Bear Lake

We went on our annual trip to Bear Lake last weekend. (At least we try to go every year...) This time it was my Mom's ward campout and the next few days were the McEntire reunion. It was so fun to see everyone! I love my Mom's ward- I consider lots of them great friends. And the McEntire family is just amazing. They are the most kind and loving people I know. I love to hear stories about my Dad and feel what his brothers and sisters are like- it makes me feel like I know him better, even though he died when I was a baby. 

Anyway... the boys were in complete heaven! They wanted to be down by the water every second they were awake. It was nice that the lake is shallow with a really gradual slope- so we didn't have to worry.

Elliott wrote his name in the sand. I love how he makes his "E" it is so cute! I never want to tell him that there are only 3 arms...

My niece, Addie loved the water. It was so fun to watch her splash and play! Poor Linds had to keep a close eye on her because she would just crawl deeper and deeper. And she liked to eat the sand.

Little Ollie can't ever seem to keep his face clean. This is when he was playing in some sand mixed with dirt- but I have no ideal how he got it all over every inch of his face!!
We had such funny weather. The clouds would roll in and it would get windy or rain, and then it would be warm and sunny.

The blow-up plane was a big hit with Elliott. He even carried it the whole time down to the water without any help.

Snack Time!! We had lots of these, because what's a campout without the best treats ever?

These are my cousins, Amanda, Keith and Kayley Scott. They are all so beautiful and look so much alike- I thought they could be triplets.
The Marvin McEntire fam: Vera, Rena, Wanda, Marvin, Yolanda and Bentley. Marvin is the oldest of 12 kids, and my dad was the 2nd- needless to say there is a huge age difference in cousins... My Mom got more pics from the rest of the families- I'll have to steal them and put some on later.

Sand castle time. The boys couldn't wait to build one.

Relaxing with our feet in the waves. I love the beach!!

Elliott and Benny- always having fun.

Benny buried in the sand.

Our last time to the beach right before we left for home. I can't wait to go back next year!

Oh yes- we got to walk on a path surrounded by these beautiful grasses and flowers. They were so pretty!

Ollie's tan lines from his sandals.

Happy 29th Adam!

It's Adam's 29th Birthday today- he's finally as old as me!! Adam is such a fun hubby and best friend. He always has some new interesting fact to talk about and we laugh a lot. His hobbies include: playing guitar, fixing vintage musical instruments, collecting vintage anything, making jokes about everything- even if it isn't funny, MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC and keeping anyone he knows updated on the latest music finds, riding his new (vintage) motorcycle, talking with friends and playing with our boys. Hope you have a great day today!

Adam- 5 years old (looks a little like Elliott huh?)

Sunrise, Sunset

Oh my! I definitely have a little obsession with the sky and how beautiful and different it is every day! (Maybe I'm just a SPOL girl!) I have a great view from my back porch and the sun is always ready to come up when I'm leaving to go running, so I usually snap a few shots if I really love it. But most of the time, we are out running just enjoying the beauty of it all. I love that it changes so fast, from one minute to the next. 

{October 2007}

{August 2008}

{Summer 2008}

{August 2008}

This was the sunset on the way back from an early date last week. We were actually in Maggie Moo's waiting in line and I saw it from the window and pointed it out to Adam (as I always do...) A second later the girl working there yelled to the crew and everyone else in the little shop, "The sunset it gorgeous out there, so you might want to look before it's gone!" On the way home we were driving toward it so we had this awesome view.  Adam thought it was silly to stop, so I rolled down the window and snapped a shot. Then as we were driving I saw another woman stopped on the side of the road hanging out of her SUV taking a picture. I knew then that there are others like me! ;)

When I was working at the flooring store in Orem, during the winter we would have these amazing sunsets. We had a huge window to see them and I would always watch them while I finished up my stuff for the day. Adam's Dad would always emerge from his back office and CLOSE THE SHADES! Without even seeing the sunset! I would always open them back up and show him what he was missing. So he eventually stopped shutting them and maybe even saw a few beautiful skies. 

Finished

I finally finished Breaking Dawn! It only took me a week longer than everyone else... ;) Although I've heard mixed reviews, I thought it was clever and great! If you haven't started the series- it's a great one and I highly suggest it. Thanks to Heather, Emily and Karen who talked me into reading the first 100 pages of Twilight to see if I would like it- since I wasn't at all interested!! Yippee! I'm so excited for December so I can make Adam watch the movie with me and he can see what I've been obsessed about. I LOVED it! 

Disneyland of Utah County

Okay- so Thanksgiving Point isn't really like Disneyland, but that's all that I could think to compare it to. We were lucky enough to be able to get a free year pass there- so we've been going more lately. It's only a short drive from our house, so now if the boys get bored, we can just head over. Here are some of the latest pics...

These cows were so sweet and beautiful! They had beautiful eyes and long eyelashes. But they were feisty little things that just wanted to eat the corn kids were handing out!!

Ollie is on the verge of crying, even though he looks happy! As long as I was walking with his horse, he loved it!

This is Elliott's favorite part of Farm Country- pony rides.

The boys' favorite is the Dinosaur Museum. Every time we go, we learn something new.

Ollie squeezing sand. He kept doing this, acting like he was super strong.

Elliott always wants to touch the huge dino on the outside of the building, but I always say it's too high. Finally Adam came with us and helped him do it.

15 minutes of fame??

We took our young women group to be in the audience of Good Things Utah, a local show here. 

We had fun and I think it was cool for the girls to see behind the scenes. Sometimes they give the audience really cool prizes, but not today. They did give us all a coupon book to Park City and a recipe from the cherry apple pie they made. 

It's finally here!!!

On Friday night a few of my neighbor pals were heading out to the midnight release of "Breaking Dawn"- the new book by Stephenie Meyer. I got to go with them (I might have invited myself, but oh well...) It felt so crazy putting our kids to bed at meeting on Emily's driveway, like we were teenagers sneaking out or something. First we went to the Barnes & Noble, where they had games and prizes and a Edward and Bella look a like couple you could get your pictures with. A lot of the people were dressed up in prom dresses, since the party said it was for a wedding... and there were even a few people wearing wedding dresses and dressed like vampires. It was a madhouse!! 

Emily, Karen, Heather, Sini and Lindsay

Prom dresses and the crowd- this picture doesn't 

show the thousands of people that were there!! And this was just at one little store 

in one little city. I can't imagine how many books were sold that night.

Edward and Bella

Anyway, we only stayed at Barnes & Noble for a bit before they pushed everyone out at 11 to start the lines outside. We headed over to Jamba Juice for a smoothie. Then we went to Walmart, where we heard the book was  a little cheaper. We all got our copy and headed home. I was busy all weekend, so I've only read a few chapters, but I might be a little neglectful this week... I'm so excited it's finally here!

Bugs and Bummies

So this is our daily summer routine: Ollie wakes up around 7 AM, we eat breakfast, go explore our garden and flowerbeds and find bugs. Elliott wakes up around 9 AM and eats breakfast. Ollie always wants to have something too, so he eats a little more. Then E comes out to play with the bugs. We usually keep the bug (whatever it may be that morning) in a jar for the day, when they aren't carrying them around in their hands. If they want to do something else really quick, they say, "Here Mommy- you hold it." No way. I hate grasshoppers especially. The other day I finally picked up a caterpillar on our walk because the boys were way ahead and I didn't want them to have to come back. It made me squeemish the whole time. YUCK! I agree with whoever said that bugs were put on earth for little boys to play with and torture (even if they are trying to be gentle)... 

YUCKY!

Ollie has turned into a little water boy this summer. While E was still sleeping the other morning, I was changing Ollie's diaper and he said he WANTED to take a bath. Usually they put up a little stink to get in the tub. So he swam and swam and didn't want to get out. Every time we go to the pool, he wants me to let go of him in the deep ends, so he can paddle and kick. So I walk around holding him on his belly so he can pretend.
A few hours after the tub, we filled up our little pool with FREEZING cold water. Ollie was the only one who put anything besides his feet in. So he started out in his clothes... then got everything soaked, so I took them off.

Then his diaper ballooned into a huge sponge, so I took that off too.

I walked around the corner to throw the diaper in the trash and this is what I see...

It was SO funny! I asked him what he was doing up there. He told me he was warming up. Elli hardly even noticed and just kept playing while Ollie watched. Talk about slivers!!!