Oh, The Joy of Lakehouse Days

I believe this annual tradition has become a favorite of everyone in our family. It doesn't get better than being with family all day riding jet skiis, water skiing, boating, fishing, jumping off the dock, swimming in the lake, and ending it all each night with an adult game of sand volleyball. Heaven!




My sister's and I

Sydney learning to water ski

Brighton's Birthday, cont.

So Brighton was not very happy with us when she realized that Chris and I would be out of town on her bday, but quickly realized how fun Nana and Pop would make it. They started out her day with her favorite breakfast (chocolate chip pancakes), then opened presents, made her a birthday cake, and then took she and all her cousins out to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate. Not too shabby, I'd say.



Then after we got back I took she and 2 of her friends out to dinner and then to Going Bonkers (a fun climbing place in Lewisville). Afterwards I brought them back to the house for some crafts and a sleepover. Is she REALLY 9?

Coronado Island

Chris and I were able to get away without the kids for a few days while my parents (THANK YOU) very kindly watched them (I'm sure it was quite eventful at her house as Em and her sweet kids were also staying there). We stayed at a LOVELY hotel, The Hotel Del Coronado, on Coronado Island right outside of San Diego and had such a wonderful time. The weather was just perfect and the beach was soooo nice.

Our hotel

Just outside our room
Balboa Park

Sailing/GNO

My aunt and uncle, David and Deanie took our older kids (my sweet mom stayed back with the babies while they napped) out on their sailboat one afternoon. We loved it! We anchored for a while to take a swim, let the kids kayak for a while, and swim over to a little island and play in the mud for a bit.


One night we did a GNO (girl's night out) and went to dinner and to see Eclipse. All of us except for my mom have read the books and seen the movies, so she was pretty hilarious to watch during the movie and she had NO idea what was going on! What a trooper!

July 4th Celebration

We did our annual 4th (actually 3rd this year) at the Ranch as my parents get the month of July off - swimming, cook-out, and fireworks. And no one got burned this year!

Spence and Carter

Kim's girl's with mine
Gavin jumping off the diving board
All 16 grandkids - LOVE it!

Amazing Jakes

My parents set a goal for all the grandkids to read their scriptures for 10 minutes each day in the month of June. They then rewarded them with a day at Amazing Jakes and (big surprise) the kids had a ball! My sis-in-law Emily and I actually left early to bring all the babies back to my house for a nap. I knew I was carrying some seriously precious cargo with 5 sweet babies in my car, but we made it safely and effectively got them all to sleep. We really looked like a mini-daycare!

Happy Birthday Brighton!

My sweet Brighton - where are the years going? On Saturday you'll be halfway to 18 - a scary age for a mom to think about. I will so miss you on your birthday but want you to know that Dad and I will be thinking of you the whole time we're gone! I am so proud of the helpful, sweet, beautiful, smart, righteous, caring girl you've become. You're more than a mom could ever hope for in an oldest daughter. I love you so, so much!