Finally Summer!

(Yes, still catching up from last summer!)  

School had been out for a month and a half, but it wasn't until we went back to Clovis that it finally felt like summer!  It was July and we hadn't been swimming or boating! It felt good to be home.  

 If you have ever spent a summer in central California, you would laugh at the picture below.  It screams "Utah kids!".  Jessica in her long pants and t-shirt in and Austin sporting his Utah summer "tan".

  The heat was an adjustment for them, but it was so good to be back!

Paige was a little fish and loved being in the water!

 These two were thrilled to be together again! They were so excited when they realized that they had matching outfits!  Great moms think alike (and shop at Target.)!

So much personality packed into such little people! Haha!

One of the kids favorite things to do is snuggle up with Grandpa and watch a movie.  I hate that he is not part of their daily life anymore.  I know they are missing out.    I've decided that I am just a girl who wants it all.  I want to merge the best of both states and fill it up with my favorite people.  I wish it were possible...

 I loved sitting on the couch in the evening and looking around at my family that I love.  It was just a normal night, with everyone doing what they do.  It was perfect and I felt content.

 Carter came to visit and Kristin and Maryanne were in town, so we all went out on the boat.  Paige was happy to help pick up some snacks for the day before we went out.

  I can't tell you how much I missed these faces!!

  Sunshine and swimsuits, laughter and a full heart.

Peter Pan

Last summer, Lauren was in another play.  She got involved with Alpine Community Theater and was excited to be an animal dancer in Peter Pan.   She loved learning new dances, and the long practices with her friends.

 Here she is before her first performance

Lauren is always happy and smiling so it was not an easy task to get her to keep a straight face so I could take a picture of her makeup to remember how I was supposed to apply it each night while the play was running.

The girl who played Peter Pan was amazing!  The production was great and even had the little girls glued to their seats!

 Lauren was so cute as an animal dancer!

 She knew exactly what she was supposed to do and preformed with confidence.

It was a great experience for her.

McCauley's!

Maryn and Courtney (Brewster) had spent the week at Just for Girls in Logan, Utah, while Haley hung out with me and other family here in Utah.

 We took the kids to Discovery Park at Thanksgiving Point one afternoon.

 Paige

 I had never been there and loved all the things it offered for the kids to explore and play with.  Their favorite thing at the park with the little stream.  There are plastic boats in a bin near the recycling stream that the kids could race down the stream.

 Lauren and Clara

 

 Ashlyn

 Ashlyn, Lauren, Clara, Tyler, Peyton, Paige and Austin 

Lauren was excited when Maryn and Courtney came back from their camp to spend the rest of the weekend.

Aaron flew in for the weekend as well.  It felt like old times just hanging out. 

Aaron, Haley and Jason

Clara

Peyton and Paige

Clara, Austin and Tyler

Paige, Clara, Peyton and Ashlyn

 

Camping in the High Uintas

The day after 4th of July, we packed up our quads and camping gear and met some of Jason's friend's from work for a short camping trip in the High Uintas.  Austin and Lauren had other commitments, so we just took Jessica and the little girls.

We followed the directions we were given, and after miles of dirt roads on steep mountain sides, we eventually found our campsite.  It was literally in the middle of nowhere.  No cell reception, no official camp ground.  The only running water was from the stream  near by.  It was beautiful!! 

We set up camp as quickly as we could so we could squeeze a ride in before dark.  Paige and Ashlyn couldn't wait to get going!

 Paige wearing Lauren's first helmet.

Jessica

 Mark and Alexis, Ashlyn, Paige and Jason, Wynn and Chandler, Jessica

It started to rain and thunder and lightening while we were out!  The cracks of thunder were so loud and the lightening so bright, that for the first time in my life, I thought there was an actual possibility that someone could get hit!   We flew back down the dirt road to our campsite, staying as close to the trees as we could.  The rain seemed to fly directly at us!  It was so crazy that I tried to take a picture while still trying to hurry back to camp!  Haha!  The things we do for pictures!

We made it back to camp safe and sound.  And wet and dirty!  Jason had a permanent grin on his face, even as he helped me trench the tent to keep the water from seeping in.  (My years at Whiskeytown taught me a thing or two about camping in the rain.)

 We huddled under an easy up to try to stay dry.  We had a great evening.  We made dinner and even had a fire when the rain slowed to a drizzle.

Wynn, Alexis, Mark, Jessica

 

 Paige was pretty worn out so I headed to the tent early with her.  Without cell reception or a book,  I just sat and listened to the rain and tried to help her get comfortable.  I don't think a lot of sleep took place that night!  Paige ended up in my sleeping bag, tossing and turning all night.  Ashlyn had to go to the bathroom sometime in the middle of the night.  I started to take her and I realized I was a little nervous!!  Haha!   It was totally dark and who knows what was living in those woods! Paige and Jason woke as we were unzipping the tent anyway. We decided to make a family trip of it!  It took a while to get everyone back to sleep.  (Sleep is used loosely here.)  I'm pretty sure there were a few times that night that I asked myself why we take small children camping!   

It was so pretty when we woke up!  We made breakfast and played by the stream.

 We spent the rest of the day exploring the mountains on our quads.

 Ashlyn, Paige, Jason

 Back: Jessica, Alexis, Mark.  Front: Ashlyn, Paige, Jason, Chandler, Wynn.

 Tara, Jessica, Ashlyn, Paige and Jason

 Left to Right: Chandler, Wynn, Tara, Jessica, Ashlyn, Paige, Jason

 

We rode to the top on a mountain.  The views were beautiful!!  The mountain just dropped off though and it made me a little nervous to have the little ones running around.  I think I'm turning into a paranoid mom!  We kept a close eye on them and Paige mostly stayed in Jason's arms.

I'm pretty sure this picture almost gave me a heart attack!  After the initial freaking out over how close they were to the edge of the cliff, there was a "don't move!" moment because I needed a picture!  Haha! It was really pretty and an awesome sight.

 Jessica, Ashlyn and Chandler

Mark, on the other hand, is a giant kid!  He climbed right down the side of the mountain to find some "cool rocks" and crystals. 

I tried not to mother Jessica too much, but held my breath as she checked out the edge.   

 

 We rode until our arms were tired and then headed back to camp to pack up.  It was a short trip, but so much fun!  It was fun to get to know Mark and Alexis and Wynn better.  (Wynn's wife was pregnant and wanted a weekend to get ready for the baby so she stayed home while he took their little boy camping.)