Summer Utah Trip: Cascade Falls and Sundance

On the Friday before we left, we hiked the trail that leads to the back of Mount Timpanogos. We obvioulsy didn't hike Timp with all the kids, but hiked up to the 2nd switchback of Cascade Falls. It was a beautiful hike and beautiful day.

We enjoyed the company of Uncle Casey and Cousin Annabelle as we hiked. Afterward, the kids begged to go to Sundance and ride the lift. Joseph and Isaac left with Casey and Annabelle while I took Aaron, Abby and Brynn on the lift. Sundance was especially beautiful and green. We loved the ride! Aaron kept saying, "Mom, I wike this." He was very cute and waved to all of the other people passing the other way on the ski lift. It was definitely beautiful and relaxing.

Summer Utah Trip: Fun at Stephen's Parent's House

Stephen and Emily invited us to spend an evening at Stephen's parent's house. We rode the 4-wheeler, played basketball, soccer, watched a movie in the tree house, played on the trampoline, playground, and putted around on the mini-golf green. We topped off the night with pizza and smores. We tried a new twist, Reeses's peanut butter cup. They were yum!

Isaac loved riding with Stephen. We had to peel him off of the 4-wheeler. When Stephen started it up again to put it up for the night, Isaac appeared out of nowhere shouting, "Ride, ride, ride!" We all had a good laugh about that. We had so much fun that we planned the exact same night a few days later with my entire family.

Summer Utah Trip: Friends

A few years ago, while Joseph was studying for the Utah Bar and then while he was doing his AIT training, we lived with my parents in Utah. Joseph had just finished law school, I had just given birth to my third baby, we had moved a couple of states away and my husband was gone alot preparing for the bar. It was a huge transition time for me. I was leaving friends, activities and independence that I loved in Spokane and moving into my parent's home and ward with few young families.

Laura was my life-saver. She lives in my parent's ward and at that time she had also just had her 3rd baby. We planned playdates a few times a week and had lots of fun visiting with each other. Laura has been such a great friend and example to me. She is an awesome wife and mom to her now four boys and one of the best people I have ever met. She is so down to earth, genuine and good. We always try to get the kids together when we visit Utah. They always pick up just where they left off. We're still waiting for that awkward opposite gender stuff to happen with our four oldest, but so far, the kids just have fun.

Summer Utah Trip: Swimming

We really enjoyed the dry, blazing summer heat of Utah, especially on those days we were able to go swimming. Oceanside is very temperate, so it never gets super hot. It's near perfect weather, but the temps could use a notch upward for when we go swimming or to the beach.

A neighboring city where my parents live has an awesome mini water-park/pool. We gathered up as many cousins along with Grandma and Grandpa and spent a couple of days at the pool. We all LOVED it.

Summer Utah Trip: T-Ball

My two older brother's Scott and Chad coach their son's in T-ball and they invited Aaron to come and play for the last game of the season. I had the best laugh watching him play. I've taken him to the park to play wiffle ball, but that's the extent of his baseball experience. I come from a family who eat, drink, and sleep baseball. In the city where I grew up, if you don't play, or at the very least watch baseball, it could probably be compared to never visiting the ocean when you live across the street. Baseball is a big deal in that city. Anyway, he had a great time, but I guess we better brush up on his skills if he ever wants to play with the big dogs again (a.k.a. Boston and Kaden).

Boston was great to show Aaron how he should stand in the outfield and Chad helped him swing the bat to hit the ball off the tee. He needs a little more coaching to figure out that you run to the base after hitting the ball, rather than watching it, that you run to the next base when the next batter hits the ball, and that the way to second base is not through the pitcher's mound. Ohhh, it was a fun night!

I loved seeing the dad's that my brother's are. They are so cute and patient with those little boys. It was great to watch. I loved watching the game with my family. It reminded me of days past spending time at the ballpark and playing softball. Great summer memories! I'm determined to take Aaron to a Padres game to show him what baseball looks like. I think the highlight for him could very well have been the Capri Sun and Zinger the snack mom handed him after the game. :)

Summer Utah Trip: Fishing with Grandpa

Dad planned a fishing trip for Monday morning my kids and they were so excited! Originally he had planned to take the boat up to Schofield and to leave at 5 a.m., but after we thought through the logistics of taking Isaac on a boat for 3-4 hours, coupled with the fact that my children are NOT early risers and that their systems run on Pacific Standard Time, we decided that a trip to the reservoir might be a little more successful. The kids loved the trip, and Abby caught 2 fish! She was a little more patient than her siblings who weren't as successful, but I think her success was the ticket. We all had a great time. The kids all jumped in the reservoir to cool off and while they were swimming, my good friend Laura happened to show up with her boys who are all about the same age as my kids. It was a great time.

Summer Utah Trip: Fun in Fairview

On Saturday, I started the day with a run with my mom and her friend Kaye and then left them to complete my 12 mile run. We then headed to Fairview to spend the afternoon with Joseph's brother Blaine and his family. Josh and Melissa and their kids joined us as well. It was awesome. Blaine lives on an acre in Fairview and during the summer months they set up a small pool for the little kids and a big above ground pool for the big swimmers. Everyone played and played and played and played. No one wanted to leave. We had to pull our kids away kicking and screaming. :)

I think this definitely has to be included in every yearly summer trip. The kids love it and I love visiting with the adults. It was also fun to be with members of Joseph's family within a smaller group. So often, when we see his family, it's with all 12 children and their spouses and children present and as great as that is, the kids normally play with those of their same gender who are around the same age. The great part about getting together with just a few of us, was that they were able to get to know and enjoy playing with cousins they don't normally play with. When we left, Brynn said, "I really liked playing with Josiah, Ethan and Jackson, they are really fun!" Abby loved playing dress-up with Kyrie and Ava. And everyone loved the swimming!

We planned to stay until about six o'clock, but when we finally started to wrap things up, we looked at our clocks and it was nearly nine. I think that there's something about being in the country makes us move a little slower. It was a relaxing and fun day.

I think Blaine took much better pictures, but I can't seem to find out where they are...