Minnetonka Cave

Otherwise known as Willie Wonka Cave as Logan called it.  I have heard so much about this cave but we had never ventured over the mountain to see it.    We finally decided this was the summer we were going to check it out.  Alex has really developed an interest in geology so I figured this would be a great outing. 
While we were waiting to go into the cave we noticed a ton of chipmunks around.  Andy got some food out of the car to feed them.  They were quite the beggars and the boys loved watching them run all over.
The cave had a ton of stairs and it was cold but the boys loved it.  There were so many cool formations and it was amazing to see nature at work.    The boys favorite part was when they turned off all of the lights in the cave and they saw how truly dark it was.
On the way out of the canyon we spotted something off in the distance.  When we got out of the car we discovered it was a bull moose.  We sat and watched for about 10 minutes as it splashed around.  Then Andy decided to cross the fence and the moose stopped and stared him down.  I thought for sure he was going to charge him.  Luckily, we all made it out in one piece.
What would a trip to Bear Lake be without a raspberry shake?  After the cave we went to La Beau's for a yummy shake and french fries.  As luck would have it one of my favorite families from Oregon was at a family reunion in Bear Lake so we were able to catch up with them for a bit.  I was sad we didn't take a picture with them. 

Bear Lake

Andy the chipmunk whisperer

The boys

One of the cool formations

The groom formation

Can you see the moose?

YUM!!

July 24th

We had fun celebrating the pioneers and even tried a couple of pioneer recipes.  The first was making butter.  The boys love this project and I love that it takes so much of their energy to do it:)  The second was making ice cream in a bag.  This was a little harder than the butter but it was so good.
We also went to Logan's 24th parade.  The one good/bad thing about living in a small town is they throw candy at the parades still.  My boys had TONS of candy.  They had fun playing in the gutter before the parade and even during watching as pieces of taffy went floating down stream.
That night we enjoyed fireworks at the park.  It was a fun day to honor our pioneer heritage.

Butter making

Ice cream making

YUMMY!!!

Summer fun

Way TOO loud!!

Water Fun

What is the best way to beat the summer heat?  Water of course and this weekend we did plenty of playing in it.  On Friday we went to a local creek that runs through a park.   Everyone had a blast playing and cooling off in the water.
The next day we went up to First Dam and played in the lake.  Andy takes any chance he can to play and be a kid.  As soon as we got to the lake he was right in the water with the boys.  Even more so as the boys said it was too cold.  Andy was of course jumping off cliffs into the water and chasing the boys and then dunking them. 

Just a cool picture

Trying to decide to get in

Dunking of Logan

Dunking of Alex

Andy was doing some football conditioning move in the water.

My boys

What little boy doesn't love to skip rocks?

What is a pioneer?

I have always heard the term pioneer and envisioned dusty trails, bonnets, dresses and wagon trains. I always admired my pioneer ancestors and everything they so willingly gave up to stay true to the Gospel. I have some awesome ancestors, even one raised from the dead. I come from good folk.
Today as I sat in church I thought about the pioneers a little differently. I thought of our sweet Emma, who in her own way is a pioneer. She has created a trail for our family to follow to return to Heaven some day. If we do what is right here we will soon make it back to the peace and sanctity that we have been promised.
Then as we sang the closing hymn the 2nd verse hit me so hard. The words go as follows:
Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?
’Tis not so; all is right.
Why should we think to earn a great reward
If we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.
Our God will never us forsake;
And soon we’ll have this tale to tell—
All is well! All is well!
Our family is simply writing the next chapter in our tale. It is a hard, sad chapter. But we our promised so many things if we just keep going. I can't imagine all that the pioneers went through. Many of them buried there babies on the trail never to visit them again. When they got to the Salt Lake Valley all they found was a desolate wasteland. I am sure they were thinking what have we gotten ourselves into? Eventually through their hard work and faith everything blossomed and life got better.
I can learn a lot from the pioneers strength and dedication. I hope someday when my grandkids and great-grandkids tell stories of their crazy Grandma Rasmussen that they can see the strength and rely on my stories to help them on their own pioneer journey back Home.

2 months to go

I am not sure if you have noticed the button on the side of my blog. It would be so awesome if we could get the word out to everyone we can. We have already been able to help 2 families thanks to some awesome donations. We have just 9 weeks before Emma's birthday so if you haven't made it over to the website what are you waiting for? Please post the button on your blog. I wish I had some cool prize for everyone that did that but I don't. Just know that you are helping so many families.
And a big THANK YOU to those who have donated so far. We have had people do lemonade stands with the proceeds going to Emma's Ensembles, we have had people send leftover material and lace, we have people who have posted the button to their blog. It is the little things that make a BIG difference!! We appreciate every single one of you for helping to do your part for Emma and all her angel friends.

Brigham City Temple

Our neighbor had told us they would be placing the Angel Moroni on the temple on July 12th.  I thought that would be a cool experience for my boys to have.  I was disappointed Andy was out of town and couldn't go with us.  It was a cold, windy day so we weren't sure if they would still do it.
Logan had ball camp in the am so I knew we would be cutting it close to get there by noon.  When we got to BC the town was packed.  I have never been to Brigham City so I wasn't sure where to go.  We spotted a parking spot and decided to just walk and find the best viewing area.  We ended up down by the local cemetery and laid out our blanket and snacks.  The starting time came and went and nothing was happening.  The crane kept going up to test the wind and then would come right back down.  finally after an hour we were all hungry and didn't think they would do it that day.  We left to grab some lunch and then waited to make a decision.
After getting lunch the skies had cleared so we decided to try one more time and see if it would be a go for that day.  We drove as close as we could and as we did we noticed the crowds had thinned significantly.  We were able to park and then sit at the tabernacle directly across the street.  Within 5 minutes of sitting down the horns blew and the process started.
It was so cool to slowly see the Angel being lifted to the top of the temple.  It took a while for it to finally be in place but it was amazing to watch.  I am so glad we took the time to go and see this awesome sight.
We had 2 cool experiences on this day.  The first was that patience truly does pay off.  So many people left town and we almost did the same thing.  How many times in life do the storms clouds roll in and we just leave and not wait for it to pass?  The skies was gorgeous once they started and I know that it was an answer to many prayers.  Prayers and faith really can make things happen.
The other cool thing happened as we were sitting on the lawn as they were fastening the Angel internally to the temple.  Some back story first.  There is an analogy among those who have lost babies that compares them to butterflies.  Several blogs I have seen have talked about how at significant times in their life they have been able to see a butterfly and know there child is with them.  As we were sitting on the lawn this gorgeous swallow tail butterfly flew within inches of my face and landed on the pine tree behind me.  It stayed in that tree for a good 10 minutes.  I knew that our Sweet Emma was there with us and heaven and earth were truly very close at that moment.
I am so grateful for both of these experiences as they truly have helped in my healing process.  Heavenly Father knows us and knows what we need.  He will never leave us alone to deal with things.  We just have to ask and he will be there by our side.

This is our view from the cemetery

The boys as Moroni was being placed

Mama and the boys

Our blessing from heaven

The Angel Moroni in place

Itsy Bitsy Ball Camp

As Alex has participated in sports Logan always asks if he can play too.  I hate having to tell him no he is still too young.  One day as I was listening to the radio I heard about this sports camp for 3-5 year olds.  I went home and looked it up and knew it would be perfect for Logan.
The camp was 4 weeks long, 2 days a week.  Each week was focused on a different sport, frisbee, soccer, baseball and basketball.  He had so much fun and learned a lot about each sport.

Free Slurpee Day

My boys anxiously await for July 11th to come every year.  Last year they were bummed that it was on a Sunday and we couldn't go.  I knew this year we couldn't miss it.  The slurpees were so good and just what you need to beat the summer heat.

Final Space Shuttle

Most people don't know that one of my dreams in life was to be an astronaut.  I love science and thought that would be the coolest job on the planet.  As an assignment in high school we had to research our dream job and why.  As I researched I found out I couldn't be an astronaut due to me being too short.  I was so bummed that day that I would never be able to fly into space.
When the day came too watch the last space shuttle launch I knew I wanted to watch with my boys.  It honestly was emotional for me to watch as the plumes of smoke started and the shuttle lifted off for the last time.  It brought back memories of watching in school as the Challenger lifted off and then watching that devastation.  I was glad to see all went flawless on this last flight.  I really hope that is not the last time I will be able to watch that beautiful sight.
My boys really enjoyed the experience as well.  Logan was worried when he saw the fire but we quickly explained that was a good thing.  Who knows maybe one day one of them will fly into space?

4th of July

One nice thing about living where we do is the fireworks are never on the 4th of July.  I know that sounds lame but it allows us to see even more fireworks that way.  We watch the firework show up here one night and then go down and see family the next night and get another show.  This year we didn't stay over night so the whole drive back we were seeing fireworks.  I have never had my own personal 90 minute show.  It was awesome!!
Andy got 2 tickets to the freedom show so he and Alex went to that while Logan and I stayed home and played.  Right before the firework show we went to our grocery store parking lot where we set up to watch the fireworks.  We all had a great time even though we weren't together.
We didn't have any plans for the weekend except playing together as a family.  Well my spontaneous husband decided after church that we were going to go down to Salt Lake.  We spent the night there and then went to a breakfast out in Copperton.  The boys had fun playing on the playground and Alex and I even participated in a potato sack race together.
The 4th of July is my favorite holiday.  I love being able to focus on the blessings of freedom and spending time with my family.

Waiting for the fireworks

Logan and the great view we had

Flag lasagna

Fireworks and family.  What more can you ask for?



Patriotic strawberries

Cars 2

Movies are a big deal in our house.  I am not much of a movie fan so it takes a lot for me to go out to the theater.  I decided to splurge and not only take the boys to the theater but also get them treats.  They had a lot of fun eating the treats.  Logan is not a person who sits still but I thought this movie would hold his attention, it didn't.  I will say I wasn't too impressed with this one so I don't blame him.  It was fun just to spend the afternoon with my boys.