Summertime Partaaay!

I do want to document all the great fun we've been having this summer.... It's just that to do that I have to stay up very late at night when I should really be sleeping! So, here goes with the quickie captions!

Sam's Mom and Step-Dad Tony came to visit. Lots of fun was had, with cookie baking, trips to the zoo, smashing of geodes, playing in the hammock etc..!

This is the gorgeous view from the Heber Creeper. My Mom and Dad were here visiting and decided to take all their grandkids that live in Utah on this little adventure. Lots of fun, and lots of kids!! There was even a robbery! Yikes! :)

Well, we forgot to take the camera to the parade on the 4th (3rd) of July, but Sam said we were so cute he had to snap this one when we got back.

Fun with friends! Our good friends the Johnsons hosted everyone in their back-yard and the kids had a blast in this bouncy-house water slide! Woo hoo! Thanks for the good time! A note about the smoking mailbox, I guess this is what happens to a girl when she grows up with three brothers closest to her age, and her only sister is spaced at ten years apart.... I love fireworks/fire!! Yay!

On to the big fireworks with more friends. We had such a fun day and the kids were absolutely pooped by the end of it all!! We love summer!!

Well...

I'm kind of stuck blogging with my phone pictures. There will be many great pictures... they're just stuck in limbo right now. It seems that my computer has finally run out of space when it comes to my constant chronicling of family activities. Sam has bought an external hardrive and as soon as I can get it running and clear some space, we'll be back in business! The kids and I have been very busy. Sam's Mom and Hubby were here for a week of visiting, reading, eating, cooking, shopping, etc.. After they left it was Father's Day and now my Parents are here on an impromptu visit to help with Dallin. Dallin is my nephew who recently was hospitalized with pneumonia. He is finally doing better though and miraculously was able to come home under close supervision and continued medication. Prayers have definitely been answered and we're all so grateful! We went on a fun ride on the Heber Creeper with Gma and Gpa Livingston and those pictures are on my real camera. It was allot of fun and so beautiful up there! The kids were pretty excited about the train "robbery" too. More to come... Hope everyone's enjoying their summer!

Elle in a Park City Gallery

The kids enjoying some ice cream in Park City

Lagoon Day with friends!

And I came home from the store to find this: Sam's mom reading to all the kids-neighbors included.. :)

Slowly but Surely

Slowly but Surely the summer is getting off to a start.

Normally this time of year, we're already dying of heat-stroke. Not this year. But that's ok, we've made do. The kids have had plenty of time to play with friends, and make lots and lots of messes.

I was working in the yard and came in to find this: Sam was so sweet and thoughtful and got me these:
Reese went to Scout day camp, now wants a bb gun and whittled/found these:


This is par for the course around here:


Elle has been keeping me company doing lots of this:

The kids are thrilled to be at their swim lessons, as you can see here:

Audrey insisted on buying this:

And with the high school kids gone, I can do a whole lot of this:

Happy Summer!!

What a Party!

We've had a whirlwind around us this last weekend and part of the fun was celebrating Audrey's 11th Birthday. We started out the festivities with a little game of bowling followed by some laser tag. It was of course a bit difficult to get pictures in the dark, but what I did get you can see in the collages below. Just click them to see bigger.

Here they are, the cousins bowling league!

Lindsey and Audrey had their chest bump they did to celebrate, Reese jumped around like a leprechaun, and there was all kinds of screaming going on. Especially from the three boys.

After the party my sister took all the boys and Elle down to her house for a sleepover, leaving the big girls to themselves... Before they left, Elle got in on watching these crazy girls peeling off their facials. They all slept in Audrey's room and Lindsey dared to brave sleeping in the loft.

The birthday girl on her Birthday morning, happily enjoying her new requested long board and webkinz. I had the most fun I've had in a long time when I decided to lay down on the long board and let Audrey push me at top speed face forward, flying down the street. I laughed so hard I cried, especially when she tried to stop me and all I felt was my flip flops being pulled off!! Thanks for all the fun in the last 11 years! You really are one of a kind and we love you so much and are so proud of you!

xoxoxo LOve Mom and Dad

Other posts following up our weekend can be seen below, I've been a little busy for blogging so I had to do them in one big clump!

Swan Lake and Our Little Star

I am so proud of Audrey, and honestly a little amazed. I can't quite believe that this beautiful young lady is my daughter! Audrey, we so enjoyed watching you perform, you truly are a graceful and beautiful dancer. Great job, we love you!

We really appreciated all the friends and family who came to see her perform, Thank you!!

Still Daddy's little girl.

Preschool Graduation, Fieldtrips and Fun!

Busy busy busy time of year for everyone!! We had a great day at the Discovery Center with the preschool, and I was excited to see Elle's affinity for rock climbing taking root! Elle has also had so much fun running around with her little buddy Calli from preschool. They loved seeing the baby elephant at the zoo together!

Preschool Graduation Day! Was also the same day as soccer games, soccer pictures, a birthday party, Audrey's performance and a cousin sleepover... whew.. I'm tired just typing all that.

The "Graduation" went great and Elle successfully memorized her little part. Yay! Thanks to her teacher for doing such an awesome job all year long. They also sang lots of songs, one of which was titled "I'm your little hug bug" that completely melted my heart! So cute!

There is Beauty All Around

The Kids checking out all the Book Of Mormons printed in all the different languages from around the world.

We had an awesome family night last week visiting the temple grounds and the visitors center. The Sister Missionaries showed us a program about families and it was really great to just be there in such a wonderful place where you can feel the love and spirit of our Heavenly Father. We're so thankful to live so close to our beautiful city and Temple. We enjoy so many opportunities that other church members from around the world only dream of. If you haven't taken your kids to the visitors center, we highly recommend it!

Happy Mother's Day

To the amazing Moms in our lives, we love you so much and appreciate all the countless hours you've spent helping us, worrying over us, shopping for us, praying for us and putting all of your effort into raising good people. We owe you so much. What an amazing example we have to follow. Thank you Mom, Thank you Mary, Thank you Grandma. WE LOVE YOU !!

Happy Mother's Day!!!
Also, thank you to my sweet little family for putting in so much effort to make my day wonderful. I felt loved and pampered. Thank you!!