Disney Days with our cousins

This was something totally new to me this year and our awesome Aunt Kisty let us know about it - it is "Disney Days" downtown and was so much fun!  We went with our cousins and loved it.

*The kids were playing a type of musical chairs on these little pads*

 

Here's Rio, Hayden, Brinlee, Jax and Austin listening for the music to start

Now it was Simon Says time... let's just say that the little ones had a harder time following directions :)

I've said this before, but my little trio LOVES these kinds of things dressed up - this time it was a giant cow giving away cow fans - they kept wanting to talk to him.  Poor cow!  I cannot imagine how hot it was under there

And yet another one... this time a firefighter dog - he was giving away pencils and glasses

Rio and Jax had to go back 3 or 4 times to give him a hug or a high five - so cute!  I think it's hilarious that they (especially Rio) loves these so much - she shys away from people but bring on the giant dressed up animals :)

Jax, Rio and Austin waiting in the face fainting line - we didn't tackle that one this year but we waited while our cousins did with our cow fans to cool us off

And then it was time to cool off!  They had a little waterfall area and the kids loved playing in the water of course!  I don't think they expected that the water would be freezing cold however - BRRR....

Jax, Rio, Austin and cousin Tyler getting warm on the toasty ground after being in the cold water.

What a fun day at Disney Days!  We got to jump in the bounce houses, listen to Disney music and dance and even go inside a tent to watch the constellations and moon

Thanks Kisty! You're the best!

At the Farm with 6 little animals...

In July, we were able to go to WF with some of our favorite friends the Foulger trips and my sweet friend Roxy.  We went to the water to feed the ducks but I love these 2 pics because it really looks Roxy is feeding our 6 little ducks :)

Loving them some ducks!

 Tractor time - Austin loved that he could "drive" Avery around

 Look at these guys trying with all their might to pet this poor little goat

Taking a break after the animals at the park - will I ever get all 6 of them looking???

So much fun - a quick, fun trip to the Farm with friends - it was one of my favorite things to do this summer before Logan came



Summer Family Va-Ca...or else I thought it would be...

Still backtracking...

this summer, we had planned a family trip to Bear Lake because I haven't been there forever and I LOVE it there!  The water is so clear and blue and it is perfect for kids because it's shallow for so long and so it's easy for the kids to play.

We were all so excited but last minute...Spence had a major project at work and couldn't come but we had already booked our place and I really wanted to kids to have a fun "beach" experience so I took them anyway..yes, I know I was about 8 months pregnant but who cares right?

 Our activities the entire trip was either playing at the beach or swimming at the pool at our place - we pretty much lived in our swimsuits

*Jax and Austin - isn't that the most beautiful pic?*

 *Cute Miss Rio enjoying the sun & sand*

 Austin building his castle

 The kids thought this was so fun sitting in their floaties and in the shallow water - they kept laughing and laughing and taking care of their "animals"

 Jax and Rio smoothin' out their skin in their "mud bath"

 Austin piling up his castle - I love that he sticks his tongue out when he's concentrating :)

 This beach was Jax's playground - he loves being messy!

 Cute Ri saying "cheese"

At night, we would hang out and watch a movie and of course their little floaty friends joined us everywhere we went!

*We had a blast on our trip but missed Spence so much and were so sad that he couldn't join us :(  Next year for sure!*

24th of July - Day of Family, Tradition & Sparklers

The 24th of July is another favorite holiday of mine simply because of the fun tradition of going into the mountains (the same spot every year for over 40 years!!) and enjoying a yummy breakfast together with my cousins and aunts and uncles and all their kids

 This year, my cousins Nick and Holly and their kiddos were in town and we were so glad that they could come since we don't see them very often.  Nick had to go home earlier but Holly stayed with the kids so we got to spend time with them too!

*Andrew, Austin, Jax and Carter&

Holly, Corinne, Lexi, Cody, Uncle Jon, Mia and my cute mom

 I have pictures of me climbing on this rock when I was little - I love this tradition; now my kids get to enjoy it!

 They made it to the top!

 Later that afternoon, we met my parents and the Fanks for a picnic and to celebrate cousin Halle's bday which was a week earlier.

*My trio and Luke and Halle ready to eat some cupcakes*

 Singing to Halle with the fam

 Rio, Austin, Luke, Halle, Ella, Jax and posing Anna enjoying their treat!

 That night before bed, we let the kids play with sparklers in the backyard.  They had a blast!

 I LOVE this pic of Austin! He's so excited, his tongue is hanging out!

 Showing the camera their sparklers

This was the last set of sparklers before well...Rio grabbed the wrong end should I say?

Poor little Rio with her bag of ice on her burn.  She was so brave and kept that ice pack on her hand all night long - she woke up in the night and only wanted her ice pack on her hand - sweet little miss  :(

*We had a great day with family and sparklers - we won't forget that day for a long time*

Brian Head with Morris Fam - July 4th '12

With Logan's birth, I have totally gotten off on my blogging but I am making a priority now and so with that comes by backtracking a bit...

We went to Brian Head this summer over the 4th of July with the Morris crew.  It was so much fun and we were lucky enough to have EVERYONE in the family be able to go.  We all stayed in a home together and got to play games at night with just the adults like in the "days before kids" and do so many fun things with the kids too!

 

 The morning of the 4th, we all went out for a nature hike and grandma was able to find all the grand kids "walking sticks" to take with them.

*My kiddos, grandma and cousin Hayden*

 Eating some lunch with the cousins  - I love this one of Jax and Hayden talking - so sweet!

 Family 4th of July photo

 That afternoon, grandma Ranger found a weird looking beetle and all the kids were fascinated by it!

Thanks for being so willing to hold icky bugs grandpa!

 The night of the 4th, we all went down to the "city" and watched fireworks together. Before the show began, the kids played at a little park - they loved going down this together - so fun!  I cannot believe how strong my little ones are to hold on to these things!

 Andrew and Kisty ready for the show to start - not sure where Ethan was???

 Jon, Erin and cousin Cole

 Uncle Marc, Jax, Austin, Rio and daddy playin' phone games while waiting

 So happy to take this pic right Austin?  It was a little late after the fireworks :)

 The next day, we went on an awesome drive through beautiful southern Utah and stopped at this lookout point - we live in a beautiful place!

 We then stopped at Navajo Lake to enjoy the warm water... not so much... this lake is COLD!!  But the kids didn't care at all.  They started off throwing rocks in the water and then...

 ...played with their water blasters in the water with their swimsuits on but still had jackets and then...

 ...the jackets came off and into the water they went!  Thanks grandma, daddy and Marc for enduring the cold as well

 All my kids love the water but Rio loves it the most!  She didn't care how cold the water was, she was going to swim all by herself with her "floaty" - Uncle Marc helped her out

 Cousins Tyler and Hayden joined in the fun too

 The water fun didn't last too long so onto the rocky beach they went, towels and all!

*Austin and Jax in front, Tyler, Brinlee & Hayden in back with Uncle Mike, Uncle Jon, Aunt Erin and cousin Cole behind*

 We stopped to eat some lunch in the back of the car since it was so cold to sit all the way outside :)

 Next, we went onto a hike to Cascade Falls.  Austin and I stayed back and didn't get to join everyone - he had fallen asleep in the car and well...I was 7 months pregnant and didn't think a hike would be the best choice to make :)

Cute Rio posing for the camera with her walking stick - Spence said the kids did so great and walked the entire time! Such troopers they are!

 Uncle Andrew, Aunt Kisty and cousin "Efan" (Ethan)

 Uncle Marc and Jax at the lookout for the falls

 Tyler, Rio, Jax and Brinlee looking at the waterfall

 Beautiful...

 More Beautiful...

 Most Beautiful!  My sweet family

Jax looks a wee bit tired, don't you think??

 Our next stop was the "Ice Caves"

Austin had woken up by now and so I took him to the caves but couldn't climb down into them so daddy and Marc went with him.  He loved it and thought it was so cool that he was the only one who got to go since by now Jax and Rio had fallen asleep in the car

 Thanks Aunt Erin for your help across the icy ground

 That evening before dinner, our creative and fun grandma made a scavenger hunt for the kids to go on so Aunt Kristin was reading the kids their first clue

 Austin had just found his clue and they were headed to the next stop...

 I was reading Rio her clue, she was so into the hunt :)

 Cousin Brinlee got to the prize first!  They all found their treasure behind this tree and were so excited!

Thanks grandma for our treasure - Fruit snacks!!!  The best treasure of all :)

*What a great family va-ca we had!  So great to spend time with our family this summer in such a beautiful place*