County Fair fun!

We love the county fair here in town. The animals are great. Debbie practiced her animal sounds while petting the pigs, sheep, and cows. Dane, Isaac, and Simeon all entered chickens in the small animal barn, recieved a ribbon and money for their efforts. Easy. No sheep for Dane this year, maybe next year.
We got to go to the rodeo. YeeHaw it was great fun. We also watched participants of the car show drag Main Street. I couldn't help but think that Grandpa would enjoy all these classic cars showing off their stuff.

Then we spent a good share of the day at the mud volleyball where Emily's team won the championship. Talk about playing dirty.

After the mud volleyball tournament they do a mud scramble for the kids. They through out balloons in the mud and each kid got a balloon with a corresponding number for a prize--more muddy fun.


Chloe and company participated in the open pet show, won a ribbon and reminded us that we need to keep training her to do more stuff so that we can win money next time.

can't seem to move the mud up with it's friends. Mud tends to be sticky and sloppy like that. Oh well.

My Girls

Through the last few months I have watched my family enjoy time together. I have had a very special privilege of having my adult children at home and having my family all together again. It is an amazing and beautiful thing to be reunited and have shared the winter and spring together. Although everyone was often busy with their own things there was great comfort in the nearness of loved ones.
Natalie was the first to move out again in June to Logan. This month Emily has moved to Ephraim for Snow College and Elise and John are now moved to Logan also for schooling at USU. Natalie has also moved this weekend into a new apartment in Logan for the school year. So much change. One moment my heart longs for everyone just to come back home and then the next I am so excited for their opportunities and experiences. I know that they value education and will seek for learning by study and by faith. I know that they are at a launching off point and that the future is bright with any number of great opportunities. There is so many unknowns ahead. It is an exciting adventure and a cutting of the apron strings but there is no way to cut the strings of a mother's heart. I yearn for their well-being, their happiness, their true joy and the righteous desires of their hearts. I want them to have their independence and yet I want to know how everything is including challenges and triumphs. They are each such an example to me and are doing such amazing things with their lives. I feel so humble and privileged to know them, let alone be their mother. There is so much I though I needed to teach them. Hopefully I can still be useful. They have taught me so much and continue to inspire me to be better. I am especially grateful that they continue to be an influence for good on my younger children.
John is a big part of our family now too. He is so much fun, so good and fits in so well. I now pray for those who will marry into our family. That they are living their lives valiantly, honoring sacred covenants, preparing for serving and family. That they will cherish, honor, and love my daughters or sons. I am realizing how quickly things change and progress and how much my family will grow in the near future. Of course, right now I am feeling a little like an empty nester (as Milt says) because of having lost 4 children just this summer. It is an interesting cycle of working, stretching, losing, and then gaining even greater blessings. Sounds kind of like an exercise program but I guess for growth and progress to take place, whenever we want improvement the principles are the same and when we work for eternal priorities the blessings are celestial. Luckily we get to enjoy them here, too.

Kimball reunion at Deseret Village

school time

carding wool

running with hoop
laundry by Sim

petting zoo with cousins

little train

shave and a hair cut - 2 bits

family vacation

The Lake Storm

We had overcast, sunshine, glass water, and then the storm. It was short lived but exciting, thank goodness.

Houseboat fun

Bubble fun!

Twilight Saga Yikes

Beauty snorkler Eli

Emily's tattoo

a tag

The rules of this tag are that you cannot clean up anything before you take the pictures. Take them just as they are right now.

1. My Favorite Room - would be the kitchen. I spend way too much time eating but I love nurturing in the kitchen - cooking, sharing, teaching, loving, cuddling by the fire, reading a good book, welcoming others into the heart of our home.

2. toilet

3 . self portrait - just got home from the trek last night and knew I should have showered before checking blogs. oh well, the me naturelle

4. favorite shoes - I live in gym shoes, slippers or bare feet, its all about comfort for my feet.

5. kitchen sink
6. my messiest room, this would be Peter and Dane's room. It makes no sense to me and is obviously beyond my control.

7. my closet - I love having a walk in closet off the bathroom. one of my favorit things in this house.

8 my kids, I had to find them first to find what they were doing. Some are still missing but here are three accounted for.

9. my fridge - it is squash season. I have plenty to share if you could use some

10. my living room.

A BIG PS Why is it so hard and confusing to get my comments with the right picture and the pictures in the right order. Bridget and Anna gave me this tag so if you want to see it the way it was meant to be go to Anna O on the sidebar. (Besides her house is beautiful)

TAG: I tag Lauri, Amber, Mom, and Julie

Pioneer Trek 2008

We survived and even thrived. Had a wonderful time. Grew to love and appreciate the pioneers even more, along with the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, family, priesthood, prophets. We are so blessed.