I HATE MOVING!!!!!

What was I thinking!!! I have spent the last 2 months of summer vaction either cleaning to show the house or now packing.

Plus there is football for both boys, piano, swimming, school shopping, mutal for 2 kids, pigs for the fair, cleaning the property for the next group to come in and anything else that pops up.

After living in a house for 13 plus years I have a lot of CRAP!

I thought I dejunked quiet often but I was wrong. This is a record for anyone in my family, we have never stayed in one house longer than 4-5 years at a time. So this move will be the last I make. My kids have never moved and they just don't understand what it takes to get it done. Every day from morning to night I am packing. But after tomarrow, it will be done. Then the fun of unpacking and organizing just begins. Thank heaven the kids will be in school and I will have all day to do it. It will all be worth it in the end.

We Sold Our House!!!

I can't believe it finally sold! I was just about to move my kids out so the house would stay clean. What a hassel!! But it sold and I am so thrilled. The crazy thing is how it sold. We ended up buying Cahoons house, Cahoons are buying Nelsons and Nelsons are buying OURS!! is that crazy or what? Moving day is next Friday and I don't even know how it is going to work. The Elders Quarm from both wards are on standby and ready to just keep moving until all is done. I hope it goes smoothly.

I have mixed feelings about moving. I love my house I live in now, but we need more room, I am the only one in my family that has lived in a house longer than a few years. Its been 13 1/2 years I have been in this house. My kids have never moved before and they don't quite know what to think about it. I moved so many times before I was married I swore I wouldn't do that to my kids. So this is it the last move for us.

The new house is gorgeous, big and plenty of room. It needs a little updating but I love doing that so not a problem there. Were moving to a quieter neighborhood as far as traffic goes, but I am going to miss my neighbors here greatly if only they would all move with me. I have great neighbors and very dear friends I will be sad to move away from. Hopefully I will make great neighbors in the new area. One neighbor will be my best friend Lori, their backyard and mine are connected.

I have been packing for the last week and my house is pure chaos. It went from spotless to tornado overnight. Oh well what can you do?

West Family Reunion

The west clan got together for only the 2nd family reunion. We were up at our property in Paradise, it was great fun. We rode on the 4-wheelers, side by side, played in the river, shot clay pigeons, Grandpa West who is almost 94!! even took a turn and hit his target. Way to go Gramps!!! Jim West side of the family kicked butt against the Bob West side, we may not be able to win in kick ball but give us a gun and we have you beat.

The food was great, the entertainment was very entertaining, Leslie did a great job of keeping everyone busy with games and activities. We even had Rumikub tournaments each night.

I was so glad to see my cousins, whom we rarely see. It was a great time. Thanks to all who helped out with everything. What memories we now have.
The kids had a blast playing in the river and catching minnows and water snakes.

Family Get Together

The Smoot clan all gathered up at our property in Paradise for a family dinner and games, it was great to see the cousins who were from out of town come up and get to spend some quality time with them, thanks to grandma and the sisters who planned and prepared everything. It was great!!!

Kam showed everyone the plans for the cornmaze and haunted river walk that is going to take place this fall. The pattern for the cornmaze is a Aggie bull and Utah State it looks great. You can see it now when your up on the hill. Way to go Kam!

4th of July

For the 4th we went up to Mantua and took a big group of friends. The kids had a blast and we adults got to relax a little. Mike spent the whole day in the boat pulling kids and I stayed on the beach feeding the rest of the gang. Later that night Mike's family came over for rootbeer floats and fireworks. All the cousins were visiting so it was great to see them all again. The girls were showing the boys they could tube better than they could.

The weather was great, overcast but not to hot. We all had a great time. Thanks to everyone who came up. Lets do it again next year.

Lake Powell

Lake Powell was great, the weather and the company. We had such a great time having Becky, Mark and Brianna there. Hope they did to. We went to Rainbow bridge, hole in the rock, dangling rope. Mark had never been so we had to show him all we could.

School is out and so am I!!!

The day school got out we headed out of town, down to Lake Powell where we enjoy a week of sun and water. But on the trip down we stopped in Nephi to fuel up and Mike's truck just shut off at the stop sign. No warning or anything. So Matt's burb pulled us to the Ford dealership to get it fixed. Of course it was Saturday so no one was working. We called Kathy and Kam and they came to the rescue with bringing us down Matt's truck. 3 hours later we were on the road again. Lake Powell here we come. 12 hours after we started we arrived. Long day.

Good Things Utah

Sorry I am a slacker, with school almost out life has been crazy. I went to a couple of fun places lately. First off my friends and I took my good friend Misty down to the show "Good Things Utah" for a surprise birthday. It was a blast, we got to meet the ladies, received lots of freebies, took great pictures and had a blast. Then went over to the gateway for shopping.

What a way to spend the day and she was totaly suprised. Our next journey is to spend the day at IKEA can't wait.

Piano Recital

Payton played "To Catch a Falling Star"

Rylee played "The Sun Will Come Out Tomarrow"

Thatcher played "If I Were a Rich Man"

I am so proud of them all. Thatcher and Rylee have been taking for 3 years, but Payton just started 4 lessons ago and he had his piece memorized and did such a great job.

One Sock Joe!

Payton has earned this name, anytime he comes home, either from school or church or even playing, off go the shoes and somehow only ONE sock. It never fails to make me laugh.

Family Fun!

Wrestling is Over!!

I am so thrilled we have a break with wrestling. It doesn't start up again until June. Now we just have soccer, football and baseball will be starting soon. Dance performances are almost over, only one more compitition and then the recital.

These are two of Paytons dance partners, the one on the left is his cousin and the other one is a 4th grader (he is ony 1st) he also has two more partners. What a Man!