24th of July campout...kindof

My kids, especially Jake, have been wanting to sleep in a camper. My grandparents have one. It isn't licensed or registered so we can't take it any where. I didn't think my kids would mind. We had so much fun. We at dinner at our house. Then Jake, Ethan, and I headed out. Mark opted to stay home with the little guys which honestly made my trip that much more fun. We went to my grandparents home in Mapleton. My kids chased their dog around for a long time. They also went to try and pet the llama and goat but I don't think they ever got that close. Once it was dark we headed for the camper. As my luck would have it my grandparents had plugged it in to their house and the camper has AC!! We played card games as the camper cooled down. It was so fun. I have so many memories of playing card games with my grandma at that table.

The boys went to be so well. They asked me if I had brought any books. I had forgotten. However I was pleasantly surprised at how creative I can be when needed and I told an amazing story about two elephant who flew in a boat to the north pole and got to be Santa's special helpers. We got up the next morning and went to the Mapleton city parade and carnival. It was so fun. We love being in Mapleton on the 24th. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa.

I just had to put this picture in since it is so stinkin' cute. Andrew has been falling asleep during lunch a lot lately. I guess I am feeding him lunch too late.

Look who's 7

I can't believe I have a 7 yr. old. WOW! Ethan was so fun on his birthday. We decorated his door. He woke up at 5:00AM so excited about it.

I let my kids chose a big present from mom and dad or a party with their friends. Ethan chose friends. He had a lot of fun. We just did a simple water party in the back yard. We started out with getting marbles from the bottom of our kiddie pool with their toes and putting them on floating paper plates.

Then we had a water balloon toss and a water balloon fight.

Next we played a family favorite game, you put paper bags on your head like a hat and try and hit everyone else's hat off with a newspaper stick. They had a lot of fun playing this game. We did it three times.

We did cake, ice cream and presents.

After the party we had dinner. Ethan had requested chicken and rice. So I grilled some chicken and then made some rice-a-roni. As we started eating Ethan asked where the rice was. When we pointed to it on his plate he said, "no mom, I wanted white rice" Who knew? I felt bad that I didn't get his birthday dinner exactly how he wanted it.

After dinner we did fireworks. You can legally do fireworks 3 days before and after the 4 and the 24 of July. We try to do them every year on Ethan's birthday.

Andrew loving the fireworks

Here is a picture of Ethan with his cake. I made matching cupcakes. Mark actually frosted this cake. He is so good at these things.

The boys watching fireworks. Ryan was all tuckered out and we had to put him to bed before the show.

Happy Birthday Ethan. We love you so much.

Radio Disney Day

Every summer at the Gallivan Center they have radio Disney day. It is a free event and my kids love it! We even got free creamies YUM!

There are lots of game for the kids to play. They won water guns.

They had this slide last year. MY kids love it. I think it is so funny how Jake insisted on wearing his goggles.

The firemen were there spraying kids with their hose. So refreshing.

24 of July parade walk around

At the South Towne Expo they let you go and walk around and see all the floats before the parade. Its a lot cooler and faster. We had a lot of fun. Spencer and Ethan and Jake by a float.
Me and boys by a float

I just really liked these two pictures of Spencer and Andrew

Jake on the BYU float. I told the boys not to touch the floats and right as I was taking the picture he sat down. He was so happy to have a picture while being on the float.

Jake and Spencer's Favorite float.

What have we been up to lately?

My neighbor gave me 8 cups of raspberries and I made jam. Defiantly the BEST thing I have canned so far in my life:) Ireally like to take pictures of my bottled food since it takes so much effort to do and we eat it up so fast. The next day we drove to LeGrande Oregon( I was a little stressed to say the least trying to get out of my house and get things ready for our sitters watching the boys). We stayed in the coolest house ever. My brother-in-law Mathew's grandparents have a home there. It was amazing. I don't know if they have ever thrown anything away. Matthew said we should search all the closets. It was so fun! I think one of the highlights of my trip. Matthew's grandma BB must have been a really classy lady. She is currently 90 or somewhere close to that age and in an assisted living in Rexburg. She had hats from every era as well as jackets, lamps, jewelry and furniture, also old Friend magazine (they were bound in a book--cool) and the New Era I can't remember what it was called then. My favorite article that I read was called "How to look the part without really trying" It was in section of "fill in the blank with out really trying" I feel bad that I didn't get a picture of me in my favorite jacket. It was darling and I felt like Mary Tyler Moore. Spencer even played dress up with me. I could have been doing this for hours. We went to a restaurant in LeGrande with Auntie Mae (Molly) She is on the right holding Max.

Andrew and Me on the rocking pig while waiting for our food.

Spencer and Star on the pig.

While in LeGrande I realized that my brother Spencer has the mannerisms of my dad and the personality of my Grandpa Hales. My favorite quote was when Spencer and Star were sitting on the front porch eating yogurt, Spencer said, "Star we are like two peas in a pod...two...peas..in...a...pod" I was laughing so hard.

Here is Matthew's brother Andrew meeting Max for the first time. This was the night before the big race. We were all carb loading. I really wanted to get a picture of both Andrews but that didn't really happen.

Mark rode in the STP Seattle to Portland (204 Miles) on Saturday July 17. I got up that morning and rand 16 miles. It was the best run of my life. I know it was due to the elevation difference but I knocked 20 minutes off my previous weeks time :)

Here is Mark at the 150 Mile stop. He looked great!

Here is everyone who rode on Team SSE (minus my uncle David who was getting food) My sister's husband Erik missed the 150 mile stop and kept going to finish about 40 minutes before everyone else. I felt really bad for Kellie. It was a really frustrating day trying to meet the guys at the stops being stuck in trafic most of the way. And they when we stopped at the 100 mile pt. my cousin Ben told us that Erik looked like he was struggling (Ben quit the race at 100 miles, I think he was struggling). So I know Kellie was really worried about Erik. Well they all finished and are still smiling! Way to go Guys!

A visit from the Bestest

My BFF Tina came to visit me last week. She has been living in Minnesota for the past few years and has a few more years to go while her husband Ben finishes up his PhD program. It was so fun to see her. We have so much fun together. She would be a great neighbor. We have high hopes to be neighbors in North Salt Lake some day. (If I'm going to live in UT forever that would really be my city of choice) Unfortunately moving to AZ is slowly becoming less of reality for me. I can always dream right! Anyway here we are.

Here's our boys. Yes Ethan and Jake are already besties with Keating.

I did IT!

RAN 16 MILES!

yes I am a little sore and tired