West Point Park

We love going to play at the West Point park!

They have all the older play ground equipment and lots of swings and tall slides to play on.

The nice new play ground equipment is fun and all but there's just something about older play equipment that is pretty fun, too. 

Maybe it's because you use your imagination more or it could be that it's just plain fun. 

Anyway, we went to the park in March and I figured since the boys were really good and it was a Friday we would go have some fun at the park. 

The last picture makes me think of the saying, "Because I have a brother, I'll always have a friend."

Monster Jam!!

It seems like forever since I've updated my blog so I'm attempting to catch up and make up for it.

March was a pretty busy month and April has been even busier.

In March we were lucky enough to take all the boys to go see Monster Jam!

They were so excited and I was even more exited than they were.  Nothings better than taking your kids to an event that they have loved watching and playing since they were tiny.  

And when all of us can go it was like a small dream come true.

Are you ready for picture OVERLOAD???

Here we Goooo!!

My cute little Monster Truck fans

It's really hard to describe the feeling there, other than thrilling.

Especially when you hear Grave Diggers theme music, "Bad to the Bone".

This picture is the boys trying to get a good look at Grave Digger.

We sat right where they came out so we had a pretty good view of the trucks.

This is Grave Digger's 30th birthday.

Maximum Destruction is Koda's Favorite

The boys were so enthralled with what was going on

Our houses favorite monster trucks!

Can you feel the love in the air?! 

They are lovin' it!

Amazing!

This is the Driver of Maximum Destruction.

He's Jon Morris's Father-in-law.

It's so hard to remember why Justin is totally ecstatic but I'm sure it was over something Grave Digger or Maximum Destruction did.

One of our local favorites.

We got to meet him a couple years ago when they opened up a Maverik in Ogden and Brent donated some cars for him to crush.  Was way cool!

Check out the awesome flames!

One of Jaden's prized possessions: His new Grave Digger hat!

What a cutie patootie!

Awww! 

Oooo! 

We were pretty close!

And the winner is....

MAXIMUM DESTRUCTION!!!

Although I cheered for Grave Digger I was glad that one of our favorites won. 

Like he does all the time.

It was a blast going and the boys were able to get Monster Truck pillows to sleep with and snow cones in Grave Digger cups.

Cost of tickets: $100

Cost of Monster Truck pillows: $80

Cost of snow cone filled Grave Digger cups: $48

Jaden's Grave Digger hat: $20

Look on the boys faces and happy family memories:  PRICELESS!

Hill Air Force Base Museum

We LOVE going on field trips with Miss Tammy's preschool! 

In March it was to the Hill Air Force Base Museum.  This was my first time in the room with the simulators.  The year Justin was in preschool and went here for a filed trip I missed it so it was fun to go with Jaden and Koda and see all the fun they had.

They even got to tour one of the helicopters that was on display.  They don't let just anyone tour a display but the class was so well behaved that they let us.

Sure makes you appreciate all that our military does for our country.

Bunny hunting

WARNING:

Manly boys and men holding guns.

Some may be offended by this and others will think it's cool.

Move on to the next post if you have a problem.

My boys are going to be Manly Men.

Justin shooting a .22

He went on the last bunny hunt and thought it was a blast  

( no pun intended).

Jeromy shooting the .22.

Dakota even shot the .22 but there's no picture of it.

He had a blast, also!

The boys did really well keeping up with everyone and earned their chance to go again next year.

Jeromy figured they hiked about 5 miles and the boys didn't give one complaint about it taking too long or their guns getting heavy.

Justin is a bottomless pit right now so he complained about being hungry but after all that walking I think that's ok to complain for a 7 year old.

Terrence and Wyatt

Wyatt got to shoot, also!

Good job Wyatt!



So stinkin cute!

I had to post this picture because of the story that's behind it.

Jaden was sitting on the couch watching TV when Bailey jumps up by him, gives him a kiss and then snuggles up by him and goes to sleep.

She can be so lovey sometimes.

Jaden of course was taking every moment in and didn't want to move or disturb her.

It was just a really cute moment.

Weber Metro Narcotic's Team Charity Demolition Derby

So, the next day after Officer Francom's funeral we went to a charity demolition derby for Officer Francom's family and the officers shot on the Weber Narcotic's team.

It was held at the Golden Spike outdoor arena.

In the middle of winter I never would've thought that it would be such a nice day to hold such an event but it was perfect weather and actually warm.

The perfect day to support those brave officers and their families.

Even Nanny wanted to come.

She loves demo derbies.

All of the drivers donated their time, cars and gas to come from all around the western states.

There were drivers from Utah, Nevada, California, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado.

It takes a lot of money and time to put a demo derby together and this one took only 2 weeks.

Simply amazing!!!

A lot of the cars where made to look like police cars and some where actual officers that wanted to join just for fun.

I think everyone got sprayed on when this guys water hose burst.

This driver was a Syracuse police officer.

He won the truck heat.

It was his first time ever driving in one of these demo derbies but wanted to help some how and this was his way of helping.

I wish I would've gotten his name when I talked to him but his plaque was pretty cool.

It was in the shape of a police badge.

Here he is on his suburban.

Remind me the next time I want to drive in a demo derby to drive an old suburban.

They hold up better than anything else out there.

We caught 2 prize Frisbees and all four boys got to pick a prize.

I think they left pretty happy.

2 big bags of cotton candy and each had a prize.

What a perfect day at the demo derby.

And we have our winner....

He drove all the way from California!!

All the winners donated their prize money to the cause.

We couldn't have asked for a better sunnier day to support some great officers that put their lives on the line.

Thin Blue Line

January 5th was Ogden Officer Jared Francom's funeral and prosection.

It's always hard when you hear about another officer shooting and listen to how many kids he and his wife have.  The things that go through my mind are how hard it will be for his wife to take care of the kids on her own and how will they make it without their brave husband and father.

I hate to imagine the kids asking where daddy is and when he's coming home.

I thank Heavenly Father everyday that Jeromy has come home safe and that we won't have to go through such an awful time like that. 

It's a wife's worst fear that one day while her husband is on patrol that she'll get a knock on the door and the chief will be standing there giving her the bad news.

I can't imagine the pain and anguish officer Francom's wife is going through.

I worry about Jeromy a lot but I always have comfort that we have an eternal marriage and our family will be together forever.  We've been promised through our conventents that if we are faithful in our dealings and keep his commandments that he will always be with us.

That is what keeps me from being a worry wort all the time.

I'm so glad that I belong to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

What a magnificent feeling it is to know that there is a God and that Jesus Christ lives and that we will be with him and our families again.

Officer Francom and his family also have our same belief and I'm sure his wife is and has been feeling our Heavenly Father's love abundantly.

That day I took the younger boys with me to see the prosection and see Jeromy drive by.

I was in awe and all the officers from all the different states and local Utah cities come to support such a great officer.

Here are just some of the pictures hat I took.

(WARNING PICTURE OVERLOAD)

There's Jeromy!!  What a sexy officer I have!

The line kept going and going and going. 

I swear there was no end in sight!

It was amazing!!

We got to our parking spot across from Weber State around 11:30 am and we didn't leave until 2:00 pm.

I wanted to stay and see the end because for one your not supposed to leave when there's a procession and two I'd heard on the radio that morning that there where officers from New York and New Jersey there to give there support and three

I had to go pick up Justin from school at 3pm and traffic was backed up going the back way for miles.

Needless to say if that ever happens again I'll just pull all the boys out of school and we'll picnic on the side of the road until it's done.

It's an overwhelming sight to see how many officers, firefighters, citizens, and well wishers there were showing their support for an officer that gave his life trying to save another officers life.

He died doing what he loved and we are all grateful for his service to our country and to Ogden City.