Redfish Icing on our Summer

This summer we've been able to stay fairly close to home (like most always), and still see some really amazing places, making new memories in our most favorite spots. We went to Redfish this year later than we ever have. We certainly faught the weather, but no matter what, we were at Redfish (and with family)! That's awesome in itself ;)

Snatched a quick opportunity when all of the boys were right with me in the boat :) This year we took Taron and Keaton's uncle Sean with us- he's their Mom's adopted younger brother, actually a year younger than Taron! He's been with us a couple times this summer and we really enjoy him.

No one hesitated to jump in on the fun behind the boat our first day there! Good thing because our sunshine didn't really last... I love watching everyone playing in the water :)

This year, to everyone's shock, my Dad actually got a big tube for everyone to use! (He's never been a fan at all of tubes). The little kids loved it! Ryder just lit up riding it- good purchase for sure.

Fun times at the beach too, even is they were wearing sweatshirts some of the time while they were at it!

This year Ryder had his fifth birthday while we were there! It was fun to try and make it a special day. We went to the fish hatchery to fish- everyone did really well there. We tried the Yankee Fork ponds again- we loved them last year- but this year just wasn't great for some reason.

Aunt Lundyn brought a pinata for everyone to have a little beach party with! I had planned several beach games too, but for the most part it was rainy that day, so we just enjoyed the pinata :)

The next day we rented a SUP for the day from Stanley- it was such a hit! It really was fun to use and share with everyone. Conner got the hang of it for sure. I never could do anything but kneel- my balance is so terrible!

Ryder briefly got to enjoy the boat Grandpa and Grandma gave him for his birthday too :)

Of course, we had tree mail again, more casual this year. We included the older boys in our adult Tenzi tournament instead of tree mail and next year, I'm including them anyway- they missed it I think! The Tenzi tournament was one of the trip highlights for sure, though- all of use rolling dice together- so fun!

A great year of Redfish, no matter what- forever, one of my very, very favorite places on earth :)

#ad Helping Hungry Kids, Random Act of Kindness Style

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I love doing Random Acts of Kindness with the boys! I know, I know... you already knew that ;)

I thought the #HungerHeroes campaign, working to fight hunger and feed hungry kids, going on at Sam's Club this month sounded like something we could do simply and really enjoy. Summer has involved a lot of running around and doing things as a family, so a chance for us to focus on others was needed around here! We made it a fun, knock-and-run random act of kindness :)

Hunger Heroes is about action, turning families into superheroes that understand the awesome power of giving. My boys are already superheroes in my mind in lots of ways, but I want them to feel that potential from the inside- and thinking of others above themselves is what will give them that :)

Take it Outside, Boys

For real, I don't say that all too often.

I've kinda just had to give in to the fact that wrestling and chasing will be a big part of indoor life already!

It's just that we've been spending more time outside naturally lately, is all :)

Ok, so, ya... obviously guns I make them take outside ;)

We travel west to hit the desert for some shooting fun on Saturday mornings fairly regularly it seems. I should say the boys kinda drag me along... This very day Stephen was actually heading that direction to go shooting and I was heading opposite to do some shopping alone. I really like shopping alone, honestly. But on the way... my heart just kinda started to tug or something. The thought came to my mind, "What will really fulfill me?"

I've been thinking on that a bit lately- trying to motivate myself to be more motivated in general I guess. So, I turned around and met him in his tracks. I didn't really want to, honestly. I wanted to just shop and be alone. But I wanted to feed my soul even more. And these boys do that for me. Lately it's felt like when Taron and Keaton are with us, I'm breathing fully for that stint of time or something. Hasn't always been that way... but it is now. They complete me as a Mom :)

12 Tips and Tools to Improve Your Health using a Natural Probiotic and More (exercise not included!)

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This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

This winter, I've felt pretty blessed that we haven't gotten sick much to speak of. I'm so grateful! Really, who likes to be less than well, ever?! I know that sickness oftentimes is the norm during the winter specifically, though. Traveling from one family member to the next, to the next- ah, stop the madness!

My Mom is super knowledgeable about lots of different health related topics and she's helped me be more aware of some simple things that help keep us all healthy! Thanks to #CollectiveBias, I've had the chance to try out the new Insync Gradual Release Natural Probiotic supplement from Walgreens, which fits right in with some of those tips I've learned from her. Today I'm sharing more with you, hoping some part of this information will be helpful to someone!

1. Probiotics
We've heard the word, but really, what IS a probitoic? I researched a bit and found that it's an organism, such as bacteria or yeast, introduced into the body for it's beneficial qualities. Not too scientific, I guess, eh? :) And why do those organisms matter at all:

• 80% of our immune system is located in the digestive system
• As we develop in the womb, our gut originates from the same type of tissue as our brains, making the digestive system a whole lot like a second brain!
• Probiotic organisms are essential for good digestion of food and absorption of nutrients
• They also help the body produce vitamins and get rid of toxins

Random fact: there are 100 trillion bacteria in our bodies! A balance of 85% good and 15% bad bacteria is a big part of what helps us stay healthy. And how can we tell if there's a lack of healthy bacteria in our gut?

• fatigue
• constipation or diarrhea
• nausea
• gas and bloating
• sugar cravings and cravings for refined carbs foods
• headaches

I know I could raise my hand when it comes to a couple of those symptoms, honestly! Fatigue? Check. Could live on sweet junk if given the option? Check again. I seriously need to be taking something that helps my good gut bacteria regain some control!

Pretending Spring

Sometimes you just gotta pretend it's warmer than it really is, ya know? For about a month, Ryder's been saying he wants to go to the park! That and the beach :) He often asks, "Mom, is it summer yet?" Poor little guy- winter's gotta feel so long to him!

So, when we had several days of beautiful sunshine recently, we tried to take advantage of it, even though it was still cold outside. We even went on a bike ride- ha! Now this same road is snow covered and icy again, but for just a couple days we could pretend it was Spring already :) And that the boys' bikes aren't absolutely too small for them at this point!

This moment above is one I won't soon forget :) Ryder was waiting in the school pick-up line for Cooper with me and opened the sun roof. He popped out and said "This is my exit hatch!" I just thought that was so cute and such a boy thing to say. Pretty sure any sun roof will be the "exit hatch" for the rest of my life. :)

Party with Personality #RubbermaidSharpie

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So here's the thing: we're honestly not so much sports fans around here. My husband records hunting shows, not football playoffs. And I don't know which I'd prefer to suffer through with him- ha!

However, we'll take pretty much any good reason... maybe even any somewhat mediocre reason... to invite people over for a party! I also happen to have a Bachelors degree in Public Relations and Advertising and can remember when watching the Super Bowl was an actual assignment! So there you have it- Super Bowl shindig at our house, football watching optional, commercial watching likely :) 

Winter Fun, Inside and Out

Time to share my beautiful boys with you again :) We've been doing some fun things lately in the snow specifically! I've also been trying to get more pictures of them... I used to practically follow them around behind the lens, but with all my blogging goings on, I feel like I've photographed more staged stuff these days. And I want to make sure it's all in balance... that they are my real focus, more than whatever is sitting in front of my makeshift photo backdrops :)

Blessedly, we've had snow off and on intermingled with the cold- makes winter much more bearable for sure! Ryder's been asking when we can go to the beach or the park a lot lately- he is a summer kid for sure!

Recently we were at the grocery store and he asked if we could "stop on the way home and get ice cream at that cart with the chairs around and the straws." (Something along that line.) It didn't compute... I crouched down in the busy aisle and got him to repeat himself, tried to ask questions that would give me more clues about what he meant. And finally deduced that he wanted to get snow cones! See what I mean- you don't have an August birthday and not live for the summer I guess! :) He melts me...

Silly :)

Top Posts of 2013!

Just for the fun of it, I thought I'd share the most popular posts from this past year here in one quick spot on this last day of 2013! It's actually been really interesting to figure out just what brings people here the most... and realize that, indeed, the things we put the most effort into give us the most return, seemingly regardless of what they are specifically. This year I've been able to focus more on this blog than ever before, and it shows. Some ways good and surely some ways bad-ha! No matter what, thank you for being here and making this little space something that still brings me happiness, and especially allows me to share it :)

Cool Gifts and Accessories from Best Buy

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Was your living room about as messy as it could've possibly been Christmas morning too? We had wrapping paper and cardboard strewn everywhere, lots of it in the name of the cool gifts the boys got this year! Stephen and I made a fair bit of effort trying to find them the best tech gifts we could- good prices, quality, trends- all the details that go into making a larger purchase you want to really be happy with. So it goes for parents of teenagers specifically, eh? :)

Counting Down to Skylanders Swap Force

This post might just prove what a weirdo I really am...

See, my little guys used to see Skylanders toys in the store and think they were so cool. But we didn't have the game, hadn't been sucked in yet. But then Cooper had saved and received enough money to buy the Skylanders Giants Starter Pack for his birthday. Worse things have been purchased or received around here in the name of not wanting to tell him he "can't like what he likes." (I really don't want to be that kind of Mom, ya know?) So I let him spend his birthday money on it and even bought half of it so that there wouldn't end up being arguments with Ryder...

...and thus began the process of us getting promptly sucked in to the thrill of Skylanders. Ryder actually has probably become the number one fan around here. While I don't really play the actual game with them too often, I do find it fun to look for and try to collect a good variety of characters. They've been a treat or reward for the boys that actually lasts. I guess I'll raise my hand to the nerdy square- Skylanders really is cool!

In Awe of Antiques with Capri Sun Big Pouch

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I'm really not an antiques buff... like at all. But, whenever I'm around oldie goodies, I sure wish I was! I LOVE cool Americana and the "roughness" of old things. My teenage stepson Taron and I recently had the chance to do a little "picking" thanks to Capri Sun Big Pouch.

I went to Walmart and snagged all three flavors- Capri Sun Big Pouch Fruit Punch, Kiwi Strawberry and Maui Cooler. YUM- the boys all loved the flavors, but Taron's favorite was Maui Cooler. The size of these pouches really is perfect for my teenage stepsons- significantly more substantial than the smaller ones. Taron really liked the twisty lid on these kind also. We most often grab drinks like this for our trips taking the boys to and from their Mom's, so that's a great  feature in my mind too! And at 88-cents each, they are so much more affordable than most other options they would choose.

Along with trying out the drinks, we're getting involved in a cool American Picking Contest with Capri Sun Big Pouch! The contest winner and three guests will get to fly to Nashville, Tennessee, to do a half day pick with Mike Wolfe, creator and star of American Pickers on History! What a sweet prize! I could sure learn more about old stuff then, eh?

Fun Little Summer Videos

This summer, I've been taking a few little videos of fun things we've done. Sometimes it just seems more like the thing to do instead of a still shot, ya know? :) I know I sure haven't done great at taking video in the past! I recently uploaded them and thought I'd share here, if for no one else's enjoyment but mine and my family's. They sure make me smile! I know I always enjoy watching family videos from my childhood! I want to be able to put these somewhere that they can enjoy them when they're older too :)

Redfish Lake Never Disappoints

Another year of Redfish memories have been made! I've said it how many times before...this is one of my very favorite places on Earth! Recently my Mom said, "Redfish is magical," and I thought that sounded about right. Even as excited as we are for each year's trip, Redfish never disappoints :)

Pinwheel Lei Performance Gift

This last Spring when we were all walking in to the huge gym to watch my brother graduate with his Master's Degree, my Dad noticed several tables with organizations selling flower arrangements that could be given to the graduates. He commented that if it were one of his girls graduating, he'd buy some. But, ya know, it was my brother and flowers would've been more awkward than not...

Then earlier this summer, we went to watch Keaton perform in a play that was the culmination of a summer theater camp he attended. I knew I wanted to be able to give him something when we walked out to greet the cast after it was over and came up with this fun pinwheel lei! I liked that I could drape it over his head without any hassle and that it would be something he wouldn't have to hold. Maybe by some luck, it became a keepsake reminder of the play and his experience in the camp :)

Video Game Chill Time: Smurfs 2

What ONE word would you use to describe Summer?

Sunshine

Vacation

Chaotic

Busy

Fun?

I Love the Summertime- do I gush about it too much around here?! :)

And one word I think would describe it well is FULL.

Summer is full of water fights, pool time, beach days, library days, park days, bike riding, picnics, drive in movies... and even things like video games. I know I simply can't entertain my boys ALL the time. My ideas run dry after so long, ya know?? They gotta have somethin' else to do that gives both of us some chill time! (Or makes it so I can load the dishwasher, take a shower or fold laundry on the fly) :P

This last Christmas, Stephen twisted my arm and we gave the boys a Wii as a family gift- and it really has ended up being fun! I knew the boys would LOVE getting the new Ubisoft Smurfs 2 video game in the mail- they love mail and they have been excited for the Smurfs 2 movie this summer too. We love catching new summer movies and this year there have been lots of great ones!

Summer Bucket List: Zoo Day

Awhile back we crossed off an item on Cooper's summer bucket list, or what he calls his "Fun Club," when we went to the zoo with my sisters Lundyn and Jodie, my two adorablest neices, baby Kamden, and Grammie. :) Our local zoo is both small and big enough to be really pretty darn fun :) We've been crossing off lots of things from his list, but this one seemed more major, ya know?