SUZ

Here is our busy month of June in reverse. We made it to the last day of the chalk art festival.

We spent a few days in Island Park to celebrate Grandma Jo and Grandad's 50th anniversary. On the way back we stopped at the Idaho Falls temple where they were married.

The last night in Island Park we took some extended family photos. What a legacy Jacque and Reed have created.

We floated down the river on Saturday. Lou ended up taking a very long nap on me.

Phin ended up with some of our other family members for most of the float.

They were kind enough to give him a turn on the paddle board.

We discovered there was a slight leak in the paddle board that we brought along...but Millie is so light that it didn't impact her too much.

Lou floated down carrying a little bouquet that cousin Emmaline helped her pick.

On Saturday morning we headed over near Henry's Lake to visit the Johnny Sack Cabin. here Lou is holding hands on the walk back to the car.

The cabin was so pretty. I loved all of the woodwork and details inside.

Aunt Beth shared food to feed the birds.

Cousin Gavin was a favorite with all of the little kids.

The kids had lots of time to play together. They played between the three cabins we had rented. They loved the loft space in the main cabin.

One night Audrey had Jacque and Reed play the Newlywed game. The grandkids laughed so hard as Jacque and Reed gave their answers.

The kids also loved "swimming" in the not so hot hot tub.

On Friday afternoon we drove to Mesa Falls. On the way there we saw a sign "You need a huckleberry shake." I was very swayed by the sign and agreed that we did in fact NEED a huckleberry shake so we stopped on our way back to Island Park.

The group gathered at Lower Mesa Falls.

Upper Mesa Falls was very impressive.

The kids also loved playing outside by the cabins. Grandma Jo brought bubbles that were a huge hit with Lou.

Some of the group went on a hike on Friday morning.

Seth and I went on a walk on Thursday night so we could get Lou to fall asleep.

The kids also loved playing cousin Jameson's chess game.

Seth set up one of our inflatable loungers on the main level. Lou and her toddler cousins (Soren and Sarah) spent a long time playing together here.

We celebrated Grandad's birthday at the cabin. His actual birthday was the day before we arrived.

Seth put together a slideshow for Reed's birthday.

Island Park was a little slice of heaven.

We arrived at the cabin a little before check-in so we hung out on the huge wrap around porch and flew our kite.

We snuck in a preview of the chalk art festival and picked up some Blacksmith Ice Cream on Wednesday. The kids were all fans of this Bluey chalk art.

We met up with neighbors at the town square splash pad. Millie used the FIIZ gift-card that she won at the pumpkin carving contest to buy a couple of kid drinks.

I love seeing these cute cousins together. They play so well together. Here they are playing 5-minute Dungeon together.

Millie, Silas and Lou all took swimming lessons in June at our favorite private pool. They made so much progress and loved taking lessons with Carver and Conrad.

Silas and Conrad took a Full Steam Ahead recreation class together.

I loved catching this moment of Phin and Lou "playing" the piano together.

We took several trips to Lagoon in June. Rattlesnake Rapids is always the kids favorite ride to go on together.

Lou and Conrad looked pretty cute squeezed into the same whale on Bulgy.

While Silas and Conrad were at Full Steam Ahead, Millie and Carver were at Pickleball and Phin was at basketball.

The kids opened our shaved ice stand one Saturday in June. They loved visiting in neighbors that stopped by for a treat.

We tried Detroit Style Pizza for the first time and we all loved it.

This is one of my very favorite pictures from the month. Unprompted my sweet kiddos walking to Lagoon hand in hand. I have had several pinch me moments like this during the summer. A tender mercy to be reminded that I have been blessed with so many of the things that I spent years praying for.

We love when Seth can make it home for lunch. Here he is reading Wonky Donkey with Lou. They even have actions they have made up to go with the story.

We happened upon a street party at a local retirement center on Summer solstice. It was a carnival theme and the kids were delighted with the cotton candy...which made Phin look like Colonel Sanders.

The kids loved playing in the multiple bounce houses that were set up in the street but this obstacle course bounce house was their absolute favorite.

I love seeing the kids helping Lou.

After swim one afternoon we stopped at the park nearby. The mini merry-go-round was a hit.

We held an Activity Days egg drop.

Lou's preschool held a playdate at the splash pad. Lou was delighted to be reunited with her bestie.

Here Silas and Millie are showing off what they made in their Arts & Crafts class.

I always push Lou in the stroller during the kids rec classes. She was not a huge fan the first week...but by week three she knew that the last 10 minutes we would play at the park.

Millie has loved riding her bike at the playground next door. We have been working hard to get Silas riding a bike too...he is so close. Here is a picture of me running around the track to help him balance...it is quite the workout.

Lou was delighted when the swimming teacher let her hold these mermaids before her lesson.

I made a birthday cake for Seth's boss in June. I made Cake by Courtney's Peach Crisp Cake. When I dropped it off, I told Seth that if he could sneak a piece for me I would really appreciate it. He was able to sneak away a slice and it was SOOO GOOD.

The kids have taken a Lego Creations class each week. It has been fun to see how they interpret the challenge each week.

We had a lovely trip down to Escalante with Jill and Peter's family. The last night of our stay we made pizza on the Ooni.

Earlier that day we hiked to Escalante Natural Bridge.

The kids had so much fun playing with their cousins.

The cactus were in bloom on the trail down to the creek by the cabin.

The kids loved playing in the sand and water down by the turn in the creek.

On Friday morning Seth and the boys hiked to Lower Calf Creek falls with Jill's family.

Another neighborhood playdate at the splash pad.

Lou was delighted to find "her" letter.

Phin enjoyed rec basketball classes.

We went to This is the Place Heritage Park on their free day in June. The mining for gold section of the park was the kids favorite. Here they are showing off their "gold."

We also enjoyed the train ride from Brigham Young's summer home up to the top of the park.

Free ice cream the moment we arrived was also a favorite.

The kids love having a "tea party" with their cousins.

Lou took a cooling dip in our Lowe's bucket.

A Bricks and MiniFigs store opened in our neck of the woods. Lou liked seeing this giant lego Wonder Woman.

We were able to make it to Free Frazil Friday a couple of Fridays in June. The Tigers Blood and Mango flavors were our favorite.

We celebrated National Doughnut Day with doughnuts from Cross E Ranch. We were able to try their Lemon Poppyseed flavor...although the glazed apple cider flavor is still an overall favorite.

Silas convinced me to get some Blockaroos. This was his favorite toy from his Kindergarten class... it was fun to see the kids be very creative with their new toy.

Shaved Ice after a trip to the pool.

The kids have been playing quite a bit with our dress ups.

It is safe to say this is probably Millie and Carver's last year in the little cars. These two could barely fit together.

It may also be Silas' last year in the baby boats.

We went to a dinosaur themed activity at the library. It was BANANAS in there. The kids were able to play dinosaur themed games, make several dino crafts and collect some rocks.

They put on a "show" one day. I loved listening to them direct each other and negotiate what would happen next.

Silas and Carver took a Mad Scientist class together. Here they are showing off their slime.

Phin with his Lego "self portrait."

Phin was able to go to a 4-day science camp with one of his friends. They dissected star fish, built Lego robots, played at splash pads, built rockets and stomp rockets, decorated T-shirts and went to the zoo.

The kids loved playing with Silas' stomp rocket one afternoon. It really turned into a fun game when they took turns trying to catch the rockets too.

School summer lunch started in June. The school we go to this year has a Batman theme in the lunchroom. This Lego batman is loved.

Phin requested Cake by Courtney's Grasshopper Pie Cake. We took it to family dinner on Sunday.

Phin, James and Kira all have birthdays the same week. It was fun to celebrate these three together.

I often catch glimpses of Phin and think "What happened to my baby." It feels like life is on fast forward with this one. He grew at least three inches this year and I know that my years of being taller than him are numbered.