camping...sort of

This past weekend we were going to go camping. We try to go at least once a year and we haven't been this year. I didn't get to go last year, I was very pregnant, so this was going to be our first time this year. But, the weather man told us it was going to rain, and I don't do camping in the rain. I have memories of going camping when I was a kid and it wasn't if it would rain, it was when it would rain. We would pack up camp and then come home and unpack in the front yard so everything could dry off.

We were all pretty bummed about not being able to go this weekend, so we tried to come up with some fun "camp-like" things to do. We had a "camp" dinner, hot dogs, burgers and corn. We made smores. And some how the idea got thrown around to sleep outside. To me that is just crazy. Why would I sleep outside when I can almost see my bed?

But Steve has memories of sleeping outside as a kid. So guess who got volunteered to camp out with the kids? They had a blast. They looked at stars, there were a few that peaked out from the clouds. They even got bit by mosquitoes. These are the things that our kids will remember.

Summer fun

What's a summer without a slip and slide? Well, thanks to Ellyn's cousin she won't have to find out.

something new...

the running joke in our marriage is that we are always learning something new about each other, and when we do we say, "that is our one new thing for the month", like...my husband loves butterfinger candy bars (i knew that) but i didn't know that he hates peanut butter (?). so that was my one new thing i learned about him.

just last night he asked me to rub his feet, i have issues with his feet. i don't like to be in the same room with them. so he knows i will not rub them, but he still asks. and i was kind of rubbing them with my feet and i found out that he is ticklish on his feet. who knew? after almost 13 years of marriage you would think we knew it all.

Who me?

I am Kelsey Anne.

I am a happy baby.

I would never cry or get upset.

I never bury my face in the carpet and cry when mom puts me down.

I never throw a fit when someone takes away a toy that is not for me, like a screwdriver.

With a face like this I always get my way...

right?

(just don't ask mom, she is a little grumpy, i like to wake up at 5am.)

friends, food, fireworks and flour?

This weekend we had a very traditional BBQ. Our house was full of good friends, great food and a very traditional Snyder/Cannon game (if i were a truly good blogger i would know the history of the game and have a great story to tell right about now, but i don't. but i do have some great pictures of the game.)

The Flour Game

1. Firmly pack a mug full of flour

2. Turn mug over onto a plate and gently tap to release flour

3. Place small coin on the top of the flour

4. Each person uses a butter knife to cut away flour without causing the flour to tip and coin to fall

5. If coin falls on your turn, you lose and must pick up the coin with your mouth

6. Everyone laughs and we get great pictures

Be careful Kim, it is starting to tip!

Getting close to the end!

Looks like I lost! Flour doesn't taste too good.

Good job Genia.

Careful Torri,

Hey Andy was that a fun game?

Courtney, I think you got a little something, right there.....

And if you are lucky enough, like our dear friend Matt, you will have your face shoved into the plate of flour by your partner and "loved one".

summer camp

This year both kids went to summer camp. Our church is just one of many who participate in Grace Haven Camp. Andy went to Teen camp and Ellyn went to Jr. Camp. They both had fun and are ready for next year.

I have so many great memories of summer camp, Camp Ponderosa! Now how can I remember the name of the camp I went to when I was 7, but I can't remember where I put my phone?

Oh no! A coupon lady!

As a couponing family (yes family, not just mom!) we are always working to get a great deal. I have to say that this adventure could not be done with out my wonderful husband. He is always on the look out for a deal, a coupon or free item. Take the Jif to-go box. One day in the mail there was this coupon for a free box of take along peanut butter. Steve had seen the deal on a blog, friended Jif on Facebook and got us a great coupon. I took the coupon to Wal-Mart and there you go, free peanut butter. On almost a daily bases he prints me a number of coupons and tells me of the deal of the day. He calls me on Tuesday morning when I am at Wal-Mart doing the double coupon thing to see how it is going. There has been so much said about couponing since that coupon show (if you ask I will tell you how I feel about that show, but that is a later post), we are not an extreme coupon family. We love to get things for free, but there is no need to get 115 bottle of mustard! I get items we will use, in a timely manner. I get things we will need or already use. I have cut our grocery budget in half. So, for the Snyder family couponing does work. And it is work, but it only has to be as much as you want it to be. You can't live your day as if this is the last sale! Or this is the last coupon! Cereal will be on sale again, probably in the next 3 months. And the coupon that just expired, well, most likely there will be the exact same one in Sunday's paper.

4th of July

wake up 5:00am to feed the baby

5:30 wake everyone else up

5:45 leave for balloons in provo

6:00 breakfast at the balloons

7:00 had enough of the balloons head home

8:00 mom and baby nap

4:30pm leave for snyders' party

6:00 party begins

food, food and more food

birthday party for niece

9:00 get migraine

9:30 fireworks start, everyone has fun

10:00 everyone has enough fun, and we head home

It was a fun filled day, you can see why we love the 4th. We spend the day together as a family and then get to hang out with the extended family. (like we don't see enough of them at Sunday dinner.)

Not sure what the highlight of the day was, either the Darth Vader hot air balloon, pictures with Vader, the great food or the fireworks. I think it was not having to cook breakfast and dinner!

to do today (?)

Women's Ministry

Book house for retreat

Check on registrations

Plan devotions

blah, blah , blah

Ellyn's Birthday

get gift

bake cupcakes

send directions

blah, blah, blah

Walmart

stuff

more stuff

stuff i think we "need"

I love "to do" lists. Love making them, love adding to them and most of all love checking things off! But, I hate how the mock me. They stare at me as I pass by them. "Joy? Why aren't you doing this list?" they say to me. My lists can be a source of anxiety for me. I think because I keep adding things to them and making more lists. It can get so overwhelming that I just don't do anything. Why do a little when there is so much to do? But even doing a little, one or two things on the list makes a difference. Or just do it now. For example, we have been having issues with our internet, and I kept promising Andy that I would call and see what was wrong. But I didn't. And I kept on not doing it. Why? I hate those types of calls. But do I hate that more than having this thing hanging over my head that I am not doing? So today I just did it. Andy said the internet was down, so instead of adding it to my list, I made the call. It is still having some issues, but we are on our way to getting it fixed. I guess, I just need to take the "do it now" principle and put it into practice.

Will this eliminate my to do lists? Not likely, i have way too many cute note pads I get to use.

I will just keep this love/hate relationship with my lists, and one day I will get everything checked off. And then a new day will start and so will a new list.

Kelsey Anne

Happy 10 month birthday!

You are so busy these days,

whether you are chasing the cat

or finding all the lost socks.

You love your bro-bro and sissy

You love your socks

You are very happy when you get your time with daddy

You are such a blessing to all of us.

We love you sweat pea.

6 months

July 4th marked the 6 months since my mom's passing. I had an interesting day. I watched the clock for the most part of the day. I was remember what my day had been before the call. The kids and I had been hanging around the house. I had taken some pictures of Kelsey with Andy and MomCat. Was putting away some Christmas decorations. The call came to me just after 5:00pm our time. I was just about to go to the grocery store and my dad called.

It seems like more than six months, but not that long ago since I talked with her. Our last conversation was great. She was having a good day and we were able to chat awhile, that was a Monday. We were in Dickson on Wednesday planning her memorial.

A very dear friend of mine told me something when we got back to Utah. She was calling just to check up on me and see how we were doing. She told me that not everyone grieves the same way. There are no steps you take and everyone is different. That was freeing to me. I was not feeling sad that mom was gone. I was feeling guilty for that. But we did grieve, but not like those who grieve with no hope. She was not herself for the last year. For the last 4 months we had talked less and less. I do believe the Lord was preparing me for when I couldn't call her any more. At first it was hard, i would hear about a book she would love and would want to call her and tell her about it. Or would see an episode of MASH that she love and would want to quote it to her. We finished up decorating the girls room and I stood there and knew she would love it. It was so girly and she loved those kind of things for my girls.

But now she is free. Free indeed. Free from the pain of this old body that was too much for her. Free from the emotional pain that she carried for so long in silence. Free to be with her Savior.

I do miss her, but I know she is much better off where she is.

Her faith is now her eyes and now she can know how much her God loves her.