Friends, food, fun and gymnastics

Do you know when you have good friends? When you haven't really seen or spoken in a few years but they still call when they are headed in your direction just so you can hang out. Tracey did just that thing a few weeks ago. We hadn't seen her or her family for almost 2 years but they were coming up to go to a gymnastics meet and gave us a call. 

We started with dinner at a local joint, where the locals eat, and then headed to The Spectrum. I had looked up the info online and found that entrance was free if you were wearing pink. We had to buy Jake a ticket. 

Don't be fooled by the look on Ellie's face. She loved watching the gymnastics and playing with friends. 

Ellie put your hands down. Sammi look at the camera.

Apparently USU's gymnastics isn't as popular as the Utes' Red Rocks. We showed up late but where still only 5 rows up from the floor.

We has such a good time. We got out of the house, the kids were able to play and enjoy something new, and Jake and I could take with friends and have adult conversations.

Thanks Tracey and Adrian. We had such a great time.

Neighborhood Bear Lake

For quite a few years now, my parents neighborhood has been getting together and planning a trip to Bear Lake. It is always a blast. We love going when we can make it. Since we live a little closer, we just made it a day trip this year. 

The girls loved playing in the water and building sand castles. Sammi liked being Godzilla even more. It took several tries to build more than 3 towers without Sammi stomping on them and knocking them over. It upset Ellie, but they finally were able to get some put up. 

While the girls stayed at the beach, played with Grandma, and went for a boat ride, another group of us went to Bloomington Lake. This is one of Jake's favorite little places. Now I finally have a video of me going off the rope swing (normally this doesn't happen when you are the photographer.)

Thanks to the neighborhood for letting us come hang out at the lake. It is so nice to have neighbors that close.

4th of July

We tried to have as much fun as possible for the 4th of July. Luck for us, Cache Valley is a great place to do that. July 3rd, one of the departments put on a huge concert and fireworks show at Romney Stadium. We didn't go to it but we did go with some friends to a park high on the benches and watched the show from afar. The kids loved it. (Side note: glow sticks do lose their potency over time. Ours were less than spectacular but the kids still loved them.)

On the 4th, the city of Hyrum hosts the parade, which oddly doesn't start until noon. We showed up just in time to find our same neighbors, sit with them towards the front of the parade and make out like kids at Halloween when it came to candy and snacks; a cheese stick, hand fulls of otter pops, tootsie rolls, taffy, water bottles, a few frisbees, coupons, and dumdums. 

Loving everything but the camera.

Later that night, our awesome neighbors (who also don't have family in town) came over for dinner and some fireworks. I know it looks bright-ish outside and that's because it was. Having our kids up until almost 11 the night before, we decided to light some of the fireworks at dusk.

Although our show was small, quite a few of our neighbors went all out. We saw about 4 different sets of fireworks within a few blocks of us going for close to 30 min or longer. Neither girl acted particularly scared of the fireworks this year.

God Bless America!

Fun Times

Ellie and I have been able to do some fun things lately. A few weeks ago we went to DMNS on a free day and were able to see the Lizards and Snakes exhibit. Ellie really likes lizards and snakes for some reason so she really enjoyed walking around and seeing these. After they take your picture like with the dinosaur exhibit. To see Ellie and I with Bo the Constrictor, check it out here.

A little bit after that, Ellie's friend Kate invited us to go with her and her mom to the zoo. Those to girls are 2 peas in a pod. I don't know what will happen when one of ours families move.

Swinging on the bars by the "ponguins" as Ellie calls them.

Of course we had to ride the Merry-go-round

The 2 peas.

Hiding in the ponguin cave.

That day we actually started working on our tans too. I could feel the heat in my arms. It was so nice.

Since that day, we have had great weather the majority of the days. We even went to the park for playgroup the other day as well.

Botanic Gardens Free Day

I love when free days come up. A while back we went to the gardens again on a free day but this time were joined by some friends. Dagny, Kate, and James came with us. Ellie and Kate are only about 2 months apart and love playing together so they had a blast running around.

Ellie and Kate during a snack break.

 We didn't spend a lot of time there but just enough to be out of the house and enjoy the outdoors. We are glad to have good friends.

Entrance to the children's garden.

Garden and Park (with Music and Movies)

There are 1 or 2 main reasons I am glad summer is coming to an end; everyone else's kids are back in school so indoor play areas and parks aren't as crowded and SCDF Free days start happening more frequent.

The Botanic Gardens at Chatfield had a free day, so Ellie and I drove out so we could be out of the house and she could run around.  It was a gorgeous day, a little warm in the sun but we packed a lunch and went to see if things were any different from our visit earlier this year. Mostly it was just greener. 

Old barn and solo

Ellie wanted her picture taken sitting in front of the car.



"Mommy, picture. Cheese"



She wanted to sit on this railing but wouldn't look at me.

"Ba-gawk."



Playing in the fort. "Cheese"

Although it was hot, the sprinklers came on.

It was a nice morning adventure that allowed us to be home in time for a nap.

A day or 2 later, some friends invited us to join them in Golden for Music and Movies in the Park. The movie, Back to the Future. I hadn't watched that movie in so long.

They start the evening off at around 6:30-7 with live music. The band we had was awesome. I wish I could remember the name. The played "Elvis" type songs that were great for dancing. A couple of times, Ellie made me walk to the front of the stage so she could dance with the other kids up there but every time we got there she wouldn't dance because she was too busy staring at the crazy outfits and tattoos of the players. The female bassist (who you can't see well in the pic) was wearing short shorts and had a trail of small stars tattooed up the back of her legs (yes both of them) with a larger star at the top, just below the short cuff. One leg also had a garter tattoo.

Ellie did like dancing back where we were sitting. She really wanted Josh to dance as well, although he doesn't quite stand on his own yet. She did try to mimic some of the dance moves done by Sarah (our friend with the red hair).

The Valdez couple asked us to watch Josh for a bit while they walked and found ice cream. They were nice enough to buy us popsicle. Guess who wanted to try to eat one on her own?

Popsicle!!

Mmm...a-licious!!!

I still made her share with me.


We are each trying to make sure we eat our fair share.

Although the movie didn't start until almost 8:30, Ellie did everything she could to stay up the whole time. So at 10:45 as we climbed into the car, she fell asleep. Silly little girl. I had a great time. Thanks to the Valdez family for sharing the evening with us.

Trip to Utah (Wedding and babies)

Saturday and Sunday were the compelling reasons for our trip to Utah. On Saturday, I had a baby shower for a good friend and my ex-boss. She is having twins for her first kids. Twin boys, no less.  It was so good seeing her at the shower. It was mostly a surprise also, except for the fact that I had seen her husband the day before and he told her I was in town. Congrats and good luck, Ashley (and Taylor).

After driving home for Ellie to have a nap and then trying to plan the rest of the evening, we took off for boonieville for a wedding reception for another good friend and my ex-roommate. I was so excited when I heard she was getting married and I am even more glad I was able to come to town to be at her reception. I didn't tell her, so it was a surprise. If she's anything like me, it was one of the best surprises. I had a few friends come to town when for my reception. Congrats and best wishes Natalie (and Matt).

After we drove to a delicious Hawaiian restaurant, that I heard about from friends at my old job, and drove to Calee's place for some MMA fight night. It was so nice that Devin had TV trays so that we could use them to eat and watch the fights. Ellie was so excited because she Bella and Baxter (Calee and Devin's dogs) live there. She chased them around. Sometimes she even tried to chastise them for sitting outside on the patio, but she liked being out there with them.  She also decided that Calee's couch made an excellent slide.

I wasn't able to catch a picture or good video of this but Calee gave Ellie a glass with one ice cube and a little water in it, since I forgot to pack her sippy cup. Ellie would stick her hand in the glass, grab the ice cube, suck or lick the cube, place it back in the glass, and then take a drink. It was so funny to watch, especially once the ice cube was just about to melt away because it would slide down her arm, she wouldn't be able to grab it, or it would "disappear" in the water. We had some good laughs.

Although it was a late night already, after the fights we packed a few things and drove to Wanship to spend the night. Steve and Connie's place was already full so we slept at Rob and Kristine's. It was nice to spend the night there (even if it was so late we didn't play games). It also made it easier to be ready for church the next day.

We needed to be up there for church as Marc and Cassie were blessing the newest addition to their family, Hayley May. It was a beautiful blessing and she was such a good baby. It was also nice because I was able to go to Relief Society and Sunday School for the first time since our visit over Christmas, but this was also the first time without a child since we found out we were pregnant with Ellie. (I spend a lot of time in the primary/nursery).

After Ellie played with her cousins (and took a nap) while the adults enjoyed a gorgeous day on the back porch. Sadly, I had forgotten the camera at my parents' house and couldn't take any pictures. It was really one of those days I wish I had remembered my camera. I guess mental pictures will have to do.

We were enjoying things so much that it was almost 5 before anyone checked the time and then we headed back to my parents' house for some dessert and games. Thanks to my sister Annie, who keeps introducing Jake to new games, Jake wants Settlers of Catan. Maybe one day we will actually invite people over and play the games we already have.

Even though Saturday was a little hectic, I can't think of a much better way to spend the weekend then with family and friends.