Summer Fun

Caroline finally figured out how to swim by herself with this little tube around her waist- thanks to Aunt Britney for leaving it for us! 

We swim about 5 or 6 days a week.  Natalie NEVER gets tired of swimming.  She is a fish.

 Trying to get Caroline to jump off the diving board takes several brothers

Wesley likes to create and bring lego boats, cargo ships and coast guard patrol boats.

Emery

 Savannah came up to me and said, "Both of my two bottom teeth are loose, can you pull them out for me?"  I helped her pull the first and she was a little surprised that it hurt and bled, but then immediately asked me to pull out the other one.  She is a tough girl...and great swimmer.

Ammon hates to have his picture taken, so he was trying to hide- but I got him!

 Wesley going down the slide

Savannah frequently wakes up and comes down to our room to use the restroom (the one in her room is too scary) or to sleep on our couch.  She even wakes up with great hair.

 Joel wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride for his birthday.  It took several months to schedule it due to weather (the wind and temperature have to be just right).  We finally went on our flight on an early summer morning.  It was surprising mellow.  It felt just like floating up into the sky on a balloon.

We landed in a field and had to walk out through some brush.  It was fun!

Our little Emery turned 8.  He wanted a chocolate football cake, of course.  After going to the neighbors house and seeing their little ATV, he decided that he wanted one for his birthday.  Joel found him this little one, and he LOVES it.

That evening he was baptized by his father.  It was a wonderful program and even Uncle Dillon was there!

 Our boys move pipes all summer long to earn the money for their missions and college.  It is fun and rewarding to watch the neighbor come and cut and bale the hay.  Savannah has made good friends with the farmer (her Kindergarten teacher's father) and runs out to ride in the tractor whenever he shows up.  She loves to talk to him the whole time.

Our Branch went on a 4 day Pioneer Trek up at Moses's Ranch.  They walked and pulled carts over 40 miles.  The youth were separated into families and Ammon got to be the father of one of the groups.  They had a great time.

 When Ammon saw me, he ran up to give me a big sweaty and dirty hug.  Great son

Preston was a little bit less excited to see me (Joel was on the trek).

 All of the kids dressed in pioneer clothes the whole time.

We had a branch dinner to welcome the kids back from the trek.  The little kids loved playing with the kid hand cart.

Preston turned 14.  He loves berries on his chocolate cake, a perfect mix of his mother and father.

After begging for a pet all year long, we settled on getting him a bearded dragon lizard.  He named it Mushu (from the dragon in the Disney movie Mulan).  It's pretty cool

 Football season started last week.  Preston signed up for High School football and went to two-a-day practices all last week.  Emery had practices every evening with Joel as an assistant coach.  Ammon also started cross country, and Wesley starts middle school football next week.  Let the games begin.  This was Emery's first game at the Jamboree at BSU's indoor practice field.  He almost got several flags.

On Saturday Joel, Ammon and Derek (who is here for a few weeks) decided to throw everyone in the pool-clothes an all.  I went to get my camera to take some pictures of the event, when Ammon and Derek met me at the door.  I should have known their purpose.  They took the camera and tossed me into the pool.  It was great fun for all.  Natalie loves it when her daddy flips her into the pool.

 Since Derek was at our house, we took advantage of the convenient babysitter and went on a week long trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  We walked on the beach, worked out, went out to eat, swam in the pool, went snorkeling, paddle boarding and took naps.  It was nice and relaxing.  I even finished two books (and Joel read one)!  Thanks Derek!  We video chatted with our kids everyday and felt like they did great without us.  It is so nice having older capable kids.  They made all of the meals, did the laundry, and kept up on the house.

 Our hotel had beach beds set up on the beach.  They hung by ropes, and were covered in pillows.  A very unique and fun way to relax on the beach.

The housekeeping was outstanding.  They left us this on our last day.