Pioneer Day children's festival

There is a festival downtown for kids just before Pioneer Day with all kinds of free activities like crafts, Home Depot building kits etc.  The kids loved it.

Glitter nails

Face painting
Star Wars guys were so authentic.  They looked fabulous.

Motherhood

I read some really uplifting thoughts on holiness in motherhood.  I know I am a better at mothering when I remember the Savior.  It was a great reminder as to perspective. Here is the link if I can get it to work. http://71toes.blogspot.com/2010/07/holiness-in-motherhood.html

Yet another hike

Over the 24th we went on another hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon and this time brought one of the girls friends along.  We were planning on doing an easy hike our neighbor recommended but ended up on a steep hike up the mountain.  We wondered why they had said it was so easy and perfect for kids and realized upon returning that we had taken a left instead of a right at the fork.  Gabe was a trooper and didn't need to be carried once although he sat down to rest every 3 minutes or so which I needed as well since it was steep.

We went early enough in the morning to avoid the crowds this time.  This is Silver Lake (flat)before the trail started up the mountain behind the kids. 

And here is Silver Lake from up above.  One of our favorite spots near Brighton ski resort.

Here is the lake at the top where we had snacks...

and fed squirrels or chipmunks or whatever kind of rodents they are.

It was way faster coming down and the views were awesome.

The trail wasn't this steep, the kids just climbed a rock:)

We stopped for lunch and ice cream to end the hike because that makes everything more fun.

Ballet under the stars

Carissa had her summer concert and danced beautifully. One of the greatest things about dance going until July is the outdoor performance in the amphitheatre.   

4th of July

With July 4th being on a Sunday, that leaves 3 days to party.  We started at 5:30 am on Saturday to go to Provo for the balloon festival.  We got there just in time to see the balloons inflate.

But then because of the wind, they deflated and we waited for over an hour for the wind to calm.

After a few test helium balloons, the balloonists got the go ahead briefly and even 2 of them got off the ground until a huge gust tipped over another balloon just before takeoff. 

It was still early in the morning so we went over to our alma mater to show the kids the campus.  We had doughnuts, chocolate milk and ice cream for breakfast at the BYU Creamery.  Campus was empty except for these four men playing a rousing patriotic double duet in the HFAC.  We were all fascinated and I hope it inspired our pianists to keep practicing.

Then we went to the festival downtown with all the fun booths and street performers.  The girls picked some cute hair flowers.

Because Ethan didn't get that wolf from the Indians in Arizona, he was quick to ask for the bow and arrow to make up for it.  Gabe picked this wooden sword.

This is classic Gabe dancing to some bagpipes in the park after he got his sword.  I'm glad Taylor caught a little bit of it.  It makes me smile as he is always like this.

After we took the picture, I was just being respectful by asking what tribe he was from and he started to laugh and said he was just wearing the costume for fun, of course he isn't an Indian.  You never know nowadays if someone is 1/16th or something. 

Whats a trip to Provo without a meal at Los Hermanos for lunch?  We went home after that and all of us took a nap from our insanely early morning.  Although the kids complained at first, we ended up having a great time and they all asked to come back next year for the hot air balloons again.

We went to Hollady fireworks with our friends and sat right under them. 

The kids loved dancing with their glow sticks until the fireworks started.  Gabe fell asleep after 5 minutes and Lily buried her head in Taylor's chest so she wouldn't hear or see them

On Monday, we went for a hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon...with everyone else in Salt Lake County.

Lily and Sophie

Gabe asked to have his picture taken every 5 minutes and kept posing.

After our hike we went to the dollar movie 'Oceans' which is a documentary.  We walked out of it after 30 minutes which is one of the only times I've done that.  It wasn't inappropriate but because the kids were bored and starting to annoy each other.

We had a BBQ with fireworks that evening with Mark and James and their kids which we all enjoyed. 

.

Happy Birthday America!

June family time

One of the greatest things about June was having Davin and Mary here from Georgia.  It had been 2 years since we last saw them.  We were able to go and do all kinds of fun things together and the cousins were reacquainted and still love each other.

Lily and Livy at Classic

Gabe loved having Asher around and calls him one of his best friends.

Some kid at Classic that looked just like Justin Bieber, the kids got a kick out of watching him.  His name is Chance but they think it is just a fake name so he can do something fun without all his fans following him.  When a daycare van arrived, about 20 little girls that looked to be 8 years old squealed and followed him around thinking he really was JB.

It was cold at 'This is the Place Park' but still a lot of fun.

Learning about pioneer school.

Enjoying free ice cream even though we were wet and cold.

Taylor and Davin