1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

I am Sorry!

I know it has been a long time since my last post. I am FINALLY on my vacation. I will post as soon as I get home and tell you all about the great adventures that I am having!

Love and miss you all!

Sarah's Farewell

Sarah you will be missed! Love You!

OK, so a quick note about this picture. Did you notice that these ladies are sitting EXACT opposite of each other?

Slip 'N' Slide

When my family was over on Saturday we took out the Slip 'n' Slide. It was the most fun that the kids have ever had on that thing. Here are the pictures. Please notice that even Aunt Angel got in on the action!

Finally! Someone Likes My Idea!

I hosted my family for a BBQ on Saturday. I not only invited them over for dinner and fun, but I had ulterior motives as well. I wanted to go over family schedules with everyone so that we could schedule a few things. We always go to 7 Peaks as a family once a summer, so that needed to get scheduled. Alain wanted to plan out the season tickets for the BYU Football season.

I also wanted to propose an idea that I have been trying to get worked out for about, um... 6 years now. I proposed it with Lewis' family a few years back and everyone was excited to do it, but it never happened. People couldn't do it at the same time, or did not have the money. (Now most of them {minus Katie and Marty} have gone and done it already.) Marlo and I have also been talking about it for 3 years so I decided to take the plunge and ask the Balmanno's what they thought.

Oh Yeah! The idea. I suggested to the adults that we go to Disneyland for Christmas. Cris, Marlo and Alain were down with the idea just about from the start. I had done some research and I gave them the numbers, and they all agreed it was doable. My idea was that ALL of the siblings go with their spouses and kids, if applicable. Sam and Angel needed a little prodding, but came around to the idea. Even the kids, when asked if they would give up the gifts to go to Disney for Christmas, had an overwhelming positive response. Donna was just quite, but when asked she agreed it was a good idea. When Lewis was asked (I had not run the idea by him first) he responded with, "It is a fine idea, but I just figured that I did not have a say because this is the first that I have heard about it." Sorry dear! I was so excited that I forgot to talk to you.

So we are going to Disneyland for Christmas! I am totally excited. I wanted to take the kids since Adam was 3 or 4. And now we finally get to go! I have the best memories going with my family during the summers when I was growing up.

4th of July Night

So after the very boring day...

OK maybe I should explain why it was so boring. If you read my post below you will see that we did nothing for the "day" on the 4TH. Maybe this is normal for some people. Not for me. I have great memories of Independence Day when I was growing up. My dad was in the military for most of my life, so we spent many July 4Th's on military posts/bases. We always breakfasts (either at church or with my dad's work) followed by a parade and then a huge BBQ. We would then go swimming in the afternoon, or on a hike, or to a park. Then in the evening there was always a huge firework celebration. I LOVED the 4TH when I was young.

So now you can see why I thought Lewis laying around doing nothing (while I read my book), and the kids being bored out of their minds! was not a very fun way to spend a day.

... we did have plans for the night. Our friends Holly & Kyle and Connie & Tim invited the whole family out to a pig roast. Yes! We got there about 6:30pm. They live out near The Ranches. (And by the way, if you have not been out there recently it has changed. There is a gas station, stores, and restaurants. It is no longer in the middle of nowhere.) We thought that it would be big fun since I managed to cancel on them last year for the roast. (I got a bad sunburn and we were unable to attend.) When we got to Holly's we hung out for a while, took a tour of their house, and then headed next door to the party. Let me just tell you the backyard was to die for. Basketball court, volleyball court, Koi pond (with maybe 20 fish, including babies), playground, trampoline, playhouse and another acre or so of grass to spread out on and play.

The dinner was freshly pulled pork, lamb, all kinds of potato dishes, pasta salads, fruit and veggie trays, chips, cookies, watermelon, cupcakes, jell-o, and brownies. The kids were in heaven. I stopped counting after Adam had his 4Th dessert.

After dinner the kids played basketball with Lewis, bounced on the tramp, and played with the other kids that were there for a couple of hours. There was line dancing too...well 5 of us did the dancing. When it stated to get dark we cleared the tables and food and set up to watch the movie. Oh! Did I forget to mention that they had an outdoor theater screen attached to the back of their house? Yeah, they did. So we got out blankets and chairs, candy and popcorn too, and got set to watch Independence Day with Will Smith. Before the movie they had a clip of fireworks, short cartoon films (the golfing bear, and the birds for those of you who know what they are), and some patriotic videos set to song. (No real fireworks because of the wind and the lack of water.) By the time the movie was 1/3 of the way in it was 12:30am and Abigail was asleep. Adam and Haley were almost asleep too, but Jason just could not get comfy and he was grumpy so we decided to go home. Overall we had a great time. Thanks to our friends for inviting us out!

To spite the slow beginning of the day, the day turned out very well. Happy Independence Day!

*In all of the pictures, their yard is as far as the eye can see in each direction*

4th of July Day

We did not have plans for the 4Th of July until about 6 pm or so, so this is how the day was spent. Everyone slept in until about 10:30 (!) and then after breakfast or brunch, depending on who you ask, Lewis went back to bed for the remainder of the afternoon. I took the kids to the Dollar Store to get "prizes" and then to the park for a while. VERY fun in the 100 degree heat.

Yikes!

Today is the 4Th of July and we do not have anything to do until 6pm tonight. Since we were having a boring afternoon we decided to take the girls' braids out and see how crazy their hair could be. They loved this picture, so here it is. Oh what we will do when we have a boring afternoon on our hands.

Moon, Mars, Mayhem

We went to the Planetarium this week. It was great. The boys spent most of their time playing with the balls...

The girls read about the planets and visited the Moon and Mars...

With Jason and Cash having a brief stop over at the planets...

After that they did the weather. The pictures did not come out very well except for this one of Haley in her sunglasses. The rest were too dark or had horrible glare.

We went to play in the fountain after we were done at the planetarium. It was so dang hot that we only stayed for a little over 30 minutes. We let them enjoy 2 songs. After that we went for ice cream (as usual) at Ben & Jerry's. I always forget how crazy it is choosing ice cream. There are just too many choices. It took us about 20 minutes just to decide the flavors. And all of them but 1 took the same kind. Go figure. Oh well, it was fun as it always is. The kids get to play and I get to visit with other adults. It is a win/win situation. I need to enjoy these outings this summer because I think that next summer some of my kids (Adam) is going to feel too old to do things like the planetarium and fountains. I bet he will still want the ice cream though.

Who Loves Poison?

We Do!!!

I am going to the Poison concert tomorrow night at the Energy Solutions Arena! I am so excited. I watched Rock of Love and Rock of Love II religiously on VH1 this past year. Plus they are going to have Dokken and Sebastian Bach with them too! {And as we all know Sebastian Bach (Skid Row) played the wonderful Gil on Gilmore Girls.} I am taking 3 friends and it is sure to be a great time at the LIVE, RAW, AND UNCUT SUMMER TOUR 2008. I anticipate a very "Glam" night!

Then:

Now:

Sebastian Bach: