A True Family Trip

Here are a few pictures put into a Smilebox of our family vacation we took at the end of June / beginning of July. It took a while to get it all together and believe it or not this is only a select few of the pictures we took. It is a bit long so I hope you enjoy it. The trip was fabulous and we didn't want it to end.

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Top 10 Things Made With Chocolate

Happy National Milk Chocolate Day!!! This week's top ten is in honor of National Milk Chocolate Day, which is in fact TODAY! This list was very hard to limit to only ten things because so many wonderful things are made with chocolate. So to honor this day we all need to go out and enjoy our favorite chocolate or maybe even try something new. Enjoy!

1. Scott’s Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies - Everyone who tries them loves them. You can't eat just one, or two, or three...
2. Mississippi Mud Cake - One of Scott's favorites. The marshmallow and coconut really make this a treat along with the chocolate.
3. Lori’s Final Exam Brownies - Lori's specialty. They are some of the richest brownies ever.
4. Sundy’s Traditional Birthday Cake (Chocolate Apple Nut Cake) - A tradition started by Grandma T and carried on by Scott.
5. Better Than S*x Cake - This is Scott's other favorite. The name speaks for itself.
6. Fudge - Pure heaven!
7. Oreo Cookies - No matter how old you are they still make you feel like a kid.
8. Death by Chocolate Ice Cream - A delicious ice cream with chocolate everything.
9. Swiss Cake Rolls - Little treats that satisfy the chocolate craving.
10. Sundy’s Veins - Scott swears her blood is chocolate, not plasma and hemoglobin.

School's Back In Session

Yesterday was the first day of school for the new year. Yes, we start earlier than most but it is a small price to pay when you get a two week fall break, a three week winter break, a two week spring break and six weeks off for the summer. It is the best schedule and we love it! Kiara is now in 5th grade and Katia is in 4th. They both love their new teachers and are very excited for all the activities that they will be able to participate in this year. They sure are growing up.

New Kritter In The House

Ever since Katia's leopard gecko, Kleopatra died she has been wanting another one. So for Katia's birthday Kiara promised to buy her a new one. Yesterday Kiara finally got Katia a new one. It is a girl and she has some great coloration and is very fast so Katia named her Komet. She has been getting along great with Kialeana and the rest of us. Here are a few pictures of her.

Top 10 Things Associated With The Pioneers

This week's top ten is in honor of Pioneer Day. Pioneer Day is an official Utah state holiday celebrated on July 24th, with some celebrations in regions of surrounding states originally settled by Mormon pioneers. It commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Here are a few things that we associate with the Mormon pioneers.

1. Handcarts - Carts used to carry belongings and supplies that had two wheels and were pushed and pulled by the pioneers. Many pioneers had to settle for these since they couldn't afford the wagons and oxen.
2. Covered Wagons - The luxury sedan of the time. Animals required to pull. Carried a lot more supplies and belongings than handcarts.
3. Horses - Helped pull the covered wagons as well as pioneers.
4. Oxen - Helped pulled the wagons too.
5. Pioneer Day - An official holiday in Utah on July 24th.
6. Long Skirts and Bonnets - Pioneer fashion.
7. Brigham Young - The leader of the church who directed the exodus from Nauvoo to Salt Lake.
8. Treks - A lot of stakes do these to get a feel of what the pioneers went through.
9. Salt Lake City - "This is the place." Famous words from Brigham Young when he entered the Salt Lake valley.
10. Heritage - Hard work and self reliance.

Top 10 Flavors of Ice Cream

This weeks' top ten is in honor of National Ice Cream Month. National Ice Cream Month is a relatively new “official” celebration, even though most people have been unofficially celebrating ice cream during the hot summer months for more than a century. It all started in 1984, when President Ronald Reagan declared July as National Ice Cream Month. Another great thing to come from Reagan. Who doesn't love ice cream. There are so many flavors to choose from and they seem to invent more each year. Some of our favorites are below.

1. Rocky Road
2. Fudge Revel
3. Peppermint
4. Blue Bunny's Bordeaux Cherry Chocolate
5. Peanut Butter Chocolate
6. Blue Bell's Homemade Vanilla
7. Cookies and Cream
8. Cookie Dough
9. Mint Chocolate Chip
10. Fry’s Death By Chocolate

(our NEW favorite! And it sometimes goes on sale for $2 a box!)

Top 10 Things To Do When You're “BORED”

This week's top ten is in honor of National Anti-Boredom Month, which is July. Sundy's dad always used to say, "Only boring people are bored." We've tried to teach that to our own children. "Bored" is a bad word in our house! :o) Here are some of the ways that we fend off the terrible tragedy of boredom:

1. Read a Book - Sundy’s personal favorite!
2. Cross Stitch - Sundy’s other favorite pass time as evidenced by our many framed works of art and stitchery.
3. Write Top 10 Lists - We do this together!
4. Play Games - our favorites: Skip-bo, Saygo, Hand and Foot, and Yatzee.
5. Scrapbook - Wish we had more time to give to this hobby.
6. Pray - “...watch and pray continually that ye may not be tempted...” Alma 13:28
7. Videography - Scott’s personal favorite! Check out his you-tube video. Type in “Road to Bethlehem” to see one of his creations!
8. Go for a Walk - This is how we fell in love - walking in the moonlight!
9. Exercise - We are both trying to do this better....
10. Blog - a fun thing to do together, and keeps grandparents feeling closer to their "favorite" (wink wink) granddaughters!

Top 10 Reasons We LOVE America

This is last week's top ten that we did not post because of being on vacation and not having access to our computer and the list. This list is in honor of Independence Day. God Bless America!

1. Our Freedom – The Promised Land as long as we are righteous.
2. The American Dream - Capitalism is not dead yet.
3. Football - The New York Jets ROCK!
4. Broadway Musicals - "Give my regards to Broadway..."
5. The Constitution – An inspired document!
6. Democracy - Long live the Republic.
7. Fireworks – Celebration and Excitement!
8. Our United States of America Flag - The red, white and blue.
9. The National Anthem - "O say can you see..."
10. “Purple Mountains Majesties...” - Rocky Mountain high.