Busy, Busy, Busy

This last month was seriously so busy but we loved every minute. 
Once again we decided to camp out on the street for the Pioneer Day Parade.  Crue slept at grandma's house again and then she brought him to the parade in the morning. 



We happened to be sitting right where a Deseret News photographer was taking pictures for the paper so the next day I found this one of our little fam and President Eyring.

My mom came out one day and we spent the afternoon together making strawberry/apricot jam.  Mmmmm!!! (And please ignore the ugly table. haha. We started to refinish it and then decided to just buy a new one but have yet to do so.)

Probably my fav thing we did was  attend the Clark Family campout and hike to South Willow Lake.

We just had to take a picture of Ron's awesome tent.  Now that is a good Boy Scout for ya!!  Someone had borrowed their tent the week before and returned the tent but not all the poles.

Rilynn, Claire, and Lucy

And of course the Demolition Derby was a big hit.  We took Claire for the first time this year and she LOVED it.   We have never been to a derby with so many fires and cars getting flipped over.

We headed over to the county fair one afternoon.  Don't let the look on Crue's face fool you.  He loved this ride and would cry when it was over. 

And then there were four weeks of swimming lessons crammed into the last two months too. 

Throw in several trips to the park, storytime at the library, movie nights on the tramp, and bike rides to get ice cream and it all adds up to a very great summer. 

Temple Square

I absolutely love staying home with my kids and am so grateful that it is possible for us to do so.  But every once in awhile I really miss certain things about when I was working. 

One of those things is Temple Square. 

I miss spending my days here. 

I miss the peacefulness. 

I miss the beauty. 

I miss seeing the temple.   

So one sunday afternoon we packed the kids into the van and headed into Salt Lake. 

This little guy ran and ran and tried so hard to get into the fountains.  He had a smile on his face the entire time we were there. 

My three sweethearts.

Claire really wanted to take a picture of us.

I am so grateful these two precious kids are sealed to us.  They make us so incredibly happy. 

Awww...so I guess he wasn't all smiles the entire time.  We had one small meltdown.  Look at that sad face when Crue realized that daddy really wasn't going to let him play in the fountains on Temple Square.  Up until this point I think he thought it was just a game when Luke would catch him right before he jumped into the water. 

Palisades Camping Trip

Guess it is time to play catch up.  Between being so busy this last month and not having internet half the time (hopefully the problem is solved) I just gave up on the blog for awhile.  I attempted several times but it was so frustrating trying to load pictures and then have the internet go out for several days.  But here I am.  I got up early this morning, found some good efy music on you tube to listen to, and I am determined to get as much blogging done as I can before my kiddos wake up.  

Last month we went on a camping trip with my family.  I had been looking forward to this for quite awhile and Claire....well I shouldn't have even told her about it until the day we left because she was so excited that she started "packing" a week in advance and was getting very frustrated that I was not packing too. Although it was very entertaining to see the things that she thought she would need while camping.

The only downside to the trip was that Luke was not able to come this time.  He was working in the Salt Lake Temple while it was closed and just couldn't get work off.

The grandkids made their way into Grandpa's tent and were busy telling him ghost stories.   

Ellie, Claire, and Rilynn playing down by the water.

Caitlynn and Crue. 

My mom, sister, Claire and Rilynn out on the paddle boat.

This boy suddenly decided he liked the water while we were there.  He would run towards the water the second he could see it.  At first he just wanted to throw in rocks and then he decided to throw himself in.  He had a blast.  And yes, I probably do look half asleep in this picture.  This little man sleeps amazing when he is at home in his own bed and all alone.  Outside, in a tent, with his momma and big sis, and wind blowing the tent around....well you can guess how well he slept.  Lets just say we spent quite a bit of quality time together in the middle of the night driving the streets of Manti.

The next day it rained and rained and rained but for the most part it was pretty warm.

We played lots of games.... 

and played in lots of puddles....

and tried fishing in a puddle....

and climbed this awesome tree...

Perfect Days...

Some days are just perfect.

Not because you did anything spectacular.

Not because anything amazing happened.

But just because you got to spend it with those you love the most.

Doing simple things.

Eating popsicles on the porch together.

Swinging in the backyard.

Impromptu water fights.

Playing catch.

Catching grasshoppers.

Doing cartwheels.

Doesn't matter what.

Just being with each other.

Laughing together.

Playing together.

Loving each other.

Pineview

At least once every year we try to go up to Pineview Reservoir for the day. Unfortunately Luke had to work this time but I loaded up the kiddos and we headed out for a day of fun.

We spent the day playing in the water, trying to make a sand castle (Crue was ever so helpful!!), going on the wave runner, and just hanging out with the fam.

 Danielle, Abbey, Claire and Rilynn on the water trampoline

 Claire, Rilynn and Crue had lots of fun in the sand even though it was so hot.

Uncle Sam put Crue in the tube to keep him contained for a minute and Crue just thought it was the coolest thing ever.  Between the tube, lots of sand, and full access to a bag of cheetos, he was one happy boy all day long.

Sam was such a big help with the kids but I think we wore him out.

Independence Day

Hope you all had a great Independence Day.  We sure did.  We watched the parade, had a bbq in the backyard with lots of family,  played at the park,  and watched lots of fireworks. 

Claire loves You Tube.  Random, I know. Especially since she rarely ever watches tv.  A few years ago her big thing was watching garbage truck videos....the ones where someone followed a garbage truck around for 20 minutes as it emptied garbage cans and then posted it on You Tube.  Well lately her thing to watch is people making cakes.  She loves it!!   Her fav is someone who is explaining how to make a rainbow cake.  She has been talking about it nonstop.  So on Sunday we changed the idea up a little bit and the two of us made Independence Day cupcakes.  She was so excited and instantly ran over to her cousins house to give them each one.  The funny thing is that she didn't eat a single cupcake.  She just wanted to break them in half to see the design inside.

How cute is she!!!

Claire and Crue with some of the younger cousins just after the parade. 

Crue, Claire, Grandma Holly, Sam, Grandpa Holly.  Crue didn't care at all about trying to get candy at the parade.  His favorite part was walking around and seeing how many times he could sneak a drink.

The Fam...Luke had to work this year during the parade but we caught up with him later and went to the park together.

Crue and Grandpa

Fun at the park with Megan

What A Week!!

Three afternoons spent at Seven Peaks Waterpark

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Lots of waterslides

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Dinner in the mountains, playing games, hiking, s'mores

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More swimming at Deseret Peak

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Parade, Carnival, Shopping

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Movie night in the backyard with lots of popcorn

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Two happy kiddos and two happy and exhausted parents

 

This little boy is  not a big fan of the water.  After four days at the pool he got daring and let us take a few steps away from him.

Claire loved the slides.

My favorite picture.  Claire wanted to take a picture but was pointing the camera at anything but us so I told her to point at us.  And she did. I hurt from laughing so hard.

My two boys getting ready for a hike.

He may not be a fan of the water but he sure loves the mountains.

Crue got so excited when he was able to go on a ride instead of just having to watch his sister have all the fun.

Waiting for the parade to start.

The only motorcycle she will even be allowed on.

Claire was pretty excited she was able to go on a ride with her little bro.