Seven Peaks

We bought the Pass of All Passes this year and have gone to Seven Peaks twice now. Unfortunately this is the only picture we have from either trip and we didn't even take it, Brady did. I wasn't able to go the second time due to my surgery, but the girls had a blast. This time was per Sadie's request. She wanted to go swimming for her birthday. And even though it wasn't on her birthday, it was close enough.

Pioneer Day

Josh's parents invited us over for a barbecue on Pioneer Day. While there, the girls put on a play / musical about pioneers that they had written just minutes before. They even quickly made invitations and handed them out to everyone before beginning. Each girl took turns saying their lines and there were short songs in between with the guitar in the background. It was quite entertaining.

Then we played some pioneer games that Cody showed us, including tug-o-war. Afterward, Josh gave a short lesson on pioneers and told the story about one of our pioneer ancestors, Amy Loader.

Sadie

Josh had scouts on Sadie's birthday so we invited family over the night before for cake and ice cream. Sadie requested a castle cake and loved how it turned out.

She was all smiles the morning of her birthday and loved opening her presents. It always makes you feel good when you get a good reaction, especially when you're struggling to know what to get them.

Here's the goods.

I have no idea where her desire for a guitar came from, but she's been asking for one for quite some time now. Kali and Ashlyn got her that. And Josh and I got her the jewelry box. She loves little knick knacks has been storing them in an old broken jewelry box. She loves her new one.

Then on the evening of her birthday, we used a leftover cupcake for her candles and sang to her before Josh headed off to scouts. She didn't seem to mind one bit.

Tired

Someone has been falling asleep in interesting places. I recently stopped making her take naps and often times during the late afternoon  or early evening, this is what we get. It's a rough life.

Ice Cream

Ever since I rolled my ankle back in April, I haven't been able to return to my old exercise routine due to pain and swelling. The doctor finally determined that I had re-injured my old injury and decided it was time to do surgery. So on the 15th, I once again had ankle surgery to hopefully correct the problem. However, loosing the use of both hands (due to crutches) and one ankle hasn't left me with the ability to do much for my girls. Kali has practically had to take over as mother. She gets Emma in and out of her crib and helps me make breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as take care of laundry and anything else that comes up. Needless to say, my girls are feeling a little stir-crazy and deprived. Brady and Jordan were kind enough to come over for the day today and entertain them for hours. They made homemade ice cream with the girls then took them outside to play water balloon games. It was fantastic!

Camping

 

I was so excited to be getting an extra day and a half on the mountain because of going over the holiday this year that I was very disappointed when I came down with a nasty cold a few days before. I knew that I'd be miserable at nighttime, so we waited an extra day to go down and boy was I glad that we did. I was right. I felt awful at night but managed to have an enjoyable time overall. The girls got nice and dirty but loved every minute of it.

Ashlyn spent the entire time with my cousin's little girl, Annette. They had never played together before, but quickly became friends and were inseparable the rest of the time.

Josh took the girls shooting (just with his pellet gun) and I got to shoot Aimee's 9 millimeter handgun. The girls were also super excited to try out their new bow and arrow that Kevin made them. Unfortunately, after only a few tries, they lost the arrow and thought their fun was over. Thankfully it eventually turned up.

The main activity at camp was FISHING, both in the lake and the stream.

 And the best part about it is that all three girls caught a fish. Kali actually caught four and Sadie caught three. Ashlyn didn't want to touch hers. She looked scared to death of it. At least she was willing to smile for the camera.

The girls also found a water snake at the lake and were even brave enough to touch it. Sadie chased it for almost a half and hour.

The girls also lucked out because not only did Aimee bring rafts camping, but we happened to be down at the lake the same time as them and Ethan was offering rides. They were in heaven.

 And then she made their day once again by giving them rides on her four wheeler. It was the perfect way to finish off the trip.