Maren on Two Wheels

After much prodding and harassing from her dad and older sister, Maren has finally figured how to ride without training wheels. She is so excited and proud of her accomplishment- Way to go Maren!

Spanish Fork Parade

After living in Spanish Fork for 10 years we've never attended the Spanish Fork 24th of July parade. We usually end up going over to Mapleton for the parade and games at the park, but this year Hatalee was dancing in the Spanish Fork parade so we had to go and watch. We even persuaded both sets of Grandparents, Aunt Kell, and Aunt Mae-Mae to come over and join in the fun. When Hatalee's float came by they drove right past and didn't stop, so Kell and I ran down Main Street untill they started to dance to get some pictures. Hatalee was so excited and had so much fun being in the parade. She's already decided she needs to be in again next year. After the parade we went to Mapelton park and melted while the kids played games. I love the 24th of July heat!

Scofield

Last weekend we stayed at a cabin in Scofield, and had a great time just being lazy. The guys took off and went fishing, which left us girls to do whatever we wanted. The kids tie dyed shirts, we gave each other pedicures, we ate, Hatalee tried her hand at tennis, we ate some more, oh and we ate. Hatalee loved having baby Everett around, they were inseperable. She toted him around all weekend, she became his second mom. Micah loved the basketball and tennis courts and all the balls he could chase around. Maren wanted to know if we could move in, because she didn't want to come home.

SIXTH WATER FISH

To follow up with Brian's blog about catching big fish up Sixth Water here is a pic of the Rainbow I caught. Not as big as the salmon from Alaska but for a small stream in the middle of Utah somewhere( Brian no real names of fishing spots anymore. For those people who don't know where Sixth Water is it's by Delta.)it was a nice fish and worth the hike. I am posting another picture of a nice Cutthroat I also caught up on the same stream two years ago. Brian talked about the search for Steve so now we are putting a book together, instead of Where's Waldo it is titled Where's Steve!

Nathan

Happy Birthday Ryder

My nephews were here this weekend for Ryders birthday, so my mom had this great idea and hired a clown for the birthday party. He was a spanish speaking clown and the kids couldn't understand him, so after he performed his tricks the kids just stared at him instead of clapping. After all the adults clapped and cheered they finally figured out what they were supposed to be doing as the audience. Mckell said we should have taught the kids about proper "clown etiquette" before he arrived. Overall the kids loved it, and I was amazed to see all of those kids sit for an hour and not move. Hatalee drinking from the "magic tea pot".
The Birthday Gang and the Clown.
Marens balloon flower.
Hatalees balloon giraffe.
The one responsible for the clown show! Thanks Grandma!

Alaska

We just returned home from our cruise in Alaska with Nathans family. I've never been so thrilled to be on land again, it still feels like everything is spinning around me. We had a great time (other than I missed my kids terribly), but felt good leaving them with my family-Thanks! Alaska is such a beautiful place, It's such a crazy feeling to leave the desert we live in and then to be surrounded by water. Everything was green and growing and beautiful and cold. We really do live in a beautiful world. Thanks to Richard and Karla for making this trip happen, it was a memorable week and good to be with all of the family.

Swimming Lessons

My two fish.
Hatalee on the diving board.
Maren wouldn't jump off the diving board- so this is her version of it.

The girls finished up swimming lessons last week and did great. I'm thrilled their lessons are over, getting three kids up and ready and out the door by 8:30 every morning is a task for me. I dropped off "Monster boy" at moms while I took the girls to lessons- this way I wouldn't be jumping in fully clothed after him. The girls love the water and by the last day Maren was finally getting it! :)

"Cousin Camp" in Review..

Running through the fountains at Gateway. Playing in the sprinklers at Grandmas.
Hot Dog Roast at Whiting Campground.
It wouldn't be "Cousin Camp" without Jumpin Jacks.
Painting at Color Me Mine.
Gateway.
Grandma and the babies.

The last couple of summers my mom has had this great idea to have a "Cousins Camp". River and Ridge spent the week at my moms(you have to be in kindergarten in order to stay without parents)and we tried to cram in as many activites as possible! The kids loved it and mom and myself were completely exhausted at the end of each day. The kids were hilarious in making decisions at what they wanted to do, but in the end I think they were all happy with what activities were chosen. So untill next year... (it's a good thing we have a year in between to recover from exhaustion) Go Cousin Camp!!!

San Juan River

Last week we had the chance to float The San Juan River with my family. It was so nice to be with all of my siblings (we missed Todd and Ash) and spend time together. The weather was amazing, the water was high and moved fast, the kids loved playing in the sand and water 24/7, and amazingly enough we had no injuries or sickness! Yeah!! We left Micah home with Richard and Karla, so the trip would be enjoyable for me. :) Thanks Tyler for putting the trip together for all of us, it was an amazing time!

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