July 2013

July was a very busy month. I felt like we crammed a lot into those 4 1/2 weeks. Now that it is August, I find myself slightly panicking that summer is almost over, which means winter is closer. Do you know that there are people that live in places where they don't worry about winter approaching? They can still go outside and not freeze during the winter. Wouldn't that be nice? Too bad we love living in Northern Utah, close to family. If we could just get our families to all move somewhere warmer then we would be in business.

Later in the month I was complaining discussing with Jon how he has been working too much and we haven't done enough of all the summer things I have wanted to do as a family. Being the awesome husband that he is, he arranged his work schedule to be able to take a couple days off for us to have a long weekend. We went to Seven Peaks on Thursday and then stayed up in Park City Friday and Saturday.

While in Park City we walked to a  local bagel place for breakfast. Jon was giving the boys rides on his shoulders. Shawn was absolutely terrified and Evan wasn't concerned at all.

We decided to go through Provo Canyon on the way home from Park City. We stopped at Granny's Restaurant in Heber and stop at Bridal Veil falls in the canyon.

Shawn collected these rocks that represented our family. There was a Daddy rock, Mommy rock, Shawn rock, Evan rock and baby rock. He continued to collect rocks for all the grandparents but I didn't get a picture.

Evan just tasted the rocks

Amy and I took our kids up to Snowbird one day to try to beat the heat. We brought a lunch and played at the park. We live in such a beautiful place!

We woke the kids up around 5 am to go see the hot air balloons in Provo. Unfortunately, it was cancelled because of an incoming storm. We decided to head up the canyon for a walk along the Provo River trail. There was a payphone in the parking lot and Shawn just stared at it. He couldn't understand why there would be a random phone set up outside. He had never seen that before.

Playing at the park in the canyon

Amy and I took the kids up American Fork Canyon for some water playing time. We found a great spot for the kids to play in shallow water while Amy and I sat in the shade. It was so relaxing.

Every year we take the kids to see the Pioneer Parade floats up close at the Sandy Expo Center. We didn't really get pictures with the floats but we took these random ones. 

How do you enjoy Shawn's outfit? He picked it out and insisted on wearing it. 

Summer evenings are the best.

My boys love to play with my hair. They will pull out all my hair supplies and give me some wonderful new styles. 

While in Park City we visited the Olympic Park. 

The highlight of the day (according to the boys) was a trip on the trolly down main street.

At the Olympic Park

Another picture from the American Fork Canyon day

We had a neighborhood 4th of July party. It started with a bike parade in the morning for the kids. Then there was a party in the evening with food and fireworks. I love my neighborhood. I know I have said that before, but I really do. I feel very blessed. 

Poolside in Park City

Another picture from Bridal Veil Falls

Thanks for bearing with me with the craziness of this post. Sorry. Hopefully it won't happen again.

Family Photos- Summer 2013



My friend/neighbor did inexpensive mini photo shoots all day last week so we took advantage of that and got some new family photos. It was only 9 in the morning, but it was a super hot day. Carver cried for most of the time. I thought it was his teeth, but he was happy and all smiles the second we got in the air conditioned car. Luckily we got a few photos before he was a complete disaster.

 



 

This may be my favorite photo of the day.

They say when you marry in June......

I grew up watching 7 Brides for 7 Brothers. I don't know how many times I have seen that show. It seems like whenever I here "June" I think of the song in that movie that says, "They say when you marry in June, your a bride, all your life." So there is a random comment for you. Here is what we were up to in June.

 

Payson Lakes. Actually this was at the very end of May, but we will count it as June.

This might be the first picture we have taken as a family of five. I hope that isn't true. We never took one all together when Carver was first born because the boys had the flu and we kept them away from the baby.

This kid and throwing rocks. Is there anything more exciting? Not to him. 

We walked around one of the main lakes and Shawn found this giant rock on the way. He carried it most of the way back to beach area so he could throw it in the water. 

 

Shawn is always wanting to sell things. A while back I caught him with a bag full of water from our hose and he was planning on selling it door-to-door. Our little entrepreneur. This day he was selling cupcakes and rice krispie treats. He sold out within 10 minutes. There's no watered-down lemonade at this stand. :) I am not certain how many of the items were actually sold instead of eaten by Evan.   (Please ignore our dead spots on the grass. Jon had a moment of insanity and used Round-Up on the dandelions. Yep, those suckers are dead!)

I love the view from our house

Shawn did soccer for the first time this year. He was really good at goalie. Other than that, well, he was really good at goalie. 

Our biggest challenge of the season was keeping Evan entertained enough that he didn't run away to the playground. The camera became a big part of that entertainment. 

My neighbor down the street had twins 3 months early. I had a chance to watch her other 3 kids several times while she went to the hospital to see the twins. This is her 3-year-old. Shawn and Jude love playing together and I had to post this picture because Evan's face made me laugh so hard I cried.

 

This pretty much sums up Evan

Shawn's new favorite thing to do is set the table. We often have a tablecloth at our meals these days. 

Jon was working from home one of those days that I had my friend's kids. He usually will work in the basement, but the kids were playing down there so this is where I found him. Poor guy. He needs a real office in our house. 

Amy and I took our kids to visit BYU, Brick Oven Pizza and Bridal Veil Falls.

This is one proud farmer. His first produce, green beans. They planted a bean at school and he brought it home to plant in our garden. He is so excited about it.

Have you ever seen so much love for a vegetable.

3 little bears, 3 amigos, 3 little pigs. Oh the possibilities.

I can't get enough of this cute face. Love him!