1st Week of August

Here are some highlights from the first week of August.

Nyles and Carter are on the front of the banner for the Youth Waterfowl Festival this year.  I went into work a couple days this week (minus vacation days).  On Tuesday a few of us went over to the Utah Food Bank to volunteer and help package up food (pinto beans specifically).  I take the train in to work. It's great to see the progress on the SLC Temple.  Hudson just relaxing in a hole in the sandbox.

Carter's friend Colin had a birthday party at Airborne (a trampoline place), so of course Nyles and Hudson wanted to join in on the fun!

So much jumping!

Lots of fun!

It rained pretty good Wednesday afternoon as I was coming home on the train from work.  

The boys built a tall tower w/ blocks.

Thursday afternoon we headed up to Bear Lake.  We planned to go to Bryce Canyon, but Stacie/Phill couldn't make it anymore.  So instead of canceling my vacation days, we decided to go camp at Bear Lake instead.  It's always fun at Bear Lake!

Beautiful views on the way over through Evanston, WY.  Carter and Hudson slept a bit as we drove.  

We made it!  The Seagulls think they own the place haha ;)

After setting up "camp" we went over to check out the lake.

Hudson wanted to dig in the sand for a bit as well.

We camped at Big Creek Campground this time, which is for RVs and tents.  Our site had hookups for electricity and water, which was nice to have, even w/ a tent.  We used the electricity to pump up our air mattresses and charge our phones, and we used the water to wash hands and dishes.  They also had a bathroom not to far away w/ flushing toilets, which was nice and showers.  It definitely made "camping" a little easier.

The boys wanted to pop popcorn!  Nyles wanted to do it himself.

We had a beautiful view of the lake and our campsite was next to the creek.  Hudson playing in the trailer, pretending to row his kayak.  A Muskrat in the creek next to us.

Then the boys wanted to make S'mores of course!

Our campsite.  Playing a game of Pig Pile before bed.

Steve helping to cook breakfast the next morning.  Hudson wanted to play w/ the little piggies during breakfast again.  Then over to the lake to play.

Nyles and Hudson out on the kayaks w/ me.  More Seagulls taking over the trampolines now.

Our setup for the day.  Geese kept flying over us at the Lake and our campsite.  

Steve on the kayak.  There were lots of seashells everywhere!

Hudson fell asleep under his towel after warming up from being in the lake.  

Later Nyles went out for a swim in the lake.  Hudson getting a snack.

It was a little cool next to the water, so we packed up and went closer to the parking lot where it was warmer.  We found a nice big tree to set up and played there for a while.  A seagull eating something.

Of course then they got warm and Carter and Hudson wanted to go back to the lake to play w/ their boats.  Then Hudson wanted to swim a little too.

Carter w/ our tent.  I hung up some rope and made a clothes line from our trailer to a tree, to dry our towels and swimsuits on.  It worked great!

Hudson excited to have s'mores.

After dinner and games, the kids wanted more S'more surprise surprise :)

Steve getting the fire going.  Beautiful sunset.  Ironically it rained crazy that night for about 1 hour.  The boys didn't wake up, though Steve and I did, but thankfully we didn't get wet in our tent.

Saturday morning we took down "camp" then went over to the lake to play for a while more.  

The boys getting a snack (notice the water behind them from the rain).  Nyles and I on the kayaks.  

We packed up after lunch to get home to pick up Piper from the kennel and clean up for Sunday.

Sunday we had family dinner at Dave/Joann's.  Hudson wanted to play the piano for a little while.  

The girls wanted to give Joann a makeover.

Hudson playing w/ the balls w/ Grandpa Dave, then getting in the mini "ball pit."

After dinner we gathered outside and sang Happy Birthday: Conor, Noah, Hudson, Chandler, Ryan and Nyles.  Then we played the truth game and took turns answering question in the spotlight, including Megan, Chandler's fiancé.  They're getting married August 11th.

Hudson decided to water the plants while we were talking.

Great quotes.

Last day of July

On Monday, July 31, Steve went up to the Uintas w/ the boys and Dave/Joann.  They met Kim and her kids up at Mirror Lake.  They were camping up there for a couple days.  It started out a nice day, then the rain clouds came in and it rained the whole day.  They had a great time though.  Here are some highlights.

Cute Hudson in the log at Mirror Lake.  Getting set up and going fishing.

Hudson playing w/ the paddles.  Alexa and Nyles going out for a ride.

Then it started to rain, and it rained the rest of the day.  

Luckily Steve brought up the canopy and a buddy heater that helped keep everyone warm.

Nyles all ready to go w/ his waders on.  Pretty flowers.

Cute Steve.  Dave trying to stay dry.  Carter trying to stay warm.  Hudson playing w/ the umbrella.

More pretty flowers.

Raining.

Joann gave Hudson a pen and paper on the drive home, but he ended up just drawing on himself.  

Silly kid.  More pretty flowers.

Great quote.

Last week of July

 Here are some highlights from the last week of July.

It's been SUPER HOT this whole week!

On Monday, July 24th, we went over to LuDean's/Diane's place for dinner and to celebrate the 24th of July, when the pioneer's entered the Utah Valley.  After dinner LuDean shared family history of her great grandfather Daniel Wood.

LuDean sharing some stories about Daniel Wood.

LuDean sharing stories and pictures.

Cute Hudson after eating some Nutella.  Later sprawled out during his nap.  Cool sunset colors.

Hudson got to participate in the Little Tikes marital arts class just for fun.

Hudson showing us his martial arts moves.

On Saturday, we went over to a park for a birthday party for Clay Evans (our neighbor's son) who is turning 8.  The kids brought their scooters and skated at the park, had snow cones, had pizza, then sang Happy Birthday and got cupcakes. It was SUPER HOT already at 10am, but the kids still had fun!

Eating snow cones (with our other neighbor Kaitlyn Moreton), playing on their scooters and singing Happy Birthday!

Carter showing us his scooter skills :)

After the birthday party we went home and put Hudson down for a nap.  Steve and I then ran over to the Jordan River Temple and did sealings together (the Draper Temple is closed for cleaning).  There was only 1 other man in our session, and his back was really hurting, so Steve did most of the work :)  We made it back home in time just before Hudson woke up!  It was great to go together and especially to do sealings in the temple we were married in. 

Our volunteer tree is definitely growing!  Nyles had another tooth pulled since in order to make room for the one underneath it coming in.  Pretty flowers.  At the Jordan River Temple after doing sealings.

Later that day playing w/ water balloons to cool off!

Sunday we had the missionaries over for dinner.  After we went up to Silver Lake to enjoy the cooler weather.  They closed half of the boardwalk in order to replace it, so it was a little more crowded than normal, but it was still great to get out and enjoy the beauty!

Beautiful Silver Lake up Big Cottonwood Canyon!

Pretty flowers.  A deer crossed the path.  Some clouds made it overcast, which was nice.

So amazing! Nyles and Carter climbed around to the top of a rock wall.  Cute chipmunk.

We even had a pretty sunset on the drive down.

Great quote.

3rd week of July

Here are some highlights from the 3rd week of July.  

Monday morning, Steve and the boys went w/ Dave up to the cabin.  They went to take out old mattresses in our trailer from the cabin, then later drive them over to the dump.  Steve ended up taking the dump run on Friday.

Tuesday during my lunch break, Steve and I were able to go to the movie theater to see the powerful show "Sound of Freedom."  Hudson went down for a nap and Dave/Joann came over to be w/ the boys; thanks so much!!  It was nice to go on a mini date, even w/ a movie that made me cry during almost the whole show.  It's a true show about child trafficking, sad but true.  Something we should all be aware of and if possible try to find a way to stop it.  

After our movie, I went back to work and Steve took Nyles to the orthodontist.  He has another tooth coming in that they need to pull in order to make room for another adult tooth.  Once more of his adult teeth come in we'll see if he needs braces or whatnot.

Hudson playing w/ the trash can at the cabin.  On the way home from the cabin, he fell asleep.  Steve and I at the movie.  Nyles' teeth that are coming in/need to be pulled.

Steve helped Carter build a Castle out of Legos.  Hudson likes to play Dr w/ his brothers.

The boys played downstairs to keep cool as well.

Steve went to spray some wasps that were in the back of our basketball hoop backboard and got his eye w/ the spray.  He took off his sunglasses so he could see the dark area better, and right as he went to spray Nyles shot the basketball at the hoop which caused the wasps to come out.  Steve then got his eye w/ the spray and the wasps came after him.  One of them bit him on his neck as he was running away.  Steve called Poison Control and they told him to flush his eye w/ water and rinse it for 15 minutes.  His eye sight was blurry for a while, but thankfully it came back.  He went to the eye Dr the next day just to check it and they said he'll be fine thankfully.

Steve's eye that got poison in it.  Carter's Castle he and Steve built.  Great quote.

Saturday we went up to the Uintas again to get away from the 100 degree heat.  Unfortunately so did everyone else, as it was really crowded!  It was the worst we've ever seen it.  I think it was a combo of the hot heat in the valley along w/ on Monday it was Pioneer Day (July 24th), so I'm guessing a lot of people had the day off and were camping over the longer weekend.  We met Stacie/Phill up there.  Conor's birthday is coming up this next week, so we sang Happy Birthday to him.

 Stacie on the kayak.  Having donuts for Conor's birthday.  

Beautiful scenery.  Rob came up w/ us as well.

Claire and Phill trying to fish, on our kayak.  More flowers were in bloom this time.  And there were HUNDREDS of Dragonfly's around!  Apparently it was mating season for them as they were everywhere!  The fish didn't want to bit either since there were so many Dragonflies around.

Beautiful flowers by the lake.  Nyles trying to fish from the shore.

Getting some lunch.  Nyles fishing/trolling on his kayak.  Hudson watching a show for a minute.

Rob, Steve, Phill and Stacie.  Carter w/ his waders on.

So many Dragonflies!  Steve finally went out for a quick stroll on the kayak.

Rob, Steve and I on the kayaks.

Such a beautiful day, but because it was so crowded we didn't stay long.  We then drove around Trial Lake campground just to see what it looks like and we saw a deer.  Hudson and Carter fell asleep shortly after on the way home.

We still have some Day Lillies in bloom (in the shady areas of the house), along w/ the Rose of Sharon are coming out now.  Our peaches and pears are making progress as well.

It was hot the whole weekend, so the boys used the hose to cool down.  Steve getting Hudson w/ the hose.  Steve has also been working hard at losing weight before, and now, after his surgery.  He's gone down several loops on his belt.

Steve's awesome progress!

Great quotes.