JUNE

Our June was packed full of fun.  We have had a great start to the summer. We have also had a little down time.  Here is our crazy month of June in reverse.  

I love finding my kids all snuggled together to watch a show.

 

We have been working hard on reading.  Millie was the first to complete a reading tracker so we went down to turn it in for a free book.  She was delighted to add to her Princess in Black collection.  The kids loved playing on these stairs close to the library.

 

We finally made it to the magic show at Lagoon.  They invited us up on stage before the show to examine some of the props.  I wish I could have taken a picture of these kiddos completely entranced by the magic during the show...but no photography was allowed.

 

Lou is starting to enjoy the merry-go-round.  She loves to say neigh as the ride starts to go...or moo...we are still sorting out our animal sounds.

 

Rattlesnake Rapids continues to be one of my kids favorite rides.  Thank goodness for Uncles that are willing to ride along.

We stopped in Logan at Angie's to clean the kitchen sink.  We invited some cousins and Granddad to join us.  The kids loved the challenge.

 

We also stopped at this cool spring up Logan canyon.

 

We spent four nights with my side of the family in Bear Lake.  We stayed at the Big Blue Cottage again.  We had so much fun playing and being with family.  We took some wand making kits up and let all the kids make wands.  

 

We played hard...Silas was exhausted after our afternoon at Rendezvous Beach.

 

The kids loved playing on Uncle Jeff's paddle-board.

 

We also loved the shallow pools between the beach and the lake.  The pools felt like hot tubs...I love these pictures of Silas relaxing in the warm water.

 

Lou was obsessed with life vests on the trip.  She loved wearing hers on the beach.

The kids loved playing in the sand, looking for shells and getting wet together.

 

Jeff spoiled us with yummy cheese-steak sandwiches on the beach.

 

Bart took us out on his boat.  The kids had so much fun being pulled on the tube. 

 

Jeff gave the kids a ride to the boat on his paddle-board.

 

Lou loved playing in the sand.

 

Before we hit the beach we headed up to Rocking Ranch for some family photos.

 

 

While the adults were having pictures taken, Lou was occupied with Teddy Grahams.

Here are a few of my favorites from the professional photographer.

 

I was able to take a few candid photos too.

 

 

 

Millie lost her tooth while we were in Bear Lake.  This made her have a matching smile with cousin Carver.

The night before pictures, I painted lots of the girls nails a matching color.

 

We stayed at the Big Blue Cottage the last time we came to Bear Lake. It has the perfect spaces to gather as well as private spaces too. 

It was so fun to just see the kids playing with each other.  They played board games, swung on the outside swings and played wiffle ball for hours. 

 

Mary brought some beads for the girls to make necklaces and bracelets.

 

On Sunday we ventured out to the Paris Tabernacle.  What a beautiful building.  

 

 

Seth played Marvel Guess in 10 with the kids as we were waiting to load up in cars.

 

 

 

Phin also got to ride on Bart's boat on Saturday.  He had so much fun on the tube with Andrew and James.  

We visited Bridgerland Adventure Park on Saturday.  We all went on the tubes.

 

Seth and Phin both did the ropes course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kids played on the jump pad at the KOA.

 

We rented a big bike and went for a ride. 

 

We gave each of the kids a chance to "drive."  They loved their time behind the wheel.

 

We biked from the KOA all the way to the road below the Big Blue Cottage. 

 

 We raced Scott's family like we were chariots.

 

Lou waved and said "hi" to every person we passed.

 

Cousin James joined us for the ride.  It was nice to have him pedaling in the back with Phin since Millie's feet didn't quite reach the pedals.

 

Lou was not a great sleeper while we were away.  She did end up in this pose after our first night at Bear Lake.

We went for Free Frazil Friday before loading up for Bear Lake.

 

We also went to a local literacy program and heard from the author and illustrator of "Snowmen at Night."  It was really fun to see their process for developing books.

 

Seth's work had their annual night at Cowabunga Bay. This is a favorite summer activity for our kids...although it always seems to be chilly on the night that we go.

 

Can you spot Lou's legs wrapped around Millie in this photo?

We visited the library one day after Rec classes.  Millie and Carver had fun completing the scavenger hunt.

 

Silas and Conrad loved building with the magnetic tiles.

 

Millie and Carver took Pickleball together while Silas and Conrad took Park Pals.

 

Phin took a basketball class.

 

Swim lessons started in June and the kids have loved their lessons.  They are taking lessons at a private indoor pool.

 

We celebrated Father's Day dinner up in Cache Valley.  We had our family picture taken for Grandma Jo.

 

 We had so much fun at the car show and parade this year.  Silas loved this low-rider green truck.

 

A sweet lady gave the kids permission to sit in her sweet ride...they were in heaven.

 

This is a picture from our first Free Frazil Friday.  Phin spotted signs on our drive down to Thanksgiving Point.

 

We drove down to Thanksgiving Point for Silas' Upstart End of Year celebration.  The event super crowded and it felt like we spent the majority of our time waiting in line.  

 

One of my favorite summer sights...kids reading.  Phin has been enjoying a huge Spiderman Comic collection.

 

We went to cousin Kira's birthday party and the kids loved the reusable water balloons.

 

Millie loved decorating the gift bag for Kira's gift.

 

Lou and Conrad reading with Nona one afternoon.

 

Lou loves to snuggle up in Millie's sleeping bag any chance she gets.

 

While the kids have been in recreation classes, Lou and I have walked around the parks where their classes are.  She has also loved swinging and playing on the playgrounds.

 

We were able to go to Huntsman Day at This is the Place Heritage Park.  The kids loved riding the train.  We were able to meet up with JB, Andrew, James and Millie.

 

 Lou loved visiting the horse on our way out of the park.

 

Cutest cousins at the park.  

Silas' favorite activity was panning for gold.  He put this large rock in his little pan and pretended he found a huge piece of gold. 

 

 This was my kids first time pulling a handcart.

 

We didn't wait in line for a pony ride...but the kids were able to get a photo opportunity on a pony.

 

They loved "milking" the cow.

 

 

 

 

Millie, Carver and Silas attended a Down the Rabbit Hole themed recreation class.  The class was almost two hours long. They were actually all in different groups but they loved all the activities that they rotated between.

 

Phin attended a Science Camp with a couple of his friends the second week of summer.  He had so much fun each day.  They went to the Natural History Museum, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, two different Splash Pads, and an IMAX theater.  They dissected frogs, completed coding activities, launched rockets and water balloons and decorated shirts.  

 

Art work from Down the Rabbit Hole class.

 

Phin ready for the first day of science camp.  He was super excited...and also a little nervous.

 

The weather has been absolutely perfect.  We have loved spending more time outside.

 

We went to the Zoo for a Chalk Art event.  I quickly learned that the kids have strong feelings about the best spots for pictures.  I had to rotate who got to sit in the "prized" spot for each photo.

 

We were able to go to the dog show.  The kids all loved it. Lou was probably the biggest fan and kept saying "woof woof."

 

We went to a summer literacy program about birds.  They had a live owl that the kids learned all about.  Then the kids were able to craft a little owl themselves.

 

We visited a library in the South of the Valley one day when were were out and about.

I took the kids down to Gardner Village for the Fairy Festival.  The Fairy Scavenger hunt was a huge hit with them again.

 

Phin loved this "treadmill" at the school where we go for school lunch.

 

Summer has been tiring for all of us.  One night before dinner Lou fell asleep.  I had Seth hold her in hopes that she would wake up quickly.

 

We explored a new to us park.  Phin, Millie and Carver loved playing parameter where they climb all over the outside of the big toy.  Silas and Conrad preferred playing on the inside of the structure.

 

Seth's boss gave us tickets for a Suite at the Bees game.  The kids had so much eating food and hanging out with Papa, Nona, Kim, Carver and Conrad who joined us for the evening. 

 

Here is a photo of swim lessons.  The pool is a salt water pool.  The teacher has been fabulous and the kids are making so much progress.  It has been so much better than crowded lessons at the rec center.

Sidewalk chalk at home.

The kids have loved playing with their cousins in the afternoons after rec classes.

 

We have discovered Carver's gift for locating bugs.

 

We started going to summer lunch at a new school this year. 

 

For the first week of summer rec classes. Millie took an Arts and Crafts class.  Carver took a vocation exploration class. 

Here are a couple of Millie's creations.

 

Silas and Conrad attended a Park Pals class. One of the days was Knights and Castle themed. 

We walked our local Chalk Art Festival.  We took some chalk and Phin drew this cool fish. 

 

Phin wanted to go to the new Spiderverse movie for his birthday...so we recruited some fellow Spiderman fans for a trip to the theater. 

 

Grandma Jo held a tea party the first Saturday in June.  Our kids were quite tuckered out on the drive home.

 Here is the group photo from the event.

Grandma Jo and Granddad with all of the grandchildren that attended.

 

The "originals."

Millie crafted to her hearts content and loved the purse shaped favor bag.

 

The boys/gentleman were delighted to be invited to the tea party this year.

 

We bought a pizza oven during a Memorial Day and this was our first time firing it up.  We see a lot of pizza in our future.

 

Phin turned 10!  It is hard to believe he is in the double digits.  We ended up having an Activity Days activity on his birthday.  We invited all the boys over for pizza to make pizza in our pizza oven and then we watched an outdoor movie.  Phin was in heaven with the pizza.

 

We made an ice cream pie for Phin's birthday.  My only regret was using two ice cream flavors...because then everyone wanted to taste both flavors.

 

Very last minute we invited a few of Phin's best friends over for a playdate...(although he says I need to start calling it a hangout) since he is older.  They had the best time playing video games, jumping on the trampoline, shooting water guns and eating snowcones.

 

Phin loved his birthday table and the Banbury Cross doughuts for our traditional birthday breakfast. 

 We picked up summer reading logs from a neighboring library.  Lou loved their coloring table.

 

Phin started the summer out with a Basketball camp.

 

We started the summer with an Activity Days Tennis Activity for Millie.  Her leaders were so kind and gave popsicles out to all siblings after the activity.

19 MONTHS

 

Lou hit 19 months back in May.  This first day to last day of school side-by-side kills me.  Look how much Little Lou has grown this year.   When she started school in the fall she had just mastered crawling.  Now she a master walker...and running.  This girl moves fast...especially when she is holding something she knows she shouldn't be holding.

She loves doing what her older siblings are doing.  She also LOVES to color.  She has colored a couple of times on our walls.  I find myself constantly reminding her older siblings to keep crayons, markers, pencils, etc out of her reach when they are done using them. 

She loves to taste what we are eating.  She also would prefer to sit on our laps at meals rather than her highchair.

 

She was known as the shoe stealer and the master of the side eye at school this year.

 

 

Phin is an amazing helper with Lou.  We had a weekly babysitter and he often stepped up to help Lou be happy when the babysitter was at our home. 

 

Lou loves to feed herself...but when she is done eating she insists on dropping all of her food off of her tray.  We are working hard to break her of this habit.

 

Lou is obsessed with Silas' bed.  Seth keeps mentioning moving her to a big girl bed...but Mom is not ready for her to have that kind of freedom.

 

Lou has been able to ride more of the rides at Lagoon this year.  She is quite cautious about the whole experience.  It helps if she can ride with a sibling.

She wasn't sure about the Merry-go-round.  She loves animal and if you ask her what a lion says she does a cute little growl.

 

She loved the trike at Cousin Theo's birthday party. 

 She LOVES ice cream.  Some of her other favorites include strawberries, granola bars, and cuties.

 

It is getting much harder to get her to sit still for photos.

 

She loves riding with Millie and Phin on the wiggle cars at Nona's.

 

She also loves parks and has figured out how to go down slides.  

 

She follows me around and tries to be a big helper.

 

She continues to be an inconsistent sleeper.  She still gets up at least once a night.

 

She is obsessed with all of our shoes...and toothbrushes and it is often a little scavenger hunt to locate our things after she has moved them.

 

She looked adorable in the little dress that Millie wore to for her Little Red Riding Hood costume.  

 

We painted her toes for the first time and she LOVED it.