Mason turns 5!!

Mason had two birthday parties this year!














The first party was at the 'Race Car track' (as Mason says it)!







We invite all his friends,

we ate Pizza

and cupcakes,

played the arcades, rode the rides,

opened LOTS of presents (thanks everyone, we are so grateful for such amazing friends!!) and raced the cars.

We were afraid that we'd get rained out-it poured while we were driving there, but rain never lasts in Vegas so by the time we finished pizza we were good to go.

Then on Mason's actual birthday we had a wonderful dinner, cake, and presents with my grandparents.

July 24th Weekend

We had a Great weekend spent with family. I, however, forgot to charge my camera and left the charger at home so I only have the few pictures that John was willing to take with the big camera. I will also include some family pictures when we get them.

On Thursday July 23rd we celebrated Utah with my family. We played crochet, sand volleyball, and played on the slip n' slide (which grandma learned is only for kids!)

That evening my dad made a skibob dinner and we celebrated all the July birthdays...Mason's, my Mom's, Aunt Anna's, Gracie's, and Elise's (which is in Aug). After lot's of presents and cakes we took family pictures-something we haven't really done except for weddings-then we watched a TON of fireworks that Uncle Will bought.

Lissy refused to sit with anyone but kept saying, 'I got you, I got you' when the fireworks got big or loud.

Thanks family for making a Wonderful holiday....the way they ought to be celebrated, lot's of fun, food and family!


Then on Friday the 24th all the men (Mason gets to go when he's 8 daddy says) packed up and headed to the mountains at 7am to ride horses in the High Uintah's. They had a good time-the rain deterred them and sent them home earlier on Saturday than planned though.

All the kids and ladies went to the Boy's Scout breakfast then I headed to Jordenelle in Heber to spend a relaxing time with John's sisters and mom for a girls weekend. We talked, swam, read, talked, rode the wave-runner, talked and ate good food. It's nice to have Big sisters (I'm the oldest girl in my family) who give great advice and have lot's of life experience....though sometimes I'm shocked by what I learn from them.

Elise and Mason LOVED spending time with family and Cousins. And Lissy wooed her way into every one's affections. When she went to Aunt Candace's & Uncle Brandon's nursery class they were amazed by how easy going, independent, and good she was. 'She was the best one in there,' Candace said, while her kids were the worst, we just have very different tempermented (yes I know that's not a word, but it works) kids.

Elise was so cute reading her books on Grandma's exercise equipment.

July 25th Saturday evening I drove back to Roosevelt and we just visited and enjoyed each others company.

July 26th Sunday we all went to church together-except for Steph & Travis everyone else is in the same ward! Crazy. When we got home all of John's sisters had called & texted that dad was in the hospital. He was throwing up blood, the doctors thought he twisted his intestines, but couldn't operate because his cumidone(blood thinning medicine) was off. We drove to SL and for a few hours were afraid we might lose him. But shortly after we got there the doctors said they couldn't find anything wrong and sent him home. The power of the priesthood. So we got home in the middle of the night.

Cutie Pies

Lissy is getting so big. She speaks in whole sentences and makes herself understood most of the time now. She is becoming the little nurturer. If a baby is in the room she is right there-giving it a binkie, swinging it, giving it kisses, or just watching. She also is carrying baby dolls around, dressing them, and rocking them.

Lissy has started 'praying'. About 3 wks ago Mason, Elise and I were eating breakfast and Mason asked if he could say the prayer. Lissy chimed in and said 'I pray, I pray'. So I would say a sentence and she would repeat it-about half were understandably the same as I had said. Now she wants to pray about once or twice a week, and she chimes in and out of prayers two or three times a week, saying one or two sentences then not saying anything more.

Mason is learning to swim, and he had to use those skills last Wednesday. He was throwing a ball to me at the other end of the pool. As I looked down to get the ball I heard my friend, Hollie gasp and I looked up to see Mason in the deep end of the pool struggling to get his head out of the water. I ran/swam as fast as I could to him while shouting 'KICK, KICK!!' He was able to doggie paddle enough to get his head out of the water to get short breaths of air and he stayed up. If he hadn't learned to doggie paddle and get breaths of air I'm not sure I could have gotten to him soon enough. I'm so grateful to Hannah for teaching him to swim and to the Lord for making the preparations so that he would be safe.

Well we're going to be in trouble with our little girl in about 10yrs. About a month ago, my friend Aurie-the primary president, told me that she looked into nursery to check on them and saw Elise running around the table, laughing her head off while three little boys-Gavin, Landon, & Aidan chased her.






On Sunday June 28th Aurie was making announcements in Primary. She announced the 4th of July Stake fireside. Mason raised his hand and asked 'What time is that at again?' '7pm', she replied. 'Oh, we can't come! That's my sister's bed time. Can you talk to my mom to see if we can go?' Aurie just laughed, while all the adults in the room tried not too, and agreed to talk to me.

July 3-4th 2009

July 3rd we invited Grandpa & Grandma Barton and the Horlocker's over for a BBQ.


After we went to the Stake Patriotic Fireside w/ Aurie and had fireworks back at our house afterwards, the Matthews showed up for the grand finale and ice cream.

-Lissy sat in Mommies lap and when she got scared of the fireworks she would tighten up her whole body. So mommie would hold her tight and say over and over 'I got you, I got you'. Now whenever she gets scared she will say to herself, 'I got you, I got you' and sometimes will put her arms around herself.

July 4Th we went to Lake Mead and enjoyed the cool water.




























That evening we were going to go on base with Aurie, but it didn't work out so we went to Aliante Park to watch fireworks. It was strange and fun to celebrate our nations birthday with a tons of people-though all strangers.

Holidays have been very different and a little difficult for me since we've moved here-no family to celebrate with. But in some ways I think we are closer as a family








Elise did great staying up so late and even enjoyed the fireworks, 'Pretty, mommie, look Pretty!'



Mason has started learning how to play a game on mommies phone and is getting fairly good. I think it's good once in awhile for his hand/eye coordination.











My Handsome Men!

Primm Vacation

John found out about a free vaction in a little town outside of Vegas...Primm...they were giving away free rooms, roller coaster rides, and breakfast, lunch and dinners to Local Vegasites so we took the kids and went for one night & day. Other than no one slept...we're all use to sleeping in our own rooms we had a Wonderful time.

We rode the log ride probably four times, the first time was the only time that we all got VERY wet. By the fourth time Lissy was done with that ride.

Mason LOVED the frog hopper ride and rode it over and over. He would ride the whole time that John and I took turns going on the 'big' rides that the kids couldn't go on. The first time he was a little scared but watched all the other kids laughing and decided it was fun.

Poor Elise couldn't ride anything but the log ride...which she didn't love. So she had to watch from the gate while Mason had fun...she was such a sport and laughed right along with him.

A we played in the pool for a couple of hours. Elise is blessed with John's skin that doesn't hardly burn, she just gets tanner. Unfortunantly, Mason has inherited Mommie's danish skin that is white or red-Mason and I have both been burned a few times this summer already.

Swimming! I love Summer!

Summer is so much fun, I love just being outside all day everyday. We have spent at least two days a week in the water for a month now and it's great.

Hanah, my vegas mom, is teaching Mason how to swim. So every tuesday we got over to her house (she has her own pool, which is also where we do water aerobics). I help her clean/organize for an hour, then she teaches Mason to swim for an hour...then we usually talk for another couple of hours.

Mason is doing SO good, he progresses so much every time...he is now jumping in the pool and doggie paddling across the whole pool by himself...with only three weeks of 1hr lessons I think that pretty good.

Mommie tried to help Lissy learn to swim and dunked her in the water....bad idea, now she won't hardly go in the water without crying when before she really enjoyed it. So while Mason has his lessons Elise plays around the patio and throws balls to mommie in the water.

A couple of weeks ago (Yes I am always behind) John's sister and her family were in town visiting so they went swimming with us and loved Hanah. Then they took us swimming with them at Mandalay Bay...which I regret I did not get any pictures of, but it was awesome! We had a blast playing in the wave pool, the lazy river and going between the other 7 pools. Then that night we babysat for them--and we had six kids in bed by 8pm--which is quite an accomplishment! The next night Kevin and Connie were so sweet and babysat for us so we could go on a date and even gave us their hotel room-which had an amazing view of the 7 pools!