Shar, Trav, & the Girls visit!!! July 08-26, 2011

The day we arrived home from our Texas trip Shar, Trav, & the girls were driving to Utah!

We couldn't wait to see them! 

But we did have to wait a few days because we left Texas with pink eye and bronchitis. YUK!

Since Shar was working and they were staying with Shawn & Abby it worked out pretty well that we didn't hang out. Except we were bored to tears and so sad...but we had to make sure no one else got pink eye. 

We FINALLY met up at a park for a fun evening:

The kiddos hanging out one morning:

Reading with Uncle Trav:

We visited BYU's Museum of Paleontology, the kids loved it!

Weston's favorite dinosaur- a triceratops:

We spent a lot of time outside playing. This was a backyard swim day:

 Mila & Kapria thought this spot behind our gate was the perfect place to hang out, so cute:

Ryder hanging out with Aunt Shar:

Love my sister:

They're not smiling, but they really loved playing together:

We were able to get our sitter and her sister to watch ALL 5 kiddos so we could go on a sibling date. 

I love my siblings, we had a blast:

We spent the last day at the Lindon Aquatic Center, definitely a fav:

The kids really had a great time playing together this trip. They get along so well now, it makes it super fun to be together.  

Here they are playing their favorites - superheroes & princesses:

We also celebrated Ryder's birthday while they were here, went to the Bean Museum, had a fun girl's day of shopping and eating, had a guy's day out at the batting cages and miniature golf, got our family pics taken (THANKS TRAV!) and went camping. 

We filled it full of so much fun!  Oh we love our cousins!!
We miss them more than ever and can't wait to see them in December!!!

Summer Camping - July 22-23!!!

While Shar, Trav, and the girls were here we decided a campout was a must!  

The weekend that worked best happened to be our 6th Anniversary. YAY to 6 wonderful years for us!  

We had not attempted a family campout with 3 kiddos and it was definitely fun!  

The boys LOOOVED every second of it.  

The camping buddies:  Our family of 5, Shar, Trav & girls, Nate, Allison & girls, Shawn & Abby, and Emily. 

The tent was lots fun to set up and the kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. It's big enough we could fit the packnplay in it for Ryder. Awesome.  

Weston had tons of fun digging and working on cutting wood.  Ryder just walked and walked and crawled in the dirt, and Tave ran around having a blast with everyone.

We had our traditional flashlight hike, (the dad's and the kids), smores, yummy food, and talking by the campfire.

Here are some fun shots of our campsite adventures:

We did some hiking and rock climbing while we were there.

It is gorgeous. Simply breathtaking. I love taking time to truly enjoy nature and this beautiful earth we've been given.  

Weston thought rock climbing was THE coolest. He climbed all the way to the top of the rock and then repelled down so quick. He was awesome. (can you spot him at the top of the rock...click to enlarge picture!)  Tave thought it was good enough to get hoisted up a bit and then come back down. So proud of both  my brave boys!

It was such an awesome trip and a great way to end Shar & Trav's visit.  

It brought back so many camping memories from my growing up years.

I have learned that camping with kids is a TON of work. I am so glad my parents did it, though, and that they gave us so many amazing family vacations. Camping is definitely a family activity we hope to do often through the years!!

Thanks Shar & Trav for planning it! We loved every minute!!

Texas Trip - July 7th- Last Hurrah at the Splash Park

Our last night in Texas was spent at the Splash Pad. We had been meaning to go, but with all of the other things, this had gotten forgotten. I am SO glad we ended our trip here. It was the best splash pad we've ever been to. We will definitely be spending more time here on our next visit! 

Ryder thought the water was great fun:

Tave & Owen waiting for the water:

West & Cole being silly:

Cute little Ava splashing:

I know I already got one of Ryder, but I love the water in this:

Their favorite spout was the one biggest one, it was super strong and they thought it was hilarious:

I LOVE this shot of Cole:

Amy & Nora.  

I am so blessed to have married into a family with AMAZING sister in laws. Seriously, I don't know what I would do without them and I am so grateful we are such good friends. My aunt gave my mom this little saying years ago:  Sisters by chance, friends by choice. I  never really got what it meant, until now.  I am so glad that we have chosen to be friends and hope our friendships last forever. 

Because we're pretty much going to be in the same wonderful family for that long!

The amazing men in the family: (we miss you Jonathan & Rachel!) 

Once we were done in the water we headed to the sand pits.  

The guys played horseshoes, or ring toss...

And here are the boys...this picture cracks me up because they are each doing their own thing:

We seriously could have stayed here for hours, the boys loved it! Which means the adults did too!!

It was the perfect end to the perfect trip.

We had a wonderful, wonderful vacation and are so glad we were able to spend so much time with our family (sickness and all!)  Thanks everyone!!

Texas Trip - July 6th-7th - Cabelas, Date Night & Saying Goodbye

We had one last hurrah to say goodbye to most everyone.  

We met Grandpa & Grandma Dean and Guy & Sharon at Cabelas for lunch.

Mom, Joe, Amanda & the boys, and Erin & Luke met us there also!

We love all of the animals. They have the neatest displays:

Our little family with Grandpa & Grandma Dean:

Our little family with Guy & Sharon:

The cute cute boys with their pop guns. They ABSOLUTELY LOVED these guns and had so much fun playing with them the entire time we were there. So much fun, in fact, that Aunt Sharon decided to get them each one. Thanks Sharon!!

 Jeff's cousin & her hubby, Erin & Luke,  came up for a quick visit.  We had dinner with them at Joe & Amanda's the  night before and then they joined us for lunch here. It was so fun to hang out with them and get to know them better!! 

These boys have way too much fun together. It is so fun to sit back and watch them play:

Me & Amanda. 

I LOVE this girl. I feel so lucky to have a sister in law who is such a wonderful and truly amazing friend.

Someday maybe we'll live close enough to get to hang out on a weekly basis. (if I don't drive her crazy!) Miss you. :)

DATE NIGHT:

That night we got a babysitter and went on a date with Mom & Dad.  I love all the fun we have with kiddos, but it is always so wonderful to have quality adult time as well. I love spending time with them and talking the night away. It was great:

JULY 7th:

Since Mom & Dad were packing up and heading to Estes Park with her family, we packed up a day early and went to Joe & Amanda's for our last day. I HATE saying goodbye. Really hate it.  

We got one last shot with the kiddos and the grandparents on our final day with them:

And here are a few fun ones of Mom & Ryder playing one day:

We love you so much Mom & Dad!! 

Thank you for a wonderful, memorable, and amazing vacation!!