Camping 2012

So we did it! We love camping and we really don't mind being in a tent! In fact it's very fun for us and the kids wouldn't have it any other way. However, as much as we really do love our big spring bar tent, this spring we had an itch to get us something different. We searched KSL classifieds for quite a while wondering if we really wanted a tent trailer. Or should we wait until we might have a suburban and get something bigger? (the vehicle decision making situation is a post for another time) :) Well, a friend of ours knew we were looking and one day Matt came home from work with this!!



The kids were sooooo super excited! Thomas couldn't wait to go "Comping"! We set it up quite a bit in our side yard before even being able to take it our for real!

Daddy and the kids slept in it a bunch and we spent many a Sunday afternoon just having lunch in it! :) (Thomas really is smiling below....this was in his "how do I smile for the camera?" phase!)





FINALLY!! We had a weekend to ourselves!! It was actually Father's Day weekend, which made it even more fun! We packed up our tin foil dinners on a Thursday night and headed up to Timpanogos Campground near Sundance.



We found a great spot...set up ladderball....played some cards....



made s'mores....



And smiled for the camera! It was perfect!!



The reason we stayed so close to home was so that Matt could still go in to town on Friday and work.
While he was gone the kids colored rocks....





Mom made lunch...



And we had a farewell ceremony for one of our longest lasting camp chairs! :)



The kids and I attempted to hike to Stewart Falls by ourselves. I think we made it a little less than half way before deciding to turn back and maybe go with Daddy that night. Here was our rest and turn around point. It was still a fun hike!



That night Matt came back from work and we tried the hike again! I'm so thankful we waited for him! It's not too bad of a hike, but much easier with a second adult. We ran into some friends from our neighborhood too, so that was extra fun!





It was a little late in the evening and we knew it would be dark by the time we got back so we didn't hang out for too long. I LOVE the picture below of my cute family! I'm glad that we have these fun times as just us! We have fun talks and sing songs! Even little Thomas and Kierra are tons of fun on these hikes!



The next day the kids painted a little bit more....



and got a little more dirty!



On our way home we decided to stop at Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon. This was fun and relaxing and felt soooo good on hot, tired feet! :)








I was a little slower than the rest coming back from the falls and this is how I found my family! :)



I'm thankful for these times with just us! There were a couple of weekends this summer where we just felt that need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the world and just be with each other! When we are just us it is amazing how great the kids play, get along, help each other, help me! They are pretty good at home....I don't want it to sound like they aren't, but I LOVE watching them just be with each other! It's perfect! It's heaven on earth!! :)

Thomas and Kierra

May Mayhem ended and everyone's activities were done...but what did these two do while the others were so busy?! Through all of the chaos I do try to catch a few memories of how fun these two are together! They keep me busy and happy at home! They love to giggle and entertain each other, which is very entertaining for me too! Here are a few random shots from last spring!

February

Flying Kites with Daddy....do you love the outfit...Have you ever read the book Ella Sarah Gets Dressed?! That is 100% Kierra!





(this birthday door (that the sisters did for Thomas) was up for about 6 months...I had to take a picture of it before I took it down) :)



March

Getting Thomas up from his nap! Our favorite time of day!



April

(Thomas accidentally gave Kierra a nice shiner!)



Wanting to get the swimming pool out...but it's still just too cold!




May

Is it time to swim yet?!



Kierra doesn't nap much anymore, but pictures like this on a lazy afternoon are my absolute favorite! I LOVE having these two so close in age! They are fun together and make me smile!



AND they finally got to go swimming! ALL summer! :) I love you Kierra and Thomas!

Memorial Day Weekend 2012

Some traditions are just not meant to be broken and a Memorial Day in Star Valley, WY is one of them! Here is my favorite picture from the weekend! Cute kids hanging out in the van trying to stay out of the rain.

This has always been such a special holiday! It has all of it's familiar sights, smells, stories, people, laughter! The mountains are beautiful...it smells of farm country and rain...the stories are often the same ones, with something new every year...the people aren't as many as the reunions from when I was a kid, but you can always count on the same, amazing few! There is always laughter, music, tears, good memories, good times!

Before heading to Star Valley we did stay a night or two in Kemmerer with Matt's parents. The kids had a blast helping to split and stack wood!

First the splitting:



Then carrying to the side of the house:




Then dropping it through the chute!



Downstairs to Emily where we would all stack it!



Silly Taylor...is it really that exhausting! :)



We always have a great time at Grandma and Grandpa Gardner's!

On Sunday morning we left in time to meet everyone for church in Star Valley....the Fairview Ward. It was great to walk into the chapel and see so many familiar faces! First to see family and then to see many friends that I remember from when I was a kid visiting in primary or young womens!

The rest of Sunday we just relaxed with family. Singing, playing and visiting.



(ha ha dad! I said don't look at the camera...just act natural!) :)



(oh...but Mindy didn't get the memo either...what is everyone laughing about here?!) :)



Monday we woke up to head to both the Fairview and Afton cemeteries. Then we went back to my Aunt Beth and Uncle Ralph's house (for the last time :( as they just sold it and are moving down here). Here we had a mini reunion with the familiar creamy meatballs in the brownish/orangish crockpot, macaroni and jello salads, olives, chicken, rice crispy treats etc. It's always a feast while visiting with family! Later that afternoon we left for home....my parents going their direction and us splitting off to go ours.

We really don't know what our plans are for this tradition. It does get harder and harder to get up there. I do love being in Star Valley! So many amazing memories there! I miss my grandparents more than anything, but love to think about them and remember so many great times with them, cousins and so much other family! Hopefully we'll get up there again soon! :)