Mueller Park Canyon

This was a beautiful day up Mueller Park Canyon this fall. We met at Camille's house and drove up together. It was right before Halloween, so we had fun telling ghost stories while we hiked. We each had a baby in tow up the mountain!

They all did really well, and gave us a good workout at the same time. When we were coming back down the canyon, a man that worked for the Davis County newspaper, the Clipper stopped us to take our picture for the paper! He said that he already had enough pictures for the newspaper, but that he might try and squeeze it in. I don't know if he did or not, but he was nice enough to let us have a few images.

Afterward we ate at Cafe Rio in Bountiful. It was a beautiful fall day!

Carmel Apples Rock!

This is my sassy Whitney in her Pirate costume!

Brighton made a beautiful girl in her kimono

Kinley was so cute from the Flinstones

Ella was a kitty cat of course

I had to get pictures before I took them to school, I will have to post more pictures later of the party we had. I still need to post pictures of Jon and I, and Halle. (Syd didn't dress up)

I host a Halloween party every year. It get's bigger and better each time! 

 I made carmel apples and bought candy. The kids bobbed for apples, played games, and the balloon man made things for them! It was a party like always! 

 Here are some of the pictures from the party......

Halloween!

Today was a beautiful fall day! The colors on the trees are awesome. I went up to Bountiful today with Halle to go hiking up Mueller Park Canyon. Emmy and David James, Camille and Jackson, came with us. We told ghost stories all the way up and down the canyon. Camille went on a haunted SLC tour last night. They went around to all of the reported haunted places. There were some pretty crazy stories. On the way back down the canyon there was a photographer taking pictures. He asked if he could take pictures of us for the Clipper Newspaper. We said yes, so there may be a picture of us in the near future. He said he may or may not have room for it because he already had all of his fall pictures taken. If not he said he would post it on their website. After hiking we went to Cafe Rio. That is something that always tastes good, especially after hiking! Tonight we will do the Trick or Treating thing. Jon and I have dressed up every year. This year we are Buzz Light year, and Raggedy Ann. I will post some pictures later.

Lindsay Sandstrom

I woke up today knowing that I would be rushing to get the kids off to school. 

I had a funeral to attend. 

 Last Friday night Jon and I were coming home from "Thriller" in SLC. We went with Melinda and Spencer Lindahl, and Mandy. As we were driving back, we were held up in traffic. Little did we know that they were cleaning up the car that Lindsay was driving in. 

 Jon grew up with Lindsay's mom. I didn't know Lindsay personally, but I am sure I have met her at a party sometime. Lindsay was driving with her sister on the freeway that night and had a fatal accident. I don't want to repeat how it happened because I don't feel like I know the details enough to say. 

 What I do know is that I learned a lot from this young lady today. 

 In her short life of 16 years, she affected hundreds if not thousands of people. She always had a smile on her face. She played with the young children in the neighborhood even though she was older. She played music, and had a fun personality. 

 She helped everyone around her. 

The church house was full of people to pay their respects to Lindsay. It was very emotional and hard to see the parents and the family closest to her speak of their love for her. Her two younger brothers spoke, as well as her older sister that was driving in the car with her, and her parents. I don't know how they did it. Her youngest brother cried the whole time and expressed how he would miss her. Everyone was in tears.

 My heart goes out to them. 

 I kept picturing having to bury one of my children. It is something I think none of us fully understand unless we have to do it ourselves. I kept seeing flashes in my head of special moments in each of my children's lives. From the second a mother find out they are pregnant, something indescribable happens. For everyday after that, not a day goes by that you don't think, worry, pray and try to help them. It is a job that sometimes feels like it never ends, because it doesn't.

 It is the most important job in the world. Mothers that care, make all of the difference. 

 It can be exhausting and sometimes feel like nobody appreciates you, but it is worth it. Everyone at the funeral could tell that Lindsay was raised by a family that loved her and taught her everything they could to prepare her for life, or death. 

She had a strong testimony of the gospel as shown by her family today. They were mourning, but had a bright hope and knowledge that they would see her again. They shared part of her patriarical blessing that said she would affect many people around her for good.

 I know that she has affected me forever. I came home with a renewed determination to do my best every day. To teach my kids what is most important, the plan of salvation. I want them to understand that we all mess up, but that we can keep improving and moving forward. More than anything I want them to know that I love them and that families are forever. Family is the most important thing on the earth. I am not perfect, I mess up like anyone else, but I will never give up. 

Thank you Lindsay for your life and the difference you made in mine today.

Native Honey

Many of you have been asking about the new business I started, so I decided to get it out there on my blog! Lets start out by saying that I never set out to start a new business. As many of you know, we have 6 business' and 6 daughters. You could say that keeps me busy! It's a good thing I like being busy, or I would go crazy! I met Jon when I first came to college and always admired his business spirit. He started a landscaping business when he was eight years old! He was also a "Fuller brush Man", raised chickens and sold their eggs, raised rabbits to sell, and on and on. I will write another blog entry about Jon later that will take a lifetime to write. I have supported Jon through every business up and down since I met him. I have always felt like there would be a time and place that I would find my niche. If course I snatched the first chance I had to be lazy to fill it! Ella started an all day Kindergarten this fall and I only have Halle at home. That is a piece of cake after having several at home at a time.
Last spring I was shopping with my cousin Mandy. I saw some beautiful rugs, and went to pick out one for my house. I was having a hard time because I loved them all! Mandy walked up and was shocked to see that the same rugs I was admiring, she had purchased a few weeks prior. We started folding the rugs into fun shapes and trying to think of something we could make out of them. We designed a bag that we loved and wanted to make for famiy and friends. It wasn't long before we had 20 rugs picked out! After making the first bag we decided that they were definatley cute enough to sell. SO WE ARE! It was a simple as that until we realized all of the paperwork, lawyers, equipment, and payroll involved. I did have an idea how hard it would be from seeing our other businesses grow. Luckily Jon and I have put in a lot of blood, sweat,and tears into building a very functional office with an amazing staff. I have been able to use this resource to support my new venture. So far we have spent a lot of money, and made a lot of bags. Our website is in the middle of construction and will be up shortly. Mandy and I plan on expanding the business as time goes on. We have so many fun ideas that we are excited to share! We want to start a childrens clothing line, bedding, decor, and on and on. Call me crazy....but I am having fun. It feels like I am playing with a cash register as a child, but it is real. Mandy takes pictures for "Ocean Magazine" and is a very talented photographer. Kelly and Andy Jackson are working on the website. Rachael from the office is helping us with organization, which we so desperatley need, Wilma is sewing for me full time, Mike and Pam are helping us with the numbers, and of course Jon is floating the bill :) We have had a lot of good feedback from store owners, and consumers. I am excited to have something to work on while the kids are at school. Halle just comes to our warehouse with me and hangs out. I think one of the main keys to happiness is being busy. I want to give back with the profits of the business. Mandy teases me and says this is my "Beauty Pageant" line, but I am serious. We plan on giving 10 percent to a different charity each month. I am so excited to fly to the various places around the world and give them what everyone collectivilly contributed.

Our website is AuthenticNativeHoney.com
Check it out! (It is just one page until it is done)

This and That....

I decided today that I don't need to post a picture every time I have something to say. I don't have the time to catch everyone up in my life, but do have the time to sit down here and there to update the latest goings on in my brain! So here we go! 

Today I took Sydney to take her second driving test, because she failed the first one. The first time I took her, I pulled up to the building to meet the man and there was an unmarked car there. I went up to ask if he was the one to give the driving test. When he said yes, I asked him why he didn't have any stickers on his car or anything to show that he was an actual driving teacher. He didn't like that very much and asked what I would like to see as proof. I let him know that I felt a little uneasy about sending my daughter off in an unmarked car with a complete stranger. So he proceeded to pull out 

documentation from a little folder in the back seat. 

SO, I wasn't too surprised when Syd let me know that she didn't pass!

 Today I am proud to say that she passed and will be on the road. Everyone look out!

The Leavitts

This is Lizzie Leavitt. She is at our house about as much as I am! The Leavitts live next door. It is not uncommon to have one of them walk in with a bowl of cereal and open up the fridge for milk in the morning. We love them, and they love us!

YES, this is a hooters hat! Jon went on a trip to Florida and thought it would be funny to get me this hat! I can only wear it places like hiking, or boating!

This is me trying to learn to surf behind the boat. It is definitely addicting. It doesn't work your body over as much as water skiing. I will never give up water skiing, my grandma skied when I was little and I plan to do the same.

This is Whitney when she got up by herself surfing for the first time. If you look close you can see Spencer waiting in the water for her in case she falls. Kent was right there to grab her in case she got nervous. Jon is driving because he is great at it!

Spencer got out in the water with Kinley, Whitney, and Brighton to teach them to surf! They all loved it and will continue to get better, I am sure!
This is Kent Stephenson, the sweetest guy on earth! We tease him that his name is Raptor because of his wrist. Everytime he gets up surfing, he holds his hand this way. Mandy, Melinda, and I were laughing for about 30 minutes straight about it. Kent helps us with everything under the sun. He is like my brother, friend, second husband.
This is our good friends Spencer and Melinda Lindahl. They love to boat also, so we have a great time. Lexi, Kimball, and Elise are amazing at hanging out on the boat all day. Jon and I are lucky to have such fun friends to relax with.
Here is Kinley (12 years old) and Halle (1 and a half). Halle has been boating since she was 3 months old. We bring her car seat and she sleeps most of the time. She isn't afraid of the water, so she will get in and swim with me. All of the girls jump off the back and love to play in the water. When they were little, we were so iritated when they wouldn't get in the water because we want them to enjoy it as much as we do. Now they have no problem. We have to drag them back into the boat!
Well, this is my pride and joy! The only boy that I have, other than Jon of course! I loved this boat from the minute I laid eyes on it! It has 2 engines, (which stinks to fill with gas), and it holds as many people as you want because it yacht certified. We easily fit to large families on it. Jon and I always quarrel over if it is more fun to go fast, or water ski...we do both with our boat. The only thing that stinks is, I have a hard time driving it with 2 engines. I have always been able to drive our boats until this one. I will have to keep practicing!

Hiking 2008

This year I have taken my kids on several hikes that I wanted to record. These pictures are taken up Rock Canyon this fall. I love the fall leaves. I just strap Halle to my back and head up the canyon. Sometimes she falls asleep, and sometimes she jumps up and down! I bring snacks, and an ipod to keep her happy.
Some of the hikes I have taken this year with the kids are to Goblin Valley, Rock Canyon, Stuart Falls, Payson Canyon, and to the Tetons in Wyoming. Sometimes they whine at first, but then they get into it and enjoy it. It is fun having a bunch of little friends to go with. Tiffany Singer, my sister in law is the one crazy enough to go with me all of the time. We also hike all winter. I don't take Halle in case I slip. It actually gets pretty hot when you are hiking up the mountain even though the temperature can be quite cold. It is like when you are sleigh riding and you warm up pulling your sled!
I have a few friends that I see up hiking reguraly. One man just celebrated his 80th birthday up on the trails this summer! I plan on celebrating mine the same way.....I refuse to be in a lazy boy watching the price is right!
This is Tiffany and I heading up the beginning of the trail. Mandy is with us taking the pictures, so she didn't make it in any photos (this time). The trail will look a lot different in a few weeks with the snow on it!
This is a drinking fountain that Halle will never let me pass on the way up. The water is so fresh and tastes great, but it is extra hard to lean over far enough to get her mouth there! I makes me laugh every time. :)

Starfish

Here is Ella on the Beach in Maui. She had a great time playing in the sand for hours!! I will add several pictures of Hawaii because it was an amazing trip!

Grandma's House

So...I know this is completely out of order, but I have some really old pictures of Jon and I that I think are really fun, and I wanted to archive them. This was at my Grandma Mabey's house on the Bountiful ranch where we used to have picnics with the family.

Thriller

WOW! This was the most fun I have had in a long time, just kidding I always have fun! I Love Melinda, and Mandy. The husbands are pretty great also! Spencer and Melinda heard that I have always wanted to go to Thriller. They surprised us with tickets! What great friends. We ate at the Melting Pot in Salt Lake first. We laughed because we had the same guy that served us last time. He looks like John Cusack. We had amazing dinner and desert. After we got in the car and laughed until we thought we were going to throw up. I don't even remember what was so funny, Jon and Spence were worried about our mental sanity! We met Amy Gourley there because we haven't seen her for a while. She is such a doll. At thriller there where creepy people walking everywhere. They didn't have any comprehension of personal space! Jon's favorite part was the fat guy that jammed on stage. He was like Tommy Boy in person! What a night. I will have to post the pictures of the rest of our Halloween fun later!

Haunted Forest

This picture was taken after we went to the Haunted Forest. We went to Spoon Me and grabbed some frozen yogurt. We laughed so hard that night because we were all freaked out and running from the bad guys. Jon and Spencer were pretty amused just watching us. Toward the end of the night I was running from a chainsaw guy and ran into a slab of swinging beef. My cheek was bruised for days!!