Annual Lakehouse Trip

We are so grateful to Richie's uncle for letting us borrow his lakehouse each summer to do a big family trip there! What a fun time we all have, and the kids look so forward to it all year. With my parents up to 14 grandkids (all of which were there), they all have so much fun constantly having a playmate around. Here are a few pics from our fun, relaxing, crazy week!

Brighton Turns 7

Happy Birthday to my sweet, oldest child. I can't believe in just one more year she'll be getting baptized. Time goes so quickly. Since neither of my kids have been to a good old fashioned "house party" ever since we've lived in Frisco, I thought I'd introduce she and her friends to one. Well, I am now realizing why they are losing popularity. I can't believe the amount of hours I spent preparing for this party! We did a Webkinz theme and it turned out great! We had games based on the actual website that we turned into real games they could play, a Wheel of Wow, a gem hunt, buying prizes w/ their Kinzcash at the W Shop, arts and crafts where we made outfits for the Webkinz the girls brought with them, cake and ice cream, and presents. I had it quite scheduled, but it worked out quite well and I think the girls all had a great time. Next year, though, I just might have to resort to the "Frisco way" for her party! But doing the birthday cake myself is a tradition I don't think I'll ever change. I guess I inherited more things from my mom than I thought! :)

Utah Vacation

We just returned from our Utah family vacation/family reunion and had a great time, but were very ready for some sleep! Our schedule stayed very full from sunup to sundown! We loved seeing lots of Chris's family that we hadn't seen in a while, and of course, loved having him around with us for a week. Carted didnt' sleep well at all (I guess we're more used to sleeping w/o our kids than we thought), so that made for a tired Mom, but flying instead of driving made up for that! That's when being 7 months pregnant came in handy!

Our family at Temple Square

Cousins Brighton and Saige, who hardly stopped holding hands the entire time they were together. They even shared a seat and cuddled while watching the "Joseph Smith" movie at the Legacy Theater.

Carter with Grandma and Grandpa

One night we went to Mandy's family's cabin in Ophir (outside of Tooele) with she, Brandon and their twin boys and had a great time together 4 wheeling, doing the zip line, and just hanging out. Sydney and Andrew really took to each other.

Uncle Brent made me laugh by going at 4:00 in the morning to reserve a spot for ALL of us right in front on Center Street to watch the Provo 4th of July Parade. Yes, for the PROVO, UT parade. He and Meme even came w/ 200 "creamies" for everyone. That night Sydney especially loved the fireworks out at Aunt Leslie's house, but we all laughed and Carter explaining to everyone in a very detailed and dramatic way how he was "scared of fire and fireworks".

We went with the kids and Grandpa and Saige to the Bean Museum on campus one day and they had more fun just imitating and "being" each of the animals!

Sydney and Brighton loved playing in the freezing cold streams at Sundance. The weather was GREAT!

I LOVED being able to see my very dear friend, Jill, and her kids for the first time in 7 years.

Brighton, Lucas (1), Kate (4), Jane (4), Zach (4), Sydney, and Carter.

We got together with a few friends from medical school the last night we were there, but first stopped off at Liberty Park in SLC. Sydney, of course, spent most of the time chasing birds. She is obsessed with doing this since I told her if she catches one, she can keep it!
All in all, a very fun trip and we are SO grateful to all the people who let us stay with them, expecially Beth Lynn and Chip for letting us invade them for 4 of the days!

Carter turns two

Yesterday was Carter's big birthday. I always get a little sad at birthdays because I'm forced to accept that my babies are growing up and before I know it, they'll be gone. It makes me try to appreciatie all the fun moments I have with them. Anyway, last night we had his party and family came over for dinner, cake and ice cream, and presents. We always enjoy getting together and love any excuse to do so.

Carter loved his Pooh cake, but didn't so much enjoy eating it. And for the first time I believe in his entire life, he got shy on us! He didn't know what to do with all that attention on him during the "Happy Birthday" song. It was pretty cute!



He also loved his baseball and bat (my child who's obsessed with anything that has to do with a ball), but couldn't decide if he wanted to play golf, hockey or baseball with it. So Nana helped him out.


Happy Birthday, sweet boy!

Happy Father's Day

We love Dad's. The fun way they calm us down, the enlightening way they build us up, and loving way they make us more well-rounded. I am more than lucky to have a husband that loves me for all my many flaws (without EVER pointing them out to me) and loves our kids more than anything. And to show him just how much we love him, I had the kids picture made in a pair of his scrubs to let him know how much we appreciate what a hard-working doctor he is!

We love you Dad!

We love you Dad!

We love you Dad!


I also went ahead and had the kids pictures individually taken while we got Chris's Father's Day portrait done. Here are a few of their individual shots.

Is it really over?

I can't believe summer is really here. I am definitely looking foward to lazy, easy mornings without the rush, and not having so much of a schedule. But at the same time, I'm worried about not having so much of a schedule! I'm sure we'll keep busy with vacation, swimming lessons, soccer practice/games, piano lessons, Science camp, etc., along w/ daily trips to the pool. And as crazy as it is to have everyone home, it's fun at the same time.

Sydney performing at her end of school program for Preschool.



Brighton's end of school party.

Can you tell the kids are ready to have her home?

Gotta stay wet

Yes, summer heat finally hit Texas this week, and after hitting the pool a few times already, yesterday the kids decided to play "dodge the hose" with Carter behind the wheel.