National French Fry Day

This week we celebrated National French Fry Day, we stopped at three places and tested the french fries to see what our favorite were. Tanner was mowing the lawn at my parents, so we did it at there house. Grandma Great, Dad, Tanner, Brylee, Me and my Aunt and Uncle Steve and Rhonda were visiting Grandma too, so they joined in, and we had plenty of fries that is for sure.

Our three stops were Burger Bar, the fries on the right; Warrens the fries in the middle only three tiny ones left, and the Wendy's they are on the left. So Guess out of the seven of us the favorite were split 1/2 Wendy's and 1/2 Warrens, can you believe it, yup that was the truth. I think if I would have gotten Burger Bar's last and they would have been the hottest they would have been more of a favorite, because they have always been a favorite of mine. It was really fun to do. I think we are going to do this again with Rootbeer. We will get different brands of Rootbeer and decide which is the favorite.

Offended and Communication

I AM TRULY SORRY!!!
If I have EVER said or done anything STUPID, which I know I have and I do all the time. I am sorry. I would never intentionally hurt someone. I think of myself as a person who cares for other people, yes I am an opinionated, blunt and bold person and I have had to learn to keep my mouth shut at times. So this is me saying to any of you or all of you whom I have said or done something stupid and possibly offended. I am sorry.
You know if you think about it, if you get offended and won't communicate or talk to the person about what the problem is that person is probably more then likely clueless they have even offended you. So, I ask myself after I talk it over is this worth it or me just being overly sensitive and most the time it is just me being overly sensitive or not worth bringing it up and I talk it out and then let it go. A few times in my life I have approached and communicated with the person about the thing I got offended over and that person didn't even know they had offended me. Another time I talked to a gal who is impossible that I used to work with, and I talked with her and she still was as bull headed, rude, selfish, and I could go on, so I had to just distance myself from her because I tried to resolve the problem and she didn't want to because she is just a hateful person and has problems with everyone and she is just like that.
I guess I just worry about other people and want the best for everyone. I would NEVER intentionally offend anyone. So that is my spill on offending and I guess that has been on my mind all week, because I offended someone and am still confused at what I did or said but the person was offended and won't tell me what I said or did to offend them.

OK so NEXT is Communication..............
I am very worried about this generation of children growing up an not really knowing how to communication verbally. Kids constantly text, they don't call each other on the phone anymore, they text their conversations. They sit next to each other in the same household and text each other. I like to text, don't get me wrong, it is so easy to ask a quick question or say a quick I am thinking of you, but to have a full blown conversation, just call me for cryin' out loud. I should not even say this, but I was almost offended when the person I offended text me instead of calling me. If you have something you would like me to know that is that important, we need to talk about this and work it out, not text about it. I understand communicating is hard for some people, so I said sorry in text back and text that I was a little confused at what I did and asked the person to call so we can discuss this further so I can know what I said or did, but haven't heard back from this person. Then it makes me wonder did they not get the text, nope, they are just still offended they don't even want to talk about it and don't have the nerve to talk about it that is why they text it in the first place. I grew up in a household that everything was an open book you could talk about or say anything on your mind, so I know everyone was not lucky enough to have that growing up, so I am grateful for great communication growing up that has helped me in my marriage and life to better communicate with others. It doesn't make it easy to talk to someone about something that is sensitive or if you are offended, but it has helped me for sure. I am not a person that wants to cause problems with people, because I get along with most everyone, I am a lot like my Dad that way, I am a people person.
So that is my long wordy feelings and I don't do that too often on my blog. Most the time it is pictures because I am a picture-a-holic. I am OK and I am really GREAT to tell you the truth it is sometimes good to write how you feel, makes you feel better and really see the problem.

Causey Reservoir

BEAUTIFUL!

Adam & Kelsea

Jason & Tanner in the Double*******Kelsea, Sasha, & Me

"T" MAN ***** Tanner Trying out his balance

Kids playing hard*****Exhaustion after a Day in the Sun

The kids walking the stream ***** Quenten & Brylee Lookin' Cute

Adam, Quinten, Kelsea, & Sasha in Kayak ****** Sasha being cute

WHAT A PLACE!! The last time I went to Causey Reservoir was when I was in college with friends and we won't say how long ago that was. OK it was after my mission, so really not that long ago, but I will say probably over 10 years. Kelsea and Adam Price are our friends that invited us to go with them, they have a kayak and so do we so we all went up together. We started off on the wrong track when we took the kayaks off the top of the car and Jason said "Did you get the Ores?" "NOPE!" Thank goodness my Aunt and Uncle live in Huntsville and so he ran to their house and borrowed theirs. It was BEAUTIFUL!! Their is something about being in the mountains. No cellphone service, good friends, peace, calm and relaxing. It was a lot of fun and I even got to hold the baby for probably an hour while she slept and her parents went for a ride. I am hoping to make it up to Causey again before Summer is over.

Parks

This summer our ward/neighborhood has started to meet at a park every other week. Wanna come, we would be happy to have you. This week we went to Hooper Park and I think that is a favorite of mine so far, it is shaded completely, very nice, and the kids loved it. I think one of these weeks we are going to go on a hike instead of a park, but make sure it is easy enough for little ones.
A couple of weeks ago we went to the Riverdale Splash park, it was nice the kids got wet and to dry off would run over to the dry park and play. It has been a lot of fun. Some weeks lots come and other weeks we only have a few. It gets the kids out so if it were only me and the kids, I think we would continue.

Echo

Our Cute Family

The Gang
Ridge, Amy, Austin, Garret, Tanner, Ty, Mindy, Brylee, Betsy, Jason

Just Hangin' OUT! Garret the Coke Mascot

Playing games, getting Warm, & Looking Strong

Kite Flying, Best Friends, & Fun in the Sun

Our Little Silly Brylee June

(Tanner playing kick the can, hanging with Ridge & Austin, & His New Kayak)

We went up for a quick two nights camping to Echo with our best friends the Wards. The first night was kind of crowded, but then we moved our camp up a bit and felt a lot better not so close to the other campers. I am not sure I would camp there again, but who knows maybe if they improve it some we may. Thanks to Jason's Dad who had a free camp pass we could use, that was nice. We had fun with the kayaks. Tanner got an early birthday present his own kayak, of course he has to share too. I think I like his better then our old one, of course I like to get sun on my legs too and it is one you sit on top of. Amy brought some fun games for the kids to play and kites too. We had a lot of good food, sun, & fun it is so good to have great friends.

One of our Favorites

Chick-fil-A

Yes we are in if it is FREE!! We are frugal, ok yes we are cheap too!! One of our favorite places to go is Chick-fil-A and we had to be included in on the free food day when you dressed up as a cow. This was our attempt. I know pathetic, but we all ate free. We really like to go on Wednesday nights because it is family night at the Riverdale store and they have a craft for the kids to do and for every meal you can get a kids meal free too!! BONUS for sure!!! When we go quite often we go with our good friends the Wards, and also see other regulars there too. Mark & Kristie Gertge and Marks parents come on occasion too, Joe & Neilene.
"EAT MORE CHIKIN!"

Shoot-Out & Ice Sheet

Amy, Betsy, Ridge, Austin, Brylee, Tanner
(in the background on the left is Lori Jo & her daughter skating by)

We went down town Ogden with the Wards a week ago Sat; they had a old shoot out throughout the day, wagon rides, and the farmers market. Then, Amy, Austin, Ridge, Tanner, Brylee, and me went to the RAMP free ice skating at the ice sheet. It was a lot of fun and not as crowded as I thought it would be. It was a fun day for sure. Brylee was a little nervous on the ice, but after a time around she wanted to go on her own, even after falling down a few times she would cry, be fine and off on her own again. Tanner just took right off and only fell when someone ran into him. We saw friends from the Daycare where the kids used to go: Mrs Lori Jo, Mrs Megan, Mrs Angela and their kids too. We love and miss our friends from daycare, but it is so nice to not pay the daycare and be home with the kiddos. We also ran into the Steeles from the ward, it is so fun seeing people you know doing fun things. These are the times that it is a bummer when Jason works Saturdays and we miss him.

Moments that Matter Most

http://lds.org/pages/mormon-messages-gallery?lang=eng#moments-that-matter-most


Copy, paste, and watch the video it is very well worth it. Helps me to remember what is most important for sure!! Not that I don't want a clean house, etc, but if I still have clothes to fold or dishes to do when Jason gets home, it is OK because that is not the most important.

4th of July

Every year we go up to Huntsville to celebrate the 4th of July. This year Jason went golfing in the morning, so he met us up at my Aunts later on. Our good friends the Wards met up with us and sat with us at the parade. We went to the parade, hung out at my Aunts for a while, then went over to the park for the cotton candy and shaved ice. Tanner played one game and won a 2ltr of pop and got to ride on Tyler's motorcycle, so he was happy. The kids swam, Tanner took the kayak with Connor & Payton across the street for a ride in Pineview, and they had a water balloon fight too. We had our traditional Shurtleff Family BBQ bring your own meat, drinks and a pot luck to share. Grandma Miner just moved in with my parents and it was good to have her at the BBQ and she said she loved watching the kids go down the hill on the slip-n-slide and just be out with everyone. I was so happy to visit and see her with everyone, when she got tired she laid on the couch and they didn't stay for the fireworks as Mom had to work the next day. I had desert this year and made some cute flag sugar cookies. Crew liked them so much he said "Betsy these are the best cookies, my Mom needs to get the recipe!" That sure made me feel good and I thought that was cute. We stayed late for the fireworks and then headed for home, we didn't get home until pretty late but the kids and I got to sleep in they didn't wake up until after 10.

I like to do a family picture when we can. The kids had already gotten into their warm clothes and Brylee loves her warm baby pj's and it was getting dark and I didn't have my big flash, so when I tried to lighten the pictures this is the best I got, but still thought it turned out pretty cute.

The above picture has the following people: (Left Side Eric, Dewain, Bodie, Leslie, Marshall, & Annie at the parade; Tanner, Navi, Brylee, Crew; Tyler and Belin at the parade; Brylee's priceless picture with her cotton candy; Payton & Connor at the parade; Bodie, Tanner, Brylee, Austin, Ty, Ridge at the parade; Bodie & Brylee Best Friend/Cousins! Right Side Brylee with her goods at the park; Leslie & Betsy lookin' cute; My cute family Jason, Tanner, Betsy, Brylee Ray; Austin, Brylee, & Bodie waving to get candy at the parade; Me and my kiddo's at the parade Betsy, Tanner & Brylee)