Seven Peaks and new baby cousin....

I took the kids up to Seven Peaks this past Wednesday. They had a BLAST!! It was really hot and crowded. I couldn't believe how many people were there during the middle of the week. Brynlee really enjoyed the rides! she didnt even want to play in the little kid ones, she wanted to ride on the BIG rides! and then the wind blew towards the evening and it started to get chilly. So Bryn and Slade didn't want to play in the water anymore, so we sat on the grass and enjoyed cups of ice cold water! :)

But overall, we had a great time and can't wait to go back!! after our Seven Peaks adventure, we slept at my sisters house in Lehi and then woke up Thursday and headed up to Sugar House to see the new baby! Bryn absolutely LOVED him! He is so small that he just fits into her arms like her babies do. she is such a little mommy and loves taking care of babies, even real ones!~ :) we spent the day hanging out with Kort and Ginger and their two little ones and had a great time. Then it was time to come home. We had a great time!!

The purple and blue slides were Brynlee's favorite!!

Here is Parker just after he come off of a ride.

Porter just getting off a slide....I was waiting at the bottom to catch him coming out of the slide but missed him...nice huh?!

Slade enjoying the sun and chicken in a bisquite crackers!

I told Bryn to smile and this is what i got....lovely!

Brax coming off a slide

Braxton coming out of Cave In....a favorite for all the kids! he is the only one I got a pic of coming out of a slide! Its a little hard to take pics of the kids especially if you are on the rides yourself!! :)


Here is Eli Kort Utley!! he was born on June 29! he weighed 5lbs. 14 oz. he is such a tiny little thing! Brynlee absolutely loved him and couldnt get enough of him!

Payne Family Reunion

We went camping for the 4th of July weekend for the Payne Family Reunion. We had a great time, although the mosquitoes were AWFUL!!! the weather was unpredictable, it was really nice Thursday and Friday, but rained Saturday. it would be cold and then hot in a matter of seconds. But we still had a good time. we ate awesome food and played games. the kids rode their motorbikes pretty much the entire time! It was great to escape to the mountains for a few days and just relax and have a good time. although, we did miss my two sisters, they couldn't make it. hopefully, next year they will be able to come!!

couldnt get a pic with all of them looking, as usual!:)

bryn and grandpa...she had to have izzy in the pic.

brax riding his motorbike.

Porter, Hayden and Landen gettin ready to head out on a ride.

the only fish that was caught the whole time!

morghan tryin to catch a fish

bryn managed to catch a frog instead of a fish! this was the highlight of her trip!!

bryn and dad. showing us the frog

mom and bryn playin with the frog

porter, hayden, and porter dowell

bryn and porter watchin dad fish

SuMmEr tiMe FuN!!

Today we played in the pool and had some fun with the slip n slide! the kids always have so much fun playing in the water. we had our good friends come over and join in the fun! we played until it clouded up and the wind started blowing and it started to sprinkle. even then the kids did not want to come in! I think this will be a daily event if the weather cooperates with us!!

here is Brynlee and Brylee stoppin for a quick drink of water straight out of the slip n slide!!

Brynlee, Porter, and Stockton


Bryn and me tanning!!

Brax is drying off and enjoying the sun!!

BRING ON THE RAYS!!!

Porter slippin and a slidin'

Bryn's turn!

Brax was getting camera happy! :) but don't u love my new swim suit?! I sure do! oh how I love to lay in the sun!!

HAPPY SWIMMING AND SUNBATHING EVERYONE!!

camping trip

we went to Fish Lake to go camping this weekend. we had a lot of fun, even though it rained everyday and the mosquitoes were AWFUL!!! we had yummy food, and had a good relaxing time. Thanks Josey and Jenn for coming with us!

Brax target shooting

getting ready to leave...Bryn was being very naughty and would not look at the camera.

yummy smores!

roasting marshmellows!

playin on a stump

Porter choppin away at the stump

bryn and Josey by the fire

her face was SOOO dirty the ENTIRE time!

brax, Jenn, & Bryn sitting around the fire

11 years of happiness...

***I couldnt blog about this earlier because my STUPID computer had SERIOUS issues...but now its fixed so here is a little late post.****


11 years!!!! wow I have been married for 11 years to the best guy on earth! we celebrated our anniversary on Saturday! we went down to Mesquite with Reggie and Linsey and had the BEST time! we had so much fun! we left our kids with my mom (thank you so much mom!) and headed down Saturday morning. we stopped off in Cedar real quick to drop some things off to Tara, then headed on down to St. George. we ate at Red Lobster, shopped at the outlet mall and hit Old Navy. we drove around and looked at car lots for a bit then headed on down to Mesquite. we spent most of the night at the Eureka where we ate dinner...so yummy! then played a little black jack and bingo. we had so much fun laughing and having a good time with some good friends! we went back to Linseys grandparents house that they have down there (they only live there during the winter) and went to sleep. this morning we woke up and went and ate at the Virgin River then headed on back to St. George. we did a little more shopping at the outlets and the mall and made our way back to Monroe. it was so nice to just get away, even if it was for 1 night! (I didnt take my camera but Linsey got some pics so I will have to steal them from her)

now back to my husband of 11 years!!! he is the greatest guy and I couldnt imagine my life without him in it! he is ALWAYS making me laugh! He keeps our house pretty entertaining! He is the best dad to our kids and they love him so much! I am just so happy I chose him to spend the rest of my life with! (I know kinda mushy, and sounds so cliche, but its sooo true!) anyways, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BABE! I love you!

OH AND IN OTHER NEWS.....SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER!!! yeah the kids are so excited about it! not sure if I am just yet...we will see...

hApPY biRThDay PriNCeSs!!!

wow I cant even believe that my little baby girl is 3 years old today! Time goes by way too fast! She has grown so much in these short 3 years. she is seriously the funniest girl! she keeps us laughing all the time, whether its the things she says, does,or the expressions on her face. When I first found out I was pregnant with her, I went and bought all the letters for her name because I KNEW she was a girl! everyone kept telling me I was crazy for buying girl things when I didn't know what I was even having, but I knew. :) she has been such a blessing to our family, I couldn't imagine my life without her. (well any of my kids) She is such a girl though, she is crying one minute and laughing the next! when she does this, I always say to her, its either laughin or cryin! so now when Porter cries, she says that to him. she absolutely LOVES babies (real or fake) and with her little babies, she will even change their diapers (she is actually really good at it too). she loves flip flops, purses, and jewlery. pretty much anything that is girly she loves! but she also loves to play outside and get dirty! we just love this little girl so much!
so HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR PRINCESS!!
here a some pictures of Brynlee the last 3 years of her life!

the day she was born



about 2 weeks old



5 1/2 months old


1 year old!


14 months old


2 years old

2 1/2 years old

3 years old!

Happy Birthday Bug! We love you!!