Labor Day on the Lake

So Labor Day Brent and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary by spending the day at the lake. The kids were out of school and it was awesome weather...warm but not sweltering. We met up with two or three other families and had a blast! We got the boat out for the first time like like 2 or 3 years and Creed went nuts! He loved every second of it except the seconds when he was forced to take turns. 

The tube held out and Brent tried to be sort of gentle as he bounced kids off....There were plenty of screams of sheer joy...and terror. The two other families brought kayaks and Cami was in heaven. She could kayak all day every day and not get enough. One of the other families rented a jet ski. It had sooo much power and speed. It was a beast and so much fun. They were all so nice to share their toys. 

We didn't end up leaving until the beach got sooo crowded and the wind kicked up at like 6 or 7 that night. Brent did end up with a small police warning for speeding/driving a truck that wasn't his/driving a truck without his licence (just from the beach to the boat dock)....luckily the lake cop got called away for something more important or it might have been a super expensive day....

And to top it all off we stopped for Rigatti's wood fired pizza on the way home. I don't know how we didn't discover the beauty that is Rigatti's before now but I promise it won't be the last time we discover Rigatti's. Anyway it was a super fun way to celebrate our anniversary (with the best things we've ever created)...together...

ps...It was such a bummer that by the time we got home Jocelyn and Creed were covered it swimmers itch...and that it was worse the next day and the next for 2 or 3 weeks.....poor itchy kids! But despite that it was still worth it..

Camping PV style

After our picnic in Pine Valley we committed to go camping up there more...So for Brent's birthday we did it. He drove up on Thursday and got a site (it is pretty crowded since somehow people from NV have discovered its awesomeness). He woke up at like 5 am Friday and decided to hike to the top of the mountain on Whipple Trail Head. It was still dark when he left and he got to watch the sun rise and enjoy some serious peace. I was relieved when he got back down safe and sound. The kids and I met up with Brent after they all got home from school Friday afternoon. We had fun hanging out and hiking around. That night we looked for constellations. The kids are getting pretty good at spotting the dippers and Orion and a few others...It was a great quick get a way. 

Pictures Brent took on the trail.

Just a reminder and rock star helper

Usually life is crazy busy and sometimes sassy and spunky....But sometimes my kids take my breath away and I want to hold onto that totally perfect second forever...Like the best parts of life are just snapshots during the whole course of a messy day....this little face and this little second is one I want to remember...

The new grocery store in town has kid carts....unless every one is all ready being used. And Creed loves to fill it and walk it through the store...sometimes this kid is super helpful. I really miss his help when he's at school. Lately I've purposely been going shopping when he is home just so I can hang with my buddy and do a "mommy creedy date." Although I would probably spend less money if I went while he was at school...

Pine Valley picnic...not a degree too soon!

The summer seemed really hot...A person can only take so many days of 100+ degree heat without losing it....So we're lucky Pine Valley is so close and so much cooler. There was a church party scheduled and instead of waiting until evening to go up we decided we were hot and we were outta here...and up there. We got there early and went for a hike and wadded in the stream. It was blissful and we decided we needed to come back up and go camping. A few years ago they redid all the camp sites and moved them away from the river. This frustrated us and so we hadn't been back. BUT having a few years to calm down we realized the sites were really improved and we got recommitted to camp frequently!

Heber with cousins...doesn't get much better...

So this summer we got really lucky to visit with two new cousins. They flew in from back east and we spent a week playing with them (and everyone) at Papa's in Heber. We went swimming at a water park, played at Thanksgiving point, older kids went to space camp again, we had our annual water fight at papa's thanks to uncle Ryan but it was pretty cold and windy...we also hit the county fair and got sick (Jocelyn) on the rides. We rode the Heber Creeper and Creed was NOT a fan of the fake train robbers who had a whip...and really we just tried to get our fill of our new babies the whole time...It was so great!

The view out of Papa's front windows is so amazing...Mt Timpanogus with the sun setting...Pictures don't do it justice but it is a little slice of heaven.

Jocelyn couldn't get enough of feeding the babies. As soon as it was bottle time she was there ready to jump in.

Water park baby care was almost cooler than water park rides...These two little cousins were volunteering every chance they got to hold or feed one of the babies.

Water park picnic lunch...

Cami and her little cousin buddy...nothing says bonding like sandwiches and chips....

Dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving point...

Exploring the science room at Thanksgiving point...

Exploring the Exploratorium at Thanksgiving Point...2$ Tuesdays are awesome but oh so crowded...

Feeding the fish at the super cool ponds...Sharon and cute girl!

The Heber Creeper gang...so many cute cousins!

Before the fake robbery when Creed was still loving the ride...

Creed sticking them up and feeling so nervous of the fake robbers....totally broke my heart...and his...

Faye wasn't sure at first but when we busted out the treats she was cool with the whole train robbery..

Creed's shopping with boy cousins...He tried it on and said, "Mom take my picture and put it on Facebook. This is so funny!"

The yard water fight...the tradition and memories continue on another year despite the wind and chill. Kids vs. Dads...while the moms watch from the distance night and dry...

Shakes at Granny's...

The county fair...They were a little nervous to ride the tall Ferris wheel but said it was awesome when they got off...

This may have made Jocelyn sick...but it was a good time!

Running off the county fair with ice cream sandwiches and park games.