Once June hits we are in full swing summer! I got to sneak away with some really amazing kids and take them to the temple.
We spent the night in our tent and this is what I saw looking at the ceiling when I woke up in the morning.
We got new windows!! Here's some pictures of the old ones before they got released. I was going to do some cool before/after pictures but I don't know if I took any "after." Well...goodbye old windows!
Here's more sleeping in the tent in the backyard pictures...
Trav and I snuck away to Boise for a night for a work party. He goes there all the time and got to show me the ropes there. After being behind the slowest couple on the planet at the car rental desk, driving around the hospital he's working on, then checking in at our hotel only to see we are stuck behind the super slow couple again! We about died! They stayed at the same hotel and took forever to check in there too. We took a walk on the river walk right by the hotel and took an awesome selfie...Ha ha!
This ones a little better
The party was "kid for a night' and it was a huge fundraiser for the hospital. We got matching tantoos.
We played some games, had a delicious dinner, and watched really rich people spend a lot of money. It was pretty fun!
Driving around the next morning we saw a store Jonah would move into in a heartbeat. He dips everything in ranch.
We drove up to the lake but didn't stay long on this rainy day.
Showing off my tantoo...
The next week we went to the Bountiful chalk art festival. So much fun!
These people are crazy talented.
Will made a bunch of tridents and now his bed is like a fortress.
The chalk art festival also always inspires awesome pictures on our driveway too.
Pippin's a good sport.
We are so spoiled to be able to swim at the Jones' a few times in the summer. It's our favorite pool!
There was a "tabernacle experience" we got to be a part of but this is the only picture I got. Me, Rach, Josh and Kate got to volunteer at it then we went later through it with our family. A reenactment of Moses' tabernacle and it was pretty interesting.
We then had to drive by the Layton temple (which is still under construction) then stop to get ice cream. Any excuse to stop and get ice cream....
We also did our first backpacking trip of the year!
Some of us like backpacking more than others....
We made it to where we wanted to go and all the camping spots were already taken. So we did the best we could with me, Will and Jonah in the tent and 50 yards up the stream Trav, Kate and Josh slept in hammocks. There weren't any spots to be by each other (Rach stayed home).
Will forgot a sweatshirt, or anything long sleeved. I had luckily packed flannel last minute just in case. Lucky for him I had a spare! It got pretty cold!
He starts out smiling....
We did stop to fish before the long hike back
Josh lost his fly but could see it not too far out so he had to swim to go get it. That was was freezing!!
No luck fishing so we just headed back to the car and decided to swim for a few minutes before leaving to home.
It was really crowded up there with a million paddleboarders but it was fun!
Other things I love about summer: Puzzles
Family night lessons of shooting Goliath with a slingshot
Block mazes
More puzzles, and mariokart
Matchies
Workbooks
Playing together
Swinging
Gardening
ICE CREAM
Kate teaching Pippins some tricks
Getting ready for Fathers Day
Celebrating the best dad in the world.
This summer we also got to go on Trek! Rach and Josh got to go and Trav and I were a Ma and Pa. We didn't get one family photo of all of us. In fact, they told us not to take pictures so I hardly have any. I snuck a few in but I really wish I would've take more. The official photographer barely came by and got pictures of our group.
Rach had her birthday and turned 17 while on trek!!! She got sung to a million times and I tried to help make it special. Not everyone gets to turn 17 dressed as a pioneer.
Here's our awesome family. I LOVED our trek kids!!!
We walked a lot..(mostly in circles.) We had some amazing lessons, beautiful testimonies shared, friends made. It was hard, hot and dusty. Some kids barely made it while others barely broke a sweat. I had to pull out mama bear for my trek kids at one point and the food was incredible! I ate better there than I do at home. It was so cool to see hundreds of teenagers coming together and having the BEST time with NO electronics. You would've thought the stick pull was the most exciting thing these kids have ever seen. It really was such a cool experience and I'm glad I got to see my real kids once in a while. They're still my favorite.
It was good to spend that time with just Trav and I too. We never get that much undivided attention.
Back to home and jumping on the tramp with the sprinkler.
The we celebrated Rachel's birthday a little late.
I could not get a picture of her alone!
I still see you Jonah!
I seriously can't believe she's 17!!! It's her last year of being a kid (sniff sniff)
Rach really is the best. I'm constantly amazed at her kindness. She's so smart, funny and driven. She goes for what she wants and is determined to get there. She loves to just chill and is always inspiring me to be a better person. This world is just so much better with her in it and I'm grateful I can call her my best friend.
Nexus had their summer family party which we always love to go to. My kids are some of the few that play on all the fun things they have there.
Trav also got a HUGE incredible promotion!! He was made a senior principle which is insane since he was just made a regular principle less than 2 years ago. He's such a hard worker and I'm glad he was recognized for all he does. Way to go Trav!
Back to swim some more but this time with all the Maughans.
Somehow we're always the last ones in the pool
Will and Jonah figuring out a way they can play mariokart too. Clever boys.
Lookin' good at the dentist
Jonah went to his buddy, Milo's, birthday party and his mom sent me this cute picture. Such cute boys.
And here's some pictures from Will's activity day leaders.
Man I love summer!
