A Utah 4th and Lots of Other Fun!

For the 4th of July we made the trek to Utah. We visited with a lot of family and friends and crammed a lot of stuff into one week. It was a super fun, but super exhausting week. There were more nights than I care to admit that we adults (as well as the kids) went to bed well past midnight. Some highlights from the trip were: going to the Stadium of Fire concert where Tim McGraw was headlining - that man puts on a great show, 4th of July festivities that included a neighborhood parade and fireworks, birthday celebrations, watching Finding Dory, going on motorcycle rides, and hiking.

Grace (and Cayden) kept themselves entertained with these binoculars during the Stadium of Fire. For as long as the night was and considering how late they all stayed up, they did great!

Part of a dance routine.

Proof that I was there. :)

Cutie girl enjoying the show.

Being silly - it was Laura's idea.

The fireworks after the concert were great! They lasted about an hour, but I think I could watch them all night.

Every year my in-law's neighborhood does a 4th of July parade. This year my kiddos got to ride a tractor in it. Here's Grace waiting for the parade to start.

Riding IN the tractor. They loved it!

Some of the parade favorites.

After the parade there's always a breakfast. The kids wasted no time diving right in. Too bad I didn't get a picture of Grace flipping over backwards off the bench and shooting yogurt everywhere.

My 4th of July cuties. Trying to get a decent picture of three kids is just plain ridiculous. These are the best we got.

Riding home from the neighborhood breakfast on a scooter. Grace was so cute and tried to help Chad push the scooter. (Look at her little leg up in the air!)

We celebrated these goofball's birthdays! 

Cayden requested a Star Wars cake for his birthday. I had this really cool idea to make lightsabers out of candy and put them on top of cupcakes. In theory it was a great idea. The problem was that it got too hot before we ate the cupcakes and the lightsabers melted. It would have been perfect if I had put them on the cupcakes just before we ate them. Oh well, if I ever get another chance I know what to do differently. Despite floppy lightsabers, I still think the cupcakes turned out way cute!

Love these birthday boys!

 The birthday list Cayden made for everyone - a blue light up lightsaber, a watch, Legos, a remote control car and helicopter, toy money, a toy bow and arrow, a mask. :)

Cute kiddos enjoying sparklers. Grace kept chasing Cayden with hers. If it weren't for the fact that what she was doing was slightly dangerous, it would have been hilarious.

Reading to, playing with, and loving on baby Rowan.

All the cousins reading stories with Grandma. Super cute!

Hanging out after watching Finding Dory.

Spaghetti face! The girls happily ate tons of spaghetti!

Leaving...

and coming back from a motorcycle ride with Grandpa. Grandpa said that Laura squealed and laughed the entire time and loved when they drove fast.

Cayden and Gracie opted to just ride around the block.

We went on a hike one day and the kids loved it! Cayden seemed to have endless energy no matter how steep and Grace was determined to walk every step of the way all by herself. Not a single kid complained or asked "Are we done yet?" They are great little hikers!

Just some of the gorgeous views we saw. It was seriously beautiful! And the temperature was perfect! Sunny, but cool with a slight breeze. Absolutely fantastic! I would love to go again!

Goofy kids playing around after the hike. They still had so much energy!

Crazy, Stupid, Excited

So here's the deal, sometimes people do crazy things. And sometimes they do things they're really excited about. Sometimes they do things that seem like a good thing and then later think they got hit with a crazy/stupid stick. And then sometimes they think all these things at once. Boy is that confusing. That's me right now. Crazy, stupid, and excited. Here's why...

Surprise! Bet you weren't expecting that. We're feeling excited for the most part, but I do have moments where I wonder where my sanity went (like when all three kids are fighting and screaming, or when potty training Grace and she's peeing everywhere but the toilet, or when I already feel exhausted with three kids and remember that adding another is only going to make things worse).

This was how we told the kids; it totally went way over their heads. I love Cayden's and Grace's reactions when they finally "get it". I especially love their reasoning as to how Grace could be a big sister. :)

Fathers & Sons

Chad and Cayden went to Fathers and Sons this past weekend. Cayden had lots of fun as evidenced by the pictures. Despite the fact that they were camping in grass and not dirt, Cayden came home quite dirty and reeking of smoke. While the boys were camping I took my girls to visit Grandma and Grandpa. We all had an enjoyable Friday night.

My cute boys ready to have fun! I have no idea what Cayden is doing with his face.

Having fun on the tire swing.

Playing in the tent...

frisbee...

wagon rides...

and tractor rides...

foam sword battles...

and boy talk.

Enjoying a yummy breakfast!

Laura enjoying her first s'more. Since the boys were enjoying s'mores while camping we decided to make some at home. Excuse the horrible, horrible lighting.

The girls enjoyed their s'mores in pieces too. Grace actually preferred hers this way rather than all together.

Bring on Summer!

We've started the summer off right with a lot of fun and a lot of time outside! If it weren't for the fact that it's so dang hot, I think my kids would live outside.

Celebrating National Doughnut Day! I'd be ok if it happened more than once a year. ;)

Our neighbors attempted to explode a watermelon using rubber bands, but gave up when they ran out of rubber bands. Their solution was to chuck it at the ground. Laura was quick to dive in and eat some watermelon.

Running through the sprinklers.

 

Jumping on the trampoline with sprinklers. So fun!

 The kids are participating in the summer reading program at the library. They had to complete some activities to earn a pin for their lanyards, one of which was dress up like a king or queen and take a picture in front of the castle. Cayden lost the battle as to who got to wear the crowns.

The entire month of June we have swimming lessons scheduled. Cayden and Laura love it! Grace was a little upset that she has to sit on the side and watch. I told her she could take swimming lessons next year.