Monday, July 28, 2008

For your reading pleasure...

Just in case...there are actually at least two pages of new posts. I have caught up our blog from January to present. So be sure to check out all the pictures and fun reading.

Enjoy your day!

Friday, July 25, 2008

Pioneer Days

I worked my grave shift Wednesday night into Thursday morning (which was July 24), but didn't leave work till about 0800 due to helping with an IROP. Crazy weather and airline delays (cancellations). Once home I was not tired due to adrenaline from work, so I decided to work on my camp pj's. They are soooo cute.

July 24 is Pioneer Day. We celebrate our states birthday and the arrival of the pioneers into the Salt Lake valley.

As a family went went and saw Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D. It was a great show. Full of action and some intense moments. I recommend it, if you are interested.

I am grateful for the sacrifice of the early pioneers. Leaving there homes in Nauvoo and making their trek west. I know it was not easy. I know they lost loved ones along the way. Arriving into the Salt Lake valley and declaring "This is the place". Utah is my home and I love it here. I have been to many other cities, but none would feel like home to me as Utah and her majestic mountains.

I didn't have the camera with me at all yesterday. Mostly because we didn't really do much so nothing to capture for your viewing pleasure.

Hopefully you all enjoyed the day as well!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Share Some Memories...

The Memory Post

1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! If we're only blogging friends, write about a post that is the most memorable for you.

2. Next, if you feel so inclined, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll be sure to write one about you...!

3. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. ☺ And please do this on your page, too, so we can all share in the fun times together.

20th Anniversary of Yellowstone Fire


This year marks the 20th Anniversary to the fires that burned throughout Yellowstone National Park. Fires in Yellowstone are natures way of rejuvenating the park.

Did You Know?

The 1988 fires affected 793,880 acres or 36 percent of the park. Five fires burned into the park that year from adjacent public lands. The largest, the North Fork Fire, started from a discarded cigarette. It burned more than 410,000 acres.

I have always enjoyed going to Yellowstone, and had many frequent trips their with my family. Todd and I went with our friends Melodie and Jeff in July 1991 (not long after our February wedding). We decided it was time to return and take our kids for our family vacation. It was neat to share with our children this beautiful and wonderous park.

Yellowstone established in 1872, is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

We enjoyed our camping trip June 23-June 27. Monday night we arrived to the enterance of Yellowstone about 11:30pm so we stayed at Stage Coach Inn. Tuesday morning we entered the park and after setting up our trailer and camp at Grant Village we started visiting all the sites within Yellowstone.

It was a fun and memorable trip with our kids. Everyone got along great. We camped with a grizzly and her cubs, but we were never able to see her. We saw plenty of bison, elk, and different species of birds, but no bears. After leaving Yellowstone we stopped at Yellowstone Bear World so the kids could see some bears.

Yellowstone Trip June 2008

Bear World

JetBlue Company Party

JetBlue SSC held their annual party at Raging Waters. We decided to go again this year. It was fun this year except for the weather because Amanda works for JetBlue and went with us (Cory came later after getting home from Scout camp).

We woke Saturday June 7 for Cameron's baptism to cool temperatures. The day was cloudy with the high going to only reach 66 degrees. I can't believe we made the decision to still go to Raging Waters. We are nuts! I thought...lets go enjoy the DJ, drawings prizes, and games for the kids. If it is too cold then we will leave and go back to our house and play games or something. The day ended up being ok. True the water was cold, but that didn't stop the kids from having fun anyway. Raging waters was nice and gave everyone that attended a return pass to use at another time. JetBlue purchased the park that day for their employees.

Raging Waters JetBlue Party

Preparing for YW Girls Camp

Another year has flown by and now I am preparing for YW Girls Camp. I am the Camp Director (my second year). I love this calling and working with the YW of the Taylorsville 39th Ward. I am even more excited this year as I have two daughters in YW now. This year the whole family will be up at Fort Timberlane, Alpine Fir loop. Todd is going as a Priesthood Leader so Kaylynn and Cameron will be with him.


Our theme this year is B.O.O.T (Building On Our Testimonies). It has been alot of fun planning around this theme. We used a loom and made lime green beanie hats to go with our pink camo/frog pj's. After camp July 30-Aug 2 I will post more about what we did, etc. Most of camp is a surprise for the girls this year with the nature of our theme...lol.

Here are some of the girls on our Pre-Camp walk.

Birthdays and Scouts

May is a very busy month for us and my side of the family. We celebrate lots of birthday's.


May 1 Gabe Claybaugh (my sister's son)
May 5 Cameron Martin (our son, turned eight this year)
May 8 Kristine Claybaugh (my sister)
May 17 Cory Johnson (my brother)
May 22 Teresa Larsen (my sister)
May 26 Colleen Johnson (my mom)
May 29 Cozette Martin (our daughter, turned twelve this year)
May 30 Kaylynn Martin (our daughter, turned nine this year)

May is christmas all over again, with parties and presents. Three of my four children all celebrate birthdays in May. I can't believe how big they are. I wish they would stay little.


Not sure where Cameron's birthday pics are, but here is the pic before his baptism. Cameron was baptized by his dad. We are very proud of his decision to be baptized. He loves primary and scouts. He is very excited that he is old enough to attend scouts.
Cameron has already earned his Bobcat and has been working on his Wolf requirements. He has so far completed on the Wolf Trail Achievement 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10. Now Cameron is working toward completing Achievement 4, 7, 8, 9, and 12. Hopefully soon after those he can begin and finish Achievement 5 and 11. Cameron is also working hard on his electives and so far has completed 37 of those. During the next Pack Meeting he will receive 5 beads, one gold point, and two silver points (maybe three silver points if we complete three more electives before then). Alright Cameron lets work on more scout stuff!

Cozy had a few friends over to party and eat cupcakes for her birthday. Here are some hightlights.



Kaylynn had a party with friends. They watched a movie and played some games, opened presents and ate princess cupcakes. After the party five of her best friends stayed the night. Here are some highlights.

My little flipper is being conditioned...

Todd and I decided that Kaylynn should have a coach to make sure she learns the correct way to flip and tumble. With proper conditioning and training one is able to reduce the chance of injury. Kaylynn, as mentioned before, has taught herself I think all of the different tumbling tricks. We have placed her with Olympus Gymnastics. The coaches have been very impressed with her ability and everything she has taught herself. In just about three weeks now she has really refined her tricks and tumbling and has now been learning the bar and beam routines. The coaches also moved her from beginning placement of level 3 to Pre Team (which is the level before competition). In this level they refine and condition so they are ready for the challenge of competing. In these pictures Kaylynn is wearing all black leo and shorts.

Kaylynn Gymnastics

My little flipper...

Anyone that knows Kaylynn is aware that I can't keep her sitting still for very long. She loves to move, flip, roll, and move some more. She has taught herself in the past six months alot of tricks.





I love this pic because of her cute tongue as she is preparing for her arial (no hands cartwheel).

Snow Play

I know we are in the heat of summer, but because I have been behind on posting I have a few things to catch up on. Please indulge with me and enjoy some winter fun pics. Todd one day took the kids and their cousins Mekayla, Talia, and Canyen to a near by park while I was sleeping for some sledding fun (I work the grave shift so I was most likely sleeping).






Thursday, July 17, 2008

New York

So I have been behind on posting (as everyone I know has noticed). I apologize with my only excuse being that I just haven't taken the time to update and post. I will try and get better at this.

My New York trip was amazing. I love to travel, but will admit that I was a little nervous because I had never been to New York and different people would tell me it is dirty and a very busy city. New York was a busy city, but I loved going there. My trip was mostly a business trip (supervisor training with Jetblue), but I was able to spend all of my first day in New York site seeing.

We saw almost all of New York City in one day and on foot with the exception of riding the subway. I learned the subway really fast. I was with some co-workers so this is why I keep saying we :)

Sites:
Time Square
Cathedrial
Radio City Hall
Rockerfeller Center
Staten Island Ferry to see Statue of Liberty
Ground Zero
Empire State Building

While there I had the opportunity to go and see Wicked. Me and one of my co-workers purchased the last two seats available. WOW! I loved the play. It is one that you want to turn right back around and enter the theatre to watch again. I can't wait for this to come to Salt Lake in spring 2009.

New York was fun and I hope to go again, this time taking my family with me to show them "The Big Apple".

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