Summer Fun

I have been a total slacker about posting what we have been up too. It's just been the last thing on my mind, and I wasn't in the mood to do it. Anyways now that summer is coming to an end I wanted to post some of the fun things we did. Yes we did a few fun things, but nothing compared to my brother Chris's family! They are my inspiration for years to come!!!

On Memorial day weekend we went to Thanksgiving point with my side of the family. For those of you that have never heard of Thanksgiving point and are wondering what it is, it's a place with scenic gardens, children's discovery garden, Farm country, and a dinosaur museum. In our case we ended up going to see the scenic gardens.

Here are some fun pictures of my family:

I love these first 3 that my sister in law Sarah took. They are beautiful!

McKenzie:

Madisynn:

Matt and I:

Maddie, McKell, Kenzie, and Gabe:

I love this one! Matt and Maddie:

These 2 were inseparable that day. McKell and McKenzie

Me and my Mom: My brother Chris being Retarded! He cracks me up!:
Gabe, Sam, Kaleb, Jack, Maddie, Dalice, McKell, McKenzie, and on the back row Ruby, my sister Kate, my Mom, and Trace:
My Brother in law Justin, my sister Kate, my brother Chris, my Sister in law Sarah, Matt, and Me:Some scenic pictures:

I love these pictures, they are beautiful girls, McKenzie, and Madisynn:

McKell, Sam, Gabe, and McKenzieMcKenzie, and Madisynn.And to finish off the day we went to the iceburg to get some yummy shakes! As you can see the kiddos enjoyed themselves. =) Dalice, Kaleb, Gabe, Sam, McKenzie, my Mom, Jack, McKell, and Madisynn.

The next fun thing we did was go shooting. Matt has a buddy at work that likes to shoot. He invited Matt and I and the kids to come. So we went shooting with him and his fiance somewhere up by Utah Lake. When we got to our destination we had to do a little offroading to get to our final destination! As it turns out though our vehicle couldn't make it up the last steep hill, matt tried several times, but no go. I was starting to freak out a bit because it reminded me of my 4 wheeling accident with me and my brother chris. I didn't want the car to flip over backwards like the 4 wheeler did to me and chris. So I told matt to stop and get the car on flat ground and park it. We would just hike up the steep incline. That's what we did and we did it. We were breathless though! Anyways I can't remember the type of guns we shot, but here are a couple pictures with Matt and the girls with his friend Dustins gun.

We all had a fun time! I'm not the biggest fans of guns, but I did shoot a few times, so go me! =)

Our next outing was the 4th of July. We have decided now to make it tradition to go to my brother Chris's house in Evanston for the 4th of July. This was our 3rd year doing it, and so far it has been the best year yet! It's just so amazing to me to see fireworks in the sky in every direction that you look. So we spent the day at my brothers talking, eating, and playing games. The kids played, and got all jacked up on sugar! They were ready to go for the night. LOL In the past the city of Evanstons fireworks have pretty much sucked, but this year they were so awesome. Very impressive!!! They actually held our focus for the entire show, our eyes did not wander around us to see the people all around the town were shooting off. This year the kids all did really well. Our girls actually held sparklers, and McKenzie was always by Matt's side wanting to lite another firework! She is going to be a pyro if we aren't careful! LOL Here are some pictures from the 4th of July:

My husband, and 2 brothers Chris and Quinn, the Pyros themselves!

Kenzie, Sam, and Gabe:

McKenzie:Madisynn:Pyros in training:It was a fun time. Looking forward to next year!!!

We went to this outdoor swimming pool by my Mom's house sometime in July. It's not the greatest, but we had fun. I wasn't able to take pictures because I forgot my camera. We did end up going home sunburnt. Matt was the worst, then me, and the girls were slightly burned. It was a rough week getting through that, the burn and the itchy sensation afterwards. Matt made us some back scratchers to get us through the worst!

The next outing was just the girls and I, and my friend Jacoy and her kids. We went to the Gateway to run through the fountains. I had never been and it's free, well except for the parking which was like $2 or something cheap like that. When we got there Jacoy's kids had to use the bathroom so they went and we stayed at the fountains. I'm so glad we did because the song came on that shoots more water out throughout the song. It was Celine Dions God bless the USA. It was sooooo good! The other 2 times music came on the water didn't shoot out as much as the Celine song. McKenzie really liked it. Madisynn was iffy about it. Kenzie was right in all the action, and Maddie just lied down on the sidelines! Here are some pictures of them:

I would have liked to go at least once more, but time always gets in the way. Hopefully we can do it soon before it gets too cold!

The next outing was ruined by the weather. It was originally planned for Saturday August 8th. We had planned on going to Cherry Hill a water park for the Kotter side family reunion. We were all pumped to go and then the weather turned bad. We were bummed. We ended up going to my Mom's house for the whole day instead. We brought our swimsuits hoping the weather would change. It stayed pretty chilly the whole day. It was a fun day anyways! It was just nice to hang out with the family!

Since the Cherry Hill activity was ruined for that saturday we my Mom, and my older brother chris and his family wanted to go the following saturday. I got a phone call a couple days later from my Sister Kate asking if I wanted to go that Thursday instead. I told her I would go with her and with everyone else. So Thursday came, and the weather was perfect! Me and the girls went and met up with my Sister and her kids. We had a blast! McKenzie did awesome, maddie was a little scared. McKenzie had no fear! Maddie had a little mishap where she fell out of her tube at the end of the tube slide. She loved the kiddy pool though! I'm grateful that I was able to go, there was no way my sister could have done it all byherself. She is nearing the end of her pregnancy, and she has 5 kids. She needed my help, especially with having a son that is quite the handful at times. I was happy to go and help her! They deserved to have some fun, and fun is what we all had! We were exhausted at the end of the day.

We had to rush home from cherry hill and get cleaned up so we could go to a wedding reception for matt's work buddy Dustin. I liked the photo so here we are at Dustin and Markell's wedding reception:I love wedding receptions, it just brings happy memories back of our wedding reception!

Moving on....So our plans were ruined again for the rest of us to go to cherry hill again. Blasted weather. We planned for the coming tuesday to try again. So instead of going to cherryhill we hit a drivein movie double feature instead. This was the first time the girls had ever been. They loved it! We saw G-force, and Aliens in the attic. G-force was stupid and the girls weren't really in to it. Aliens in the attic was hilarious. We all loved it! I'm glad at least one of the movies was good. =)

Cherry hill here we come! Fineally are plans to cherry hill worked out. The weather was nice for Tuesday August 18th. My Mom wasn't able to go, but my Brother and his family were. We had a blast yet again! First we went to the kiddie pool, we were there for like 10 min. Then we decided to do the dragon water slides The girls did so much better this time. Hooray! We spent the next hr or so riding the slides and then went into the lazy river. It was so relaxing, to just sit in a tube and be carried around. Every hr they turn on Music and water sprays out at you and dumps on you too. That was fun. So after that we took a break and went and ate lunch.

After lunch we decided to try the tube slide. I went with McKenzie who insisted half way through that she didn't need me to hold onto her tube. I let go. Maddie went with Matt. She didn't like it, she fell out again. Matt held her on his tube the rest of the way down. I don't know why they won't allow you to do that in the first place. It's stupid! So after we all made it down, they wanted to go again, except for maddie. We then went to the dragon water slides again after everyone was done with the tube slide. McKenzie ended up going down all byherself. She was so excited! Maddie just wanted to keep going down with me. it was fun! Then matt was getting tired since he didn't get his usual sleep and wanted to go soon so he could sleep before he went into work. Before we left we went into the swimming pool for a little bit just so the kids could jump in and splash. We had fun, and I'm so glad we were all able to go! Next year it will be a definate must to go to cherry hill. Here are some pictures of our outing thanks to my great sis in law sarah for taking them.:

The kids ready to get going and get wet! Maddie, Kenzie, Gabe, and McKell:

Me and Kenzie going down the dragon slide:

What's up with this picture???? I look as if i'm trying to poop or something! LOL
Me and Maddie going down the dragon slide:

Matt on the tube slide:Kenzie on the tube slide:Our family at lunch:

Me acting like a dork, I didn't think Sarah would really post this pic. I think it's hilarious!:

Well folks that concluedes what we did for our summer break. I'm not ready for summer to be over. It means McKenzie will be starting Kindergarten. I'm excited for her, but I'm also in denial. It's so hard to let go and let them grow up.

We made it another year....Happy Anniversary 7 years!!!

I can't believe it's been 7 years that Matt and I have been married! It has been a mix of bliss, happiness, love, and some misery. Yes we have had our struggles, and we continue to have them, but we have learned how to deal with them. I am so happy to be married to Matthew Karl Layton!!! I love him, and he loves me! =)


One of the happiest days of my life, getting sealed in the Salt Lake Temple! A beautiful day.

Bridal Pictures:

I felt like a princess on the day that I got these taken, and on the day of my wedding. I absolutely loved it! I would so love to live that day over and over, it was so much fun! It's not everyday you get to dress up like a princess and have your pictures taken. =)

My sweet husband spoiled me for our anniversary. We went and saw Harry potter and the half blood prince, and went to Chili's afterwards for dinner. It was a fun day! This morning he gave me this card, and it just cracks me up. It was so the perfect card to get since Matt has a bad back!He also gave me this:
A Belgian waffle maker. I have told him so many times that I wanted to get one, I just never have. Other things came along that we needed more. Well he finally did it and totally surprised me. It was shipped a couple of weeks ago, and was gift wrapped in this big sack. It looked like the size of a game. I told Matt so. He blurted out it's friends scene it. I then said well why did you tell me that?!? I wanted it to be a surprise. I was happy that it was that since we are huge fans of friends. Well I was so surprised when I opened it this morning to find out what he really got me. Sneaky Sneaky. I am a happy Woman!!! I love Belgian Waffles, I'm married to a good Man, it can't get any better than that!

When God Created Fathers

One of my friends works at Michael's and she found this poem there. She bought it and showed it to us at church one Sunday. My other friend used it for her sharing time on Fathers Day. I love this poem, and it really touched me. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! =)

When God Created Fathers

When the good Lord was creating Fathers, He started with a tall frame, and a female angel nearby said, "what kind of Father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put Fathers up so high? He won't be able to shoot a marble without kneeling, tuck a child without a lot of stooping." And God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him child-size, who would children have to look up too?"

And when God made a Father's hands, they were large and sinewy. And the angel shook her head sadly and said, "Do you know what you are doing? Large hands are clumsy. They can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails or even remove splinters caused by baseball bats." And God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets at the end of a day. Yet small enough to cup a child's face in his hands."

God molded long, slim legs & broad shoulders. The angel nearly had a heart attack. "Boy, this is the end of the week, all right," She clucked. "Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap? How's he going to pull a child close to him without the kid falling between his legs?" And God smiled and said, "A Mother needs a lap. A Father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a boy on a bicycle, or hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus."

God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen when the angel could contain herself no longer. "That's not fair. Do you honestly think those large boats are going to dig out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries? Or Walk through a small party without crunching at least three of the guests?" And God smiled and said, "They'll work. You'll see. They'll support a small child who wants to ride a horse to Banbury Cross, or scare off mice at the summer cabin, or have shoes that'll be a challenge to fill." God worked throughout the night, giving the Father few words, but a firm, authoritative voice; eyes that saw everything, but remained calm and tolerant. Finally, almost as an after-thought, he added ~ tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, "Now are you satisfied that he can love as much as a Mother?" The angel shuteth up..

~Erma Bombeck ~

New Baskin Robbins Flavor

My Aunt sent me this email, way too funny. Well at least I thought so!

In honor of the 44th President of the United States, Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream has introduced a new flavor: " Barocky Road ." Barocky Road is a blend of half vanilla, half chocolate, and surrounded by nuts and flakes. The vanilla portion of the mix is not openly advertised and usually denied as an ingredient. The nuts and flakes are all very bitter and hard to swallow. The cost is $100.00 per scoop. When purchased it will be presented to you in a large beautiful cone, but then the ice cream is taken away and given to the person in line behind you. You are left with an empty wallet and no change, holding an empty cone with no hope of getting any ice cream. Are you stimulated?

Chester Lawrence Zollinger (1920-2009)

LOGAN, Utah - Chester Lawrence Zollinger, 89, passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2009, surrounded by his loving family. He was born April 10, 1920, to William R. and Bertha Rosa Fuhrer Zollinger, the youngest of eight children, in Providence, Utah. He married Mary McKnight on June 4, 1943, in the Logan LDS Temple and would have celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary next week. They raised two sons and four daughters on their cattle and mink ranch in Providence. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a devoted servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He served an honorable mission to the East Central States and held many church positions including Mt. Logan Stake high councilor, bishop of the Providence 1st Ward, Scoutmaster and teacher extraordinaire in many auxiliaries. He completed two missions with his sweetheart: one to Haifa, Israel, and one to the Laie Temple Visitors' Center in Hawaii. Chester loved to travel and led many wonderful tours to distant lands, including Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Italy, Greece, China, New Zealand and Norway. He loved life, family and had many friends and delighted in serving them. There were many who were recipients of his skill, knowledge and hard work. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and five children: Judy (Richard) Low, Centerville, Mary Ann (Derald) Clark, Logan, Ellen (Eric) Brown, Greensboro, Ga., Alice Kotter, West Valley City, and Mark (Sally Cook), South Jordan. They have 20 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren with two more on the way. Chester was preceded in death by a son, Chester Dee, a son-in-law Van Kotter, and great grandson, Curt Zollinger Kotter. Friends and family may pay their respects at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center St. in Logan, on Monday evening, June 1 from 6 to 8 and from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday morning at the Providence chapel located at 155 North 100 East, Providence. Funeral services will be held at noon Tuesday, June 2. Condolences and thoughts may be expressed to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net. The family wishes to express their thanks and appreciation to the loving caregivers and aides at the Legacy House in Logan, Utah, and to the Access Hospice staff. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Perpetual Education Fund.

What a life my Grandpa had!!! I have so many good memories of him, and I will always treasure them. He is in a better place now! A place where he will not have to suffer anymore. It has been so hard to see him suffer, it made me want to cry. I'm glad I got to say goodbye to him, and let him know that I truly do love him. I know I will see him again! I love you Grandpa! We will miss you! Till we meet again. =)

~Preschool Graduate~

Today McKenzie Graduated. It was such a cute event, and it was so fun to see all of the kiddos in her class graduate as well. They were all so excited!!! It wasn't very long of course, but we got to see what the kids learned throughout the year. The alphabet, alphabet sounds, songs and rhymes to go with the days of the week, months of the year, and money, and of course counting to 100. Yes my little stinker didn't tell me everything they did. The only song I ever heard her sing was the days of the week! I'm glad to know that she really learned a whole lot more! =)

So here is the preschool graduate: Isn't she cute?!?

Here is the preschool class:From Left to right: Dacey, Riley, MaKayla, McKenzie, Isabelle, Quiana, and Corbin. There was another little boy in the class, but I guess he couldn't make it. What a cute group of kids!

Here are closeups of McKenzie:

The kids getting ready to perform what they have learned:Kenzie and her teacher Miss Brandy:After it was all done:Lastly the cake: Cute huh? Oh it was delicious!What a good day! I'm so glad it's over, and that she had such a great experience. Brandy was a wonderful teacher, and McKenzie will miss her. I wish she would keep teaching preschool so I could put Maddie in her class. Yep it's Brandy's last time teaching preschool. She is going back to teaching Kindergarten, since her youngest will be in school all day now. Kenzie will miss her little buddies. We live 20 minutes away from all of them. It will be hard to stay in touch. She still has one of her buddies though, and that is Makayla who is in our ward.!=) McKenzie really needed the social part of it all. She no longer talks like a baby, and she has really opened up....well she is still shy, but not as much! So now Get ready Kindergarten here comes McKenzie Ann Layton!!! =)