I am so far behind that I have been procrastinating the day of my update. I suppose today is as good as any to begin.....(Actually this has taken me about 4 days!)
I have to hurry and get my blog updated so we can leave tomorrow for Star Valley, Wyoming for the Peck Family Reunion. I love the busy-ness of summer!
What an eventful two weeks. My parents were in town (staying at a Condo in Park City and at my brother's house in Orem) so it seems there were constant activities and get-togethers.
Here's what our July has consisted of thus far:
Thursday (July 3rd)
Carsen just didn't get enough fishing in Moab, so we decided to take all the kids (my little niece and nephew Katelin and KC) to Strawberry fishing.
My Dad has his little fishing boat and my brother and I decided to go along for some good company and quite honestly to make sure our children didn't drive 'Pa' crazy. (Or that they didn't drowned or eat worms).
We found out after driving for an hour and a half (each way) that we could've stayed home and put water in a kiddie pool and let the kids play with a styrofoam cup full of worms. They were so intrigued with the cup of worms that they were oblivious to the fact that we never caught a fish.
My Dad thought he would add some entertainment by showing the kids he could put a worm in his mouth.....What a great thing to teach little sponges.
Carsen has been beyond excited to have his cousins back from Arizona. Carsen and KC are 5 days apart (and about a foot apart in height). They play so well together and can't keep their hands off each other.
Friday (July 4th)
We spent the afternoon in Orem with the fam. Kye's neighbors set up a giant slip'n slide at the park and the kids (and adults too) had a riot sliding down the mountainside. (It was an excellent idea, and one I plan to copy sometime!)
We visited the Freedom Festival and found ourselves eating all the naughty festival food. (I read in a magazine yesterday that funnel cake is one of the worst things you can eat at a Fair.....I will make a mental note of that from now on!)
The kids enjoyed twirling their sparklers around when it FINALLY got dark enough for some little fireworks. I am so glad they are still at the age where any little firework is still fascinating and fun.
Saturday (July 5)
We had a Pre-Baby Blessing Dinner for Kanyon at Kelly's parents house. They have the best house and are always inviting us over. The kids have a riot and we adults always have a good time. (The swimming pool might be a slight bonus too!)
Sunday (July 6)
We traveled back down to Orem for Kanyon's baby blessing. He is such a sweet little guy and kind of gets lost in the shuffle with the older kids. I have never seen him be unhappy! He looked so handsome in his little tux! Myka and Pa were out in the hall the entire Sacrament Meeting. It pleased me for him to know why I don't enjoy church very much!
(Myka is very into sticking her finger up her nose....She loves to stick her finger up other peoples nose too. Very attractive!)
Tuesday (July 8)
The kids and I headed to Park City to spend the day with Pa and Gigi. I hadn't been to the Olympic Park yet, so we decided to take the kids there. There was a free-style ski jumping camp taking place, so there were people practicing their jumps off of the ski jump into the water. Carsen was fascinated.
Then we rode the "Quicksilver" Alpine Slide. Carsen was a little nervous about the ski lift up the mountain...He was wondering how we were going to get off of it. Once we had our feet on the ground and were aboard our sled he was excited. He kept telling me to go faster! When we reached the bottom of the hill he hopped off the sled and ran to Pa and said, "Will you go with me Pa?" Who can say no to that? So they went again.
Myka found a little hill that she walked up and down probably 50 times. It was like she had discovered something new she could do and she wanted to master it.
If you haven't visited the Olympic Park--do it! It was beautiful and such a fun thing to see!
Friday (July 11)
THE ZOO.
Kye and Kelly went to Jackson Hole so we were able to have Katelin and KC come and spend the night. We wanted to do something fun on Friday, and the zoo seemed like the perfect place to take a bunch of little monkeys!
It was a beautiful day, but of course it took us forever to get going. (4 kids and 3 adults...takes a bit of time to coordinate getting everything ready to go). We made it to the Zoo and visited all the animals (quickly). Three hours later we were exhausted and finished with the Zoo.
Myka was hyperventilating the entire time. Her biggest fascination was with the birds. I thought she would be intrigued by the bigger animals like the elephants and giraffes, but I think she thought they weren't real. The little animals were her favorite.
Pa and Gigi took the older 3 kids back to Park City with them to their Condo to spend the night and go swimming. I took Myka back home with me where I put her to bed and put my house back in order now that it was free of three little monkeys!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Eventful July (So Far...)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The Cabin
One of my favorite places to escape the world is my family's cabin in Moab. It's nestled above the town of Moab in the La Salle mountains. The cabin is away from everything and everyone. The views are the best of both worlds--far out on the horizon is the red-cliffs and ledges--close-up are the tall greens and pines.
We met up with my parents and went four-wheeling, fishing and rested. (And of course worked on cabin projects....That seems to be never-ending). The cabin is my version of camping, but with a bed and a shower. My kids still get down and dirty, and there are lots of bugs, but I love it! Fishing topped Carsen's list and he was very into it. He caught 3 fish, 2 of which he [we] threw back and 1 he kept and ate! (Anything fried in grease tastes delicious, right?)
We left Monday morning to come back to reality, but Carsen stayed up on the mountain spending some quality time with the grandparents. I didn't think when it came to say good-bye that he would stay...but he wanted too. He was in his element, and wanted more time to look for deer and ride the four-wheelers. He's all boy. I love him for that.
Carsen Withdrawals
We went to Moab this past weekend (details and pictures to come) and we left Carsen at the cabin with my parents. I have been without him since Monday morning, and I am feeling serious Carsen-withdrawals. Of course I have always known what a huge part of my life my children are to me, but Carsen being gone for these past couple of days has made me realize how much I NEED my kids. I am missing the simple, day-to-day things that Carsen and I do together.....
He is having the time of his life with his Pa and Gigi. He has seen a bear, 3 skunks, and has made friends with a chipmunk named 'Henry.' Oh, and he's also knocked himself in the head with a hammer, and gotten a sliver. (I'm sure there's much more, but my parents have been kind enough not to bother me with the minor details [and injuries].)
Little Fishies
Carsen's favorite part of the lesson is the goggles! His ears stick out (and they have got to be so uncomfortable) but he is so adamant about wearing them the entire time.
Carsen and Parker drying off after yet another vigorous 30 minute swimming lesson.
I convinced my cousin Jill to enroll her son Parker (who is Carsen's age) into semi-private swimming lessons 2X a week. What a great little duo! They have had so much fun and have learned so much. Their teacher knows how to treat 3-year-old boys and plays constant games with them. I am impressed with advancements they have both made.
Myka joins Jill and me on the sidelines and waddles back and forth strutting her cute little stuff. Our most recent name for her is our "pot-bellied princess."
