Hi Me

Yesterday I was standing in front of the bathroom mirror. The Doodle came in and looked in the mirror and said "Hi Mom" then she looked at herself and said "Hi Me". It was so cute. I've not heard her say her name so I'm thinking she can't say it yet.

I've always called her Baby and the last few months she keeps saying she's not a baby. Lately when I call her baby she says "No, Me".

Happy Pioneer Day!

Crazy Few Weeks

I had a bit of a busy week before we left on our trip to Colorado early in the month but course it's always crazy when I'm getting our family ready for a week long camping trip. We had so much fun with our family in Colorado and we brought back my 9 year old niece Mariah to stay with us for a week and a half. Of course Randy had to be the fun and cool uncle so he made the next week and a half like a vacation for the kids while Mariah was visiting. Luckily Tiff's girls were able to come down and hang out with the cousins and then Tiff let them all go home with her for awhile before they all came back. Randy met my sister Katie in Vernal on Wednesday so Mariah could go home. She said she had lots of fun but I know she was so happy to see her mom again.

While all the kids were visiting we went to Lagoon. It was such a hot, hot day but the kids still loved it. We went to Lagoon A Beach for a few hours and then rode rides. By 5:30pm I was not feeling well and had to bail out on Randy and the kids and go home with the Doodle. Randy and the kids stayed until the park closed and they were so tired when they got home. Of course it has been Lagoon Bounce Back days so we all went back this past Tuesday. We took a few extra cousins again (which means we had 8 kids total) and again it was a hot day but the kids had a blast. We didn't do the water park just the rides and most of the rides the kids rode multiple times. They got so wet and had so much fun. I finally bailed out at 8:00pm and again Randy and the kids stayed until closing. Princess Izzybee walked into our house at 10:30pm crying and wet saying she was so tired. She was in bed and asleep within 10 minutes. That was a long 11 hour day for the kids at Lagoon but I don't think they complained while they were there.

ZMan went home with Grandma C and two of his cousins on Wednesday. Grandma C will bring the boys home from St. George on Monday. Since ZMan went away with his sisters I asked Tiff if her girls could hang out for a few more days to make it easier for Princess Izzybee. The girls have spent lots of time swimming and yesterday we had a busy and fun day with Bountiful 24th stuff. Tiff is coming down this morning to take the girls home to Logan and Princess Izzybee will go with them for another day or two.

Yesterday afternoon the girls and I walked in the Bountiful Parade with our ward and the stake float. I have to admit I was dreading it because it was so hot and I wasn't sure how the kids would hold up. It wasn't bad though and even a little fun. A lot of the parade route we seemed to have some shade. We had lots of water and I brought water bottles so the kids had fun squirting each other. The 22 blocks didn't seem as long as I thought they would be and the girls had a lot of fun waving at the parade onlookers. They really loved the waving at people. We were an earlier entry in the parade so when we were done we found Randy and watched the remainder of the parade. The kids got lots of candy. After the parade we got take out Chinese food and went to the fireworks. We squeezed into a spot and ate our food in the almost dark and watch the cool fireworks. They were fun and the girls were happy. It was so late when we got home and climbed in bed exhausted. They are still all in bed sleeping.

Today is a holiday and we don't have anything planned. Randy is working and Tiff is coming to get the kids. Patty said they may come down but otherwise I think it will be a quieter day.

Next week I am looking forward to a sense of normalcy in our house but I'm glad the kids have been able to spend time with family and cousins and make fun memories. I'm grateful Randy plans and encourages them to get together with cousins.

Archery

We signed ZMan up for Archery through Centerville City. This past week has been his first week and he is really liking it. He looks so cute shooting his bow and arrow.

Family Reunion

Last Tuesday we left our house at 5:20am to drive to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. My sister lives there and she planned our family reunion this year. We pulled our trailer and 4-wheelers so we wouldn’t have to get a hotel room and by staying on Katie’s property we were closer and could all spend more time together.

On our way to Katie’s house we stopped just outside of Dinosaur to go to the Visitor’s Center and the dinosaur quarry. We thought the kids would have fun and like the fossils at the quarry. It turns out the Quarry is closed for renovation and there is a temporary visitor center. There wasn’t as much to do there as we thought but we did attend a Junior Ranger Program with the kids and took some pictures.

After 11 hours, we made it to Katie’s. It was great to be able to set up camp right in her driveway. She lives about 10 miles north of Steamboat in the country. It is so beautiful and green. There is a huge barn and horses on their property. The kids were able to ride the four wheelers right in their pasture, just making sure the horses were always moved to an adjoining pasture. Zman loved being the one to open the gates and herding the horses. Last year there was a fox family living under one of the sheds, but not this year. Tiffany and Allen arrived in the middle of the night and then Dad and Denise arrived the following afternoon and also set their trailer up in the driveway.

The next day we went into Steamboat to explore. Of course, Randy had to take the kids to the candy store. The same one we went to everyday when we were here to ski. It drives me crazy!!! We also went to the Alpine Slide and it seemed the kids had unlimited rides.

Kris and Ashton arrived the following morning. Another day in town, another day at the candy store and another day at the Alpine Slide. DH never holds back when we’re on vacation.

The following day we took all the four-wheelers and a motorcycle Rodney had borrowed up above Steamboat Lake and spent the day riding. Well, the others spent the day riding. I stayed in the car trying to keep away from the mosquitoes and entertaining the doodle.

Saturday, we all got up at the butt-crack of dawn to go to the balloon rodeo. We had never been to one, and this is an annual festival in Steamboat. We were right on the field as 32 balloons were being rolled out, set up, filled with air and taking off. The noise from the propane fires that heat the air was incredible. We could not believe there were so many in that one field. Some were even bumping into each other as they filled and took off. Later in the day, Katie had craft activities planned for the kids, so Rodney, Allen and Randy took the atv’s back up to the trails they had started to ride the day before. The kids each decorated 2009 Wilstead Family Reunion shirts.

Sunday was pretty much just packing up and getting on the road. We made it about 30 miles out of town and Tiffany and Allen blew a tire on their trailer, with no spare. We drove on to Craig hoping to be able to purchase a replacement tire and rim at Wal-Mart, but we weren’t so lucky. Randy looks at his watch and said it’s 12:05, church is just letting out, lets find a member that lives in Hayden (the town where Tiff and Allen were stuck). Sure enough, when we find the Craig chapel, one of the ward’s had just ended (turns out Craig has 3 wards) and Randy was able to find a member willing to let Tiff and Allen leave the trailer for a week. Since my niece came home with us, hopefully we can get a tire and pick the trailer up next week when we take her back. The kids loved playing at McDonalds while all this was going on. And again, 11 hours later, we made it home. (Straight though drive is only 5 ½ hours.)

In all, it was really a fun reunion. Whoever plans next year’s is going to have a hard time topping Katie’s.

Cooking Class

We made it home late last night. I have a ton of pictures to post from our family reunion but I have to go through them all and I still have so much to do to so sometime this week I will post them.

I signed the kids up for some fun classes through Centerville City. Last month ZMan took a golf class. This month ZMan is taking archery and a bowling class. Princess Izzybee is taking an Arts & Craft class, Kids Cooking class and bowling. Today Princess Izzybee had her first cooking class. She was so nervous and didn't know anyone but when I picked her up she had made a friend and loved making pizza. She said she did everything except put the pizza in the oven. When we got home she shared her little pizza with ZMan, Doodle and her cousin Mariah and they all loved it.

Happy 4th of July

Yesterday we celebrated the 4th of July, one of my favorite holidays. Every year we do the same things and I love it. We got up early to attend our ward's celebration and breakfast. The speaker was wonderful and he shared his experiences with us as in immigrant to the United States from Germany in 1954, the music was moving and the food was good. After the ward breakfast we went to the Centerville parade. I just love this parade and because the sky was overcast it was the perfect temperature for a parade. The kids got lots of candy and we enjoyed the HAFB flyover at the beginning.

After the parade we came home and opened the pool for swimming. It was cloudy and sprinkling on and off so I wasn't sure it we would be able to swim. Randy and Allen took all the kids on an ATV ride and I heated up the BBQ. After eating the clouds were gone and the sun was out and hot. The kids swam for like 5 hours, they had so much fun. Of course we ate more and the kids tried to patiently wait until it was dark and they could light the fireworks. By the time we climbed in bed it was midnight so it had been a long day but it was fun and I think everyone had a good time.

Tiffany and Allen's family joined us and stayed for two nights. Patty and Brian's family came and they made a great 4th of July "jello salad" cake that was super yummy and so pretty. Also one of my college roommates and her family joined us. Amy and her husband Kevin and their kids were here for the afternoon and it was fun to see Amy after so many years. She was so good with all the kids in the pool and I couldn't believe how she hadn't changed after all these years.

It seems like the only pictures I took were at the parade so hopefully my friends and family will share any of their pictures with me.

Swimming

Last night Randy decided to go swimming and finally talked the Doodle into going with him. She never gets in the pool, she likes to sit on the side of the pool and throw everything in the pool. I think she liked it since it was only her and dad so it was calm and there wasn't a lot of splashing.

Monday and Tuesday Tiffany and the kids came down to visit and all the kids lived in the pool for those two days. It was so hot and they got sunburned but they loved the pool time. Princess Izzybee went home with Tiffany and they will bring her back when they come on Saturday.

Saturday we will go to our annual Centerville parade and come home and open the pool and BBQ. I always love the 4th of July. Tiffany and her family will come down, Patty and Brian along with the kids will come and one of my roommates form college is coming with her family as well. Anyone else who wants to come is invited also. We normally buy fireworks and all the kids love lighting them on the street when it gets dark.

Tuesday of next week we go to Colorado for our Wilstead Family Reunion. My sister Katie is in charge and she is hosting it in Steamboat Springs. It will be a fun visit and we'll have some good family time. I have so much to do to get us ready for our trip, does anyone want to come help me?

Lost Tooth

Monday night Princess Izzybee was running down to the neighbors house to play night games when she tripped and fell on the sidewalk and knocked out her tooth. Our sweet neighbor carried her home as Princess Izzybee cried and bleed. Luckily for me Aunt Tiffi was visiting and she's a nurse because I don't do well with blood. Randy went and found the tooth and Nurse Tiffi helped Princess Izzybee clean up but we weren't sure if the tooth had been completely knocked out or if fragments remained. She slept with a cold wash cloth in her mouth all night and first thing yesterday morning I made a dentist appointment for her.

The denist xrayed her mouth (the worst part of the short visit) and said all the tooth was out and she was fine. Princess Izzybee is a little behind in losing teeth and this tooth wasn't ready to come out so he said the new tooth probably would grow in for another two years. We could have a fake white tooth made for her and she could just keep her toothless grin. At this point Princess Izzybee wants the toothless grin because she hates going to the dentist.

I'm just happy everything is okay. It's hard to see your kids in pain and wonder if they are okay. I know this was a little thing but I sure hated seeing her so upset Monday night.