Utah Trip - Part 4

After Island Park we spent some more time with Tyler's family and was able to go down to Southern Utah to see some more grandparents. It was a fun trip and we loved being able to see them all. 

While on our way home though we saw this:

It was a bit scary to think what was on fire, then when we got closer we saw that it had probably just started 5-10 minutes beforehand. We are not sure what it was, but it seemed to be a big semi/trailer. And we were praying that no one was in the trailer still. I did see some guys sitting on the side of the road so I'm hoping that was the driver. 

Super scary though.

Just awful.

When we got back home the kids played with all of their cousins that were there...well Preston and his cousin watched the older cousins play outside. I thought this was too cute.

I love this picture too of Preston and his Aunt. She was determined to get him to smile and laugh with her, and she succeeded. 

After the flight home I think the boys were excited to be back with their own things and to just play by themselves. We did have tears about leaving, but home is still home. 

Utah Trip - Part 3

While at the house in Island Park there was lots to do. It had a pretty good yard, so the boys played tag and football. Grandma and Grandpa brought an inflatable pool for the little ones. There was a dock to play off of in the water, and even a fire pit so we could cook some s'mores!

Spencer ready to get some s'mores.

Getting the pit ready and the fire going. The kids were watching closely. 

Trying to light it....when we didn't think we had anything to light it with...

The boys still waiting. I love this picture of the two of them. 

Seth to the rescue, wait, what is in his mouth!?!? SETH! Don't put matches in your mouth. 

Miss O being cute as could be!!!!

Ready to cook! I think Miss M has four marshmallows on her stick ready to fire them up. 

The boys skipping rocks.

Jess cooking her marshmallow to perfection. She did have a pretty good way of cooking them.

After eating everyone jumped into the hot tub. This was a favorite for all the kids....and adults. 

Think we have enough cups???

Preston getting some food from Grandpa, wait for another post when he is doing the exact same thing with his other grandpa! Thank goodness for them who will let Preston eat off their plates.

W and his dad got some four wheelers or ATV's or something like that and drove it ALL DAY LONG! They went way up to the top part of a mountain. He was covered in dirt, so I had to take a picture. 

Utah Trip - Part 2

My family had a reunion in Island Park and it was a blast!

We had everyone go into Yellowstone National Park one day and it was fun. Spencer loved being with his cousins and we loved seeing the beauty of the park. During our first visit in we saw elk, bison, and even some black bears! But only through my dad's scope that he had, thankfully he had it! 

Here the boys are waiting for Old Faithful to erupt.

Spencer and Old Faithful at the beginning of her erupting.

At a stopping point we saw a bison up on the hill. I love this picture because the way Preston is looking, it's like he's looking right at the bison, but he really was not. 

We stayed at a beautiful place in Island Park, Bill's Island. It was so cool. 

This was our view out back!!!

Isn't it gorgeous! Steps down to the lake, that you could swim in and fish in and play in, which we did all of those things. Even rented a skidoo and the kids had a BLAST!!!

The sunset.

It was so calming and pretty and the best weather. 

On our last day there Tyler and I wanted to go back into the park to see if we could see more bears or something. So we dragged our boys out of bed at 6:30 or 7 in the morning. It takes a little while to get to the park, so by the time we were there, this is what they looked like. Completely asleep. 

They missed a bison that was super close to us!

 Also another one that just walked right out into the road when we were driving. I stopped, but it was pretty nerve-racking to have a bison so big walking by your car. This doesn't look like it was close, but it really was.

After we looked around for more animals, that we didn't get to see...bummer, we stopped at a place in the park for some ice cream. It was yummy!

Utah Trip - Part 1

In July we planned a big trip out to Utah. 1- to do a family reunion with my family and 2- to see most of Tyler's family. It was perfect! One place and we get to share time with both families. 

We spent some time with Tyler's family first, and went and found the "Up" house!!!! Preston would love it, since he loves that movie. 

Playing in grandma and grandpa's backyard was lots of fun. Preston loved the bubble machine and would try to pop them all. 

He loved the swings too. Look at that smile!

On July 4th we headed up to Lewiston, Utah. My grandparents live there and we usually spend every July 4th with them. We do the flag raising with the Pledge of Allegiance, fireman's breakfast, parade, and then fun all afternoon with family.  Here's Preston waiting for the parade to start...it was a little warm.

This is most of my extended family!!! We definitely had a big crowd there. It was great!

All the cousins waiting for the parade. 

Once we got our candy at the parade we headed back to my Uncle's house. Luckily my grandma could come and visit with us all for a little while. It was so wonderful to see her, I love her so much. 

Preston fell in love while we were at my uncle's house....with the cows!!!! 

 He got a kick out of them trying to lick him.

And they did lick him...lots!!!! 

Miss O being all patriotic! And getting ready for the fireworks we were about to set off. 

Miss M having fun making stuff. 

We were not sure how Preston would like the fireworks but he loved them!! 

 He thought they were really cool, until we got to the big huge ones. Then he and I headed inside and watched from there. 

Next day my whole family was off to Island Park for a week of fun!!!! 

End of June

I have not done a great job of keeping up with the blog this year, but I am determined to get it all caught up before the new year...so I have three weeks to get the last half the year done. Get ready for some blog posts, y'all!

The end of June came the conclusion of another baseball season. Here is Spencer getting his trophy from his coaches and his teammates all around. He had fun being on the Phillies.

Also at the end of June we got some great crepe batter from our friend Katherine. She does a crepe stand at the Falls Church Farmers Market...if you are nearby....GO!! Saturday mornings, getting a big ol' crepe that tastes DELICIOUS, it's the best thing you could do!! It's called Kate's Crepes. You can find her on Facebook. For reals, so yummy. 

Last Day of School 2014

This was Spencer on his first day of 4th grade!

This is Spencer on his last day of 4th grade...am I the only one who thinks he looks so much older in this picture?!?!?

On this last day it happened to be Friday the 13th!! Which Spencer loved because we love Friday the 13ths and we have monkey bread on those days!!!!! So for dinner that night he got the Special Plate AND monkey bread, he was loving it!

This is Spencer and his teacher, Mrs. McInnis. She was the best!!! He learned a lot and loved being in her class. 

At the end of the school year his teacher hands out awards to the kids based on what they do really well with in class, and Spencer, the boy who JUST moved to Virginia 9 months before, got Historian of the Year?!?! I was happy for him, he started to really love history here and learns the facts really fast. He's so smart! 

Now we are onto 5th grade....much harder and more responsibility.

Grandparents come to visit!

My parents came to visit us while Spencer was still playing baseball, so they were excited to be able to see him play! Preston was (and kinda still is) in the phase of not wanting to watch and just wander...and eat and play in dirt. 

Also I love these monkey toes!!!!