Man I am so behind blogging. We've got Disneyland in January I haven't done for goodness sakes!! I hope to get some catch up work done soon. But for now we're enjoying our summer. I love having the kids home from school. Yes it can be crazy sometimes and an even bigger lack of order than usual, but it's nice having them around, especially for Ella. Don't know what she and I are going to do all alone during school now with Katie in 1st grade. Anyway, they've been doing lots of playing at home, with friends, sleep overs with Grammy and Grandpa Allan while I teach water aerobics in Kearns. We took an amazing trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons that deserves it's own post that will come. It's crazy now that there's only 4 weeks left till school! We'll get to meet a new cousin when Anita has her baby, my sister and her husband and adorable baby are coming out next month for my little brothers wedding and then we all start school. 5th, 3rd, 1st grades and nursing school - yikes!! The kids will do great, I am SO nervous!
With that said, here are some summer fun pics
Talmage and Jeremy and I went down to Bryce Canyon for my first 100 mile race! I ran all day, night, and into the next morning. Crazy, I know.
Almost done! I had a VERY rough night from about 1-5am. I didn't do well with sleep deprecation. Jeremy last saw me around 1am. He met me here with 1.5 miles to go and ran those last miles with me. What an experience! Many more details on my tri blog
While I was off running the boys were out playing. They took the bus into the National Park (my race was right outside it), did Jr Ranger, fished and ate. Oh yeah and spent many hours driving on back dirt roads to meet me at accessible trail heads to help me a few times. My super men!
Mckayla had an achievement days day camp
One of our many "Kearns day Thursdays" and the wonderful big brother Talm is. I love watching Ella let them hold her.
Cheating on the no kids in bed rule while Dad is traveling
A few nights sleeping in the tent in the backyard. Can you see Talm?
A fun bike trip to the best snowcone place EVER! Like seriously, the best. Powder soft ice and flavor the whole time, no frozen bland center. Those giant cups are only $2.50 too! Lucky's is our favorite!!
We went to the Lehi rodeo, but didn't love it. Well that's not true. Talm and Kayla loved the sombrero topped remote control car named Pedro that sped around the arena until a loose bull firmly stomped into pieces :)
Went to the Lehi Roundup parade. The big kids liked the candy, Ella loved the marching bands and we all survived the heat. Another bike trip. Love commuting with them that way. Look forward to hopefully getting Talm on a bike soon too
Had a few showers for Aunt Anita and baby Leonor. Hope I spelled it right!
Went to my nursing school orientation - yikes! I just have to tell myself it's 4 semesters, summer off in between. Just so nervous to find and make time to study while still being the mom and wife I want to be.
That was a fun week though because while Jer was out of town in Chicago and I taught a babysitter class all week as well as my water aerobics classes, the kids and I slept in my parents RV in the front yard. Nice to have out own space and I always thought little soaces like that were fun. I loved playing house as a kid
My dad found this hot wheels Barbie car that Katie and Ella drive around in, it's so cute to watch them!
Ella bell snuggled up next to me in the camper
Fireworks in the yard with my parents and brother and his fiancé. Reminded me of being in Springville growing up with my Grandma Ann clapping and cheering and humming or singing patriotic tunes while we did fireworks. I sure miss that but am glad some of that carries on into the next generation.
Mckayla and I went on a little mountain bike ride together that was a bit much for her but it was really neat to watch her go on and do parts I didn't think she would.
My crazy 4th of July girls
Jer and I went on a great overnight backpacking trip in the Uintas that turned out to kick our butts by the end with its 30+ miles
What a lovely morning, sitting on a bridge eating a mango watching Jer fish. He's the blue shirt straight ahead of my mango :)
The Mosquitos were horrendous much of our second day and we of course forgot big spray. We set up the tent in this meadow for an hour just to get in and have a break from them. The nap was nice too.
Cute little spring
One of our many fishing stops. I'd usually find a nice spot to sit and eat something. He caught a lot! Although this hole was funny because every time he'd put his line in he'd catch a tiny minnow :)
We haven't been backpacking together in 12 years, too long!
I got to do an Altra photo shoot finally and wore lots more make up than usual. I texted my sister to show her my drill team face :)
Shhh, don't tell Jer I posted this
I've never stayed in a hotel all by myself I think so it was kind of fun, although by the time we finished shooting one day and dinner I had to get right to bed to be up at 5am again for makeup
My little minions got to come join me the second night though! We walked next door for free slurpees from 7-11, swam, had pizza delivered then had my friend Jen and her daughters come spend the night. Jen and I went to a close by triathlon where I complete and she helped me with the Altra tent and her amazing 15 year old daughter Natalie handled all 5 kids in the dining room for breakfast!!
I got to attend my first birth as a doula! My friend Judy asked me to help them and it was an honor. I'll blog about our experience on the new doula site I'd like to get going. It is amazing work getting to educate and help empower a mom (and dad) through birth! It is much more than a healthy mom and baby.
Mckayla and her friends did a lemonade stand and did a great job! They also sold brownie bites and cotton candy, they made everything. Those 4 girls each took home like $12 for 4 hours of work! Nice job ladies!
Kaitlyn did a lemonade stand earlier this summer too and had a good time.
The kids designed their own Nicklecade and games one morning. Cute creative kids! From top to bottom Talms was a thumb wrestling station, Katie's was a memory piano game and Mckayla's was a hit the alien off the hanger with checker pieces.
Katie lost her first tooth!!
And Ella is bossy old independent Ella. She proffered to walk home this day so I drove along side her.
She and her friend Jayne were down the street before I knew it, possibly running away from home. Luckily they had a wagon full of food, plastic food.
Our neighbors and her parents the Easleys and us call the "the babies" when referring to them. They are such good friends! Well actually all of our kids play, we love being here in Lehi SO much! It's been such a blessing.
So in a nutshell, that's been our summer so far. Yellowstone post next I hope
She LOVES mom and me dates
