The last of it!

 The last of the summer posts. It has been a busy summer. It has been fun. I am sad to see it go. But, a big but - I am very glad to get the kids back in school. They needed to be "separated". And I needed for them to be gone for a few hours. I think we all know what getting back in school is like. Wonderful and Sad. Just kinda sad. :)

Here's just a last few of the pics I had. A ward party the kids loved playing volleyball. I don't know that they've even played it before. A common ice cream covered face on Bodie, swim lessons, cute Rafe cooking up some pancakes while we were getting ready for one of our camping trips. The box makes a great live skillet, and Greg took the older 2 boys into his work for a few hours last Friday and I took the younger 2 over to Temple Square after lunch together at City Creek. We all had a good time, good memories!

I have to also mention our 5th and final camping trip was rained out so we canceled it. But I'm not too broken up about it. We'll have to plan it again next year.

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I have to mention the track again. We go one early morning a week all summer with our friends the Davies to Olympus High's brand new track (sometimes their neighbor kids come too). Annie Davies (the mom) was a track star, so she teaches and encourages all the kids in doing stuff. They run a mile around, then do some stretches, ladders, stairs, etc. and the favorite - sprint races. Even Bodie and Rafe run and try. (they don't always do a mile) - Jax does though. And Jax wants me to mention, that he usually wins the sprint races.

I captured a few pictures of them racing. And a few "close up" pics of their funny faces/bodies in motion. They get so excited to go. Even when it's so early. And it gets me exercising. Too bad it's not more often.

During the end of the summer the OHS Football team and cheerleaders are always out there practicing. And when I was taking the pictures last time, the coaches were "pep" talking the players and kept talking about beating Skyline HS. Made me smile, fun rivalry. I'm assuming my boys will go to Skyline so that's who we will cheer for. But first we have to get through elementary school. :)

Fun in the Sun

So I've been in charge the last couple years of our ward/neighborhood's play group activities. They call it "Fun in the Sun" during the summer. Every Tuesday morning it kept us busy. We did some kids Zumba, riding bikes, Liberty Park's Canyons water feature...

 We did some Chalk Art, kid soup (neighbor pool time), and then did swimming in a pool again but it was freezing the 2nd time (see cold Jax) and Creed doing a cannonball, we got rained out a few activities and the last picture is through Jax's microscope of a bee stinger. (Unrelated to Fun in the Sun). But a neighbor did get stung and saved the stinger. It has been a lot of fun. Can't believe it's all over.

Classic

 Well this summer we spent a lot of time at Classic Fun Center. We got the summer passes for the boys and it was the best ever. We went often with our friends the Ungurens. And often just the 4 boys. It really gave us so much to do and felt like it kept us busy this summer. With everything else going on it just seems like it was busy. And what is better fun than skating and riding scooters, climbing the jungle...

Doing the water slides....  (although summer is gone and we ran out of time and wanted to do it lots more!)

 I love how Jax and Creed laughed together and would help Bodie. Bodie was fearless with his life jacket on. And I would have to tell Bodie to wait for his brothers, he would just want to run and go, go, go.

 Jumping in the bounce houses... Poor Rafe couldn't and wouldn't do this one (see his crying face waiting around). We did find one little "kitty" one that he would jump in. The boys loved sliding, flipping, running, and jumping.

 And Arcades... always getting sucked into the lights and tickets and action of fun. Not to mention the prizes. (Us and the Ungurens crammed into a Pirate ship simulator) We also did Laser Tag (not Rafe) (and a certain boy named Creed dominated the hits in Laser Tag) and the blast zone (shooting balls at each other and sliding around)

I took lots of blurry phone pictures to capture the fun. I am so glad we had something to help fill the summer days. What kid doesn't have fun in a place like that?  Yep it is dirty and sure to be full of germs. But it was so fun! It was Classic!

Camping #4

Oh a camping we will go. Hi-ho the derry oh a camping we will go. That was the song of choice driving home from our ward camp out. Creed sung that song but changing the words into counting all the semi trucks he saw driving home. (Just over 100) On the way up he complained about listening to it in the car, I guess it stuck with him. We also took our sweet time getting there Friday evening. We stopped and ate at Dick's in Kamas. Always a treat to get yummy milk shakes.

It was a small quiet year up at Aspen Meadows (Our church Stake property) for the ward camp out. We took up our camper trailer and had an easy pack up. 

I love the view from the camp ground. The Kamas/Oakley valley. Always incredible. And the only other picture we took is the boys being Jedi.

Gosh, this camping trip is always at the end of the summer. And now we can check it off our list. I guess that means summer is about over.

A boat load

Summer is coming to a close, we only have maybe a handful of times left using the boat. Greg is a little worn out of all the hooking up and loading and driving and driving and hauling and cleaning of the boat. We all get kinda tired by the end of the season. We are glad to have it, glad to share it and enjoy the playing time. We only wish summer in Utah was a little longer. We never have enough time to go take everyone we want out on the boat. And then the weather also makes us cancel some outings. But it's all part of it. 

One evening after Jordanelle we stopped to do some back-to-school shopping at the Outlets in Park City. We drove from store to store with our boat. We love it. We may or may not have had to buy a shirt for our swim suit wearing family to enter the stores.

 Here's some moments that happen while ON the boat. Sadly I don't have pictures of everyone or every outing this summer. But this is a good idea.

Here's a few more of the tube and Easy-ski from recent outings. No hands with Creed and Laney, Rafe's first time on the tube with Canon and Hannah, Creed and Jax doing their thing, me and Hannah with our wild ride and funny faces and then Bodie being a little scared again out in the water.

In this picture I love how all the kids are lined up along the back watching and cheering whoever is taking a turn in the water. Again, it's been a fun summer on the Honey Badger. (Nickname that Abe & Greg use)

Left to right (Greg, then on the back of the boat is Penny, Rafe, Bodie, Creed, Gavin, Jax, then on the seats is  Blake, Hannah, Canon, and Laney out on the easy-ski)

East Canyon Camping #2

 Another camping trip. This time back to East Canyon. Although camping can be a drag, especially after you do as many times as we will this summer. This one was really fun. We went with our neighbor/friends the Ungurens. Our kids are all the same ages and they are fun. We camped right by the lake again and boated Friday night and again Saturday. The kids LOVED it.

1st Friday afternoon Greg's brother and his family were in town from Texas so we took them out on the boat. And I had to show this picture Mari captured of Rick right after he lost his grip on the tube and wiped out. As his body skidded across the water. Great to see and lucky to get on camera! The best wipe out I've ever seen (where swim suites stayed on ;) -hehe)

After we set up came and were back out on the boat I got out in the water for the 1st time this summer. And on the tube, with no little kids. Hannah and I took a turn out there and got wizzed around, laughed, struggled to hang on, screamed, got wet. But man, we had fun managing our weight and balancing while soaring around and didn't get thrown off. And I'm sure Greg took it easy on us. It was my funnest time on the water in a long long time. So thanks to Hannah for making it happen and Greg for not injuring me. Although the next day I was kinda sore. :)

The older boys got submarined. Jax doesn't look too happy in the collage picture from being dunked. And we enjoyed Smores and the campfire and slept hard in our tents.

 And this kid, brave Rafe. He's never been out of the boat. He saw all the kids having such a good time on the EasySky he wanted to try it. So we all cheered him on, he was cool about it, then he surprised us again and stood up! So we cheered some more. Later he even went on the tube. Normally he's kinda chicken. So my 3 year old is such a stud!

 The adults had a great time, the kids had a blast. And were a little tired from a late night camping and then in the sun, so they "rested" on the boat.

Bo is 5

 Bodie boy had a big birthday. He has been so excited to turn 5. For like a year. His BFF turned five last Sept. and he's been wanting to turn 5 like him ever since. I went yesterday morning to registration at his school for kindergarten. Gosh, wow! Why can't he be almost 6?! I'm so nervous and worried about him being so so young and perhaps a little behind his peers. But this post is about his special day. So...

He woke up and we sang to him and opened his presents from us, he even picked them out. A few surprises from me, but he shopped with us and picked what he wanted. Easy enough. And at our house when you turn 5 you get your first friend party. So we had a bunch (12-13) of friends and neighbor kids over for his celebration. I went with a balloon theme. I saw the idea for his cake and went from there. It was supposed to pour rain all day with thunder storms. Good thing the weathermen are always so wrong. It did rain later in the evening. But we luckily had great sun during the party. 

So we played games. The first game was a "go fishing" game for prizes. And I am so glad for Jax and Creed. I was able to completely rely on the 2 of them to do the whole game. It was perfect, while the kids arrived Jax was on the stairs putting the prizes on the string and Creed was keeping order by making sure they all took turns, how many each kid got, helping the kids remove the prize to their bag, and helped Jax know if it was a boy or girl prize. And I was able to hurry and finish other things. I've heard when people talk about older siblings totally doing a party for the littler ones. And I got a gimps of what that's like. I really like it.

We also did pin the string on the balloon. You can see Jax giving it a try in the collage, along with everyone trying to pop their balloon. And the favorite game was a simple water balloon toss. They lined up (and stayed in line) and each took turns over again trying to throw a water balloon into a bucket. Quite a few made it in. 

Have I mentioned how happy I am we had good weather so that the party could be outside? When they weren't interested in the game or we were between activities they all just played around in the yard. I was also so grateful to have Greg come home from work to be there and help and my friend/neighbor Haas stayed and helped as well. Thank goodness for all the help!

Here's Bodie blowing out his candles. Quickly so they didn't get too hot and pop the balloons on the cake. We lost only one.  Bodie loves spice cake with cream cheese frosting so I made that and also some chocolate cupcakes.

Presents! Oh boy he got a lot. That's why I like parties. He was loving everything. People are so good to him. Birthdays are the best. 

That night during the rain my parents came out to have more cake and ice cream with us. We may or may not have had cake for dinner with all the other party snacks.

 I can't believe this character is 5!

 Bodie, Bobo, or Bo as we call him. He is such a delight in our family. He loves to play with his brothers. And he loves to play video games. He is almost a hoarder because he keeps and collects everything. He likes being little with Rafe but also likes being a big boy like his brothers. He eats Cheerios everyday for breakfast. He is always asking for an apple to eat for a snack. His laugh, oh his laugh is the best giggle. I've always loved it. He's only gained like 3 lbs. this last year, but he has grown 2.2 inches (95th percentile) so he is slimming down. He won't be my chunky monkey anymore. We are working our heart out on being sure he'll be ready to start kindergarten in a short 3 weeks. He was a trooper and didn't cry when he got his shots the other day. But he's been limping ever since. He likes to wear his sunglasses or hat when he's outside and insists on shoes and socks instead of sandals or flip flops. He is the kid who always pulls a face. So many silly faces on that Bodie of ours. We sure love him to pieces.