I Shoulda Been A Cowboy...

Neal REALLY likes Rodeos-I can't believe he would dare make such a face when he KNOWS I'm a blogger and that I'll post it :)



Like father, like son, I really don't stand a chance with this one...


We went to the Riverton City Rodeo Saturday night. It was so fun. I love rodeos, the adrenaline, the animals, the awesome cowboy get-up, plus, when my kids wear their hats and boots with shorts and t-shirts, they don't look quite as out of place as they do at say, the mall! Anyways, it was really fun. We go to at least one rodeo a year but this year, Boe was really interested in most of the events. He especially enjoyed the roping and bull-riding. He kept asking me when we were going to go out there and ride a cow or a horse...I told him he'd have to find another pardner to do that with! Now he's talking about wanting a horse for Christmas...keep dreaming cowboy!

A Trip to the Zoo and Auntie Ashlee Too...

We met up with my cute sis Ashlee today and made a day of it at the zoo. My kids love the zoo, I personally think it continues to go downhill compared to how it was when we were kids, but you know, they have fun and that is all that matters. It was blasted hot and I now have non-existent ankle bones and some mighty fine kankles to boot, but we had a great day. We topped it off with a trip to Mickey-D's for dinner and now we are going to pop in a redbox and hit the hay. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend. Thanks for the fun day Ashlee, we love you!

All for LOVE...

It was Neal's idea to do this post. I can't believe I am going to show these pictures because I truly look HORRIBLE in them, but let me tell you the story. I had pretty bad morning sickness from the get-go with this baby. It wasn't your typical puking (for those of you who can sympathize, I am SOO-O sorry :) it was almost violent and would occur without a second's notice and then be gone. This lasted for about the first 16 weeks or so. This was all new to me as I had thrown up about 3 times collectively with both of my other kids. As soon as February came, I was feeling great and have had a very easy-going, relaxed pregnancy...up until about a month ago. That is when these pictures were taken. I was brushing my teeth and just KNEW I was about to vomit-HARD so, I did and when I looked up in the mirror, this is what I saw. I of course freaked out and called Neal, he thought I was exaggerating and I said, "Neal, my forehead is PURPLE and it is spreading down my face..." I could tell he still thought I was over-reacting so I took a picture and texted it to him. He then freaked out and told me to call my doc. So I did and they had me come in for observation, gave me some anti-nausea drugs that they give to cancer patients and sent me home telling me to be careful. Thanks :). Flash forward to last Wednesday, I was feeling fine, had a fun day with the kids, taught violin and then BAM!!! The nausea hit and I was down-literally on the bathroom floor puking my guts out. When I was finished, I got up, went to the sink and saw this again. I ended up having to get 3 liters of fluid for dehydration the next day and this time when I saw my doctor I showed him the pictures and he was FLOORED. He said he'd never seen this before and that I needed to be careful-thanks again :)anyways, just thought I'd share and let you know that I'd do it all again for this little person inside of me but I CANNOT, CANNOT wait for the debut of Gatherum baby #3!

Aughhhh, Summer...

We FINALLY took our trailer out for the first time this past weekend. It was so much fun. We went camping and boating with my dad and Kim. We also went with Neal's sister Karalee and her family. Her little boy Austin has always wanted to ride in a speed boat, so my dad and Kim were kind enough to take him out on a "speed boat excursion" to Utah Lake in their new boat. It was a ton of fun. I was ITCHING to get out on the wake-board. I wonder if I would have tipped over front wards? Now,that would have been funny to see. I guess I'll just have to wait until Lake Powell! Neal looked awesome on the board and the kids got in all the tubing they could possibly want. Boating is proably my all-time favorite family activity. I love being out on the water enjoying the beauty that is all around me. Thanks Dad and Kim, it was a ton of fun!

My Name's Chubby...

We went boating and camping this weekend. It was a ton of fun besides the SWARMS of mosquitoes. Boe must have walked through a nest of them or something because he has 15 bites on his face alone. He swelled up REALLY bad. Neal and I were trying hard to not laugh at him but every time we'd look at him, we'd just bust up. He didn't look like himself and were it not for his voice and mannerisms, I wouldn't have recognized the kid! Luckily after several doses of Benydryll, I think he's on the mend! Love you Boe-zoe!!!

Farewell Blackham's!

A couple of weeks ago we had a going away party for our good friends the Blackham's. Bren just finished up Med school (WAY TO GO!!!) and they are headed to warm and sunny Tucson, Arizona for the next year. It was fun to see all of our friends, some I see regularly and some it has been YEARS, so it was nice to eat good food (seriously Lorrie's 7-layer was TO DIE FOR) and see good friends. Good Luck Blackham's! We'll miss you!

World's EASIEST Chocolate Chip Cookies...Really...

This recipe is sooooo good and sooooo easy-seriously. Are you ready? Here it is!

1 box yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 c. oil
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. coconut (optional but if you like coconut,
it makes them soooooo yummy)
1 c. nuts (optional)

preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients then fold in the chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Drop onto cookie sheet and cook for 8-10 minutes. Do not overcook.

Hooray, It's Sum, Sum, SUMMATIME!

We LOVE Summer-Time here at the Gatherum house! My kids favorite thing to do is to swim, so we have been taking advantage of the warm days and going to the local pool. It's nothing too great but it suits our purposes just fine. They are building a massive Rec Center just up the street from our house and I am really excited for that to be finished. I also can't wait for the boating season to begin! I love everything about summer, especially this first part that isn't too hot. We've been especially lucky this year to have a really mild beginning to summer and believe me in my current state, I couldn't be more grateful! So, what are some of YOUR favorite family summer activities?

Seven Years Ago Today...

we said "I do" and just so you know, even though we don't have "it" all figured out yet and things aren't always perfect, I'd do it ALL over again. Love you...

Happy Father's Day...

Happy Happy Father's Day to THE two most important Dad's in my life...
Let's start with my little sweetcakes Neal. Here are mine, Gage's and Boe's top 10 reasons why we love him so much:

1. He is patient and calm.
2. He gets down on a kids level and truly tries to understand and connect with them.
3. He treats our kids with respect.
4. He is consistent, firm and very fair.
5. He is fun and active and is always up for anything the kids want to throw his way.
6. He is easily persuaded to do things that I would probably not go along with, like eating popscicles at 10:00 at night before bed!
7. He is a hard worker and a great example to my kids.
8. He is all about QUALITY family-time.
9. He is funny and even participates in "potty" humor every once in a while.
10.He is our dad and we LOVE him to pieces and hope he has a fantastic day!

FATHER'S DAY CONT...

Now onto my own Daddy-O:

1. He is steady and constant.
2. He is wise.
3. He is sensitive to mine and my sister's needs.
4. He treats us with love and respect.
5. He has become a friend as well as a dad to me.
6. He loves my kids and they love and respect him.
7. I know he would do ANYTHING for me.
8. He took care of my mom and my brother for 11 years-seriously, he's the best.
9. He is open-minded to others beliefs but sticks strong to what he knows to be true and right.
10.He will always be my #1 Daddy-O and I love him. Hope you have a great day today dad!

Three Years...

I can't believe it's been three years since my mom passed away. At the time, I couldn't imagine making it through to the next day let alone the first six months or the first year. But I am making it through, day by day. It has been hard, I have had some of the darkest, loneliest and saddest moments of my entire life, but I am here and I am trying to move forward. I am learning to look for the good things in my life, to find the positive around me and to realize how many, many blessings I have. I miss her so much, more than I can possibly explain. There is a permanent hole in my heart that aches on a daily, sometimes hourly basis, but I am learning how to move forward in my sadness and to perhaps help other's who are experiencing similar things. I wouldn't wish her back here in the state she was in when she died. She was so sick and her quality of life was so horrible, but selfishly, I wish she were still here for me, for my dad, for my sisters and for her grand kids whom she loved more than anything. I know she is aware of us, more so than we possibly know and I know she loves us and wants the best for us. I know she is proud of us in our triumphs, sad for us in our sorrows and that she continues to guide our lives even in her death. Today, I honor her for the women she was and still is. I honor her as a little girl who grew up with two older brothers, as a young girl who loved to dance and who adored her parents. As a high school and college student who loved my dad and waited for him while he served his mission and couldn't wait for him to get home so they could begin their lives together, as a young mom who was honestly the best someone could ask for, as an older mom who became her kids' biggest fan and cheerleader and who instilled a sense of self, love and confidence in her children that continues to sustain us to this day. As a grandma who loved her grand kids and wanted so badly to stay to watch them grow-up. I even want to remember her when she was at her sickest and was fighting so hard to be able to stay here with us, mostly, I remember her as a women of faith, courage and dignity who fought to the end but never questioned His will in all of this and who always had faith in the plan even though it wasn't the way she wanted things to be. I know she is happy and I know she loves and misses us as we do her, especially on this day. I love you Mom...

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Take Me Out to The Ballgame...

Both the boys played baseball this year. Boe played T-Ball and Gage played his first year of coach pitch. They both did great. Let me tell you though, these Riverton baseball people REALLY and I mean REALLY take the sport seriously! I feel like we ate, breathed and slept it for a couple of months....I can't imagine what it gets like when they are older and more "into" it. Anyways, I was very proud of both of them. I am glad it's over! We have a couple of months rest before soccer starts up in the fall. YAY!!!