Cousins!

Every summer we look forward to our cousins (Nate's girls) coming to visit from out of state. They moved from Minnesota to Oklahoma last year, so just a little bit closer.  We love spending lots of time with them and making big plans or just chilling at Grandma's. Whatever we do, it's always a good time!

Ellie, Nate, Cambree

Pooped after a fun filled day at Grandma and Grandpa's

At the splash park

Getting the campfire ready for Smores

Cole's Birthday party! We went to the Monsters University premiere party!
Alix, Sam, Ellie, Cambree, Quin, Bode, Will, Millie

 

We spent a day at Park City doing the Alpine coaster and slide! So much fun!

We love our cousins!  We wish we could see you every day!

Game Over

Baseball is over!

It's a good thing and a sad thing at the same time.  

It has been so hot so we are glad to be done.

But at the same time they love to play and we love to watch.

They both won 2nd Place in the city league!

Their superleague teams {Monday night league} both went to the tournament and lost after the first two games.  They both improved a ton and we are so proud.  Another great season.  Good job boys!

Girl's Camp!

Summer started out with a bang - school let out on Friday and we were heading off to Girl's camp on Monday!  We were sooooooo lucky to go to Heber Valley Camp!  Designed and built specifically for the Young Women, it really is the nicest campground ever!  

We stayed at Camp Esther in 3 yurts - divided between Beehives, Miamaids, and Laurels.  There was about 40 of us which seemed to be just right.  Our theme was "Stand in Holy Places" which goes along with the 2013 YW theme.  Our camp director {who is AMAZING} centered it around an international theme, focusing on different countries each day, implying that it doesn't matter where you are standing...you can make it a holy place by our choices and actions.  We decorated our own sneakers ("stand") which the girls really loved.  Our food and activities revolved around the country of the day.  Monday was Israel, Tuesday was Mexico, Wednesday was Italy, and Thursday was USA. The food was absolutely INCREDIBLE! I'm sure we ate better than we have our entire lives!

The nice thing about Heber Valley Camp is that the main activities are already planned and provided.  Our favorites were the ropes challenge course {including a Zip Line!} and going to the lake. 

In our free time we made crafts, wrote notes, played games, and hung out in the yurts.

My most very favorite thing about camp was being with Millie.

I love that I get to be her leader!  We had an absolute blast!

I could go on and on about camp.  What a spiritual and fun experience!

Tom boy and Memorial Day weekend

We spent Memorial day weekend at the cabin.  These days whenever we have a free day or two, it's a no brainer: we go to the cabin!

We did the usual, including lots of fishing, motorcycling, and 4-wheeling.

The boys brought their buddy Trevin along and he got completely hooked on fishing! 

On Sunday we visited my Grandpa's and Grandma's graves.  And of course that involved trimming the grass around the headstones, leaving some flowers, and talking about our memories of them.  I really miss them and feel really lucky to have been close to them.  Especially my Grandma Violet.

And then it was back to the cabin.

We should have named Quincy after her Grandpa Tom.  As in Tom boy.

She is not into girly things, and the more rough and tough she can be...the better.  

She loves going fishing and here she is hanging out with the boys while they gut the fish:

And here she is riding with the boys.  And believe me, she can keep up with them!

{I made the helmets come off for picture purposes}

And we just went to Lagoon, and while the other little girls were together on the kiddie rides...here is Quincy riding Wicked and The Colossus!  What a brave girl!

And here she is at her friend's birthday party.  They went to a salon to get their hair and nails done. While the other girls wanted curls and Princess hair-dos,

all Quincy wanted was her hair pulled back into 2 braids.  

But look how cute she is!  And she even wore a fancy skirt for the occasion {because Mom insisted}.  And she does love having her nails painted :)

How I adore this little girl - the perfect mix of sugar and spice...and snails and puppy dog tails!

Tumbling

Last month Quincy performed in her Spring tumbling recital and did such a great job!

It's so fun to watch her cute round body be so flexible and strong!  She doesn't get one bit nervous and just goes out and does her routine.  So so cute!

We met Grandma, Aunt Heidi, and the cousins at Hires {one of our faves} before and then they came to cheer her on:

After the recital, the weather was perfect temperature so the kids wanted to play around on the grass.  They had a ball!

Lake Powell Round #1

June was jam packed with as much fun as we can handle!  It started off with a week at Girl's Camp right after school let out.  More about that later.  Then the next week we were off to Lake Powell with the Guffey's!  Cousins Ellie and Cambree were in town from Oklahoma so they came, as well as Sambo's good buddy Max.  Bringing him turned out to be a good move because the kids lined up perfectly :)

Ellie, Will, Cambree, Quin, Max, Sam, Millie

Sam and Max

Every year it's the same pictures and the same activities.  But Lake Powell never disappoints!  This is truly our happy place!  We stayed in a perfect spot at the end of Lost Eden Canyon.  Shade in the morning and evening, and protected from wind and waves.  

"The Getaway" Houseboat

 I will let the pictures tell about the trip:

 

Nate and his darling girlies

The view from our houseboat - what a stunning place!