The Lake

 {August 6, 2011}

It is always a good time at the lake. I'm not much of a fisherman, but I do love hanging on the boat while drinking a cold Pepsi. Life doesn't get much better than that! The boys love to fish and this year Addie loved swimming with her cousins.

We also went cliff jumping this time. I loved it. Landon and Preston turned into little jumping beans!

Good Times at the Lake!

The TOC

The Tournament of Champions was a little different this year compared to last. The boys came to the first game a little bit off, and it got worse from there...needless to say, we lost the first game of the tournament. The other three games we played awesome. We even beat The Horns, a really great team! But, because of our first lost, we didn't even make it to Championship Saturday. It was crappy, to say the least. Funny thing about it, The Horns ended up being the TOC Champions and we beat them. Ha! You win some, and you lose some. Right?! :)

Despite the lose, we still had a great 5 days in Park City. It has to be one of my favorite places in the summer, heck I think I would love it in the winter too! We rode the Alpine Slide and Coaster, partied in our condo with the Shipp's and the Stuart's shopped till we dropped and best of all went to the Kamas Demolition Derby! I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of it. What was I thinking? Guess we'll have to go back next year, so I can get some footage.  :)  It's a one of a kind, small town "Crashin' Derby" and we all loved it!

It was hard to come home after being footloose and fancy free... I love vacations! :)

Lemonade Stand

{July 11, 2011}

This summer was the first time my kids ever had a Lemonade Stand. It was on our summer bucket list, and it turned out to be fun! They started out at our house in the front yard. After a while they decided that the cars go by to fast, so it would be better to take it down to Grandma Frei's by the fruitstand. Gavin was glad, cause he was all weirded (is that a word?!) out by the kids sitting in front of our house selling stuff. He thinks crazy's will see where our kids live and then do I don't know what to them. I guess I am glad he is a protective dad and cares so much about his little ones. 

The kids had a great afternoon selling their goodies. Addie would get so excited if someone stopped, after every customer she would run and tell me they made a sale! There isn't anything quite like the  excitement of a child.

After a while it started to rain, so we packed up shop. The kids have the money saved in their piggy bank waiting for the "just right" item to buy.  

Perfect summer afternoon.

4th of July

On the actual 4th of July Gavin had to work, so it wasn't all that exciting. The kids had a sleepover at Grandma Gai's the night before. They always love having a sleepover with Grandma! We did have a fun BBQ in the evening, and the kids helped me take down the flags with the Young Women. I love looking at the flags lining the streets, so it was fun to help put them put them up and take them down. My kids were troopers and good help. I hope it gave them a since of pride for America and the freedom we enjoy each day.

We watched the fireworks on the Black Hill. We had quite a crew! Good times!

After we got home we let off a few fireworks of our own. This was the first year I have bought fireworks. The boys loved it, Addie and Carlee were to tired and went to bed.

I am so thankful for the 4th of July. It is one of my very favorite holiday's. I am so grateful to live in the free country. 

God Bless America!

Veyo Pool

During the 4th of July weekend we were able to spend the afternoon in Veyo. It is always fun!

Preston caught more crawdads and Carlee got her first real taste of ice cream. She loved it!

Gunlock Rodeo

As you can see it was another great year at Gunlock. A few calf rides, a few sno cones, a few hot dogs and a whole lot of crawdads! I wasn't kidding ya when I said our summer obsession was crawdads! :) Gavin and dad roped and they even won a little money, not bad for two that didn't even practice. Addie rode the horse without bawling, she might just be a cowgirl yet!

Good Times!

Swim Lessons

I love Tiff's swim lessons. I am so glad she came back for the summer and did them. The peace of mind I gain from swim lessons, is priceless. Look at Preston diving off that rock! Wow! Addie is starting to get the hang of it too. So fun!

Crawdads

Crawdads, Crawdads, Crawdads.

It has been a summer obsession. 

But, is there anywhere better for a little boy to be, than down at the creek makin' memories? 

I don't think so.

Rec Center

 June 16, 2011

I think swimming should have been apart of our our bucket list, it would have been checked off a lot this summer! We spent the afternoon at the Rec Center pool with Bradi and the Girl's Day bunch. It's such a fun pool with plenty to do for everyone! I think Addie would have loved the slide, except her first experience she and Grandma Katie got drenched by the big bucket... that ended that! Carlee loved it, she splashed and splashed. She also kept trying to dunk her head, she is such a funny girl! It has been nice this year knowing Preston and Landon can swim good. I think if I put a life jacket on Addie, I could take all the kids swimming by myself. That is a big relief for me, because I am miss paranoia when it comes to the pool. All in all, it was a fun time at the pool, hopefully we can go back soon.

Backyard Camp Out

This year we made a Summer Bucket List...

Do you see the first item on it?

6/15/2011         

Check! Sleep in a Tent...done! 

I have never had a backyard camp out before, but I will be doing it again for sure! We BBQ'd and ate dinner outside (then I took the dishes and washed them inside!)  We roasted marshmallows  and made perfect (with the microwave inside) smores!  Gavin told a Ghost story (while Carlee was inside sleeping in her crib!) that even made me jump. Then we (Gavin took one for the team and went inside to listen for Carlee ;)) all went to sleep. Next year I will be the one inside and Gavin will be in the tent listening to the neighbor's A/C unit! The next morning, I ran inside and got the milk and cereal. No cooler's with melting ice needed! :) 

See, backyard camp out's are fantastic!

The kids even found a frog. A perfect find, for our nature night! They caught him and with that we were able to not only check off, sleep in a tent, but catch frogs and make smores! 

The bucket list is going to be great this summer, I can feel it!

Lake on Labor Day

I can't believe we hadn't been to the lake with Grandpa and Grandma Hale all summer. Luckily they called and we went on the last "official" day of summer, Labor Day! We had a ball.

Thank goodness Grandpa Ken is a good sport and rides the tube with all the kids. The pictures are classic! Enjoy! 

Junior Rodeo

The Washington County Fair Junior Rodeo came and went. Mom was in charge and I helped her with the entries. This year, Addie decided to get sick and throw up all night, so we (me and Addie) had to stay home. I was so upset that I couldn't go watch the boys, but they did just fine without me. They came home with lots of fun prizes and were excited to give me the play by play of all the events they competed in. Landon won 1st in the All Around and Preston placed 4th (I think) in the All Around. Good job boys!

Preston even brought home a Hermit Crab. Lovely. I guess that is what happens when Mom's don't go to the Fair with their kids... He was really excited about the creepy crawly thing. So, what do I do? Feed it, water it and let it live in his room. It is still alive (amazing, I know!), his name is SC. I guess I better get a picture of it, anything that can make it a month in my two little boys room, deserves a picture!

We also went to the Demolition Derby during the Fair, Mom watched Addie and we took the boys. It was really fun. They crashed cars together, tipped trucks over, and pelted us with dirt. Who would have thought I would have liked such a thing? I will be back next year, and I will have my camera in hand. I guess I must be a redneck after all! :)

Cousin Fun

Candice came to town, so we went to Town Square to play. The kids always have a great time at Town Square. It was nice to visit with Candice, Mel and Mom, they are always good company. 

We had to take one group shot, all the kids are getting so big! 

After looking through all my takes of this one shot in iPhoto, I realized why my computer memory is depleting! To get four kids six and under to look forward at the same time, takes nothing short of a miracle! 

Then there is this girl, who asked me to take this picture and posed all by herself.

 Do you think I have taken to many pictures of her over the course of the last two years?

  Know what? Don't answer that, I don't think I want to know! 

When it Rains it POURS...

This is what you call the Ultimate Summer Storm. We were all home resting from being in Cedar at ball games all day and next thing we knew hail was pounding on our windows. I couldn't believe it was hailing on July 30th, and then there was wind... wow the wind was crazy! The tree in our front yard was bent over touching its leaves on the side walk. We all stood in the front window waiting for it to snap, luckily it didn't. It was just tilted when all was said and done.

Preston put on his batting helmet so the hail wouldn't hurt. I thought that was a pretty smart idea.  I couldn't get over how it just kept raining and raining hard for at least 20 or 30 minutes. Our yard was one big puddle. The neighbor had water about to run into their front door, so Gavin helped them pump the water out. The whole neighborhood stood out in it, it was nice to feel the rain on your face. 

Then it turned to mud... and what do little boys do with mud? You guessed it, throw it, rub it all over, and slide in it.  I am not sure what possess someone to rub mud all over themselves. But, that is what little boys do. I have quit trying to figure it out, I have just embraced it. Because basically that is all I CAN do. 

Summer

Here is what our summer has looked like so far... 

FHE at the Temple, with a little Nelson's Frozen Custard to follow. MMmmm! 

A dip at "Aunt" Vals pool! 

Art Projects! I found a great website Deep Space Sparkle that has tons of fun ideas. I can't wait to try more.  We also have made a few trips to the school library. We have read a lot better this summer than last. Even I am trying to read a little. 

 Staying cool.. 

by spending hours at Town Square.

Early mornings at the Park, while we wait for Landon at Speed Camp. 

And of course, what is a summer without Veyo?!

It's been perfect, not to busy, yet not to boring, our summer has been just right! I like sleeping in, eating popsicles, comfy clothes, flip flops and bbq's in the backyard.This is the time of year I love, even if it's still 100 degrees as I type this at 9:42 pm and my feet are swollen! Summer is the best. 

4th of July

The Fourth of July Weekend was filled with frogs, chickens, lots of Sno Cones, and Soda Pop at the Gunlock Rodeo. It is a tradition that everyone looks forward to all year. This year Landon, Gavin and Preston missed the first night because Landon went and played baseball in Park City with the Marshall's on Thursday and Friday. They made it home just in time to head to Gunlock for the Friday night performance. Landon got a chicken given to him and Preston caught a bunch of frogs. Those frogs still gross me out and I am 30! One jumped out of the bucket, but I think Grandma Gai and I jumped farther! We finally got home and into bed at 1:30 am. I think the boys were making up from missing the night before. Then Saturday morning Landon was baptized, and we were able to sneak in a nap and then head to Gunlock on last time. It was a great weekend in Gunlock! I don't know how to celebrate the Independence of our Nation any other way!

Two Fish

One Fish,

Two Fish!! 

Red Fish,

Blue Fish.

Yea! I have Two Fish! Both boys took Swimming Lesson's at the first of the summer and are swimming awesome. I can't tell you how much relief I feel knowing Preston can swim on his own. It is definitely helping me to sleep better at night! :)

Memorial Day 2010

In the afternoon on Memorial Day I decided to take the kids to the cemetery and explain to them why we have Memorial Day. They loved that we flew our American Flag and that there were Flags lining the streets, but they didn't understand why. As we pulled into the Cemetery with our flowers they were a little confused. We found Grandma Shelton's grave and I explained that Memorial Day was the special day given to us to remember those that have passed on. It was also to remember all the soldiers that lost their lives so we can live in such a beautiful safe place. They liked looking at Grandma Shelton's headstone, and putting the flowers by it. Then Preston found my Great Grandma Lilla right next to her, completely by accident. It was neat that both Grandma's headstones were right next to each other. It is a small world we live in somedays.

 I think I will make visiting the cemetery on Memorial Day a new tradition for our family. Knowing where we came from always helps us remember who we are.

Welcome Summer!

It is here! We can hardly believe it, summer break has arrived. Excited doesn't even begin to explain how we feel. Bring on the sun and fun! 

This is how we welcomed in the break, picture taken at 9:30 am on 5/28/2010

Fun at the Fair!

Last Wednesday night was the Fair Jr Rodeo. Landon and Preston had a great time! Preston ran the Barrels, did the Goat Tail Pull and the Dummy Roping and came away a 2nd Place Winner! He rode Rocky all by himself and did a fabulous job. Landon competed in the Flag Race, Goat Tail Pull and Dummy Roping, his competition was a little bit tougher.. but he has made a huge improvement in his riding skills from last year. He even loped through the whole flag race pattern. Way to go boys!

Addie loved the Parade on Saturday morning, or maybe she just loved the candy! Nothing like a few Dum Dum's at 9:00 am!

We also went to the Bear Show, Community Displays, Bull Riding, dunked a few police officers at the Dunking Tank, climbed the rock wall, ate a bunch of fair food and went to the carnival.

The rides are always the highlight for the boys. Landon even rode a big ride with his friend Hailee! I thought he was going to be sick, but after he said he felt fine and wanted to ride it again! Good Times.