What a fun day for us is....

I should have posted this a week ago... Justin had Friday the 3rd off and we wanted to have a fun, not stressful, cheap day...we got it!! Originally we were going to go up to my family's camp spot up by Brigham, but the weather looked a little iffy (is that a word?), so we decided to stay home!
It of course started by the boys singing Grand Old Flag about 30 times that day...this was their favorite way of singing it!

We have a trail behind our house that we love having so close. It's great to let the boys go on it and ride for as long as they want without worrying about a car backing out while their riding past. One of our favorite things to do on the trail is rollarblade, so we packed a lunch and rollarbladed a coupe miles to a park that is right off the trail. The boys played while Justin and I played on our rollarblades.

By the afternoon, it was getting so hot and we were debating weather we wanted to go to the pool or not... Justin go a whole bunch of plastic from his dad, so instead we decided to make a slip n slide... So normally, I am the one to let the boys play and I take pictures, but this time it looked way too fun, and it was!! Justin, Corbin, and I were laughing so hard, it was a blast!

Taylor, loved running through the sprinklers!

But, most of all he and Levi loved sitting in the pool and splashing!

After we got all cleaned up we had hot dogs and got ready to go the fireworks. Now, with fireworks, we hate having to deal with the huge crowds and taking an hour to get the car out of the traffic jam, so instead we go to our local park and watch the fireworks from there! We are miles away from the chaos and yet we have a beautiful view! While we were waiting, we played hopscotch...this was the funnest game to play with Justin. He taught me the way he and his sisters use to play and it is so much more fun and challenging! I love that we can have so much fun together doing the simplest things.

So with fire works over and being 11:00 at night this is how we all felt...
...this will be a day we will always remember, it wasn't much, but the time we shared together was incredible! I am so thankful for our founding fathers who risked so much over 200 years ago so that I could have what I do today!!!

Our Favorite Song

We can't get enough of Grand Old Flag. Our boys sing it constantly throughout the day, we hope you enjoy it!

It's never too late to say

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!

To three of the greatest dad's!!

Vacation #2...check

Last week we spent a couple days in Zions, it is so beautiful there and lucky for us it was pretty cool and even rained the last day we were there.

First of all we have to give a BIG thank you to MeriKay and Blair! It was so fun to visit with you guys and your family! We loved the yummy Thanksgiving dinner, listening to the memories, and laughing a ton! Thanks for letting us stay at your place the first night!

The second night we camped near Zions, it was so relaxing! We spent the evening playing in the creek, playing baseball and football and then reading books in the tent. It was just what we needed!!

Daddy and Corbin loved floating down the river...and yes we made sure the boys had life jackets.

Taylor didn't love the water as much so we hung out waiting to see Corbin and Daddy ride past. I did stick Levi's toes in the water, he threw his legs up so fast and then after a moment started kicking, splashing, and laughing!

You want to see our next little baseball player?? Watch the transition from hitting the ball to running to first base... he likes to run...

In Zions we really only did one big hike. It was up to the Emerald Pools. What a fun, beautiful hike. I loved the mist in the air and all the pine trees around, it was very memorable.

As you hike along you come to the lower pools, hike a little more to the middle pools, hike a litte more to see the upper pools. Here was the lower pools, it seemed so magical with all the mist from the little waterfall. These stairs were fun to climb!

The middle pools and looking out over Zions.

And finally, the upper pools. Yeah, there was a reward...sand!!

What a fun vacation, but like always, it's so good to be home!

Lightening Storm

What a perfect summer night. We opened all the windows, layed on the couch, cuddled together and watched the lightening storm last night. It could not have been a better night. We had just finished talking about our Savior and all the sins he took upon himself so that we may have the chance to live with Him and Heavenly Father someday. Taylor was laying with Justin and Corbin was laying by me. The storm was making Corbin a little apprehensive so we sang I'm trying to be like Jesus and I am a Child of God. After singing, Corbin told me that Heavenly Father sends the Holy Spirit to us when we are scared. I told him yes and while the two of us are talking a little more about that, I could see Taylor over by his Daddy with his arms stretched out really far and telling him that he loved Justin THIS much.... I could not have asked for a better night, I love this tender moments.

Moab...A Family Tradition

Oh how we love this place! The camping, the red rock, the red sand, the arches, the biking, and the exploring! We take any chance we can go, although this year we weren't really planning on going because we had some other trips planned, but then we got an invite to go and of course we were all over it!! Thank you Irelands and Davis' for making it such a fun trip! We really enjoyed your company and the food was oh so good!!

This is one of my favorite hikes, I love seeing the delicate arch, although I have way too many nerves walking the last part of it next to a huge cliff with three little boys, but every year we survive and it's worth it! The hike is 3 miles total and this year Corbin did awesome at hiking the whole way. It's fun to notice how big the kids have gotten each year we hike this.
Brynlee and Taylor enjoying bananas...thanks Shannon.This was the main reason for going...slickrock! For those of you who have not heard of it, it is pretty intense riding that takes a lot of technical skill, which Justin is VERY good at! He had a blast!!We hung out at this park while they were riding, it was very relaxing for us. Here is Justin riding back from the trail.

We also went to this huge sand hill while they were riding. Corbin and Jacob are the two dots heading up the hill.

There they are almost to the top. Corbin stopped at the rock and thinking he was to the top, he turned around and ran!!! I tried going up the hill and only made it a 1/4 of they way.

Shannon's sister brought their dog, Maddie. For some reason Corbin has always been scared of dogs, but he eventually did pet Maddie. Taylor is a little nervous around dogs, but he is more willing to get closer and pet them. Well, we found out this past weekend that Levi is terrified! It started with Levi just sitting on the grass and Maddie came right up to him to try and lick Levi and Levi just screamed with terror. Ever since then he would just look at the dog from several feet away and just scream. It was sad and funny at the same time.

One thing Levi did love was the chicken!! After we had eaten, I was holding Levi and clearing some things off the table, I looked down and this is what I saw! I didn't even see him grab at it...I guess we have another meat lover in the family!

Corbin was so happy that the Irelands and Davis' brought the marshmallows because we forgot them!

This pretty much sums up our trip...dirt all over and totally happy!!

The Holmgren Farm

We had a fun family reunion in honor of my Grandpa Holmgren, this month would have been his 100th birthday. It was so fun to see my Aunts, Uncles, and cousins that I hadn't seen in quite a while. I have some good memories of this place. This is where my mom grew up. I know I had a great childhood, but my mom had a fairy tale childhood! I don't think she spent many hours inside. She has a deep love of horses that started when she was at least 3 years old. I love seeing the pictures of her when she was a little girl on horses, I hope someday I can have a girl that looks just like her! That love of horses has been passed on to my boys, especially Taylor! We all had so much fun at the farm and the kids were able to have a glipse of what Grandma lived like growing up.

Sitting on top of the tractor
This was the real attraction for a lot of the kids, Corbin especially loved swinging up really high.

Big Justin and Little Justin pulling the kids up.

The next attraction was the paddle boat. I love this pond, it is so beautiful. Who would have thought that such messy faces could be so adorable!!! What cute buddies!