Half Fail, Half Success

Well - Nathan had great intentions. He planned everything beautifully - what he didn't plan on was Juliet catching something nasty.  I think it was from the dust from the MAJOR reno we are currently in process of. She was all snot bubbles and watery eyes so we left our awesome family hike...no pics. *gasp* I know and headed home so I could give her a steam bath and clean that poor baby out!

Still determined to take on this weekend. he said to get in the van we are heading out again. The kids lit up and were pumped for another attempt at an adventure.

He decided Berry Picking would be the best option, so to the local farm we went...

 Seriously - if you haven't met Juliet yet I feel bad for you. She is the happiest baby EVER.

 The kids quickly went to work.

 Scarlett had trouble last year not eating every berry in sight. This year she was a lot better.

 Juliet was laughing the whole time. Literally.
I am told that when I was a baby I loved being on my dad's shoulders.
There are several pics of me looking JUST like this on my dad!

 Nathan helping Scarlett get the top ones.
Again - look at Juliet. She is such a crack up.

 We come to this farm a lot. This was the first time I had seen such a beautiful array of flowers in the pick your own bushel area.

Love these people.

The kids had an amazing time! 

We picked 2 watermelons one with a red sign and one with a yellow sign. We found out why when we got home...

-But -

Believe it or not the Yellow watermelons were so sweet and delicious and fresh - like you barely had to use a knife! They were tender and so juicy I had to wipe the counters 2x!

The red ones were just as good but there is something about trying a new thing that
I just LOVE about my kids.

Never do they wince or declare NO I won't try it - they always try and usually like the new item.
Today was no different.

We came home for lunch and Nathan took the older 2 on bike rides. Since they both are on 2 wheels now it is more fun to go on Daddy rides together. They were gone a whole hour! 

He said they went over 5 miles!

So impressive!

After the bike rides we piled back into the car and he surprised the kids with Bowling. They ask to go ALL the time and he thought they would love it! They did!

Lucas bowls like Fred Flintstone. it is hilarious.

He won both games AND got 3 strikes! He refused to use the rail helper, so it was all on him!

We came back home I made Chicken Tostadas - seriously loving the lime flavor right now.
We went on a family walk and then Nathan and the older 2 cleaned up the back yard.
It was in dire need.

To keep Scarlett from crying (since she is slow and not very helpful back there)
we came in and made raspberry crisp! 4 to be exact. We delivered 2 ate 1 and are sending the last one to work tomorrow. :)

It was really good and a fun end to our "trip"

Last week was really rough on me. The kids were more rambunctious than they normally are and being by myself for 13+ hours with no relief was starting to wear me down. Plus I haven't been feeling like my full of energy self lately so that has been hard too. I cried and felt like a terrible snappy mom which I hate and told Nathan I needed a break, a vacation from this terrible week and he sure delivered. 

Our kids really thrive on living in a 2 parent home and love their daddy so much. 

Looking back I really wasn't a fair or nice mom to them like I should have been and I am looking forward to this "short week" as a way to make it up to them.

I would like to report that the kids only earned 12 pennies in the yell jar...so it could have been worse. LOL

My goal this week is to appreciate them and show them how much I love them, even though I am stressed its not their fault...its Nathan's. Just Kidding. Hahahahaha

Witte end of the Summer Picnic

We did this 2 years ago when Liz and Cory were in town and it was time to have it a go again. :)

So I picked the location...one that was more central for everyone and we met there for dinner.

We went to the Peter Pan Pirate Park. That is what I call it.  It probably has an official name.

Everyone brings fried chicken and a side and then we let the kids play and eat all together. I couldn't find fried chicken in our limited time frame so we bought a Rotissire chicken and broke it up. Haha.

I didn't take as many pictures as I normally do because I brought my old camera and because the kids were wild and crazy the entire time. In a good-I-missed-my-cousins sort of way. I love my new camera and was afraid to bring it somewhere where I knew there would be lots of splashing and water. yikes!

We are excited about going to Utah for Uncle Jared's wedding and realized we don't get together as much as we should. Tomorrow is a big day of prep work for me, Lucas and Nathan.

Mellowing Out

The Summer is coming to an end.

There have been several night time trips to the park.

Bug and Rock Collecting.

Hundreds of Popsicles consumed.

Too many flies in the house from the backyard fun.

Random water hosings.

Loads of fruit cut and devoured.

Random nap taking.

Lightening Storms.

After dinner walks.

Crack the Whip Challenges.

And of course a whole lotta Golf.

And even though there are 2 more things left on our 50 Summer Fun List and only 12 official days of Summer Left... the one thing we learned about ourselves is that now matter what we do -  the most important thing is that we are all together.  My kids thrive on having both parents at home and luckily, we can provide just that. They truly benefit from quality time -  not from doing 100 things, or going to amusement parks, or anything outrageous and over the top. 

I am happy with the job we are doing with the raising of these little people.

They truly are growing up to be aware and kind and thoughtful.

Now - really? 12 days till school starts?!?! aaah!

Summer Fun #32 Suprise Daddy at Work for Lunch!

This was so much fun. 

We have been wanting to try firehouse subs for a long time and today was the day!

What a fun atmosphere!

Sorry Scarlett took this one on the phone. 

Best Sandwiches EVER. You can taste everything in it, SO GOOD!

yea I am convinced I need to get those bangs cut!

Scarlett eating her oreos. Silly chicken.

The best part was right before we parted ways this was right outside!

So of course Lucas had to spew all of his Firetruck knowledge to all those who would listen.

Beautiful 84 degree day with a breeze and a delicious lunch.

I took the kids to the park after because it was so beautiful!

Love Summer!

Summer Fun #11,16,18,20,21,30,33,35,36,43

#11 - Go to CALIFORNIA!!!!

#16 Cars 2

The kids went to a Pajama showing of this with Uncle Cory and Auntie Liz

#18 Golf - or Mini Golf

#21 Go to a Museum

This is the Getty Center

#30 Eat out for every meal for the day.

On Lucas's Birthday we went to Vip's for Breakfast, In and Out for Lunch, and The Club for Dinner!

#33 Have a Picnic at the Temple

We ate dinner at the St. George Temple on the way home.

#35 Go to the Beach

#36 Get a slushee or slurpee

#43 Meet our new cousin!

Also - I need to check off  my 30 before 30 List a few things I have completed...

# 11.   Plan and execute a full family vacation in the car to California.

# 3.    Finish ALL of the 1st year books for each kid.

4.    Read 6 biographies THIS year!

Red Princess, 

Rocket Boys (which I LOVED), 

Bossypants (which was eh--), 

Jane Goodall: The Woman who defined Man (which was pretty good and detailed),

 Lengthen your Stride: the Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (I really liked this one)

Autobiography of Thomas Jefferson (this was so good)

(thank goodness for all the nap and car time I got during our trip!)

There are a few more I am working on and have almost completed so stay tuned! :)

Road Trip from CA to NV,AZ, UT and Finally CO!

We packed up and went to my parents.

The babies bonded.

 Then they napped.

 We had a Chinese feast, then said good bye.

Lucas had a rough time saying good bye to his favorite person.

 Nothing a movie couldn't fix.

 Until it was over. Then he cried again. He really loves California and Grandpa.

It was 1:30 when we left for our 18 hour drive.

 It was 4:45pm when we hit Nevada/Vegas.

 I had lots for the kids to do so they would have to watch movies the whole time. 

I am not into them being glued to electronics at home or in the car.

 We drove through Virgin River Canyon. The kids were speechless at the beauty.

 We were in Utah at 7:40. So far only in the car for 6ish hours.

 We stopped in St. George for an hour to eat dinner and stretch. 

They have the Coolest visitors center!

 Whatever these are --- I love them.

 Good Bye Utah!

We drove straight through - I could BARELY keep my eyes open.

We got to our driveway at 6:15am.

There was no traffic the ENTIRE way.

Thanks to the 80 speed limits along the way we made our 18 our drive in 16.5 hours.

Nathan and I have felt like zombies all day but before any resting or unloading could occur Lucas needed to put this together.

It was a great trip and the kids only watched 6 movies the WHOLE trip. 

There and Back.

I had special snacks, special games, music, and prizes.

I over prepared a tad but totally worth it in the end.

We get to do it again next year. Yea!!!!!