More Pictures from Soapstone

So here are more of the pictures of us camping and mostly hanging out.

Bradley and Olivia

Ivy and Jeff chillin' in the trailer.

Olivia and Brooklyn waiting patiently for food.

Heather acting all grown up.

Olivia and Jeff relaxing by the fire.

Olivia with her backpack chair.

Brooklyn and Jacob

Amanda, Piper and Katie

Camping at Soapstone Basin

So let me be the first to say that I don't like camping. I hate bugs and being dirty, and lets be real that is what camping is all about. Richard loves camping and is always trying to convince me to go. We have gone less than a hand full of times since we been married.

We decided to go camping at Soapstone Basin over the 24th of July weekend. This trip was a group trip not only included my family but also my Mom, Heather, Ivy, Jeff, AnnDrea, Anthony, Jacob, Brooklyn, Katie, Trace and some other of AnnDrea's friends. We had a large camp site and three trailers there. Luckily we had enough room that nobody had to sleep in a tent.

The kids of course had a blast. Bradley is a little adventurer. He liked to go on hikes and explore the wilderness. He also is a firebug just like his dad. He helped keep the fire going and was very interested in how to start the fire and to put it out.

Olivia was my dirty dirty little camper. If there was dirt she was digging, or rolling in it. She didn't care how dirty she was, in fact it seemed if she was clean than she would not be happy until she was filthy again.

We also took our puppy Piper. At first she was a little confused and a little prissy. Not wanting to be dirty or go potty in the wilderness. But she got over that pretty quickly and she was just as dirty as Olivia and loved to explore just as much as Bradley.

All in all we had fun, even though we were filthy and the bugs feasted on us. Poor Bradley got the worst of the bug bites. He has over twenty and can't stop itching. I always knew he was sweet. I am not saying I liked camping, but I will never go in a tent again, now that I done the trailer thing. We already have two more trips planned this year, so I guess for now I am a camper. We will see if this last!

~Amanda

**Look for more to come as soon as I get more of the pictures**

A new habit for Olivia

So I got on her to tell you how cute and precious my daughter has become. Olivia has now developed a habit of putting a Y or IE sound on as many words as you can think of. For example; gum is now gummie; up is now cuppie; nose is nosey, but not in the bad way! Sometimes it takes a little bit to decipher what she is saying. But you can usually figure it out quick.




She also has a huge attachment to our puppy Piper. Unfortunately for Piper the attachment is right around the neck and most of the time pretty tight. Piper is a good sport and will hold still for some time, until Olivia least expects it then Piper bolts. Or she tries as is the case most of the time, then we have a yelping puppy and a little girl who's in trouble.


So all that is cute normal girl stuff right. I was going to to say what a little princess she is and ... But as I was getting ready to type Richard told me what happened when he put her to bed. The following is his story, probably not word for word.


As she was walking down the stairs she stepped on something and was crying because her "footy hurt." Richard picked her up and carried her the rest of the way to bed and inspected the injury to see the seriousness of the wound. Don't worry no blood, no broken skin, no big deal. However he did notice how dirty her "footy" was, pretty bad, but he had seen worse. So he said "Olivia Ewww you have dirty feet!" Then she answered by pulling her foot up to her face and licking it. YES LICKING IT!!!! Richard tried not to laugh and encourage it even though she did it three or four more times while Richard was trying to get her to stop. Olivia said she was cleaning her footy. Richard told her it was gross, Olivia responded saying it was YUMMY!! Her room was full of giggles.


So much for my cute little princess. She really is just fine being filthy while Bradley would rather be clean. Sometimes I wish that trait would have been switched in the two of them. OH Well! I guess Olivia will just have to have nightly feety inspections on non-bath nights from now on!!!

My wonderful Husband

I know how wonderful my husband is. He is a great provider and caring role model. He goes out of his way to help anyone who needs it. My children love and adore him. My family loves him. My own mother would chose him over me saying that if we (God forbids) ever get a divorce she is going to keep him and not me. And I really think she would!!! He is, in my view, the most exceptional employee. He goes above and beyond what is asked of him at his job. Now don't get me wrong, I agree he should. If not to go further in the company, but to better himself.

Now he is being recognized at his work through a newsletter that is sent out company wide. Not necessarily for the work he does at his job, but for the community service he has done through his work. I am so proud to be his wife, so I thought I would give you all a first look at what is going to be published.

Dannon Newsletter:

Human Interest Section:

Richard Haroldsen, an employee at our West Jordan plant, is an active member of his community! For the past five years, Richard has dedicated much of his time to Camp Hobé - a summer camp designed for children with cancer and their siblings. Camp Hobé gives kids the opportunity to participate in camp activities just like healthy children whose families are not affected by cancer. The camp program provides medical and psychosocial supervision to ensure children are safe both mentally and physically. Created in 1985, Camp Hobé is administered and run almost entirely by volunteers. Richard first heard about Camp Hobé through his sister-in-law Ivy, who has been an active volunteer at the camp for almost twelve years. A few years ago, the West Jordan Plant created a committee especially dedicated to doing work in our community and Camp Hobé was suggested by Richard as a possible organization to partner with. Since then, Richard and other West Jordan employees have made numerous donations to the camp, which include money, Dannon yogurt, flashlights, Frisbees, sunscreen, and bottled water among other things. As a token of appreciation, the camp invites all its corporate sponsors to a ‘VIP Night’ - where all can spend a few hours at the camp and experience how it functions. The visit includes a tour, doing activities with the kids as well as a campfire presentation.

He truly is my rock, and his heart is so big that I sometimes forget and get jealous or upset that he is so willing to help anyone anytime. So this post may be more for me, to remind of one reason I fell in love with him in the first place. So the next time he is off helping or volunteering I know his heart is right where it should be, caring and loving his family and friends.

~Amanda

Mary Mary Quite Contrary...

So how does my garden grow?

Well pretty much on it's own. As much as I would love to say that these beautiful flowers were because of my skill and tender care, it really is just luck.

Lillies are my favorites. My mom bought me these for our first Easter in this house over three years ago. It started out as just one plant and has "had babies" many times over. Even after my dog dug them up several times. But this year they are the most beautiful they have ever been.

The roses were here before we were. In fact we didn't we had them until after we moved in. They grow like weeds no matter how much we cut them back. And believe me, I probably butcher them because I really don't know what I am doing.

These are my new pride and joy. A flowering clematis vine. I can actually say that I have had to work some for these. After they were planted it got hot and I didn't think they would make it. However they have started to fill the trellis Richard built and I am getting wonder flowers.

Pretty nice for little to no work. I am starting to be more hands on with the flowers. Next year we are going to try for vegetables. Wish me luck!

~Amanda