What an adorable two-year-old! Our family would be so boring without Luker!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Luker turns 2!
For Luke's second birthday, we went to the park for a little party. It wasn't a huge hoop-la, but I think Luker had fun.
What an adorable two-year-old! Our family would be so boring without Luker!
What an adorable two-year-old! Our family would be so boring without Luker!
Children's Museum
While Jess was gone at her horse camp, I told Pepper and Adam we would have "Boy Week", which meant we did what the boys wanted to do all week. Pepper's big request was that we visit the Children's Museum, so we invited Jami and Austin and spent a day hanging out in SLC.
Pepper liked all the ways he could pretend he was a grown-up. Here he is shopping at the store and delivering mail - you know, all the really fun things grown-ups get to do.
Adam was more interested in figuring out how things work. I think he could have played in the water structures all day.
Of course, it isn't fun until Mom humiliates you. We spent a little time in the area where kids can put on little plays, and I forced Adam to put on this costume. You can see by the look on his face how thrilled he was about that!
Pepper liked all the ways he could pretend he was a grown-up. Here he is shopping at the store and delivering mail - you know, all the really fun things grown-ups get to do.
Adam was more interested in figuring out how things work. I think he could have played in the water structures all day.
Of course, it isn't fun until Mom humiliates you. We spent a little time in the area where kids can put on little plays, and I forced Adam to put on this costume. You can see by the look on his face how thrilled he was about that!
Jessica's horse camp
This year, Jess went to Meadow Vue Ranch, a working ranch near Island Park, ID that lets young people come stay for a week or two and ride horses non-stop. She had a wonderful time!
Here she is on her horse Vern. She rode and cared for Vern all week. (make sure you notice her sassy red cowboy boots, complete with spurs!)
Jess went to horse camp with her friend Braedyn. Braedyn's horse was named Magpie, and she told us Magpie had a reputation for being the brattiest horse on the ranch. Braedyn didn't agree, though, and fell in love with Magpie. Both girls were so sad to leave their horses at the end of the week.
Part of the camp experience included participating in rodeos on Wed, Fri, and Sat nights. Jessica's favorite rodeo event was Pole Racing, where she rode Vern weaving twice through six poles. Doesn't she look like a regular rodeo princess waving on horseback?
Braedyn's mom Julie and sister Lauren came with me on Saturday night to pick up the girls. We got to watch the evening's rodeo, and Lauren won her first rodeo trophy! They had an event for children 9 and under where they tied a ribbon to a calf's tail and let the kids chase down the terrified calf until one of them snatched the ribbon. Here is Lauren holding what we referred to as her "Poopy Ribbon." It was a proud moment for all of us!
After the rodeo, we ate a big barbeque steak dinner and then watched the girls do some line dancing to the live cowboy music. Just look at the valley stretching out beyond the ranch. It was a true western scene, the kind of place you can't believe exists anymore. During their stay at camp, the girls spent time trail-riding through those beautiful hills and even rounded up cows. We got to meet some of the friends they made at camp, and it sounds like they had an amazing week.
Here she is on her horse Vern. She rode and cared for Vern all week. (make sure you notice her sassy red cowboy boots, complete with spurs!)
Jess went to horse camp with her friend Braedyn. Braedyn's horse was named Magpie, and she told us Magpie had a reputation for being the brattiest horse on the ranch. Braedyn didn't agree, though, and fell in love with Magpie. Both girls were so sad to leave their horses at the end of the week.
Part of the camp experience included participating in rodeos on Wed, Fri, and Sat nights. Jessica's favorite rodeo event was Pole Racing, where she rode Vern weaving twice through six poles. Doesn't she look like a regular rodeo princess waving on horseback?
Braedyn's mom Julie and sister Lauren came with me on Saturday night to pick up the girls. We got to watch the evening's rodeo, and Lauren won her first rodeo trophy! They had an event for children 9 and under where they tied a ribbon to a calf's tail and let the kids chase down the terrified calf until one of them snatched the ribbon. Here is Lauren holding what we referred to as her "Poopy Ribbon." It was a proud moment for all of us!
After the rodeo, we ate a big barbeque steak dinner and then watched the girls do some line dancing to the live cowboy music. Just look at the valley stretching out beyond the ranch. It was a true western scene, the kind of place you can't believe exists anymore. During their stay at camp, the girls spent time trail-riding through those beautiful hills and even rounded up cows. We got to meet some of the friends they made at camp, and it sounds like they had an amazing week.
Sparkler Party
After the fireworks show, we pulled out the sparklers. The kids did the usual sparkler thing and wrote their names in the air. Here are a few pictures of their work:
"J" for Jessica
Monica
Adam writing as fast as he can.
Pepper
Makell, mid-"A"
"J" for Jessica
Monica
Adam writing as fast as he can.
Pepper
Makell, mid-"A"
July 4th Fireworks
Rather than fighting the crowds to watch fireworks, we decided to do our own in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard. Grandpa got out the old door (a staple) and we started with snakes.
Before we started, Mike was quite concerned about the safety of setting off our own fireworks. However, it didn't take long for him to join Jeremy as the official Fireworks Guys.
Nothing beats a fireworks show in your own backyard. We all just had to pull up a soft, comfy chair, and there was no trouble finding a parking space.
(the kids weren't really as bored as they look in this picture)
Luker was terrified of the fireworks. This is exactly the position he was in the entire night.
Before we started, Mike was quite concerned about the safety of setting off our own fireworks. However, it didn't take long for him to join Jeremy as the official Fireworks Guys.
Nothing beats a fireworks show in your own backyard. We all just had to pull up a soft, comfy chair, and there was no trouble finding a parking space.
(the kids weren't really as bored as they look in this picture)
Luker was terrified of the fireworks. This is exactly the position he was in the entire night.
July 4th Festivities
This year we went to the big July 4th parade in Provo. I usually try to avoid this parade because it is so crowded, so long, and so hot. But this year we were pleasantly surprised. We got up early to go to the Hot-Air Balloon show at 6 a.m. (ok, this was a disappointment. We had to fight a lot of crowds just to watch a few balloons float up into the sky - we won't do that again) but getting up early meant we got a great, shady spot to watch the parade on University Ave, and we only parked about a block away. Plus we were near restrooms - always good!
One thing that makes UT parades superior to the parades back home are the number of floats and high school marching bands. The year we went to a 4th of July parade in MI, we were supremely disappointed. The majority of parade entries were classic cars and random trucks decorated to advertise local businesses. We greatly prefer the floats honoring city pageant royalty, with Miss Small Town and her attendants dressed in matching sequinned gowns, smiling their pageant smiles and waving in perfect figure-eights. And any successful parade should have as many high school marching bands as possible, preceded by the sweaty flag-girl team made up of cheerleading wannabees with bad posture. This may sound sarcastic, but I am truly serious - I love these parts of a parade!
See how happy I am? That is because this year's parade was reasonably short (less than 2 hours) and shady.
That evening, my family all gathered at my parents' house for a barbeque. Mom had hosted a wedding in her backyard the night before, so we had a big tent to eat under. (Don't look at Jami - she is an embarrassment)
One thing that makes UT parades superior to the parades back home are the number of floats and high school marching bands. The year we went to a 4th of July parade in MI, we were supremely disappointed. The majority of parade entries were classic cars and random trucks decorated to advertise local businesses. We greatly prefer the floats honoring city pageant royalty, with Miss Small Town and her attendants dressed in matching sequinned gowns, smiling their pageant smiles and waving in perfect figure-eights. And any successful parade should have as many high school marching bands as possible, preceded by the sweaty flag-girl team made up of cheerleading wannabees with bad posture. This may sound sarcastic, but I am truly serious - I love these parts of a parade!
See how happy I am? That is because this year's parade was reasonably short (less than 2 hours) and shady.
That evening, my family all gathered at my parents' house for a barbeque. Mom had hosted a wedding in her backyard the night before, so we had a big tent to eat under. (Don't look at Jami - she is an embarrassment)
Horseback FHE
OK, now that I have a cooperative computer, I can catch up on some of the things we have been doing here in UT!
On June 30, for FHE we roasted hot dogs in the firepit by Grandpa's barn and then Grandpa took each of the kids on horseback rides on Red.
Pepper and Adam wanted to ride by themselves, but the grown-ups were a drag and made them ride with Grandpa leading. . .
. . .however, Jessica has had more riding experience, so she was able to ride by herself.
Luke kicked and screamed when we put him up on the horse for the first time, but after a walk around the corral, he was delighted with his ride.
After all the horseback riding, Grandpa gave Luke and Austin a ride in the wheelbarrow. I think they liked that the best of all!
On June 30, for FHE we roasted hot dogs in the firepit by Grandpa's barn and then Grandpa took each of the kids on horseback rides on Red.
Pepper and Adam wanted to ride by themselves, but the grown-ups were a drag and made them ride with Grandpa leading. . .
. . .however, Jessica has had more riding experience, so she was able to ride by herself.
Luke kicked and screamed when we put him up on the horse for the first time, but after a walk around the corral, he was delighted with his ride.
After all the horseback riding, Grandpa gave Luke and Austin a ride in the wheelbarrow. I think they liked that the best of all!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Boundary Waters, Minnesota
In June, Brad took Pepper and Adam on a fishing trip to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota with his brother John and John's kids Brigham and Ellie. They spent 3 days really roughing it and generally having a great time.
Pepper had the distinction of catching the first fish, and all of the kids managed to catch at least one fish by the end of the trip. They mainly caught Wall-eye and Northern Pike. It was nice for Brad and John because all their food was provided, although they did have to do the cooking (ask them about the gourmet steak dinner they ate in paper cups).
Adam and Ellie really bonded on this trip. Brad says they were practically inseparable.
By the end of each day, Brad and John were just exhausted after a long day of keeping track of children and providing all the muscle for the day's activities. I think they really had fun, though, and had nothing but good things to say about the whole trip. Thank you John for including our family in your fishing trip - I'm sure it will be a great memory for Brad and the boys!
Pepper had the distinction of catching the first fish, and all of the kids managed to catch at least one fish by the end of the trip. They mainly caught Wall-eye and Northern Pike. It was nice for Brad and John because all their food was provided, although they did have to do the cooking (ask them about the gourmet steak dinner they ate in paper cups).
Adam and Ellie really bonded on this trip. Brad says they were practically inseparable.
By the end of each day, Brad and John were just exhausted after a long day of keeping track of children and providing all the muscle for the day's activities. I think they really had fun, though, and had nothing but good things to say about the whole trip. Thank you John for including our family in your fishing trip - I'm sure it will be a great memory for Brad and the boys!
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