When I saw this picture.....

.....of Emily's Daddy Daughter Date......

...of course I smiled...as it reminded me of another Daddy Daughter Date; Lauri and her daddy....then it reminded me of my Daddy Daughter Date with my dad (and there is not picture just lots of good memories)....

....so I'm hoping someone out there in Blogland is remembering their Daddy Daughter Date and smiling tonight. I loved dancing with my dad...he was the best dancer and when I was really little, he'd let me stand on his feet and whirl me around the room. I remember one activity that was a snow party in the recreation hall and the dad's would pull us around on sheets pretending we were sledding. To all the dad's out there with daughters....cherish this evening beyond all others...'cause for sure, your daughter will....(and take lots of pictures). I don't really have any pictures with just me and my dad....he's been gone almost 9 years now and I miss him but cherish the memories of the good dad he was and I never doubted his love for me.

Awe........

......capellastock was totally AWEsome this year. I had some new recruits....I was a bit nervous, it's hard being in charge of someone's happiness...didn't force 'em to go....didn't bribe 'em to go....I don't think I even invited them (but if someone mentions they want to go, I'm pretty excited to get a ticket for ya)....glad to have Spencer and Shana along....and I hope they thought the trip was worth it.

In past years, I've invited others...many others...many, many others....in fact, I've wasted a lot of tickets in years past trying to convince others that this thing is as AWEsome as I think it is (my 7th consecutive year)....so I've quit trying to convince. Just go and find out for yourself. Here's my boys....T Minus Five...the ones that have put this on for 8 years. I discovered them at the Concerts in the Park at Brigham Park when I was on my mission in Salt Lake and have been a "groupie" ever since.......

AWE.......Vocalocity....totally amazing..(click HERE).You may have seen them at the County Fair this year.

My favorite of the night was "The Coats"....click HERE.....

All good things must end...but they all come together for one last number. AWE inspiring. So much talent on one little stage.....

We're basking in the AWE of the evening....Can't you just feel the joy?????

My AWEsome friend Shannon that hooks me up with the same "front row" seats every year. Even with a we bit of a mix-up this year, Shannon came through and made me feel like a VIP.

The only downside to the evening, was a group that I didn't like very much...actually, I would use the word AWE....ful....but that's a little strong...let's just say AWE....kward. However, you can judge for yourself as they will be on "The Sing Off" this season. They are Sonos and I have to say, not to be critical, just not my favorite....okay? See for yourself though....not my "cup of tea"...but Lucy is my "cup of tea" and I got to spend the day with her hanging out at her house and at the Farmer's Market.

We decided next year we are going to make it a "Little America Week-end".....and have another AWEsome time at Acapellastock. Come join us...... (click HERE to learn more about it. Wish I were this zealous about spreading the gospel!!!!)

Takin' it to the Max...

....with a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY (I'm doing this post at 1:00 a.m. on Aug. 25) to Traci's #3 and my #14. Mighty Max is one year old today and the cutest little guy ever. Always happy...ready to rumble with the big guys. To sum up Traci's post, this little guy loves to swing, eat bananas, put things in boxes (and garbage cans; they have to watch him closely), loves to pester Jake, climb the stairs, watch Baby Einstein and to quote his mom...."...he's the sweetest little happiest baby ever..." and I agree. I get to see him again in a couple of weeks.

He just makes us smile. Happy Birthday, Max. You're awesome.....
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It's Lux's birthday today as well (my sister's grand-daughter). I'm wishing I had gotten them together for a picture when Traci was here.
Next best...here they are side by side....so cute. Happy Birthday, Lux and Max!!!!

Where did I go wrong....

....was it that I was just too lazy to cook them breakfast? It could have been that I don't like breakfast (so selfish of me)....but I really must give myself credit for good intentions. When the kids were young, we lived in Fresno....they were facing early morning seminary....I vowed to the "God's of Good Parenting" that I would cook them a hot breakfast when they started early morning seminary....we moved....never had early morning seminary....didn't have to keep my vows....

Should have recognized the problem when he went on his mission and he settled for the "imitation".....

Even had it for Thanksgiving one year. Yes, that is sad.......very sad.....

And it has come to this.....his award at graduation from medical school was, you guessed it....cereal. Everyone else got engraved silver bowls. He got a bowl alright, filled with cereal. He had been eating it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for nine....mind you.....nine years.

Intervention???? I think it's too late. Learn from me people.....give a little cold cereal....some mornings of the week.....just not every morning. I don't want this to happen to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ya must've been a beautiful baby....

....and now you have a beautiful baby.

Happy Birthday, Lauri. Twenty-eight years later and now I'm watching you raise Lucy and take care of James. You are an amazing person, beautiful inside and out and I hope you have a wonderful day with your family. (Note: Lauri's awesome cooking blog...clickity click HERE and for the latest on the Stewart household, clickity click HERE).

My favorite time of year....

....for sure! Even though it's been a great summer, I love the fall...the routine, knowing the kids are back to doing something worthwhile with their time and most of all, cooler weather and even though it's really not any cooler, just the thought yesterday that everyone was headed back to school made it seem cooler. Just wondering.....what's Spencer doing in this picture???? Um....first day of school is first day of school and it just doesn't look like he's headed in that direction.

I miss having some kids stand on my rock for their picture. I was about to grab some neighbor kids as they were passing by but didn't want to frighten them.

Hit it, Daddy.....

.....hollars Miller as he takes off on the boogie board and it was yet another accident-free and fun trip to Lake Powell compliments of Mason and Mandy and their generosity.

The Dad's are really good to let the kids have most of the fun.......

......but they do save some for themselves. Here they are on the tube.....

...and here they are off the tube......

We don't have to travel far from the houseboat to find adventure....

....but sometimes we do. We have found this sand cove and the kids have enjoyed playing and making castles while the older ones and the dad's challenge themselves to run to the top and speed down...7 or 8 times gets the ol' heart a pumpin'.....

....and ya can't be a kid without a little cliff-jumpin'.....especially with the biggest kids of all (dads) showing ya how.

Everyone got in on some tube action, from the littlest of kids to the biggest of girls (that's me!).

We've come to love our "star gazing" with Kyle's program on his Ipad. We find the satellites with his lasers then he can look them up on his gadget. Sounds nerdy but it's really fun and everyone can do it, from oldest to youngest. Guess it's kinda taken the place of Uno, Scum and Mormon Rook...but everyone joined in and had a great time.

As for me, I'm feelin' like my time is runnin' out and this old body isn't gonna take much more so I'm trying to get in as much livin' as I can....and this summer's been one big "good time"...surrounded by my family.

Me and my girls just floating in the Lake Powell scum.....Now we all gotta get back to work. A big "shout out" to my wee ones heading back to school with their tan lines and sunburned faces. You've been good to us, Summer 2011!!!!

It doesn't get much better...

.....than live music on a warm, summer evening. I joined the other hundreds of Dixie-ites that love these guys as much as I do. They did not disappoint.

Three of my very, all-time favorite musicians on one stage. I was in heaven. Cherie Call and Sam Payne have joined forces for their concert series and it was amazing. Would have loved some of Cherie's older songs but I enjoyed her new ones just fine. I got acquainted with Cherie's music (clickity click HERE for a sample) on my mission at the Concerts in the Park at Brigham Park and have followed her ever since. Sam was in "tip-top" form....always puts on a good show.

....and I cannot say enough about this guy, Ryan Tilby....best bass player in the country but he didn't even play that tonight.....mostly mandolin and banjo....lots of guitar accompaniment. Talented guy. He plays with a lot of bands and is very versitile....I'd go just to see him. Amaaaazing.

After a hectic day of doing a lot but not getting a lot done, it was good to show up an hour and a half early and enjoy the shade at Vernon Worthen....and watch them get set up. God made a lot of talented people....and he made of lot of people that appreciate talented people. That's my category. Next month it's Forte...another great group. I'd love to have you join me.

I just gotta show ya....

....what my kitchen looks like. Just trying to "reduce and simplify".....it's amazing what can get put in cabinets that doesn't get touched for 30 years.

..and that stuff got thrown out (or consolidated into other cabinets) and they came down and I'm very happy and feel like I have a way bigger house. That's my "show 'n tell" for the day.

And now to the on-going debate as to whether blogging about something makes it look more fun than it really was....so I'll just tell it like it was and you can decide if you think we had a good time or not. The Annual Hurricane Dental Summer Staff Party was at the cabin and actually, I think it was pretty fun.


This was going to be a food blog about all the great food we had but the pictures didn't even hold a candle to making the food look as good as it really was so I'm eliminating the pictures and just telling you that Mason cooks a "mighty mean" tri-tip roast (seasoned with Pappy's)....Kisten brought her famous potatoe salad, Carol's Lemon Lush is my new favorite and she took it home before I got another piece....lot's of great fruit, green salad, home-made rolls, home-made rootbeer....and I know by now you are wishing you were there (and I'm going to go have a piece of Mandy's chocolate cake....right now).

The fire pit is always a hit (minus Mr. Fire Marshall; I think we finally got it right) and the kids love to burn, I mean roast marshmallows and make "S'mores". Yuk....I'm smelling the smoke right now. That's one thing we all bring home with us.

Kick-ball, Corn Hole, Red Rover...(notice the neck action on Cannon, this can be a dangerous game)...and the usual "kids running crazy" stuff that they like to do on the big lawn in Pine Valley. So whether the blog does it justice or not...it doesn't matter. It's here for posterity. Nuff said. Thanks, Mason for inviting me.

Is it really as fun....

.....as the blog makes it seem? Maybe not, most of the time, but this time, it was. Crazy Grandma Camp commenced this afternoon when the children started arriving at about 5. The house is already a mess from the painting that I've been having done so the stress was off....they had their way with my house and we really had a blast.

I maintain that the key to a successful camp is to let them have all the pizza they want and their own can of pop......

....oh, and a trip to Snow Shack; walking of course....it's part of the ritual!!! (Note to family: Notice anything different in the picure above???)

Nothing brings me greater joy than to see my kiddies all together having a great time (and observing the different flavors they concoct at Snow Shack).

...and I think they look mighty fine in the jammies......(I didn't mean to take this picture on an angle....really, I didn't).

We actually started the day at Town Square with a carousel ride....and didn't really mean to get wet but it sure was fun. Now.....I'm not exaggerating when I say these kids are the best ever. (Elise and Katie joined us; we're missing Scotty and Jake. Matty, Max and Lucy are too young to be invited). Seriously....Jack and Miller each only cried once...no one got hurt...I only yelled about 3 times....and they played their little hearts out from quiet games, to rowdy ones and running-around ones, including jumping on the tramp and doing Silly String. The littler ones were asleep by...oh, about 10:30....I went down and the big kids were still talking about 12:30 but totally asleep by 1. Let's see if they all stay asleep. I don't usually plan on any "shut-eye" on this night but hey, they're all asleep...it's 2:00 a.m. I might just go get a few "z's" myself. I'm either getting better at this or the kids are growing up. Whatever the case....it was really as fun as it looks. I do not lie......and I know I'm crazy...but it's o.k.