Hurricane

Todd's parents moved to Hurricane earlier this year. We were finally able to make it down to visit them at the end of August, just in time for them to get ready to move back to Salt Lake.

We drove down Thursday night after Emma and Katelyn finished gymnastics so we would have more time to play for the rest of the weekend.

Friday morning we got up and Todd and I went running together while the kids stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa. When we got back, Todd and I went for an ATV ride with Todd's dad. I don't really love those types of things so I thought I was going to die a few times but overall we had a good time. Todd was in heaven the whole time!

The rest of the day was spent swimming, playing on the bounce house and just enjoying being with each other. The Olympics were on while we were down there so we watched them each night after the kids were sleeping.

On Saturday, Todd had to run 17 miles so he got up and ran 13 and then I joined him for the last 4. After we finished running and had breakfast, we all went for a little hike. The girls did a pretty good job, mostly because they were able to bring bags of treats but we are taking baby steps.

After the hike, we went back to the house to have lunch, swim, and let Camden take a nap.

After nap/quiet time we headed to Sand Hollow to spend some time at the lake. It was really windy while we were out on the paddle board and kayak with the girls and it kinda freaked them out so we spent most of our time on the beach.

Sunday we went to church, had dinner, and then packed up to go home. It was a great little getaway to end our summer.

10 Month Camden!

Camden is 10 months old! I just cant believe that he is almost one. It seems like time has gone by so quickly.

Camden is the center of everyone's lives in our house. Everyone loves to play with Camden and there is nothing better than when we can get him to laugh. No one can make him laugh quite like Miley can. Miley can almost always be seen next to Camden trying her best to get him to laugh. They are becoming cute little buddies.

Camden still mostly army crawls around the house but has crawled on his hands and knees a few times. He can pull himself up on anything he can reach but then he gets pretty upset because he can't ever figure out how to get back down. His favorite place to climb is on the couch so he can play with the blinds.

He has 8 teeth now which I still think is still so funny to look at when he smiles. I think it is the cutest. He eats only table food (and is literally the world's messiest eater) and also nurses 3-4 times a day. He still refuses to take a bottle so I guess we will just go straight from nursing to cups. He likes to drink out of a cup but wont ever try to hold it with his own hands, he is pretty lazy that way.

Camden is becoming a little more high maintenance these days. He likes me to hold him almost all of the time. Sometimes his sisters can distract him but it never lasts for too long. Because of this I don't really get very much done anymore but I get lots of bonding time with my favorite little guy.

Ever since our trip to California, he hasn't been the best sleeper. He was doing really well sleeping through the night but now he wakes up at least once.  Occasionally he will sleep through the night again and it feels so great!

Camden has found his voice finally and he is almost always yelling/screaming something. We all love his little voice and every time he makes a sound that sort of resembles talking all of the girls think that he has said his first word.

We love our baby brother and are so happy he is part of our family! Happy 10 months!

First Days of School

Emma started 1st grade the day after we got home from Oceanside. She has year round school so they actually started on July 26th  while we were on our vacation so she missed the first few days of school. She came back and started on August 1st.

She has enjoyed 1st grade so far. It had been a little bit of an adjustment for all of us to have her gone all day. I didn't realize how big of a help she was to me until she wasn't here to help me. She was pretty tired at the end of the day for the first week or so but has gotten into the swing of things now. She was the most excited to be able to eat lunch at school and for 3 recesses! Her teacher is Ms. Huntsman and she is awesome. Emma really likes here. She also has three girls from our neighborhood that are in class with her so that is fun too!

Katelyn started one of her preschools on August 9th. Her teacher for this one is Miss Bre, who Emma also went to the year before she started Kindergarten. She has really enjoyed it so far. Miley was just really bummed that Katelyn AND Emma were going to school without her so she felt like she needed to jump into Katelyn's first day of school photo shoot. They are becoming good little friends.

Katelyn and Miley will start preschool at the district sponsored school on September 7th. Katelyn will have Miss Lacie and Miley will have Miss Holly. They are excited to be taking the bus to school together and I am not sure what I am going to go with only one child for 4 hours a day twice a week!

We are grateful for all of the great teachers that our girls have and that they are all enjoying school so far!

July Pictures

Most of our July happenings have already been recorded, but here are a few more pictures that didn't make it into the other posts.

Miley always looked like a dream when we went to the pool. It doesn't matter that her face rarely went in the water, she still always needed her goggles on.

Emma likes when I let her be more independent. She made lunch for all of us one day. 

I had been wanting to take the kids on a hike all summer so we finally went one Saturday. We went and hiked Lisa Falls up little cottonwood canyon and had a good time.

The girls and I all got free slurpees on 7/11 and Camden was sad that he was left out. I just really love his sad face.

We enjoyed going to the pool in the evenings after Todd got home from work sometimes. We basically had the pool all to ourselves.

Miley went through a phase where she came into our room every night and wouldn't wake us up but we would always find her asleep somewhere when we woke up to exercise. This was one of my favorite positions. I almost didn't see her there.

We had a great and busy month and are excited for things to slow down a little bit and to get into the routine of school and fall schedules.

Oceanside Part 2

Thursday was a low key day. We woke up and after we exercised and ate breakfast we went to the local farmers market. I told the girls that they could all choose one thing to buy. Not surprisingly, Katelyn and Miley chose a popsicle but Emma chose a lovely new hat which she then wore for the rest of the trip.

After the farmers market we rented some bikes are rode along the beach for a while. After riding, we stopped at Hokulia for some delicious shaved ice.

Later that day we had some family pictures taken on the beach. My kids were less than thrilled with that activity but they still turned out ok.

A few more minute to win it games!

Friday was another beach day. The little kids played some of the minute to win it games after breakfast. 

Miley ended up in our bed almost every morning.

When they were done with that we headed to the beach. We stayed at the beach by our beach house even though it was really close to the road. It just was so convenient to be able to go back and forth whenever we wanted. My mom had kites for the girls to play with this time and they really loved it!

The hot tub was all of the girls' favorite part of the trip.

That night, the rest of the family all went to an Angel's game but since it was Friday we had to have our pizza/movie night! We went to see the BFG and then after some pizza had s'mores on the roof.

Saturday we headed to the beach in the morning and then sadly we had to pack up and head home.

Poor Camden had a rough time at the beach, since he still only army crawls he was almost always covered in sand, which was not his favorite.

We had such a great time! Anytime that we get to spend 10 days with our family without work, school, or other activities is a great time. Thanks to my mom and dad for helping to make it happen.

Camden was a dream baby in the car both ways, especially when I would go back and sit by him!