24th of July

We spent the afternoon getting sprayed with foam, rinsing off and doing it again. So much fun, except for Zach who only could watch due to breaking not one but both bones in his arm. Post more Monday after we go visit the Doctor again.




We spent the evening at an outdoor concert featuring Emerson Drive. We had a great time and enjoyed spending the day together.

Vacation

Our vacation this year was packed with activity. We usually drive this in one day but split it up this time which allowed for some extra time to stop at Martin's Cove. We have passed by this spot so many times and have never stopped.

We thought we would give Zach some extra practice in before his Pioneer Trek at the end of the month.

Next we went to a family reunion on Kevin's side.
Lexie winning money in the traditional duck race down the creek
Kevin making homemade sausage the Italian way (the only way)
Carson catching a fish in the pond.

Fireworks at Grandma's gets all the boys big and small excited....

Spending the day at Great Grandma's Ranch taking pictures and searching for star rocks and bullet rocks.

During our trip we did several more things like checking out the local swimming pool, an alpine slide, Mount Rushmore, hiking, and tubing the creek which resulted in this.

a broken toe, but I would do it all again.

We love visiting Kevin's family there is so much to see and do and loved ones to do it all with. Thanks for the great visit!!!

Family Adventure

Last year I checked off an item from my own personal bucket list, I went snowboarding for the first time. I have lived in Utah my whole life and never really experienced the snow in this way before I had never been skiing, or snowboarding. As an extension to my own bucket list item, I found out about a great program at Park City for the Utah locals to come and enjoy the snow like never before. It included a 3 hour lesson a lift pass, and rental all for $25 what an opportunity for our family (and convenient after a tax return refund I might add) to enjoy an adventure together. I quickly signed us all up Kevin, myself, and Lexie to try skiing and Zach and Carson snowboarding.

We started early in the morning and set out for the mountain. It was snowing lightly which only added to the excitement. We got all the equipment situated and fitted, ate a quick lunch at the car we had pre-packed and off we went. Kevin and I were together but each of the kids were separated into their own age group and in their own lesson. The lessons only had 5 people per group and lots of one on one.

As Kevin and I were in our lesson, which seemed like such a slower pace than either of us wanted Lexie's group kept coming by and we could shout encouragement she had passed us like 3 times before we even had two skiis on yet. Kids pick this up so fast. Zach started in a lesson one and they said when he comes back to sign him up for lesson 4. Carson did great and moved up a spot and Lexie did great and moved up a spot.

After the lessons the place seemed to be deserted and night skiing had started and our passes were still valid, so we went up the lift with the kids and enjoyed watching all the new things they had learned. Lexie surprised Kevin and I the most she absolutely loved it and probably would have stayed the longest. She did fabulous and really picked it up fast. She keeps asking if she can go again next weekend.

The best part of the whole day was that it was an adventure that we all did together as a family. Kevin and I are enjoying this stage of our family where we can really start to do things we enjoy as a family, and we are able to try new things which lead to new adventures.

Thanks to our great friends Kelli and Kelcy who shared the info and the day with us.

New Years Day

We had so much fun spending the day with family.

Update

Here are some highlights from December we attended several Christmas Concerts, a visit from Kevin's parents, and sister and her two kids. Santa Claus came by to personally check if the kids are on the right list.

We went to Temple Square it is fun to visit with people from out of state. It was beautiful and memorable. I am glad we have this beautiful temple in our own backyard.

We spent a couple of hours at Jump On It, we wore out the kids and maybe Erin (Kev's sister) and I as well. My favorite was laying in between the tramps as the kids took turns jumping over me as I took their pictures.

Football Withdrawals

Kevin has spent every weeknight for the past four months coaching the eighth grade football team and now that the season has come to an end, more than once Kevin has said to me "What am I going to do without football?" So today when all the neighborhood kids were having an impromptu game, he could not help himself and had to join the fun. I could not help but take pictures of him enjoying his favorite past time with some all to eager boys.

Pumpkin Mania

Now that football is over we enjoyed an evening all together, carving pumpkins or my favorite the oversized potato head like pieces you can just shove into the pumpkin. Kevin got quite a kick out of making me gag by putting the pumpkin guts inside his mouth, it was hard to get a picture in between the dry heaving. Apparently the kids did not get my gag reflexes, since I was the only one struggling.

Pumpkin love: 1.) Pick their nose (duh!)
2.) Hold hands
3.) Get engaged!
Lexie

I was going for a self-portrait

Carson
Seriously sooooo gross, still makes me gag


Zach

Zach and Kevin's pumpkins in all their lighted glory