A Three-Park Day

As I said before, Ben and Travis graced us with their presence over Labor Day Weekend and we enjoyed having them with us. That weekend was also Payson's Golden Onion Days so we went to the park for some community fun.

The kids weren't loving Onion Days so we made our way over to Spanish Fork and the new park there. It was freaking awesome! There are tons of swings, a giant play structure, a climbing wall, and a huge fountain for the kids to play in. As per usual, I left the house unprepared for water play, but we improvised.


Next we grabbed lunch at Taco Bell and headed to another park in Spanish Fork (by the library). We found a quiet spot by a huge rose garden to eat and let the kids run around even more.


On Monday we headed back to the Way Awesome and Super Amazing Park (I think that's it's official name) and this time we were prepared for the water. So of course it was a little bit cold. The kids still had a blast but soon decided that they had had enough "playing" in the water (aka running around shivering) and we headed over to the non-water area of the park for some fun with our friends the Namannys. Do three-day weekends get any better than that?

Return to the Lake

I don't think it's any secret that we love to go up the canyon to Payson Lakes. It is so beautiful up there. We especially love showing it off to our family. For the first time in several years, James' dad and stepmom visited us during a warm-weather month so we packed up the car and spent the day hiking to the grotto and playing in and around the lake. It was a great day.

Labor Day Weekend

Payson is a great place to be for Labor Day - it's also Golden Onion Days! Saturday we went to the Children's Fair in the morning, then came back in the evening to ride a few rides.






Monday we went to the parade (which is actually pretty impressive). Then we got sandwiches and headed up to the lake for dinner. Sadly, it was the first and only time we went up the canyon as a family this summer.

Splitsville. Population: Us

On Sunday an amazing thing happened. It was certainly an answer to prayers. Though we've known it was coming for a couple weeks, I couldn't tell all you wonderful people about it until it actually happened. Our ward split! Huzzah! And another hearty "Huzzah!" for James' new calling as ward clerk in our new Greenridge Ward.

I am so excited.

Our new ward is so small - just our townhouses and the surrounding houses that make up the Greenridge development - but it is going to be awesome. And we are definitely excited that James will be in a position to use all the wonderful experiences we had in the 7th Ward to make this ward awesome. Seriously, the 7th Ward was like boot camp (in a good, loving way). I didn't realize how rare and wonderful it was until we were gone. The new Bishop is one of three men who actually know James and I am excited for James to be working with him.

The only downside is that between all the work of getting a ward running from scratch and James' last month of school (and the giant project he is finishing) I'm not going to see much of him during the month of April. The kids might forget what he looks like. But mostly we are excited about all the opportunities this change brings to us and everyone else in the ward. I love a challenge!

Golden Onion Days

I think the title pretty much sums it all up. Golden Onion Days is like Orem's Summer fest - boutiques, performances, carnival rides, over-priced, deep-fried, yummy-smelling food, the whole she-bang. We checked it out and fell in love with life in Payson even more. There was a free children's fair as part of the activities and that was nice. We missed out on the parade so now I'm even more anxious for next year's Onion Days. Whoo Payson!

It's Like This and Like That (and Like This and A)

Sorry for the blogging hiatus. Last night I told James it was because I had been using the laptop so much and I don't blog from the laptop. This morning he whisked the laptop away to work with him. What an odd coincidence. But also James has been using the computer a lot to work on musical stuff in the evenings and my afternoons have been a little hectic with the nap situation. Zoe did great in her bed for a week and then suddenly decided she didn't need to stay in her bed anymore. So I spend the better part of the afternoon in and out of her room until I just can't take any more and she goes into the crib. But she's still got a near-perfect record at bedtime so I can't complain too much.

Anyway, we have been busy around here, as usual. James had Pioneer Day off last Thursday and made it into a four-day-weekend. We went to the pool and on a ward camp out. The pool is great. For those of you haven't heard - the new Payson City Pool opened on July 3rd and it is about a 1/2 mile from our house. Zoe and I go at least once a week and it was great to have James join us. I actually got to go down the big slides. The pool has something for everyone and the best part is that the whole thing is padded in rubber, instead of having a concrete floor and sides. so I can spend my time on my knees in the shallow parts with Zoe and still be comfortable. If anyone wants to try it out, let us know. We're always game to go. Here are a few pictures to "wet" your appetite:












The ward camp out was ok. The campground wasn't ideal and it was really hot. It just isn't camping if you're in a t-shirt the entire time and you don't even want to come near the fire. Zoe loved being outside and kept saying "I camping in the mountains." The only obstacle we had with her was the sleeping arrangements. We took our portable crib because Zoe refuses to sleep with us, so she already wasn't too happy about that. Then we all had to sleep in the same tent, which she also didn't like. She knew we were still there and kept telling us to "go bye-bye" even though it was pitch black and way past her bedtime. Hopefully she'll get the hang of it as we have another trip planned in a few weeks.

This week is already packed as well. Tomorrow Zoe has her 2-year checkup and I have Enrichment. On Thursday I am helping with our Primary Activity Day. So of course I won't be able to get to the pool until Friday (because today we went to a movie in Spanish Fork). Life is just so rough sometimes!

The Lake (Take 2)

Yep, we went to the lake again. This time to show it off to my side of the family. And this time we remembered to bring the food so I wasn't so grumpy. I still forgot the fishing stuff, so maybe next time I'll get everything right. The day was gorgeous and we had a great walk all the way around.


That night - Saturday - we decided to do some of our own fireworks. We didn't make it past the sparklers because of the wind, but Zoe enjoyed it anyway. Like everything else she enjoys, she looks absolutely indifferent and then as soon as something is over, she asks for more or to do it again. She loved fireworks. Good thing there will be more in a couple weeks for Pioneer Day.

The Lake

Did you know that we had a lake 20 minutes from our house? Actually, we have a few up in Payson canyon. Last Saturday (the 14th) we went up to check it out and scout out some camping spots. It is absolutely beautiful there.