June

Man, were we even home in the month of June?  To start the month of June off we hopped in the car and drove to South Dakota!  My parents went with us and my sister Emily and her husband and 2 girls met up with us there.  It was such a fun road trip!

Martin's Cover visitor's Center.   We stopped here on the way. 

Mt. Rushmore

Proof that we were there :)

Ty knows how to hike :)

Playing on the rocks in the black hills.  SO FUN!

Grandpa and Alexis

We went to an indoor water park at our hotel one day.  The kids loved it!  Here is Tanner showing off his back floats.

Tanner fell asleep floating around the lazy river.  Too cute!

Mike and I then headed for a weekend trip to Star Valley.  It was spontaneous and quick but so fun!  Sometimes you just need to escape for a couple of days. 

Mike and his boys.  

At the end of the month we went to Hebgan Lake and Yellowstone.  It was so beautiful and warm!  We saw two bears while driving through the park.  The first time I've ever seen a bear in the wild!

Tanner on the porch with his carpi-sun.  

Takin' a boat ride :)

Lisa and Tommy on the boat.

So relaxed!

Tanner and Brigham looking at the buffalo.  Such good buddies. 

On one warm afternoon I attempted wake boarding.....and failed.  Oh well :)  Try, try again, right?

BEAUTIFUL!

Tower Falls

Right out my car window!  Not even kidding!  This picture is hardly zoomed in. 

Yellowstone falls

Such good buddies

Ty just got toted around by everyone all week.  He loved it :)

Eliza Jane.  Those blue eyes are so gorgeous!!!

August Update!

We went to Star Valley for the 24th of July (it somehow ended up in my August post).  We decided to go to Teton National park and walk/drive around.  It was a beautiful day and we had so much fun!  

Mike, Stacie, and Tanner in front of the Tetons.

Tanner throwing rocks into Jenny's Lake.  He wouldn't look at me for a picture...just too much concentration.

For the first weekend of August we headed to Bear Lake.  We had a blast there (as always) and Tanner LOVED the sand and water.  We left for the day on Saturday to go to the Hurst family reuniun and then headed back to Bear Lake Saturday night.  I just love the campfires and hanging out with family.  Tanner slept so good in the tent all three nights!  What a trooper!

Tanner LOVES water.  He drenched himself a couple times but just wanted to keep playing with the hose.

Me and Tanner chillin' at Bear Lake.

Daddy and Tanner chillin' at Bear Lake.  (Notice Tanner examining his cookie)

The tent was a hit.

Tanner could've played ALL DAY in the water.  Too cute.

Immediately following Bear Lake I headed to girls camp and left Tanner with Daddy (thanks Angie for watching him during the day!)  It was so fun to spend some quality time with the Young Women.  They are so great!

All the YW at girl's camp.  Cute girls!!

At the end of August we headed to Hebgan Lake/Yellowstone with the Hurst's.  It was a PERFECT way to end summer (and it felt like the end of summer...it was COLD!!)  Pictures are coming of the that adventure.    

Cabin Fun.

This last weekend we went to Star Valley, Wyoming for a quick getaway. We went up Friday afternoon and then woke up early Sunday morning at 5:30 to make it back to Utah for my niece Eliza's baby blessing. We hung out at the cabin with Adam, Erin, and kids. We got snowed on, played games, went sledding, and watched movies. It was totally worth the quick trip! We then went to Sarah's ward on Sunday for Eliza's baby blessing. We had a yummy lunch at her house afterward. It was so fun to spend time with family this weekend.

Tanner loves carrots!

We had to make Tanner some snow pants. I haven't bought him any because he is so small I didn't think it would be worth the money. We wrapped him in a vest and then used tape to seal the holes and hold it in place... Poor thing! He's probably thinking we've gone nuts!

Tanner didn't know what to think of the snow. He cried after about 5 minutes and was doing his sign for "all done".

We went in and he took a nap and went out later on that day. Mike pulled Tanner and I on the sled behind the 4-wheeler. He had no expression the whole time...

I talked Mike and Adam into playing a game with me. I LOVE playing games. Tanner played with all the cool toys that were at the cabin.

Independence Day!

I absolutely LOVE this time of year. The fireworks, parades, sunshine, swimming, and the wonderful patriotic feeling that is in the air.

The week before the fourth of July we headed to Pleasant View to celebrate its Founder's Day. We played in the yard: Bocce Ball, Croquet, Basketball, and enjoyed a fabulous firework show that the city put on. It was so fun to see everybody (we were all together for the first time since Christmas).

We watched the fireworks in the football stadium and enjoyed the music played by a local band.

Mike and Tanner enjoying the music.

Lisa and the Mama.

Alexis had a blue tongue from her blue slushy Grandpa bought her.

The whole group. (It's so hard to get family pics and unfortunately Brigs had reached his limit... but the rest of us are lookin' cute :)

For the Fourth we headed to Star Valley. We woke up that morning and went to a golf cart parade where everyone decorates their golf carts in fun patriotic ways. After that we headed to the local park where the kids (and Mike and Rob) participated in little competitions (i.e. balloon toss, egg toss, potato sack races, foot races, etc.) Everyone that participated got a ribbon! We loved hanging out at the cabin where everyone was together for the first time in a while. We read books, watched movies, played games, and tried to keep the kids somewhat under control.

The grand kids (minus Ashley's kids) on the morning of the 4th.


Kaden holding Tanner, and Jack. They are good buddies with Tanner :)!



Enjoying the Parade.

Caleb was so excited about his ribbon that he got. He called it his "winner".



Mike and Rob were excited about their "winners" too. They competed in the balloon toss and tied for 1st place! Congratulations Rob and Mike!



The kids being wild in the "Ruckus Room" (as Grandpa calls it).
POSE! They take that command seriously!

Pose again!

And pose AGAIN!

We had a WONDERFUL Founder's Day and 4th of July!

"I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today. ‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA. "
- Lee Greenwood