A Day in Salt Lake City

The kids on the steps of SLC Temple

Natalie and Elena show us Angel Moroni

The kids holding onto the Iron Rod!

On July 1st we all piled into our car and Sara's car for a trip to Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It was a fun trip. Our first stop was the Church History Center. We saw lots of neat displays of the pioneers and also of the latter day Prophets. So many amazing things have been done by members of the LDS church. The kids favorite part was the Primary room where they got to "play". They were so cute.

Natalie and Elena in a bed that would have been on a boat as the pioneers crossed the ocean

Warren the Temple Builder!

Then we went to Temple Square where the kids looked inside the Tabernacle, the Assembly Hall and walk around the Salt Lake Temple. They would have enjoyed going in the reflecting pool and any water possible.

Kids in front of the SLC Temple

The Wolfley Family!

After Temple Square we met up with my "Utah Cousin", John ZoBell and his sons. We ate dinner at the famous Training Table where we ate a few too many cheese fries. Then John took us to the Infamous East High School, where High School Musical was filmed. The girls were very excited. It sure looks different in the movie. Unfortunately the school was not opened after 2pm and it was 6pm. We got the outside tour which was great. They got to see the front lobby and the "wildcat", the cafeteria where so many great songs were sung and the homeroom window from outside. It was fun to see and a great time to catch up with John after a number of years before he and his boys headed off to The Hill Cumorah Pageant. A very fun day.

The Girls at East High!

The Wolfley's at East High...Vern didn't want to be in the photo, what a good sport.

Hiking in Little Cottonwood Canyon

The kids at a cool tree! Warren the hiker!

The crew at the falls

On June 30th we hiked up to Donut Falls. It was a great hike for the kids. They loved that there was water in the creek that we walked along. They were great looking at all the different types of nature around. Vern and the older kids tried to cross the creek at the top, but it was a little too deep. Not to mention the water was mighty chilly! The best part was that there was actually water flowing from the waterfall, unlike our Waterfall Hike in the White Tank Mts.

Vern and Kindy at the Falls

That evening we went to the Perkins home in Orem and enjoyed visitng with the Perkins family. It is wonderful because even though it has been a while since visiting with them, we can still chat and carry on as if no time has passed. True friends. Thanks for letting us come to your home.

Kindy and Rebekah

Chillin In Utah

We drove up to Utah on Friday night for a week to hang out with the Bodily Family and firends! We've had a great time so far.
Saturday night (6/27) I had a mission reunion. Since I was at the tail end of The Clegg's mission I knew only a few that came that evening. It was good to see two former comps and the Clegg's. They are all great people. The kids loved playing at a great park in Holladay with all the other gazillion kids. The weather was perfect.
On Sunday the kids loved being able to walk to church and having dad sit with us, until he had to take the boys out to the foyer, with half of the other kids in the ward.
Today was a great day. I started the morning out with a run at 4500 ft. in altitude as oppsed to 1100 ft. in AZ. It was good the first mile, then the second mile was all uphill. I hope it will get easier as the week progresses.

Later this morning we all went to the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple Open House. The kids did great and I think they enjoyed it. The temple is beautiful! The kids really liked the cookies at the end too.

The Wolfley and Bodily Family with Grandma Wolfley outside the Temple

The Wolfley Family at the Temple

Meghan on the Oquirrah Mt. Temple Grounds

This afternoon while the kids slept and played with their cousins, Vern and I ran off to Church Distribution. I found Johnny Lingo! I was so excited! We watched it for FHE tonight and introduced it to the next generation. Hopefully the love will continue.
The kids are loving just playing and playing! I love it that they are so happy! I hope it lasts!

9 Years and Counting

Happy 9th Anniversary to Vern and me today! 9 years ago amidst hot weather, forgetting the ring in the truck, waiting and crumpling my dress, tons of family and friends, Vern and were married in the Mesa Arizona LDS Temple. It was a wonderful day! Every time I think back to our wedding day I think of so many wonderful memories. Gratitude for all that made the day go off smoothly for Vern and I...especially all the hard work that went into it before the wedding. Thanks. Most importantly I married Vern in the right place, by the a person with the right authority (my dad) and at the right time! I loved Vern then, but like in Brad Paisley's current song, "Then", I truly love him more everyday.
I went through my wedding pictures today and thought I would share some with everyone to remember that great day!

The Sherwood Family 2000, add 31 more people today and you've

got our family with one on the way for Greg and Nicole.

The Wolfley Family 2000, plus 12 more people today

The Wedding Party - Daniel Wolfley, Nancy Davis (Hunt), Dennis Wolfley, Kari Sherwood Rockwood, Clarke Layton, Rebekah Perkins Crawford, William H. Sherwood, Kathy Sherwood, Kindy Wolfley, Vern Wolfley III, Eileen Wolfley, Vern Wolfley, Jr.




The fabulous chocolate cake that I only got a little bit of...thanks wolfley boys.

In 9 years we have had quite a time. Here are 9 thoughts for the 9 years.

We have lived in a cute little apartment in Tempe and our current home in Litchfield Park.

We have had 5 beautiful children and love watching them grow, and marvel at what they teach us.

Vern had odd jobs when we married, but for the past 7 years has worked at Dysart USD. Kindy began as the bread winner at Camp Fire Boys and Girls, but has managed to stay at home while doing small jobs for Picture Me Foundation, substitute taught at Dysart USD and presently tend 3 children at home with all the others.

We have had many wonderful family vacations; Hawaii, cross country to Tennessee, Wyoming, Yellowstone, Washington State, Lopez Island, Puerto Penasco (aka Rocky Point), Colorado Springs, San Diego. They have all been very memorable and wonderful!

We have owned 4 cars. Ford F250 Full Size Truck(still running after 12 years), Frontier Truck (sold when we were pregnant with Elena), VW Passatt (Timing belt broke 3 weeks before Little Vern was born) and now our Ford Expedition EL.

Had great callings in church. Vern has worked with the Young Men in Scouts and now serves in our wards Bishopric. Kindy was the Enrichment Leader for the Relief Society in Tempe, then was the Activities Leader in Litchfield Park and now serves in the Primary as the Chorister (yes you can laugh, I don't have a great voice at all).

We have had lots of endurance events we have participated in. They began small with a 1 mile Turkey Trot in Mesa in 2000. They now include 6 Triathlons for Kindy (one was a world record with her family), Pioneer Trek for Vern, Pat's 4.2 mile run for Vern and 2 10Ks for Kindy. We have also done other small fun runs and 5Ks. We are trying to stay active so as to keep our waists at a good size. We are constantly working on it.

Camping has always been a constant in our family. Whether sleeping under the stars, to surviving wind gusts that were crazy we love doing it together. And eating Vern's tasty dutch oven cooking and gooey s'mores. (although my kids sure like toasted starbursts, thanks Drew)

Being together. A few years ago I asked Vern (after we lost once again in a Newlywed game type thing at his families house) what he truly likes to do. (I wanted to be prepared next time we played). He said that he likes to create and build things with the tools in the garage. Then I asked him if he know what I truly love to do. He couldn't pin point one thing, but he summed it up perfectly when he said, "whatever it is, you like to do it together as a family." He hit it dead on. I love being with my family. Maybe it is a curse being a middle child, but nothing makes me more happy than when we are all together. It doesn't matter what we are doing, as long as there is minor arguing. I am grateful for my chance to be a mother and wife. It is the dream coming true each day that I dreamed of when I was a young girl. Thanks Vern! I love you!

I'm not a bad mom

Today was Meghan's visit at the AZ Pediatric Dentist office. We got good news and bad news. The good news is that her teeth problems are not due to neglect on our part. She has bad teeth. While they were developing they didn't do it correctly so they are low on enamel or something like that, so their decay is bound to happen. So I am not a bad mom because I don't take the best of care with her teeth. The dentist was great and Meghan sat great for her x-rays. The bad news was even before the dentist saying anything I could see in her xrays that her teeth are crowding below. Ugh. Orthordontists in the future, also to help fix her teeth from her thumb sucking habit. Better start saving now. So she is going to have some serious work done on her teeth in three weeks. All in all, financially, we are paying pretty much what we would have paid at our dentists for the same work, plus the fee for sedation. So wish us luck on June 4th that they can get it all done that day!

The Dentist Visit(s)

Why is it that you can feel like a good mother until you take your kids to the dentist? Don't get me wrong...going to the dentist 2 times a year is important and we do that, but when they come and tell you the problems your children's teeth have I just want to hide. Ugh!

2 weeks ago we all went and Meghan had her first visit. Her teeth have some major issues. Since she wouldn't sit still they referred her to a pediatric dentist. That dentist doesn't take our insurance, of course, and come to find out no pediatric dentist does. We can get a 25% discount. So, being frugal I called our provider and found a dentist that would take Meghan (she is only 3 1/2 years old). Tuesday morning I got a babysitter for my boys and took off to North Tucson, okay South Chandler, for her dentist appointment. After an hour drive we walk in the door and the receptionist says, I tried to call you and tell you the doctor can't see you today. (She called at 10:15am when the appointment was at 11:40am). Then she tells me that the doctor said that she shouldn't have made the appointment because Meghan is took young. Ugh. Luckily for the lady I am a nice person and said, okay and have a nice day. So we returned home and after a 2 1/2 hour trip I called the Pediatric Dentistry on our list and made an appointment for tomorrow, Thursday. It is about 5 minutes from my house. I tried to find a cheaper way to get the work done, but no go. Bummer. I hope Meghan does well for the dentist tomorrow and we can get it taken care of quickly!
On a good note, Meghan is out of pull ups at night and has been dry for 3 nights straight! Wahoo!

Love 31 Cent Night

We love Baskin and Robbins 31 Cent Scoop Night! Each year we love going and getting two tasty flavors that normally we wouldn't get because of cost. This year was fun. Natalie, Elena, a neighbor girl Emily and I rode our bikes to our Baskin and Robbins.(not very far at all, so don't think we are very amazing). We got there and the line wasn't very long. We saw friends from church and school there. The best part for me was the girls had brought their own money to pay for their ice cream. They weren't even upset. Yeah! I found out later that Elena had even loaned Natalie the money because she couldn't find her wallet. They did this all in happiness and kindness. Yeah!!!!!!!!!! We enjoyed eating our ice cream on the sidewalk with other friends and loved it! A fun time together!