Fore!!

I enjoying golfing. I bet it would be really fun if you were good!
My family used to golf quite a bit before everyone started having kids. Lately, the only guarantee times for me to golf is at my work and family golf tournament.
Every year my work has a golf tournament in August. I would say most people I work with aren't big golfers but the owner of the company is a big golfer. Its always a good time. One of our teammates couldnt make it last minute so there was just 3 of us on our team but we still had a great time!
Me, Ashley, & Lisa

In the tournaments they do a scramble or best ball. So you all take a shot, and whoever has the best ball you all go to that ball and hit again...
This is never good during a scramble! Both of us were in the sand trap at almost the exact same spot.

I usually like to golf bare foot, but this year I actually started wearing shoes. It hasnt helped.

Thanks girls, for making it a super fun day!


We also had our family golf tournament. Every year a tournament is put on in my grandpas name "Kel Kemp" and all proceeds go to Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Its always such a fun time. Every year my mom, sister, sister in law and I are on a team. This year, my sis in law had just had a baby and my sister couldnt find a baby sitter so my mom and I golfed with my dad and brother.
My brothers friend was diagnosed with cancer a few years back and has been struggling the last couple of year. One year he came to the tournament very sick and was watched us play. This year he was able to come join us and play!

There was a little mix up so we had a five some, but it was great fun!
I think 18 holes of golf is just WAY too long. So I brought along my fart machine and raccoon skin hat to spice things up. Real mature...I know. No one is perfect at golf, so I thought...every time someone has a bad shot, they have to wear the Raccoon hat the rest of the hole. It was hilarious. We all had a chance to wear it (shows what kind of golfers we are!)
My mom :)

Yes, I had my fair share of wearing the skin

My brother, although a very good golfer, had to take a few shots with the coon skin.

My dad was a good sport and took his turn after a not so great shot.

I especially liked Zach way of wearing the hat. He wore it so the tail could be tucked behinds his ear.

The fart machine, even though immature...was great for golf! Do you know how many times people bend over in golf!?!
Thanks team! You guys were all great sports!

Thanks also to my friends husband Dave for taking the time and money to help support the cause! We all really appreciate it!

After golfing we have a nice lunch and raffles and silent auction.
Every year there is a package with a chi, and tons of great hair product. Every year someone else gets it, but I lucked out this year! Hooray! By golly Im going to have the straightest hair in town.

My neighbors always are so generous to donate packages to the tournament to raffle off or include in the silent auction. It all helps so much to raise money for cancer research so its all VERY much appreciated by all.
Thanks also to my 2 cousins who put a lot of time and effort every year planning it.


After the tournament, we began out GIRLS weekend! We had planned to go up to Park City, but Kami wasnt able to get away so we spent one night in SLC before we headed up so she could be a part of it.
We went to Garner Village to browse the shops, and have dinner.
My mom loved this witch that had a diet coke in her hand!

I love Garner Village, especially during this time of year.

Thanks girls for a great kick off to girls weekend!

Bear Lake, Oh how I love you.

Russ and I went to Bear Lake...forever ago. I am really behind on my blogging but I hope to catch up soon!
We decided to drive up one weekend for a very quick trip. We both love to be in any kind of water and realized we hadnt been swimming in awhile so we drove up.
We had a nice lunch in Logan, and drove the rest of the way. I really do love Bear Lake. I have so many memories as kids going to Bear Lake a couple times a summer.
The lake was really high and we realized there wasnt a ton of beach area.
We pulled off to one area and saw an island we thought we would claim ours!

We loaded everything in the raft and I started to wade in the 6 inches of water to our Island.

Russ thought it was crazy to be pulling a boat and insisted we sit in and ROW to the island. We were basically dragging bottom and going .00010 miles an hr but he wouldnt give up. By the time I saw the two moms breeze past us with their beach gear, lunch, float tubes, life jackets, lawn chairs, etc etc I realized it was time for me to get out.

He pressed on. And made it.

Little did we know the reason our island wasnt already taken was because it was covered in Sea gull poop. Thanks you dumb birds.

But, we found another spot and took a good dip and swam around for awhile. Even if Bear Lake is unbearably cold, it was worth driving up to swim.
Russ is a whimp in the cold water so it gave me great pleasure watching him slowly wade it only to have me run, splash him to death and dive under. Feels so good.
We then went into town and had a delicious raspberry shake and hung out for a bit. It was getting later at this point and we saw an actual beach with real land, but you had to pay to get in. Everyone was leaving so we just drove in and hung out.
It was so much fun! We had our delicious chicken salad sandwhich from Costco and played soccer on the beach for hours!

It was a blast!

I think this picture is funny. Although we may look naked, we were fully clothed in beach attire.

Pretty little sunset.

The next day we did the same thing, but got there early to find the little beach that was available in the non paying section. Our little area was soon to be invaded so we hopped in the raft, and rowed out in the lake a bit. I was walking out into the lake and had stepped on the one and only huge rock in the water probably, so we loaded it up and made our own anchor!

It worked great! We threw it over board and didnt drift an inch.
Totally worth stubbing my toe for.


After spending a few hrs hanging out we drove back to SLC to meet my family up in the mountains. My parents have all of us over for dinner every other Sunday and this Sunday they decided to go for a walk to see the wild flowers in the Albion Basin.

The flowers werent at their peak that weekend, but it was still a beautiful walk!

We even ran into a mother and baby moose!

My goodness, I cant believe how big my family is getting...Love em all.

Manti

We had a family reunion in Manti awhile back.
I had been to Manti before but it had been awhile. I really thought it was such a cute little town.
My second cousin Kristie spent a lot of hard work planning it down to every detail.
My family went earlier, but I had to work, so I drove down alone after work.
Kristie had planned an "amazing race" type activity they had done the night before that sounded so fun.
My parents rented a really cute little house for my family to stay in. It was fun to be stay there all together and most of the activities for the reunion they brought to that house so it was convenient for us!
Cody brought the ranger so he loaded up his kids and I crashed their party for a little ride in the mountains.

I love how Bel does his thumbs up.
I think its safe to say my brother doesnt feel comfortable with me driving that in the mountains with his kids in it. Sorry again Cod. Ill do better next time I promise! haha.

The kids then made their own box cars!

We had a delicious dinner of ribs, corn on the cob, and cheesecake!
After, my cousin put an awesome movie of a collection of pictures from our previous family reunions and the kids got to pull their cars in for a drive in movie!



The movie was great. It was so fun to see pictures from all the other family reunions and so great to see pictures of my Gram. We miss her!!
I love these girls.

My great parents

That night I was getting ready for bed and looked out the back window to the most beautiful view! The temple was basically in the back yard...so gorgeous!!

The next morning we woke up and everyone came back over for breakfast.
The cute little kidlets having a snack.

It was a quick little trip for me. I had to leave right after breakfast to meet a friend that was coming in town from Cali, but the rest of the family finished out another fun day together.

Its so great to have such a fun family.
Thanks again mom and dad for the fun house and for Kristie for all her hard work in planning!

Derby take 2

I am so behind on my blogging.
Back in July we had our second annual demo derby outing with "the breakfast club".
Last years derby was really fun. This year was bigger and better.
Sabrina pulled off another delicious meal at her parents home in Park city. It has a beautiful view of the valley and the weather was perfect!
I have actually been REALLy bad at taking pictures this summer, but thank heavens for those that have.
There was a theme, the same as last year. I hate to say it out loud because I feel bad. But Im sure if you see our pictures you may catch on to what that theme was.
This guy here with Russ & I won the best dressed contest.

I think the fake sun burn, mustard stain, and teeth were all a nice touch.
Mason & Meggs:

Russ also really stepped up to the plate with some sexy daisy dukes.

I think every guy in that stadium was checking him out. Its a miracle he didnt get his butt kicked.
Group photo

Im pretty sure if you were at the Heber Demo Derby you heard our group.
Quite the crowd we had and quite the entertainers

Sabs came through and even got some candied cigarettes. Perfect little treat for the event.

The guys

The girls

And the most delicious corn on the cob Ive had all year. Anything covered in Parmesan cheese is delightful.

Summer would not be the same without one good derb.

Neverland...how do I get there?

When people would complain about getting older it bugged me. It did. I thought...why not appreciate getting older and wiser etc.
The fact is, I am a hypocrite because this year has been the year it hit me. I dont want to get older.
I feel it already! I havent minded turning older every year but this year I am going to successfully skip over my birthday and pretend it never happened. I know its a few months away but I am already stressing.
A few things that scare me.

1- I can already tell a difference in my body. I dont have nearly the energy when I was in high school or early college. And I do not have the excuse of a having a child either. I can SEE a difference already as well.
2- WRINKLES. I love being silly with my Uncle Chuck. We recently took a picture of the 2 of us and I to my surprise...I have crows feet around my eyes!!

I have used and abused my skin and its SO SO sad. Why cant you get things through your head when you are young?
I remember my friends sister worked at a tanning salon and we would go tanning all the time! I would have to hide it from my grandma because she would always scold me about being in the sun and I thought she was just being an old ornery lady, when it turns out she was so smart.
When I lived in Hawaii I would go lay out everyday...without sunscreen!! I would get so dark, and love it, and then 2 weeks after being back in Utah it was gone. Worth it? I dont think so.
I couldnt find a picture of me at my darkest, but I found one. Its a horrible picture because its like a picture of a picture but you get the idea.

Sunspots...I got plenty.


And Im only 25! There is no way to reverse it.
Now, the first thing I do when I get to the beach or outdoors is put on 50 SPF around my eyes.
I do not want to look like this in another 10 yrs

Or this...

Its just not worth being tan for a couple weeks.

So Im going to be 26 this year. YU-UCK. To be single and 26 in Utah is like death and boy am I having fun..but really...Im pushing 30. I was having a discussion the other day with someone about kids and they asked how many I wanted and I said...4 or 5. And their response
"How old are you?"
"Ill be 26 in November"
"Thats not going to happen"

Ok. Thats ok. I dont need 5, but to not be able to do things because of your age!
Oh, and now, Ill be in a new category when I fill out the bubble sheets.

( )18-25 years of age
(X)26-100 Years of age...ugh.

But on a happy note (I really think we need one right now) I have done some amazing things in my life over the 26 years Ive been alive.
I feel really glad for the things Ive been able to do and the lessons Ive learned.
There's a quote I liked from the movie The Guardian with Ashton Kutcher & Kevin Costner, and its from the lady bartender and she says,
"Hell, I've always been old Ben. Ya' know what though, I don't mind. I mean if my muscles ache, it's because I've used 'em. It's hard for me to walk up them steps now, its 'cuz I walked up 'em every night to lay next to a man who loved me. I got a few wrinkles here and there, but I've layed under thousands of skies with sunny days. I lived and I loved, danced, sang,and sweat my way through a pretty darn good life if you ask me. Getting old ain't bad Ben. Getting old, that's earned".
Getting old is earned, Getting old is earned, Getting old is earned. Maybe if I keep repeating it It will soak in.
If not, I seriously am going to start looking for Peter Pan to take me to Neverland where I dont have to grow old.
Anyone else had a tough year to turn?

Cried like a baby

I saw this video on my friends facebook last night and seriously cried my eyes out.
I think its easy to go on your day to day things and totally forget about all the men and woman sacrificing so much for us. Its also a small reminder of what their families go through.
I feel so grateful, and touched.
Might wanna grab a kleenex. Oh maybe pause my music at the bottom as well.

July 15th!

I kind of made up my own holiday. Its worked out quite well for me the last couple of years. This year was no exception.
Its simple. July is my very favorite month of the year, and 15 is my favorite number. We are lucky enough to celebrate 2 holidays here in Utah in July, I thought Id be stingy and add one more. And there you have it, July 15th. Ive even had someone give me a gift on this day because they knew I loved it.
The BF was sure nice to me this day as well. He planned a mighty fine date.
I came home from work to a lovely surprise...a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
Then off we went on our date. This date screamed summer and couldnt have been better for the July 15th holiday- an outdoor movie at the capitol!
This picture is kind of blurry but still fun. Doesnt my ankle look broken? haha

If you look close, you can see the screen in the background. We got there just in time for a beautiful sunset.

While we watched the movie we had the most delicious picnic Russ had packed. Costco has this AMAZING chicken salad sandwhich mix. It has walnuts, and cranberries, and chicken...its so good. We had that on some nice soft pitas. Oh...so good.
One of my favorite desserts is fruit pizza. I had stopped by Kneaders for one of their fruit pie things for dessert. It was a dandy of a meal.

I had so much fun, the weather, the food, the company, all perfect.