Fort Buenaventura!

Saturday Eric had some soccer games up in Rock Springs. So the kids and I worked all day on getting their rooms organized. Since the switch from the crib, we just haven't had time to go through everything and find a place for it. We've got rid of a ton, but needless to say we had our work cut out for us. So I promised the kids we could go play if they worked really hard. Alexander actually unloaded the dishwasher, Lauren cleaned the bathroom and folded the clothes, and Mason put away all the cars in the boxes. So we decided we needed a break and went out to Fort Buenaventura Park. It was actually the first time for all of us. We got there and they were having a huge car show. Alexander wasn't excited about that at all! It took Lauren and I about 15 minutes to convince Mason and Alexander that they wanted to go canoeing. You can see the looks on their faces in the first picture. After we got out there and they realized we weren't going to tip over and it was only a few feet deep, they had fun!

Butter!

My friend Bonnie was kind enough to give me a child-proof lock for my fridge. The problem is the older kids open it then don't put it back on, so it is not completely childproof. So I come downstairs yesterday and this was what my 2 year old was doing!

Carpe Diem!

Picnic at the Dinosaur Park!
Driving the firetruck!
Notice both firefighters cute glittery flip flops!
Brooke's 1st day of class!
The play that never ended, and actually never really began! Who cares, they had fun!

This morning I woke up and asked the kids what they wanted to do on their last day of Summer Break. Alexander wanted to go to the Dinosaur Park and Lauren wanted to go to the Treehouse Museum. Mason wanted to do both. Since we've hardly used either season pass this summer I said OK. So we had a nice cool picnic lunch at the Dinosaur Park. The weather was perfect today, just in time for school to start. It never ceases to amaze me how the kids can wander around that park each time like it's as new and exciting as the first time. So then we venture on over to the Treehouse Museum. Mason just loves being able to run around the mazes of houses and hiding places. Alexander is beginning to understand some of the exciting learning opportunites, but can't take it all in yet. I wish I would have realized earlier this Summer how much Lauren loves going there and exploring. She is just a sponge and can't take it all in fast enough. I wish we had a few more weeks of Summer to enjoy more of the things we could have been doing on our lazy Summer days!

Boys!

I took this picture the other night because I thought it was funny. For some strange reason, neither of my boys can sleep like normal people. They both end up in the strangest positions. So the night I took this picture Mason refused to put his pajama top 0n, not worth picking a battle over. Ever since he was a baby he steals my silky nightgowns and sleeps with them. I have no idea how he got that wrapped around his little body, but I thought it was cute.

Northshore!

Mason following his big brother!
What could be more fun than a day at the pool?
Masons' and Megan!
Look at him go, no fear!
Lauren and Abbey!
Yeah! Lauren is FINALLY tall enough to go on the blue slide, her friends have been going for years!
I took the kids to Northshore for the first and only time this summer. Well the two older ones went with me when I took the YW, but I have been dreading taking Mason. I only have 2 eyes and 3 kids, so it is exhausting taking little ones, especially a fearless 2 year old! Does anyone ever feel like they're in a Where's Waldo book trying to keep track of all the kids at the pool? Fortunately, Lauren had a friend come so I felt better about letting her go by herself. Also Mason and Megan came so it was nice to have another set of eyes to help watch the boys. If you go by yourself and the kids it's like, OK no one can leave this area or you have to make them all get out when someone has to go potty. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much easier it was this year than last year. The older ones are a little more confident in the water and Mason was as independent as could be. He just followed Alexander around and went down slides just like a big kid, I really didn't expect that! I've got to realize he's growing up. When Lauren was that age we treated her like a little adult. With Mason I have a hard time not treating him as a baby anymore. It's exciting to be able to do more things as a family with the kids getting bigger!

Swimming!

We went down to Seven Peaks on Thursday. The kids loved the slides and the lazy river. The wave pool was fun too.

Bear Lake 2008

We went camping at Bear Lake over Raspberry Days. We stayed at the KOA with several of our friends.
Thursday we went up and set up camp then had lunch at La Beau's. The girls had fun picking out zip purses in the little clearance tent, which we were showing off in the video. Then we went and hiked the Minnetonka Caves. We cooked hobo dinners over the campfire and ended up eating them in the tent because it started raining. Eric drove up after work and braved the torrential rain most the way. He reached the campsite at the peak of the storm. It rained for hours, but we stayed mostly dry. Hadleys had their own personal camping waterbed!
Friday we spent most the day at the beach. The most memorable part was building the sandcastle. It started out just the kids, until the dads joined in and took over! Everyone had a great time at the beach. We played Railbarons when we got back to camp, then roasted hotdogs over the fire. The pool at the campground was fun too. We stayed up late making smores and roasting starburst.
Saturday we went geocaching in the morning, then went to the beach again. The moms snuck off to the craft fair and brought back chocolate covered raspberries to share. We ordered pizza for dinner and celebrated Alexander's 5th birthday. We went on a hayride pulled by a tractor, then the kids played on the jumping pillow till it got dark. As soon as we crashed for the night it started pouring again and the wind blew like crazy!
Sunday morning we tried to dry everything out while the kids finished coloring their new KOA t-shirts! Then we went geocaching again and stopped by Willow Park in Logan on the way home. What a great trip! Here is a little 2 minute slideshow, enjoy!

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Weber County Fair

We just had to go the fair to see the chickens! Good job Siera and Spencer!
Alexander wasn't near as excited as Mason to pet the horses!

Tonya and I were a little too excited about the fan!

Ice Blocking

For young women's this week we went ice blocking.
If anyone is wondering, the best park is Mountain View
above Bates. It was really fun, I brought the family and
as you can see Lauren got really into it. She probably
went down more times than anyone!

Happy Birthday Rachael!

Rachael Ann Pack would be 11 years old today!
That's hard to believe. She was with us only about
4 months before she passed away. We miss her so
much! Even though our other kids never new her,
they talk about her all the time. Alexander is always
concerned about making sure we make enough room
for her as we do different things, just in case she comes
back to Earth. He knows it may be a long time away,
but he always watches out for her. We know we will
be with her again. Wouldn't it just be nice to have the
simple faith of a child.