Aspen Grove Family Camp...

Our Family recently spent a week in

absolute beauty. The Aspen Grove family camp is a week

spent in the Provo Canyon and it is

truly beautiful.

I think this was the most relaxing vacation

I have ever had.

Lots of great family time with as much

or as little to fill your days as you want.

The rock wall and rope course was a favorite...of some,

I'm not included in that 'some'.

But, I was brave!

Crafts was another favorite!

We all could have spent hours in here creating.

As you can see from the pictures,

painting wasn't just done

in the craft room!

Each day the kids spent time doing activities

with kids their own age.

At pick up each day,

we could always count on our youngest two

having freshly painted faces!

This was family dance night!

It was hilarious because most families

were there with HUGE family reunions.

We just had our own little family.

But, hey...

we rocked the house!

My kids could LIVE in the pool.

I'm sure Lou, Mac, Mandi and Mitch

played at least 100 ping pong games!

Gotta love that

friendly competition...ha,ha.

I had to calm Lou down a few times.;)

We left Aspen Grove to spend another

fun two days with our Utah family.

We hiked the Y one day and Stewart falls another.

I hear families that hike together stay together....

well, these guys are definitely keepers.

The cousins love

being together.

Being there for Grandma's birthday

was another highlight!

The pictures below show the

breakfast

Emily and Grace made for her.

They didn't want grandma to lift a finger!!

It was the sweetest thing.

They made a delicious salad

for the birthday girl.

Or, should I say they made ranch dressing

with some spinach on the side!

Grandma was thrilled!:)

Family trips are the best part of summer!

4th of July 2010!!

Happy 4th of July!!!!! The parade,

ZOO...

and being together,

made for a really good day.

To watch the fireworks,

we hiked to the top of Camel Back.

Fireworks came with a

beautiful view

of the City.

Summer is going

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

to fast!!!!

Summer goals....

Gracie likes to daydream

about when she becomes a mom....

I was a little nervous to ask how

she would spend her days as a mom,

knowing this is how she sees me spending mine.

This was her answer.

1. clean the kitchen.

2. kiss my honey.

3. play with my kids.

My summer goal is to reverse this order

by moving them all up one.

Life is short.

:)

Let summer begin!

It's official! I have a graduated Kindergartner!

The thought of this little guy

being gone ALL day for first grade...

makes my stomach feel sick.

really.

Lou says I'm not allowed to think about it for the next 3 months.:)

His graduation program was so sweet.

We were all so proud, but no one as proud as his sis.

As the above picture shows...she sat front and center,

(in the middle of the isle)

the entire time!

I also have graduates from preschool,

4rth, 7th, and 10th grade!

As much as I adore the years when they are little,

I can see how much fun it is

as they are getting older as well.

they may cause a few more grays...;)

but fun!

These are some of my favorite people

in the whole world.

We kept to tradition

and celebrated the first day of summer,

with shaved ice and a trip to the library!.

However,

I'm not sure how much longer my big kids

will let me take a picture in the library!;)

Love having a less scheduled life.

Love having my kids home more.

Love that summer is here!

(somehow my now junior in high school, missed the library...

it may also have something to do with his new drivers license??)

early morning bike ride...

6:35 a.m. to be exact!

I found Gracie waiting for me,

helmet in hand,

as I pulled in from the gym this morning.

Learn how to ride your bike...right now??....

@ 6:30 in the morning?

How about later?!!

" BUT mom, I know I can do it.

I know I can do it right now!

Pleeeeease!!!"

How could I say no to determination like that?

" Well...Ok, let's go!"

and GO she went!!!!

She wasn't going to let fear get in her way!

She knew she could do it.

She didn't care if she fell,

she didn't care if it took all day!

(luckily for me it didn't!)

Within 20 minutes,

she was starting, stopping,

and gooooooooing all by herself.

It turned out to be a beautiful morning for a ride!

moments....

I love that photography

can capture a moment.

It finds the feeling and emotion

of a single moment, and as I view it...

reminds me to do the same.

"The trick is to enjoy life.

Don't wish away your days,

waiting for better ones ahead.

The grand and the simple.

They are equally wonderful."

Marjorie Hinckley


A simple and grand
day in the park.

I feel blessed.

K-SHOTS!!

Last year when Justin had his

Kindergarten shots,

I left wishing

I had brought my camera to document

the sweet interaction as Gracie helped Justin

through this traumatic time in his life!!

Afterward, when Justin had tears in his eyes,

I thought it was because of the shots he had just received..

but he and Gracie were both in tears

knowing her time,

was yet to come... This time I came prepared!

Last year, they had decided Gracie

was NOT going to attend Kindergarten...

(no kindergarten=no shots!)
Well, things changed

as Justin has LOVED Kindergarten!

He worked hard to convince her- that it would be worth it.

"It's not that bad Grace,

I mean it does

Really,Really hurt...

but Kindergarten is

Really,Really fun.

You want to go Grace."

Forgetting about the appointment until 5 minutes before,

worked to our advantage!

Gracie didn't have long to think about what was coming.

I told Justin his job was to take her mind off the shots.

As you can see from the 'before' pictures...

he did a great job!

We were all kept entertained as they posed for the before shots!

BEFORE

AFTER
I don't have near the pictures of the 'after'!
:(
Gracie wanted Justin on the table with her.
He put on all 5 band aids!

This picture melts me.
It's as if she is thinking...
A pink sucker was so
NOT worth 5 shots!

But an ice cream cone on the way home helped!!!!