, he removed the sheet, stared at us, yawned, and put the sheet back up. Ha ha. The kids got a kick out of it-the kids including me :) The big daddy elephant was swaying back and forth to the music, the tigers wanted to be left alone but those guys are HUGE! Here's to the zoo and all its animals!


And here's to great company!

The Mom & Madden

I can't even believe how fast time flies by. I was 9 when Madden was born and here he is as a NINE YEAR OLD! That just means that I'm old-and I don't want to be. I'd love to go back to Elementary and be his age again. Lucky for me, hopefully after a few years of college that's exactly where I'll be!:)

My mom had a birthday on June 3rd and two days later Madden turned 9 stinkin' years old.

My mom is quite the amazing person. She has raised EIGHT kids and is still sane, not to mention as skinny as a toothpick. How she has done all she does for 30-some years I will never understand. Not only does she do it, but she does it happily and willingly and with a whole lot of patience and talent. Happy birthday to "The Mom"!

It is so fun watching Chiara and Bill's kids grow up. Each one has their own talents, weaknesses and personalities yet we all love them all! Madden is quite the boy's boy. He plays, loves, and is great at just about every sport! He is responsible and the sweetest kid ever. He's tough as nails when it's a competition, but soft as butter in his emotions. He's also a very good tease and can dish it out like it's nobody's business;) Madden knows how to have a good time and can make everyone around him happy. Happy 9th birthday Mad!

This year their birthday party was quite the event. Curry and Cody were brilliant and very nice and held the party at their house so that Mom didn't have to lift a single finger. We had delicious steak skewer things that Chiara and Bill are masters at making, corn on the cob, fruit, chips and salsa, the whole deal! Luckily it was a warm day and we were able to hang out outside the entire time!

We played racquetball...


and did a LOT of just hangin' out!




The Mom got to open her presents first...

We all went in together and bought her huge canvas pictures of the kids. The pictures don't show it, but there is one of each of the grandkids and one of all of them together. My mom hung them in the playroom and it is so cute!

Then it was Madden's turn...

He got shoes and clothes, a slingshot, a fishing pool and tackle box, and airsoft guns. Every single item was a hit!

Taking to the airsoft gun idea, the guys opened them all and Cody brought out his own from the house...


...then those of us who were willing became targets and they REALLY had the time of the lives acting like 12 year old boys all over again!


Happy birthday to The Mom and Madden! Until next time...:)

I Wish I May, I Wish I Might...

These are my favorite little people. Oh how I love them! Macksen with his adorable little face and crazy language and Marley with her big smiles and sass.

Macksen Angus Fronce: 4 yrs



Mack's was having an "off" day if you will. Next time there'll be more:)

Marley May Fronce: 2 1/2 yrs










Watching Macks and Marley together is so hilarious and yet so sweet. They share a special language that only the two of them can understand. They will carry on conversations that are completely incomprehensible to the rest of us, but they'll laugh, smile, or get mad at the same time so you know that they know exactly what the other is saying. When the "big boys" pick on one of them, the other is sure to step in and help. These two really love each other and you can see it in everything that they do.

Siblings & best friends:)



...that these two could stay 4 & 2 forever. Aunt Caddy loves her Macks & Sissy!

3 for 1

The 25th, 26th, and 29th of May are Macksen, Cody, and Carson's birthdays! That's a lot of birthdays within a week ha ha! So instead of having a Sunday birthday party for each of them individually, we always do a 3 for 1!

Macksen's presents had their own little "theme" to them this birthday ha ha...see if you can figure out what that theme is!






He takes after his FAVORITE Aunt Caddy and did his best to put them all in a nice, organized pile:)








I think we all understand the theme for Macksen this birthday!:)

For the men in the family, this years "theme" is tools. For their birthdays, Carson and Cody got circular saws and hammers. They all like to think that they are really tough and are going to go out and build stuff with them...I can't wait to see something happen...!


In accordance with their presents, here is their cake.


We had a little bit more fun with Macksen's cake even though it didn't fit any of the themes at all! He's a goofy little boy, so we made him a monkey cake


He loved it!


We let Macks go to town on his own special cake

I think it's more the frosting that he likes rather than the cake. What do you think? ;)

Happy birthday to the greatest brother, brother-in-law, and nephew! Love you boys!