National Cheesecake Day

On Saturday, July 30th we went to Cheesecake Factory to celebrate national cheesecake day.  Who knew there was a day for that.  We met up with the Tady's and Bugee's at the the Cheesecake Factory because all there cheesecake was 1/2 off.  Jon was working so he wasn't able to join us.  Lucky for me, my kids each wanted a different kind of cheesecake so I was able to sample 6 other kinds.  We had the Oreo, cookie dough, peanut butter candy, red velvet cake, Godiva chocolate, original with strawberry topping, and Hershey chocolate.  They were all very good a so rich.  I got Connor a chicken finger meal since he wasn't going to eat the cheesecake.  I can't wait till next year.  I think this will have to be a new tradition since I'm pretty sure we wont be taking the kids back for some cheesecake unless it is 1/2 off since it it pretty pricey.

Jumping off the diving board

There were a lot of first this year off the diving board.  Hayden jumped off for the first time and loved it and has been jumping off often ever since.  In fact, I didn't even know he was jumping off the diving board I thought he was over there watching the others, but no he was right there jumping off with the others.  Morgan taught Payton, Kennedy and Talmage how to dive first from the edge and then off the diving board.  Morgan did a back flip off the diving board for the first time.  Kennedy did a front flip off the diving board for the first time and almost did a back flip.  She either flips too much or not quit enough.  

Hayden

Hayden

Morgan's back flip

Hayden

Payton

Hayden

Hayden

Kennedy

Payton

A day at the park

One Saturday, we went to Morgan Falls park and hiked a mile and then let the kids play for a few minutes at the park until it got too hot.  The thing I love best about this park is the fake grass on the playground.  It looks so real and so green.  Not like the fake stuff you can spot a mile away.

Hayden

Payton

Connor trying to stay cool in the shade

Blueberry picking

On July 11th, we did our annual blueberry Family Home Evening with the Tady's and Bugee's.  It was a very hot evening. 

Talmage

Talmage

Talmage



Some of  our berries we picked

The kids love it when dad buys them a soft drink.  I need to remember to bring our own cans next time since they charge way to much. 
The following few days I made blueberry muffins, pancakes, and pie and froze the rest to use at a later time.

A Day at the Beach

The Bluth family invited us out on their boat on Saturday morning (July 9th).  This was the same family that we went tubing with a couple years ago and the kids just had a great time. 

Talmage, Brenton, and Hayden

Talmage, Brenton, and Hayden

Connor

Talmage, Brenton, and Hayden

Talmage, Brenton, and Hayden

Talmage and Hayden

Payton

Connor

After boating, we stayed at the beach and ate lunch and played in the water. 

Talmage muddy

Hayden

Kennedy and Hayden with the sand castle

Hayden and Kennedy

We also ran into Taylor and some of her friends.  She was playing at the beach and boating with another family from our ward.  It was a fun morning and afternoon.

Fourth of July

This year the fourth of July was on a Monday.  We headed over to the pool as soon as it opened.  They always have free hot dogs and other lunch food there.  They also do a coin toss in the pool for the kids.  This is Hayden's last year in the kiddie pool.  He scored big time.  Of course they do put in a lot more pennies in the kiddie pool and not so much in the big pool. 

Hayden finding money

Hayden showing off his coins

Hayden

The 6-11 years olds waiting for there turn

Next year, I will have to bring some extra coins (or just give them a dollar to spend at the snack bar) because at this age you have to be fast to get more than a couple coins.  Talmage was so upset because he is one of the youngest in the group and only got maybe 2 coins. 
Brenton's age group the 12 and up is the hardest because you have all those fast swim team kids who can hold there breath for a longer time.  Not much after the coin toss everyone had to get out of the pool because of thunder.  So we had to cut our swim time short.  Later we had the Tady's and Bugee's over for dinner.  Then we went to our spot to watch the fireworks.  Jon had a plan in case it rained.  And after a while it started raining.  Jon had a huge tarp and some poles and rope and made a covering for us so we were all dry.  We played some games while waiting.

The kids playing apples to apples

Talmage Mickey ears



The Trebilcock's, Tady's and Bugee's

Luckily we took this family picture before it started to rain.  When we were all done taking about 3 pictures, we realized Brenton wasn't in them.  He went to Wendy's to get a frosty.  So Brenton was there but just not in the picture.  We have missed Morgan the last couple years since she is at BYU-I. 

It was still raining at the time the fireworks normally start so we waited about 30 more minutes to see if the rain would let up and they would start them, but it was still raining and most of the people had left by then so we packed it up and went home.  No more than 10 minutes later we started hearing firework booms.  We look out our bedroom window and sure enough they were letting off the fireworks.  So we got the kids out of bed and watched for about 5 minutes out our window which we could only see the really high fireworks.  We decided to hurry and get in the car and drive back to the place we were and watch the fireworks in the car since it was still raining.  So it turned out to be kind of a crazy day.  But at least we did see fireworks. 

Happy Birthday Payton and Connor

Payton turned 11 on June 24th.  Before Jon and Brenton went to Philmont we decided to let Payton open her presents on her birthday without Jon and Brenton, but would have the relatives over after they got back for the cake and icecream.

Payton's birthday

Payton with her presents

Payton with presents from the Tady's and Bugee's

Payton's presents

More presents

and one more

Connor with the pie

Payton with the pies

Make a wish Payton

Payton isn't real big on cake.  This year she wanted me to make the pie I made the day before Mother's Day.  It is cheescake like with sliced strawberries and chocolate drizzle.  So yummy!  And as always Connor doesn't like to pose for pictures so I don't have him with any of his presents.  He opens them in shifts and usually not all at once.  Connor is officially a teenager.  Yikes, they are growing up way to fast.

Philmont Scout Camp

Every four years the scouts in our ward ages 14 and up can attend Philmont scout camp in New Mexico for 2 weeks.  Since Brenton was 14, he was able to go to Philmont and backpack for 2 weeks.  Jon was able to go with him.  They left on June 20th one week after we got back from our Disney vacation.  This is the first time Brenton has been on an airplane that he can remember.  He has flown a couple times when he was little.  This was a very expensive adventure paying for camp/food for 2 for 2 weeks, airline tickets for 2 (luckily we had credit card points which paid for one ticket), and supplies that we didn't already have on hand or couldn't borrow, but I know it will be one neither Jon or Brenton will forget. 
I must say the first couple days were weird not having either Jon or Brenton around and I missed them a lot especially at night when all the kids were in bed.  I did have lots of things I wanted to get accomplished while they were away.  I had bought a groupon coupon for 2 Blurb books.  This is the company I used to print out my first year blog book.  I had 2 more years waiting to be made into books so this coupon came at a great time and it was going to expire just a few days before Jon and Brenton arrived home.  So I spent a good week getting those two books all done and ordered.  I also was able to go through the kids clothes and take out the winter clothes from their drawers and replace them with their summer clothes. 
This was the longest Jon and I have ever been apart from each other since we have been married.  I think the longest was 7 or 8 days.  While they were gone they missed Payton's birthday, our anniversary, and Connor's birthday.  We did let Payton open up her presents on her birthday and went out for dinner for our anniversary when Jon got home.  We also tie died T shirts with the Tady's with Taylor's and mom's help.  The kids loved it and I think we will have to do it again next year.  I wish I would have taken some pictures of this or at least with their shirts on when they were all rinsed and washed and dried. 
Jon and Brenton had a good experience on their hike.  Jon got altitude sickness and it lasted for a few days.  After that he was good to go.  They said there was plenty of food.  Way too much for them to eat.  A few of the days when they had a long ways to hike they would wake up at 5 am to get an early start to beat the heat.  Brenton didn't care for this part at all. 
The hardest part while they were gone was not being able to talk with either of them. Not any cell phone signal in the middle of nothing.  A week into the hike I did get an email from one of the  dad's who went letting us know that everyone was alive and well.  I got a call from Jon the day before they were to arrive home because they were at base camp and had cell phone signal.  I am so glad Jon got to go with Brenton on this trip with him. 

Swim lessons

This year I had Hayden take swim lessons for the first time.  Last year he simply wasn't ready, but this year he really wanted to swim on his own without any floaties.  He took swim lessons for 2 weeks (8 classes) for 30 minutes each with his cousin Eliza.  He took the lessons at Christa's neighborhood pool.  I couldn't believe how well he did after only 1 lesson.   When Ms Andrea left after the fist lesson, Hayden was swimming all over the pool.  He even got some water toys that sink to the bottom of the pool and was swimming down and picking them up off the bottom all after only one lesson.  It is so nice to have all my kids swimming on their own.  No more floaties and hoping they don't have a hole in them.   

Hayden and Eliza last day of swim lessons

Hayden waiting for his turn

Hayden and Eliza

Hayden with Ms Andrea

Hayen with his swim teacher Ms Andrea

Hayden swimming backwards

Hayden floating on his back

Hayden, Ms Andrea, and Eliza last day of swim lessons