August

As always, I'm a couple of month behind but determined not to leave anything out.

We made it back to Bear Lake for Raspberry Days.  Just the moms and kiddos.  We went to the craft fair and all the kids picked out a prize (Molly-puppet, Stockton-bubble blower, Brynn-book).

 

We got ripped off by the bounce houses.  That was a joke!

 

The best was just playing outside at the cabin.  It's so beautiful and peaceful and relaxing there.  Ali was awesome and planned a few activities for the kids.  Soap clouds:

 

I can't remember what this was called but it was basically like a giant water bed.  It was awesome!  They played on it all afternoon!

 

 

 

The parade.

 

And the beach.

 

 

Molly had two days of a soccer clinic to get her ready for soccer season.

 

We finally went on a hike this year.  Geez, we only went on one.  Brynn got big enough to ride in the backpack.  She really enjoyed riding up there on her daddy's back.

  

 Stockton had to walk but we chose a pretty easy hike.  

The Grotto in Payson Canyon is my favorite hike for kids.  It's so easy and so pretty.  It's fun with all the huge logs you have to walk across and the waterfall at the end makes for a fun place to play around.

 

Actually for this trip the best part was seeing a mama deer and her two babies on the way down the trail.  We were almost to the car when we spotted them.  The mother crossed the trail right behind us but the babies didn't follow her over, at least not while we were there.  But we did see them pretty clearly.

Spending time outside.  Target practice.

  

And a slip 'n slide I picked up on clearance.

I did a piano recital at my house for my three students.  This was fun and I'm hoping to do it again.  I love teaching piano!

We were all anxious to go to the zoo this year and see the new polar bear exhibit.  It did not disappoint.  It is really neat to see the sea otters and lions, the polar bear, and the grizzly bears.

 

The elephants, monkeys, and giraffes are always a favorite as well.

 

And the train, all my kids love it.

 

Another trip to Bear Lake.  We were lucky this summer to be able to go 3 times.  Justin was doing a bike race in Logan so we went to the cabin for a couple of days before that.  Erin and I unknowingly packed the same pajamas and shirts for Abby and Molly...they were so excited!  It's all about matching these days.

 

(Abby and Grace were the only other cousins for this trip...it was after all-day school kids had started but before Kindergarten.)

Brynn's favorite thing at the cabin is the playground.  She learned how to climb the ladder by herself this summer and she likes to go in the play area and open and close the door.  Then she slides down the slide on her belly with her feet first.  She does that over and over again.  I just got used to sitting at the base of the ladder with a book.

 

We had a birthday party/Olympic party for my grandma's birthday.  Grandma's health hasn't been that great lately and she's recently been moved from her home to an assisted living facility.  It was a hard transition for her to make but I think she's finally enjoying it now.  I wish I could see her more often, my kids don't know her as well as their cousins do.

  

It's always fun to see cousins that you grew up with but that you don't see all that often anymore.  Now we all have kids and it's fun to get together to see how the kids are growing and to catch up on life.  We played lots of games, jumped on the tramp, had a barbecue; a good end to the summer, I think.

This seems like it should be the end of summer posts for me, but it's not.  Justin had a week off and we filled it up with lots of fun, so that's coming up next!