Alright so I've slacked off a bit on my blogging. I am going to attempt to update it as much as I can remember. Gino has been busy working lots of overtime and on his off days tries to take us hiking or riding. Brok has been playing football this year on the freshman team and has been doing awesome. They won their last game on Thursday to Sunrise Mountain in Las Vegas. Paytan is in 7th grade and staying busy. She is on the Student Council, Show Choir and Drill team. She even found time to squeeze in some volleyball games which she got mom to coach. Although I must say I don't think I was meant to be a volleyball coach. Tyler is still playing football. He plays a game tomorrow which will put us in the playoff since they haven't lost a game yet. We are hoping to take the championship for the 3rd year in a row. Yea, I know he's only in the 5th grade but they are an awesome team and yes I am a proud mom. I have awesome kids what can I say.:) Jace turned 6 in August and thinks he can tell everyone what to do, how to do it and when to do it and of course most of the time we do. My biggest challenge is trying to get him to keep his clothes on. He comes home from school and strips down to his underwear. He keeps us laughing daily. He was studying for his spelling test and I asked him to spell road. He said r.o.d. I said nope that's wrong and he said "No it's not mom. The A is silent so I don't have to say it." It was quite funny. I myself have been very busy trying to keep up with everyone and do my own thing. I no longer teach preschool out of my home and now teach at Sunshine Academy. I love it over there. It is so nice to have my own classroom and lots of resources I didn't have before. I am now trying to turn the preschool room in my home into a dining room. I also substitute aide on Monday, Wednesday and Friday's when needed. I got certified and now teach a spin class on Tuesday and Thursday evening. I haven't been doing it for long but love it and am glad to get a good workout in. Even though my days are busy and the weeks seem to fly by I love every minute of being a mother and teacher. I am so grateful for the blessings in my life and am grateful for an amazing family. Somedays are more hectic than others but I have learned to cherish the moments because they will be gone before I know it. Brok will be 15 in March and I remember the day he was born. Time has went by so fast. Thankfully Gino works hard to support all that we do. We are so grateful for his hard work and dedication to our family.




Gino, his sisters, Brok and Jacob my nephew

Paytan mowing Grandpa Rays lawn in Koosharem

Jace's 6th birthday

Tyler

Brok #47

My adorable afternoon preschool class.

4th of July Celebrations

We went to Koosharem for the 4th of July and had a blast. Tonya's parents own 2 or more acres up there so each year we just take out trailer and park it for the summer. This year we were able to go up for the 4th and had just a great time we will make it a point to go every year. It brought back memories of my childhood and the fun things we would do for the fourth. Since their main street isn't more than half a mile the parade was very short but very fun. Of course the boys in town spotted Paytan, Amber and DaNeigh immediately and so we were pelted with candy. Later we went to the park for games, food and fun. Oh yeah and a major water fight which I tried to stay out of as long as I could. Is all I'm saying is they started it. Tons of fun was had all around. I always take a moment and give thanks for the wonderful country we live in. I am so grateful to the men and women who serve our country.



This was my favorite "float" in the parade. I can't believe they got 2nd. Compared to the other floats they deserved first.

Grandpa Ray added flags to the golf cart and the kids drove it in the parade.

Waiting for the parade to start

Soaking wet and having fun

This is so funny. They had the kids catch the chicken and if you look to the far left you can see Jace against the fence and they've already caught the chicken. He wasn't to sure about this game.

What's the 4th without face painting

Good ole fashioned sack race.


Jace had a blast on the water slides


Yep, I got soaked. Tonya had Wayde so she escaped but I wasn't smart enough to keep my camera with me. You are never safe from a 17 year old with a bucket of water!!! Whether he knows you or not.

After dinner we drove down to Otter Creek to watch the fire works.
My crew waiting for the fire works to start. Notice the blue chairs in the truck. These are my favorite camping chairs ever. They recline and are so comfy. When we aren't camping they are on my patio. I got them for Gino for fathers day. You can't have just one right? :)

Amber,Emily,Kaeli,Bryli and Grandma Sharon (Tonyas Mom)

Tonya and Wayde

Fire works over Otter Creek

Bishop Family Reunion

Every two years my moms family gets together for a big reunion. This year was my Uncle Ross and Aunt Betty Rae's families turn to put it on. We always have the reunion in Oak City canyon since that is the closest to Delta Utah where they all grew up. They did an wonderful job keeping everyone occupied. First every one was divided into teams a red team and yellow team. Each day there were challenges for the teams ranging from water balloon launching, kick ball, relay race, 2 truths and 1 lie, mouse trap,crafts, sling ball, redneck horseshoes and my kids' favorite building the tallest tower out of things from either camp or around the camp ground. It was tons of fun and created a bond between family members. My kids look forward to the Bishop family reunion. Next year is our families turn so if you have any good ideas feel free to pass them on.

When Paytan saw this family tree that Aunt Betty Rae had taken time to prepare she was amazed at how many generations there were.

It all started with these two amazing people who left this earth way to soon. Grandma passed away in May of 81 and Grandpa passed away 6 months later. We didn't get much of a chance to see them when they were alive but the memories I have and the things I have heard over the years creates a deep fondness for them. They are so dear to me that even seeing pictures of them brings tears to my eyes.

Uncle Ross, Aunt Nada, Aunt Floy, Uncle Ken and Mom
Uncle Clynn is currently serving a mission so he was unable to attend the reunion but was greatly missed. His sons did a very good job as they would say of "representing" the family.
Each one of these people hold a very special place in my heart.

We are only short 6 cousins out of the whole family who were unable to make it.

Gino had taken a four wheeler ride the day before and found this spot. Yuba lake is behind us. The trail up was pretty treacherous and had my adrenaline pumping. In the trees the trail was off camber in a couple of spots which was fine but the next 30 feet of the trail was almost straight up and down. You literally had to lean over the handle bars just so the front of the quad wouldn't come up on you. Coming down was the opposite. You had to sit as far back as you could so the back end wouldn't come up on you. I had Tyler on behind me and he stuck with me on the way up but when Alex's girlfriend Patty said she was walking down so did all the rest of the little passengers. Those are my favorite kind of rides. Nothing like a good adrenaline rush!!!

Every family reunion my Awesome and Amazing Aunt Floy makes a huge pinata. This is always the kids' favorite part. My kids always take bets on what kind of pinata she is going to make.

Nothing like a good competition of Redneck Horseshoes

This was a fun game. Your partner had to guide you through the mouse traps without setting one off but, first you had to pick up the mouse that lay between or sometimes on the mouse trap.


Next is a series of pictures where we found a rope to climb up while on one of our trail rides.







Brok with Jeff's compound bow

A good game of kick ball is always a must

Water balloon launching. The kids had so much fun with this game. The target was 3 boxes stacked on top of each other that they had to try and hit with the water balloon.

Patty,Alex,Mom,Gino

All in a days work

Squash and Cucumber Garden

Tomatoe and onions

Finished Product


Ok so maybe it wasn't ALL in a days work. I took a day and tilled and planted my garden. Then a few days later I went and put miracle grow on it and my organic spray. Then at least once a week I check it to see how it's doing. Well now it is doing so well that I have to check it everyday. The veggies above are what I picked today. Normally we have more cherry tomatoes but my little Jacerman likes to snack on them while he is playing outside so this is what I'm left with. I was so excited to see my spagetti squash growing. I have never grown spagetti squash before. If any of you know what spagetti squash looks like I made it very obvious I didn't know what I was doing. So I show Gino what I had picked out of the garden this morning and he says "What's that?" I said "Spagetti squash" Isn't it supposed to be yellow. I don't know. Well he says isn't squash yellow? I said ya but zucchini is a squash and it's green. You're right he says but maybe you should look it up on google before you trying sharing with the neighbors. Needless to say Yes spagetti squash is a lite yellow. I am wondering if I super glue it back on the vine if it would finish ripening. Oh well I have six more on the vine and this time I will let them turn yellow.

Dumont Dunes

We haven't been to the dunes in 3 years and I forgot how much fun they are. The weather was awesome. It stayed around 75 degrees the whole time. The wind only blew on Friday for just a few hours and then the whole night. I can't wait to go back in October. I hope Gino gets me a quad by then. He sold mine a few years ago and now I wish I had it back. It's just not cool when your 12 year old daughter can kick your butt at the dunes.

Gino

Tyler

Brok

Paytan getting ready to take the hill.

The kids playing volleyball without the net.

Yeah!! Jace graduated from the 50 to the 80. After that we couldn't get him off the quad.

Ty sending up a pretty good roost on his 250.

YEAH!!!!

Paytan made student council. We are so proud of her. Way to go sis!! We love you and are so proud you are part of our family. You are a true blessing to your mother. Love ya

Jacers surgery

Jace was scheduled for surgery at 12:00 but we didn't get in until after 2. Again he waited patiently and didn't ask for anything to eat. He hadn't eaten since 10 the night before. Surgery lasted a little over 3 hours and everything went as planned. They went through the groin with a catheter and place a stint in the valve that was moved in his previous surgery. The valve was not opening so it was creating blockage which led to the veins in his neck bulging out. The stint is one that if his vein gets bigger as he grows they can go in with a catheter and expand the stint to fit properly. Another minor procedure but we will hope the Doctor is right when he says that probably won't need to happen. The only thing we need to watch is that it is a foreign object and his body could reject it. I feel good with the whole outcome and am pretty sure his body will accept the stint. Thanks to our wonderful home teachers Todd and Alex for coming to give Jace a blessing. I know the doctors were guided in making the right decision. Thanks to every one for your continued prayers and thoughts. He is doing amazing.

It's no wonder Jace likes going to the hospital. They have a Wii and we don't.

Driving to the O.R

The nurses and the anesthesiologist preparing him for surgery

Out like a light

Just out of surgery

After surgery he had to lay flat on his back with his leg strapped down so he couldn't move it for 6 hours to control bleeding.

I had to take this picture, it was just so cute. It was his first time walking after surgery and his nurse Jody was giving him a sticker.