Pioneer Day weekend

We spent the 24th of July weekend camping out in Duck Creek with the Bonewell family. We started Saturday through to Tuesday afternoon with lots of games, hiking, 4-wheelin', fishing, food and chatting! The small town of Duck Creek is great and supplied us with everything we forgot, the even maintain several 4-wheelin' trails! Our campsite was right next to the ATV parking and flushing toilets plus it backed up to the forest. It gave us plenty of room to play in the great outdoors but provided us with all the modern conveniences, even Cameron took a shower! Maybe next year we can get Brandon & Goldie with their kiddos and Brian & Kelsey with their kiddos to join in the festivities?!?

The kids loved roughing it in the great outdoors! Lots of dirt to play in, trails to hike and chipmunks to chase around. The Turnbow kids brought their bikes and were kind enough to share them with my boys too. The boys and Hailey found several bike jumps to add to their adventure!

We traveled through to lots of hiking adventures and caves. Taylor isn't very fond of heights and struggled a little bit with the cliffs and steep hills. Matthew, Taylor and I sat on the sidelines while the others played on the mountain. 

Everyone loved hanging out with family and stuffing our faces with yummy goodness! Unfortunately, every time we sat down for a meal the rains would come which was rather frustrating but Zack set up a tarp in between several trees and gave us a large area that stayed dry. We dealt with the same dilema back in Mantua and were a little more prepared for it this time around. It seems to be the theme for this year, rainy family reunions!

We finished off by playing several minute-to-win-it games! It kept everyone laughing and playing! It was a pretty successful reunion!

Summer Fun

Summer has been great! The kids are having a great time. Each morning they get up early and ride their bikes with friends. It's a 3.5 mile bike route which gets some energy out and they have a great time playing with friends. We've spent lots of time swimming, playing, camping and just goofing around. The relaxing atmosphere is wonderful! Soon we'll be back in the routine of school but for now we are just enjoying life.

Brooklyn 9 monthd old

Our sweet girl is growing up so fast! She is learning how to actually crawl now instead of the side scoot. Brooklyn is learning a few more words and repeats whatever she hears in her own way. She is very restless and always ready to go go go. Brooklyn loves people especially her Tatey (Katie)! She grins and claps her hands when someone comes up to her. She will talk your ear off as long as you talk with her. She loves to stand up and pulls herself up on practically anything. She tries to eat everything! If she can get a hold of it, it goes into her mouth! Brooklyn loves food and tries everything, flip flops seem to be her personal favorite. We love our Brookie-Lou and wouldn't trade her for the world! She is one very sweet little girl with a big personality! 

Independence Day 2012

We are so thankful to live in this free country where we have so much choice! We are thankful who have and do sacrifice for our welfare so that we could enjoy these freedoms. We attended the 4th of July parade and watched Hailey throw out candy on her float! We had a BBQ with friends and ended the evening with a concert by South of Graceland and a huge fireworks show! It was a blast!

Growing up

Katie and Emily are pretty inseperable! They are both going to be changing schools this next year and have grown up so much this past year. Katie got Emily a best friends necklace set for them as a birthday present. We are so glad that Katie has great friends! They have played hard together and really enjoy just hanging out! It really helps with the struggles of life to have friends to count on.