Camping with Friends

We went camping up Immigration Canyon this past weekend and it was pretty fun. We went with some of Matt's friends from high school and their families. We went with Nate and Kristy and their family and Dan and Marsh and their kids. We always have alot of fun with them.

I love camping and we wanted to use our camper again before winter. Camping is so much work though for such a short period of time and it is a little difficult with young ones. But we made it thru and we had fun! We just went up on a Friday night and made fajitas for dinner and roasted smores around the fire. And the kids played while the adults tried to talk. Then we actually made it thru the night with everyone sleeping a little bit. Casen did not moan this time and we all figured out our sleeping arrangements better, but this time we were all a little cold and did not bring enough blankets. It seems like everytime we have something that we would do different. We are learning! We did have to get up and kind of leave early because Corey had a soccer game, but we still had fun and want to do it again soon! I did not get a ton of pics and of course I got none of me, but I was there and had a fun time too. And of course everyone kept teasing me about THE BEARS! I am terrified of Bears if you did not know that! That is why we traded in our pop up trailer for a more hard shelled exterior trailer, so I can protect my babies!

This pic of Matt is so funny! We were laughing cause he was shooting his gun and forgot ear plugs! So he made his own.

NERD ALERT!

First Day of School

Today was Corey and Cade's first day of school. They were so excited last night, they had a hard time falling asleep. Cade started 1st grade today with Mrs. Allred and Corey started 3rd grade today with Mrs. Campbell. We got up a little too early today because I wanted to curl Coreys hair for the first day (it probably wont happen again). Anyways,we got ready a little early and had some lag time, but it was the first day and we were not quite sure when the bus came. So we made it to the bus a little early, but  the new bus driver got confused and almost didn't pick the kids up. But they made it to school and had a fun day! Cade loved the school lunch hot dog and he loves his class. He loves his friends on the bus and the kids in his class. And they all seem to be happy! Cade was a little worried that he lost his $100 lunch check that I sent with him for the next couple months, but we dug in his backpack and found it and all it good! And Corey loves her class and her teacher and the kids in her class. They are excited to go tomorrow too! And Cade actually did OK lasting the whole day instead of a half day! I was a little worried about the transition, but he seems fine! Yeah for school starting!

Poor Casen though....was so bored today! I usually do not have to keep him busy when the other kids are home, but I had to keep finding stuff for him to do today! And it was only 10:00 this morning when he asked if we could go and get the kids from the bus stop. So lets just hope his naps last really long and let the day go by faster for him and me or we might have to plan some play dates with the neighbor kids!

A Few Fun Days Before School

We only had a couple more days before school started to do some fun things and of course one of my kids had to get sick...Casen was sick for almost a whole week, with a high fever and so we did not get to go out and do much.  Our pool dates were put on hold and we had to stay inside. It sucked. He ended up having that Hand Foot and Mouth virus and luckily no one else has gotten it. Keeping our fingers crossed!

So Tuesday Corey did  have a soccer game and we had a neighborhood activity at the REDNECK WATERSLIDE in Wellsville. It was fun! We had Matt's mom come  up and babysit Casen. You know how it gets as a mom or a parent when your kids are sick and you are just so ready for it to be over, get caught up on sleep, and get out of the freakin house. Well I was at that point. So grandma Nanny babysat for the soccer game and then Matt opted to not go to the nieghborhood party and stay home with Casen.

Corey did pretty good at her first soccer game of the season. They did win 4-3, but it was at 5:30 PM and it was so freakin hot that it felt like we were watching the game in slow motion. All the girls felt sick because it was so hot. So they could not wait to go and get wet on the waterslide. So we ate dinner and hurried over to Wellsville. We were a little bit late, but we got there in time to hang out for 1.5 hours or so....it was a 5 hour party. The kids had a blast on the slide. I even went on it twice. Last year I was pregnant with Crew and did not get to go on the slide, so this year I was pumped to go. It was kinda scary the first time and then it was fun. But it was so bumpy towards the end, that I have bruises on my legs and hips. I dont know how the kids go on it countless times and love it. I guess they do not weigh enough to get as far as the adults or the trains of adults go to make it hurt. Or maybe I am just a wuss. Then when it was dark, we went  home.

Then Wednesday, Casen was still sick, so Aunt Lynley offered to take my older kids swimming one last time before school started. They were excited about that and had fun! Can't believe summer is over and school is starting. It is kind of bittersweet. I am excited for them and a little break, but sad that summer is over! And what will Casen do with his siblings gone all day?

A Few More Fun Summer Days

I got to take my kids to another kids museum down in Ogden because Auntie Em had the day off of work and wanted to meet up. So we brought the cousins Reygan and Ryley too and they had a fun time. We were probably there for 4.5 hours and the kids did not get bored. I wondered if they would, but they stayed busy the whole time. And I got to visit with Em. It was fun. I love these museums because they have make believe stuff for the kids and the kids get to play and use their imaginations too. They also went to a little readers theater thing and Reygan got to be in it. And they went to the art center and made FISH HATS. They had fun! Casen did not remember it from last year when we went, but he was loving it. Me and Em just followed him around.

After we got home that night, we met the neighborhood at the local ice skating rink and the kids loved that. Our neighbors do it every other year....they rent it out and invite the neighbors for a fundraiser. They also provide pizza for everyone.  We missed it last time, so my kids were super excited to go this time. They had so much fun. It was almost impossible to get them out of there and it was ten o'clock. Matt and I even skated. We each pushed a kid in a stroller. They let you bring strollers on the ice. So Casen and Crew got to participate too. It was fun to see everyone and get caught up one last time before school starts next week.

Ice Skating Party with Neighbors....did not get very many pics.

Crew's 6 month shots....Isn't he the cutest? For as chubby as he is...he was only 20 % in weight at 17 lbs. and 25% in height at 27 inches. I thought he was so chubby, but maybe it is because he is so short.

The Local Summer Fair

So every summer the fair creeps in to town and I kind of dread it. Last year we tried to go to the rodeo and my kids were terrible...would not sit still..... walking up and down the bleachers and I think Casen spilled a whole pop all over the bleachers. Anyways, we did not make it to the end of the rodeo last year  and I swore I would never go back until they were older. But my kids love the fair rides. So they always spot the fair when driving by or see the signs all over town and they beg us to go....

My idea of the fair and a good time is going and sitting on the grass, at night, letting the kids play and dance to the bands and eating a bunch of good fair food and walking around looking at the booths. The animals are even fun. I love to see the kids, especially Casen's age, react to the animals. But my kids are obsessed with the rides.

So this year, we did get to the fair and got a little something to eat....it was just our family. Toph and Brit ended up not coming into town, and Mandy did not feel like going, being prego and bringing two kids who hate strollers, and our neighbors ended up not coming too. So it was just us, but we did run into Dan and Marsh there and hung out with them, which was fun! But we listened to the band while daddy ate some dinner (we ate at home). And then we went over and looked at all the pigeons and bunnies and the sheep and piggies. Casen loved that part. Then afterwards we hung out on the rides and let the kids each ride about 6-7 rides. Corey and Cade loved the swings and Casen loved the train. It was his favorite. They love the fair.

 I don't love to go during the day beacuse it is too hot, but once the sun has gone down I don't mind it. But it is always crowded and I hate pushing a double wide stroller around and trying to find a place to breastfeed and waiting in those awful lines. But the kids love it every year and when it is over, Matt and I always complain that the rides are so expensive and we should have just gone to Lagoon!

Park Day with Cousins

We have not seen Auntie Mandy and Cousins Skye and Jordyn for awhile, so we decided to meet them at the park and hang out for a bit. It is a cute little park on the south end of town and it has a little splash pad and a playground. The kids stayed busy for about 2 hours and played while the adults chatted. Mandy brought her neighbor and Grandma Nanny came too. Casen finally warmed up to the idea of the fountains and getting wet and was having fun. It is a super cute park and the kids had fun with their cousins. When we were getting ready to meet the cousins there I told Casen we were going to meet Cousin Skye at the park and he said..."And Cousin Jordyn." I did not realize he made that connection...that they are sisters and that they come together. Sometimes I underestimate my kids. Anyway it was a fun time. I am still loving the heat and I get depressed when I think about winter slowly approaching! I love summer!

A Day in Salt Lake with Aunties

We wanted to have one last day in SLC with my sisters because school will be starting soon and the weather will be changing and it will be harder to get down and see them. So we met Auntie Becca around lunch time and hung around the kids museum for about 3-4 hours. My kids love this place. We also had some lunch and came back and played at the museum again. It was nice because my kids were playing and allowing Becca and I to get caught up and talk. Then she had to go to work.

 And Em had just gotten off of work and wanted to meet us at the mall and hang out for a bit. So we left the museum and went and met Em. We got the kids some ice cream and played in the fountains. They were very dissapointed that I forgot their bathing suits. Because all the other kids were in  their bathing suits in the fountains. And they did not want to get super wet because we did not have a change of clothes with us or any towels. But they got cooled off a little. We did shop at 1-2 stores, which was miserable because it was about 6 :00 PM and they were hungry and Casen had not had a nap. So that did not last long. We said our good-byes to Em and left to go home. It is fun to make time for my sisters, even though sometimes it is just for a short time and they fit us in between work shifts. Salt Lake just does not feel close enough. Wish we lived closer and could hang out on a day-to-day basis.