Draper Days and Ute Stampede Rodeo

Every year around July 16th we have Draper Days and the Ute Stampede Rodeo.  This has been a tradition we have done with Grandma and Grandpa Neilson for about five years now.  We usually miss Draper Days because we head down to stay in Scipio to attend the Ute Stampede Rodeo in Nephi but this year we decided to go over to the Draper Days carnival for a few hours before driving down to Nephi.  The kids had a great time and wanted to buy everything in sight because the Draper Days carnival doesn't have much in the way of rides! LAME!  Dexton bought a Harry Potter Wand and Ocianne bought a red sequin purse and a red  matching necklace with dangle earnings.  They also got their faces painted.  Dex had a big black widow painted on his cheek and Oci had Minnie Mouse painted on hers.  After about an hour or two we piled in the car and headed down to Nephi.  The fun continued on!  Nephi knows how to put on a carnival and a rodeo!  The kids rode rides and ate hamburgers and cotton candy.  We then went into the arena and watched the rodeo.  It was great, as always.  We had amazing seats this year, they were actually in the bleacher section and covered so we weren't in the sun!  The best part was that our bums weren't rubbing up against the strangers legs behind us like in years past and the kids weren't wiping their sticky cotton candy hands on the ladies shirts in front of us!  We actually had room to breath!  Thanks Grandpa for finding us better seats than usual! We had a wonderful time!

Dex with his Black Widow

Ocianne with her Minnie Mouse

Dex is the third one from the left, then Jennaca, Jaylynn, and Kelli

Ocianne and Dawson (you can see her purse here!)

Dexton and Ocianne at the Ute Stampede Rodeo!

Primary Parade

In July the kids had a primary parade.  It was really cute.  The kids all came to the church with their bikes, scooters, roller skates or whatever they had to ride around the church parking lot with.  We however broke all the rules and brought the power wheels Jeep.  Because we had been out of town for much of the month of July we were unaware that they had banned anything that was motorized.  Yes, we were a little embarrassed but we sure as heck were not going to squish it and the kids back into the car to trade it for something else.  We had barley been able to get it to the church as it was.  We were trying to fly low under the radar but of course there were a few people here and there who couldn't resist teasing us about breaking the rules.  One person, however, went a little too far.  They thought they were out of hearing distance and made a rude comment regarding our mistake.  It was hard not to take offense, but we did our best to not let it ruin the fun.  The kids had a wonderful time decorating the Jeep.  Dexton drove it around while Ocianne waved like a true princess!  She already has the wave down for when she is crowned royalty and standing on a float in a real parade one day! It was so cute!  We couldn't help but laugh and comment about her prince driving her around and her smiling and loving every minute of it.  It was if she "knew" everyone was there to see her! It was adorable!  Too bad we didn't quite catch the wave in the picture.

Dexton and Ocianne

 

 

 

 

Forth of July Weekend

Just before the Forth of July holiday I had a little scare.  I started bleeding a little.  I was afraid that I might be loosing my baby girl.  My doctor had me come in for an ultra sound to make sure everything was okay.  Thank goodness all was well.  To my surprise the doctor said we could go on our family vacation to Lake Powell, as planned, and not to worry.   We headed down to Powell for some fun with Grandma and Grandpa.  Grandpa said we could take the "Big" boat to the beach, which is a treat these days.  Ever since he has gotten his slip and ski boat he rarely lets us camp on the beach.  What fun is Lake Powell without the beach!  Well, we found a great beach for the kids and were having a great time.  On day two, we were all lounging about and my Dad was cleaning the boat, a common occurrence.  None of us were paying any attention to the weather.  The wind was slowly picking up and this is usually a sign to batten down the hatches and secure the anchors. Well, by the time we realized how bad the wind was, we were in trouble.  We had backed the big boat up to the beach the wind had pushed us further back.  The props were hitting the beach and one of the side anchors was coming loose.  In hindsight my Dad made a tragic decision, to pull the front anchor and have Kevin pull the big boat out from the shore using the ski boat.  Keep in mind, the only able bodies were my Dad, Mom, Kevin, and well Me!  I threw the kids down into the cabin of the big boat and frantically told them to put on their life jackets on and not to come out no matter what!  Kevin jumped into the ski boat and tied a rope to the back of the boat.  My Mother held the end of the rope and climbed onto the bow of the big boat securing the rope to the railing.  As Kevin headed out into the middle of the Lake the rope began to tighten.  He was being bounced around by the waves and having a hard time controlling the ski boat. My Dad started the engines of the big boat and let the front anchor loose!  This is when all heck broke loose.  Kevin couldn't get the ski boat to pull the big boat away from the shore.  Every time he floored it he was yanked sideways along the shore line.  In a matter of seconds the big boat turned sideways as well and was parallel to the shore! My Dad jumped out to try to push the boat off the shore and I couldn't help myself from joining him.  He yelled at me to stop and get back on the boat, but I was stubborn and wouldn't.  My Dad and I couldn't get the boat to budge, the wind was too strong. Kevin kept trying over and over again to pull the boat out.  He was frantically working to  keeping the rope out of the prop and making sure he didn't hit the beach himself.  He was having a difficult time. After what seemed to be a long time, and feeling like getting the big boat off the shore was hopeless, we stopped and thought things through.   I convinced my Dad to let me onto the ski boat to help Kevin with the rope.  After a couple of tries we got the big boat straightened out and away from the shore.  My Dad was pretty upset by the whole situation.  He felt horrible that I had done so much to help and was worried I had put the baby in jeopardy.  At the time, I thought I was making all the right decisions.  Looking back I shouldn't have tried to help push the boat away from the shore.  Luckily I didn't hurt the baby and we made it back safely to the slip.  We decided to spend our last two nights in the slip and only venture out to the beach during the day with the ski boat.  We found out the hard way that we just didn't have enough capable adults to manage the two boats in a storm!  We ended up having a wonderful time and all ended well!

Ocianne on the ski boat!

Ocianne being a diva in the cabin of Grandpa's boat.

My Dreaded 3oth Birthday

Monterey California

I have been scared to turn 30 for the last two years!  When I was turning 28 I thought it was my 30th Birthday!  I guess I just wanted to get it over with or something.  My Mom was the one who reminded me that I was only 28 that year.  My sweet Husband who knew how much I was dreading this and planned an amazing trip for the two of us. We drove to LA to spend a couple of days with Darren and Lacey because Kevin and the boys were going to a Dodger vs Yankee game with his Dad.  I was able to go shopping with Lacey and spend some time with her while the guys were at the game.  We had a great time.  We then headed  North up the PCH, a dream of Kevin's to drive.  I was worried I would get car sick being that I was pregnant but other than being jerked around here and there I did fine.  We stopped off at Hearst Castle on our way.  It is an amazing Castle built on a hill top in the middle of nothing but fields.  Other than the view of the ocean, it reminded me of the land of Scipio.  I couldn't help but suggest to Kevin that maybe he could build his French Chateau on Todd's Scipio property one day!  We had a great time touring the castle.  We then finished our drive up the PCH to Monterey CA.  We arrived that evening at our hotel and went to dinner at a delicious Mexican restaurant.   We loved the town of Monterey.  It is a quaint little town with a lot of unique shops and restaurants.  We spent the next day, my birthday, walking around the Fisherman's Wharf and eating lunch at Bubba Gumps.  That night we went to a great French restaurant for dinner and to a movie.  It was a very relaxing vacation and we had a wonderful time together.  I love you honey!  Thanks for making me feel special and planning such a wonderful vacation! And a great BIG thanks to the Grandma's who were willing to watch the two little ones while we were gone!

Kevin at the Dodger vs Yankee Game

Driving up the PCH

Hearst Castle

Outdoor Pool at Hearst Castle           

Indoor Pool at Hearst Castle

Lunch at Bubba Gumps

Fisherman's Wharf

The sea lions stunk so bad!