Camping we will go...not again for a while!

Friday after Matt got off work we headed to Hyrum and up Blacksmith Fork Canyon to Friendship camp ground. We were invited by some friends to camp Friday and and boat Saturday. I am no dirt camper unless its next to a lake so this was a bit of a stretch for me but decided to give it a go. We got there just in time to set up camp and start dinner. We went with the Lewis,Calders, Gulls, and Brunsons. I do have to say the families we went with all have older kids and we have the younger girls that require more supervision. I love that my girls are little and hope they grow up slowly so I can enjoy every minute but it can be quite frustrating and exhausting to be with families with grown kids that can be pretty much independent, don't worry about naps, and whether or not they need to be fed.  But we always give it a shot luckily I have a wonderful husband that is always a huge help

 The kids played in and by the creek before dinner...before it got cool.

 After dinner we built a fire and roasted marshmallows before putting the kids to bed and playing games. The weather was perfect and cooled down so we slept pretty well. We got up about 8:30 minus Gracie who slept til 10..she must like camping in a tent. Hallie loved sleeping in the tent with her princess air mattress and sleeping bag I couldn't resist taking some pictures of her in her camping PJs.

 Here is how Gracie slept..she must have been comfy I was a little concerned both girls would get cold but neither of them complained.

After we got everything packed up we headed down the canyon to Hyrum Dam to do some boating. We got there and got everything set up just in time for the wind to start. It blew so hard we had sand everywhere and ultimately ended up heading for home after eating lunch full of sand. Both girls fell asleep quick and slept til we got home. We had a good time getting to know new friends and getting to play in the dirt. But I think were done running, at least for a couple of days, we need a break. I now have laundry to do from 2 trips so if you need my Ill be home...doing laundry.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

 We have really enjoyed our pass of all passes this year and have used them quite a bit. This year they added  Salt Lake Bees tickets. So last night Matt came home from work and we headed down to enjoy the summer weather and some baseball. We have been lucky enough to have Kim & Ez come with us to several of the events lately. My girls just love them and get so excited to see them. During several of the events we have been to Hallie has asked for cotten candy and I am not a fan of paying 7 dollars for 10 cents of sugar but count on Kimber to be super thoughtful. She made a trip to the store to buy a bag of cotten candy before the game for Hallie...she was very excited.

 Oh my sweet Gracie that is excited to be where ever when ever....always our happy girl.

 Our 1st baseball game as a family of 4

 Initially when we got there it was so hot but the sun quickly went down and it was perfect weather to watch a ballgame. It was "dollar dog" night so we even enjoyed some yummy hot dogs with our treats.

 This little family of 2 will soon be 3 we are soooo excited to meet little Luke

 Hallie has started a new "trick" she calls sneaking. Somewhat like Swiper the fox but in her own little way. When she tries to sneak something she laughs and asks if your ready for her to sneak...not so sneaky. Kimber also helped her to perfect her rolling down the hill...she thought it was pretty fun and soon enough there was a whole group of little girls rolling down the hill with her.

 Daddy even caught a baseball for her(a first for both of them)...bare handed and later were able to show it to the ushers and they gave us a pizza coupon for free pizza to go with our ball.

 I think Hallie enjoyed her cheese and crackers I have tried buying them before and she didn't like them but I guess that's why they say try try again. 

 Singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th inning stretch. Three strikes your out!

One more night of great memories for the books this summer. Fun, family, food, and baseball.

Victor and the Tetons

Over the 24th we got together with Matt's family. We left on Sunday after the girls got up from their naps and we were all packed and ready to go. We drove the 4 hours to Victor, ID without any problems I think the drive bothered me the most. Gracie slept for about 3 hours of the trip and Hallie was content to read stories and watch movies. Once we arrived we got all our stuff set up and had some dinner followed by a lesson by Chris. It was really hard to listen with the kids running around and so excited to be out of the car and with all the other kids. Then we settled in for the night. The girls really struggled going to sleep...Hallie wanted to be up with the older kids and I don't know why Gracie was awake but she was all smiles and wanted to play. We finally got both of them settled about 11. I was a mess I was worried about the girls waking each other up, the other kids up, or getting woke up. It was hot so I couldn't sleep the girls would stir  (hallie a lost binki/gracie was sweaty) it made for a long night but by about 4am it had cooled off and we got a few good hours of sleep. Monday morning came way to quickly we had yummy breakfast and got ready for family pictures.

 Most the grandkids 

 Our little bunch

We couldn't have been done with pictures soon enough for the group that was going fishing they had been planning and talking about it for quite a while. So after getting some lunch and some fly fishing practice they were off to the river. As for our little family we decided to take naps and visit. After the girls got up from their naps we got them fed and packed to head to the Targee Ski Resort. But before we left I decided to let Gracie have a cookie(vanilla/chocolate/cream filled one) and oh my she made a mess but seemed to really enjoy herself.

  Once she got a mini bath(because she was a mess!) we drove the beautiful 30 minutes to the resort. We got our tickets and walked the short distance to the lift. Hallie was a little nervous but once we got moving she loved it. The views were, for lack of a better word, AMAZING(which still does it no justice)

 

 Once we got to the top(it took about 15minutes) we took a couple short hikes to a few observation points and the view just got better and better. We had been talking to Hallie about taking her to the big mountain which she equated to Dora's Big Mountain so she was very excited when we made it to "big mountain" aka the Tetons.

Our view at the top

 
 

 Can you see in the picture below how the storm is coming in? Well just as we were getting ready to head back one of the workers came to warn us that the storm was coming so we got a few last pics and headed down the lift. It probably dropped 10-15 degrees in the hour we were on the mountain luckily we had packed jackets just in case but the girls didn't seem bothered at all.

Once we got to the bottom we wanted to take some pictures and then before we knew it Hallie wanted her picture taken next to every flower pot they had because she said they were so beautiful.

 Then we headed back to the cabin. The kids got to play bingo before dinner and Joy had some fun prizes(Hallie chose books). After dinner we went for a bike ride (forgot my camera) although I probably wouldn't have taken pictures anyways because I about died. I had failed to notice on the way out that it was a slight decline so on the way home it was all up hill. I really didn't think I was going to make it...ridiculous! After some fresh air and some water I felt better and joined the rest of the group that had started their "talent" show which really ended up being some funny skits and Joy playing some songs for the kids to sing and dance to. Hallie thought it was great. After we gave the girls a "bath" it was time to try the bedtime thing again which to spare the details went miserably and we got to bed about 2am. Tuesday morning we got up and packed to head for home our original plan was to head for Jenny Lake and hike to the falls but on the way there Matt and I realized how truly exhausted we all were and decided to bag that for some spectator rafting and lunch. I have many memories of going to Jackson with my family rafting growing up and Bubba's is one of them my dad loves their breakfast so as we drove past I had to get a picture.

 We decided to watch from the "lunch counter" which we coincidentally packed our lunch and ate it while watching the boats come through. It made Matt and I miss rafting a lot hopefully we can talk my parents into going at least another couple of times to at least help teach  us the particulars so we can keep going. Note:this is about the only time you will catch me dirty camping! Anyways back to lunch and the river. Hallie had a hard time focusing on her lunch and preferred to watch the rafts come through the rapids.

 Hallie watching the boats with her daddy

 I had packed pickles in my baggie and decided to let Gracie try one...she was in heaven and gnawed on it the entire time we were hiking around. Can you tell by her face she liked it?

 Love my little family and our adventures

 Then we headed for home. The girls alternated napping on the way home. We got rained on most of the way and the drive was for the most part really pretty. I'm so thankful for good riders because I hate to drive anywhere and if they weren't good riders I don't know if we would go anywhere.

 Once we got home, unpacked, and showered we enjoyed the peace and quiet of our cool house(you really don't realize how much you love AC until you don't have it). Then I realized I hadn't documented Gracie's latest trick she now can sit up all by herself and has been for about a week now. And she is quite proud of herself.

I had such a good time with my little family and the new little adventures that we did. Hallie had a great time with her cousins and loved the books Joy gave as prizes. We are excited to get some R&R before our next camping trip with friends this weekend. I sometimes wonder if summer is over so we can stay home but until then we will do our best to enjoy every moment we have together.

Another Fun Filled Family Weekend

We spent another fun filled weekend with my family. It started with Nic and I spending Friday getting decorations ready for Kimber's Shower we will be hosting in Aug(it will be here quick).  Luckily the kids did good entertaining themselves in the back yard.

 Then after a short break for naps and to shower we headed off to the Blaze(arena football) game. Hallie came up from her room dressed like this and asked if she could wear what she had on I agreed she looked pretty cute.

So I'll be honest arena football isn't really my thing but Matt and I want our girls to experience all activities so they can decide what they like..but were more than happy to go in order to spend time with family. 

Here's the whole gang...man we love spending time with them. And we did end up having a lot of fun.

 Saturday morning we got up and ready to head to South Jordan for a fun packed day. We got there played some wii and visited before lunch.

 Kimber had a great idea to theme the food we brought towards foods that reminded us of our Grandma Norr...it was way yummy. Kimber was so thoughtful and made a batch of gluten free rolls so that I could have a bun with my sloppy joe...she is awesome.

 After lunch we put the kids down for a nap and we visited, slept, played more wii, and read. After the kids woke up and situated we headed to the Kennacott Copper mine. We all squished in the Yukon and off we went.

 On the way we saw a mommy and her baby deer crossing the road Hallie thought that was so cool. Once we got there we weren't disappointed. I was a little skeptical but really thought it was cool, the view was breath taking. This is a tire for one of the dump trucks it was HUGE!!

 
  So if you can imagine how big the dump trucks are if you look closely you can see on the right a small dot...well thats a full size Ford truck! In the video they said the dump trucks are as big as a house and have a staircase to get to the drivers seat. 

 Hallie loved the shiney rocks

 And the mini versions of the tractors they use at the mine.

 Hallie wanted a picture with each plaque someone told her it had cool stuff on them..thanks Ez. He also taught her to say that learning is cool.

 Ez enjoying the wind in his hair

 Our family picture minus half of Kyle who refused to pose for one more picture...creative I will give him that.

 After we got home from the mine we grabbed some dinner and headed out for a bike ride. Gracie was ready for a nap so we put her in her car seat and she rode in one bike trailer while Hallie and Rigs rode in the other. Daybreak has so many trails and was so fun. So we rode our bikes around for awhile while Ez fixed his bike tire then rode our bikes down to the boats at the lake.

 Once we got to the lake we decided to take turns on the boat and the rest of us rode our bikes around the lake.

Hallie loved the boat and was pretty good at helping to paddle.

 Poor Rigs refused to nap while the girls did and he finally gave up on the bike ride....don't ya love how kids can sleep anywhere and refuse to in some of the most comfortable places.

 Kim and I decided to take the kids over to the playground while everyone else rode the boats.

Once Gracie woke up she loved the ride

The playground was really nice, it was next to the water so of coarse the kids had to feed the ducks. Then headed for the swings and slide. The base was sand so it was fun to put our feet in the sand and build. Rigs isn't one to frequently share smiles or laughs but once Kyle put him on the swings with Hallie he was a riot and at times had a hard time catching his breath.

 What a fun day we had. I hope we continue with our family dates, dinners, and days with the kids. I have always hoped that my kids would grow up spending lots of time with family making those same memories that I remember making growing up. Im thankful for family that takes advantage of the time we spend together and the sacrifices they make so that it all works out. Days like today make my heart happy:)