Dutch oven dinner, ghost stories, smores, and long hikes....Ahh, the great outdoors.

So last week was the annual family campout and we had a lots of fun. I have great memories of the campouts with my grandparents, aunt and uncles, and cousins when I was really young and it is usually the most random things I remember. Such as my mom telling us that trolls hid under the cattleguards and would jump into our engine and then eat our feet when we got out the the car if we didn't honk to scare them away when we drove over every cattleguard. Or hiking to the lake and waiting out a really bad storm. And my favorite has to be when my aunt's wood-paneled station wagon broke down up in the mountains and we had to push it up a hill and then it coasted all the way into town. Ahh, the memories!!
I am so glad that the tradition continues and even though my grandparents have passed away, my aunts and uncles still come as well as my cousins with their kids. Now my kiddos can create their own memories of our family campouts...and yes, I even told Claire about the trolls hiding under the cattleguards.
It is always great fun.

Independence Day 2011

The 4th of July was great!! I love how some things just stay the same. We watch the same small town parade in the same place with the same people and the kids all get lots of the same candy that they get every year. We go the the park where they pretty much have the same games and rides and food every year. And we go and get a ice cold drink at the same store just before we watch the fireworks at night. With all the is constantly changing I like how this stays the same.









The cousins born since last July.

But Mom..

But Mom, Crue likes having stickers on his head!!

Who would have thought...

Who would have thought that seven dollars spent at the dollar store would have got me all this...




The prettiest sidewalks in town...





Hours of hearing childrens laughter as they play with bubbles...




Lots of wet clothes...




Some one on one time with my little man since Claire will literally spend hours doing her puzzles...



And the best of all...
" You are the BEST, mom! I am sooooo spoiled!"

Summer Days

Summer is here and we are enjoying every minute of it. In years past we would be out and about and going lots of places but the weather hasn't been cooperating much this year. Instead we have been enjoying things a little closer to home.

Our days have been spent jumping on the trampoline


Going out to Clover Springs





Working in the yard


Learning how to climb a tree...or as I call it, working on getting that broken arm she so desperately wants


Seeing how many monkees/cousins can fit in a tree


Growing, Growing, and Growing


Sunday drives up to the reservoir...and we have never seen it so full


Playdates with friends at the park


Playing in the backyard


Blowing lots of bubbles


Taking long naps


Making yummy food on the grill...homemade pizza is a new fav



And picnics in the park with Grandma Holly.





It has been a great summer so far!!

So Very Blessed

The other night I was sitting on the porch holding my babies and singing primary songs as we watched the sun creep behind the mountains. It got me thinking about how incredibly blessed we are. I have a beautiful little girl who is so full of life, so curious about everything, and gives the best hugs in the world. Spending my days with her reminds me to enjoy the simple things and makes me want to be a better mom. My little guy just melts my heart when he smiles and looks at me with those dark brown eyes. Holding him is like holding a piece of heaven and I am so grateful Heavenly Father sent him down. My amazing husband works so hard so I can stay home with our kids. He treats us so good and is the best father in the world. Im not sure what I did to deserve such a great man. And most of all, we have the gospel in our lives which brings so much peace and happiness along with it. I love knowing that I can be with my family forever. I know that Heavenly Father loves me and knows me personally and has a plan for us.

Life is great and I am so very blessed

Looking to the future

Oh, the things she looks forward to doing...

When I am 10 I can mow the lawn all my myself.

Mom, when Crue gets older me and you can get married in the temple and I will look like a princess.

I'm going to make cement when I get older.

When I am 16 I can drive a garbage truck and pick up all the garbage on the street.

Next year I can climb the tree all the way to the top.

When I get older I want a broken arm. And I want a green cast. That would be so awesome! I want to break my arm now but mom said no.

I can drive a car when I am 20.

Mom, can I play with sharp knives when I am six?

I want to ride on a motorcycle when I get old but mom says she will spank my bum really hard. I think boys and motorcycles are dangerous.

When I go poop in the potty, dad will buy me an orange soda, some green gum, and m&m's. And I get to go to school!!

I want to ride my bike through the mud puddles with Callie this week.

Baseball Time

Two weeks ago we went to our first baseball game this season. As always, we had a blast. I love the whole atmosphere at the baseball games...the food, the snow cones, the lights on the field, and of course, the game.



Claire's favorite part is the train ride.


And our cute little guy in his new baseball shirt!



FLASHBACK!! Can't believe this was three years ago....

Spring!

My favorite thing about spring is getting the yard and garden ready for the summer. I absolutely love it!! With the help of my two kiddos we got our garden started and even got some raspberries planted this year.

Claire wants to help with anything and everything. And if it includes manual labor and getting dirty, all the better.
And how cute is the one sneaker and one cowboy boot combo :)




And how did this little guy help? He hung out in the swing and was good as gold while we worked outside.



And while we were busy getting the planting done, Luke was busy putting up our new concrete fence. He did an amazing job!!