Back To It

 We're back  in our happy 'ol routine here.  Well, getting happy.  The routine part is happening.  Anyway.

Nick's new company has been really great!  He is loving his work and, bonus for me, they do fun things with spouses and families too!  This is not what we are used to, so I, particularly, am loving that.  They took us to Sundance a bit over a week ago.  They fed us dinner and we enjoyed the Bluebird Cafe Songwriters/Singers Concert.  So fun!

This is what it looks like when you take 5 little people with you to a car dealership for an entire afternoon.  What in the world were we thinking?

 Actually, I can't even complain much because my kids were champs.  I think I was more bored and more impatient than they were.  Bribing them with swimming afterwards didn't hurt.

Then, the first day of school!

5th (5th!!!!), 1st and 3rd grades

Old hat for our big first grader!

 Back with friends again!

Of course, the smiles were short lived when they came home the first day with homework.  Someone was thrilled about that:

 We are working a new groove!  I think that's what life is all about!

By the way, you didn't notice the mess all over the floor in that photo, did you?  Good, me neither.

Also, we have garden goodies galore this time of year!  Hurray!  Huge blackberry:

We had a hot dog roast and s'mores on Saturday evening.  Also, I set up our tent and slept in it with the kids.  Best idea of the day:  bring your own mattress!  I slept fairly well! 

 Daisy baby looking all 13.

Maren will be getting baptized this week!  She and I went out for a photo shoot.  

Pretty girl:

The End

 Well, that's it folks!  Today is the very last day of Summer.  :(  My kids meet their teachers this afternoon and have been playing "school" the last few days.  They are ready.  And, I'm about 70% ready for them to go.  I really do believe it's the best place for them, even though I love them being home.  And I REALLY love flexible summer schedule.  But that's because I'm lazy like that.

Anyway, I haven't been here for awhile.  Let's rewind time (if only) and re-visit Maren's birthday.

She requested an ice cream cake.  Delicious choice, Maren! 

Her thoughtful primary teacher brought her this giant balloon, banner and some treats.

She was thrilled that her birthday just happened to be her first activity day (a church group of girls her age).  They went swimming.  Instant birthday party!

Her dinner request was your favorite and mine, Chuck A Rama!  I was joking about the favorite thing.  It's not.  Shocker.  However, when I was her age, it was.  I get it.

 Lots of ice cream was consumed by this girl.  That's why we had her cake the evening before.  We think ahead sometimes.

Presents!  Happy birthday girl faces are the best!

 She was so excited to have an MP3 player.

This was a morning we took a little bike ride to the school to play on the equipment.  A joyful moment in time:

I love that photo, because I love those little people so much and it makes me happy to see them happy.  Nevermind my arms.  They are, uh, buff?

We enjoyed a trip to visit my mom (who is, once again, recovering from major surgery).  I've driven past this old station lots of times and have always thought it'd be a cool place to take a photo.  So, we did.

 Heavens, my kids are growing so fast!

Went for a hike to one of our favorites, the Grotto.  Just a trickle this time of year:

And then we went and explored a new spot we haven't tried before.  Dripping Rock.  Look it up, it was definitely a fun destination!  How have I lived here my whole life and not known of these secret little gems!  Next time we are just gonna bring swimsuits.

I told the kids they had to earn their Sonic slushes by standing in the water.  They were game.

One last summer trip to the splash pad.  Isn't my Lu a beauty?

"Look!  I'm mom!"

Happy back to school, everyone!

Maren's #8

Our Missy,

Happy Birthday!  It's a special one, too!  You are so excited to follow the example of Jesus and members of your family and be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in just a few weeks!  Very exciting times!

Maren, there is no doubt that you add a lot of joy to our home.  You are our entertainer and keep us all smiling with  your silly stories and funny faces.  You love music and definitely have an opinion about what we should listen to on the radio.  In fact, you take your video camera and record music we are playing in the house, just so you can play it back whenever you want.  We need to introduce you to better ways.  ;)  You want to be a pop star when you grow up.  You love to sing and be dramatic.

You are a creative soul.  You love to do art projects with your Grandpa and sister and you pay strict attention to the details.  They are sure to keep lots of sparkles on hand because of you!  You love to glam it up!

You love to help, when it is your idea.  You'll often pick garden produce for me.  You love to cook in the kitchen with Mom and Dad and help out in the yard.  Now if we can only get you to pay attention to the details in your bedroom!  ;)

We love you, Maren, and are so proud of the young lady you are becoming!

Love,
Your Momma

Zoo Day

 My sister and her kids joined us for a day at the Zoo this last week.  It was a blazing hot day, but we packed lots of water and really had a blast!  Probably our most successful Zoo day to date.

Well, except for when I lost two kids.  Besides that, it was a perfect Zoo day.  :)

We found them, obviously.

Can't come to Hogle Zoo without getting a photo here:

 They are all wet.  They had a great time playing in the new water feature, but then (thanks to Auntie's influence) we just resorted to dumping cups of water on each other.  On a hot day like this, no one seemed to mind!

 I'm pretty sure the gorilla was my favorite stop.  What a magnificent animal.

 Have to also get a photo with the drinking fountain lion that's been around since I was a kid!

Final stop:  train ride!  Sadly, my sis isn't in any of these photos.  Sorry, B!  I was so glad to have her, she makes everything more fun, always has been that way.

And then, we enjoyed a wonderful weekend jam-packed with friends!  Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings were all spent with friends we have gathered along life.  I'm so grateful for good people in our lives who have left a lasting influence and continues to be a force for good in my family.  We love you!

Birthday and More

 T-3 weeks until school starts.  I really love my kids being home, but I feel like it's time for one reason - I can't keep up with them!  I feel I need a few good days without them around just so I can put my house back together.  I put off big organizing jobs because what's the point?  That one room that is a disaster right now will be a disaster tomorrow whether I spend hours going through it or not!  I'm gonna soak up these last days of summer though, it makes me sad when it ends.

We took the family (plus one) to Bridal Veils, the perfect spot to get wiggles out and cool off on a hot summer day!  

Want to know the secret to yummy cherry pie?  Fresh cherries!  Duh, right?  We pick up our pie cherries by the bucket, straight from the orchards of southern Utah County.  We don't mess around when it comes to pie.

 Reminds me of that one summer I sorted cherries in my teenage years.  I think I had nightmares of monotony for years to come.

And this is my man, making and canning cherry jam:

 Seriously, how lucky am I?

We got to meet a new cousin!  There is nothing in this world like a new babe.  It was hard to leave this little squishy guy:

Oh, he's a sweetie!

And then, I had a birthday.  What I really wanted was to get away on a long summer vacation, but that is not to be this year.  I settled for a day trip to the mountains.  We headed up to the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway.  How is it that I've lived my life here in Utah and not spent quality time in the Uintas?  It was beautiful!  Some of the most beautiful I've seen here in Utah!  Our first stop was the Fairy Forest, which was really so cool.  It was a huge area with painted rocks and other little decorations that have been left by families in years past.  We spent a good amount of time exploring, and I'm sure we didn't even get to half of it.

Here is my favorite: 

 I liked that it was all made from materials found right there, but was still so creative!

My kids loved it and I loved that their creativity was peaked.

Everett's stick creation:

Maren's Fairy Garden:

Next up was a stop at Provo River Falls.  So pretty!  I loved all the pines and wildflowers!

Mirror Lake for a picnic lunch and stroll by the lake:

 We were having a grand time til it started pouring rain on us.  Then the kids decided they were done.

We drove around a bit while we let the rain subside.

 That one speaks for itself.  :)

A walk around Teapot Lake:

Notice the jackets?  While the valleys were blazing around 100 degrees, the Uintas were much cooler, getting down to 56 during the rainstorm.  It was lovely to feel chilly for a bit!

I love this photo because it's real life.  Just sisters being silly.  They were getting a kick out of Daisy crossing her legs like a lady.

One more stop at Trial Lake, just so we could sit by the water and let the kids run wild.  I tell you what, nothing makes for happier kids than open spaces, a stick, water and rocks to climb on.

This is Ellie drying off after she slipped off the log above and fell in the water.  :)  They were all pretty wet by the time we left, though.

It was really a perfect day up where I can think more clearly.  On the way home, we had dinner in Kamas at Hi Mountain Drug.  It's worth the drive in and of itself.  I think it was the best burger I've had (the Philly Cheeseburger, for future reference).  Service was slow, and the place itself is kind of divey-looking, and it was on the pricey side for a burger, but it was worth it all.  Ingredients were fresh and hot and oh, so tasty.  We splurged (it was a birthday treat after all) and got shakes too.  Nick went for the Chicken n Waffle.  I know, it sounds gross.  I thought it was good, but weird.  Nick loved it and can't wait to go back and try the Bacon Maple shake.

Maren always keeps us laughing:

 She's being Dad, can you tell?  :)

Cake!

Checkin' out my new sunnies.

Thanks, honey bunny for a fabulous weekend!