Mr. Bullfrog

Yesterday Wyatt came in yelling he had found a frog jumping by our fence. I went to see what all the racket was about and he was holding this big bullfrog. It was really big. I have gotten used to the frogs that the boy's catch in Island Park, but this was a lot bigger. The kids played with it for awhile and then we put it in a bucket with a little water so that Kevin could see it later. We had to go and get Tarrin some new glasses because one of the lenses fell out in the water at my family reunion never to be seen again. When we got back the kids played some more with the frog. Maisey would look at it close and touch it but we couldn't get her to hold it. The boys liked chasing her around with it until I put a stop to it. I hope she survives growing up with her three brothers. After a while we decided it was time to let the frog go. Me and the kids unlocked the gate and went over to the canal. The grass is so tall and the canal is so far down that I had Tarrin just throw it in. It made a big splash and was laying upside down that I thought we had killed it but after a second it turned over and swam under some moss. Wyatt was really sad to let it go but we just a had to reassure him that the frog was a lot happier living in the wild then in a bucket with kids bugging it. He kept asking me about that frog all night "Mom, How is it going to eat", and "What if it gets hurt". For hanging out with us for such a short time he sure was attached to that frog. I have gotten used to snakes and all sorts of insects being shown to me by the kids, but this was a first for a bullfrog. I think I will miss that frog. Who knows maybe if Maisey kissed it, It would have turned into a prince!

Family Reunion

Saturday was The Fiagle Family Reunion. My sister Jennifer's husbands family has some land up Black Smith Fork Canyon. It was so nice. There was three different rope swings for the kids. They loved swinging over the water. There was a big grassy area with lots of trees to the side of it. It started out rainy and cold but by afternoon it was nice and warm. We had so much fun with the family! We played a lot of badminton where me and my sister Amanda killed my brothers James and Peter. James couldn't handle it so we had a rematch with just him and he managed to beat us by himself. My sister reserved a big blow up slide that she had for Payson's birthday a week before(funnest birthday party ever!)The kids had so much fun going down it. Maisey would go down by herself but had to have some one help her up it because it was so tall. I was a little worried about it but she is no scaredy cat. It was so much fun and I can't wait until next year. My dad turned 69 on Sunday, My sister baked him a cake and we sang Happy Birthday to him. Love ya dad!
Me and maze hanging out.(I know we look like ragmuffins but hey were camping)

Bear Lake

Wow! Last week was a busy one! My brother Jeremy and his family came and stayed with us. We had a lot of fun catching up. On Monday we went to Bear Lake. My sister-in-law's grandpa lives there so she wanted to go and visit and I thought it would be a great time to check out the Lake(We haven't been there in years)My sister Amanda and kids also came. It was so much fun! My sister-in-law Amanda had some family staying there during Raspberry days and we got to join them at a private beach were they insisted that we take their jet ski's out. I went on a ride with Kevin and of course he had fun trying to throw me off. The kids had a blast being together and playing in the water and sand. It was nice and relaxing and the weather was perfect. Of course we stopped off and had a raspberry shake from La Beau's.

Lea's Wedding

My friend Lea got married on July 31st. I was thrilled I got to shoot her Wedding. It was nice to see her family. I haven't seen a lot of her siblings for years. Lea and I have been friends since we were four years old so we were pretty close to each other's family. It was a nice wedding at the Riverwoods conference center. Congratulations Lea!

Maisey's Glasses

We got Maisey's glasses today. She doesn't keep them on very good, But I'm sure she will get used to them as time goes by. The doctor told me if she wants to take them off to look at things close it's no big deal and to not stress over making sure she has them on all the time. It reminds me of when Tarrin first got his glasses. He was six months older and his eyes were worse so he would never take them off. They look so much alike(except for the curly hair). She is so funny and and seems to keep them on more for Kevin. I am so glad that she will be able to see better. Love ya Maze!

A Week of Peace

All last week we were at the cabin. We had so much fun with the family. Kevin's parents came up earlier in the week and my sisters Amanda and Stephanie and their families and my brother Chris came up over the weekend. It was so nice and relaxing and something I know both Kevin and I needed. Kevin took his parent's over to Big Springs because they had not been there and I stayed back at the cabin with Maze while she took a much needed nap. We had a good time visiting and catching up with his parents.
While we were there we passed off a lot of things in Tarrin's scout manual. One of the things were to visit a library and learn about it and get your own library card. We went to the small library in Island Park and Tarrin got his very own library card and the people that work there were so nice and helpful. We learned that the next day they would be having Story time, So we thought if we were around it would be fun to take the kids to it. The next day we took a picnic over to Henry's lake and before I knew it Maisey was sitting in the water eating her sandwich. It was so dang cute and would have been a perfect picture if only I would have brought my camera. The boys were too tempted and pretty soon they were getting wet, So we just pulled off their clothes and they played in their underwear(except Tarrin, Who was busy catching dragonflies)They loved when a couple of boats came by and would make a wake. I think they were a little embarrassed to be in their underwear. I'm sure we were a funny site to see. Wyatt got out of the water and hurry and pulled something off of his leg. He said it looked like a snail and he was terrified. Sure enough it was a leech and had sucked some blood. Gross!!When we got back Maisey was ready for a nap, So I took the boys to Story time. They had so much fun! They make some sand pens and read books. Trey wanted to take home one of the books they read. It was a funny one about Rapunzel. Tarrin checked out a book about kites and pretty much the rest of our trip he was making homemade kites. They were so cute with the kids at the library. On Thursday my sister Amanda and her family got there pretty late so we talked for a little bit and went to bed so the men could get up bright and early and go fishing. My sister Stephanie and her family got there on Friday. We decided to take a raft and go down the river. It was so much fun. It lasted a good three and half hours. The babies weren't too happy by the time we were done. I am so glad we did it. Kevin, myself and my sister Amanda were the only ones that dared jump off a rope swing. The water was freezing but when are you going to get one of those experiences again. We saw a moose that was having a drink in the river. It was so beautiful and peaceful and I am so glad we had the opportunity to bond with family and take in the wonderful scenery. My brother Chris showed up later that evening and we all had smores. My sister Amanda made a wonderful dinner for us and my sister Stephanie made a great big breakfast on Saturday morning. We headed up to Old Faithful on Saturday and were pleasantly surprised that it was free to get into the park. We saw Old Faithful, Stopped and had a picnic lunch and were anxious to swim at Firehole. We were devastated because it was closed off due to the water level. We had a good time and Kevin even saw a bear one night while watching for wildlife. He texted me and told me he was looking at a bear and I told him I will believe it when I see it. Well he got a picture so I had to believe him.

Saturday night Kevin, me, Amanda, Matt, and my niece Summer and nephew Brett stayed up and played games until Stephanie put a stop to that at about one AM. I guess we were being a little bit loud. We really had a good time and I was sad to leave.
It's a great cabin and we have had made so many wonderful memories there. I will be sad to sell it but its another one of those simplify things among others and it has to go. If you know of any one that wants a cabin, Let me know.
Wyatt loves smores!



Tarrin got a burn on his hand from the marshmellow poker. He is such a trooper.

Maisey absolutely loves going on rides. She would just sit there until someone took her on a ride.

Simplify

Over the last couple of months I have really been thinking a lot about simplifying my life. We first started by eating out less, Stopped going to movies unless it was at the cheap theater, I got addicted to pinching your pennies which by the way has cut my grocery shopping in half and I have been able to expand my food storage. I love it when even the cash register person is shocked at how much I'm paying for all of my groceries. Last shopping trip I saved 140.00 dollars and spent 98.00, Now that's savings!! Girls night outs are getting ice cream instead of a whole meal at a nice restaurant. Activities with the kids are always something discounted(I love the paper they sent home with the kids at one of the last days of schools about all of the free things to do on Saturdays during summer break) or Art in the Park which we have missed the last couple of weeks but are looking forward to getting back. Who would of thought that living more simply could make your life so much happier. We have a ways to go but I have already seen the positive impact that it has made on me and the kids. There is so much that you can go without with but its amazing that you always think that you need it. I don't mind living on the poor side of the subdivision in my little house(An old post of Camille's)or just hanging out with Kevin and the kids. Thanks for the chat Marci!