To The Lake with the Rolands

Finally a Saturday where we didn't do yard work so going to the lake was an awesome plan. Andy, who works with Matt and his family came with us. We also invited TeAnn and their boys. I was hoping it would help her to get out and have some fun from the stress of the house. It was fun after we finally found a beach it was soooo busy for some reason. We spent most of our time on the beach playing with the paddle boards and visiting since the water was so terrible. The girls were all so cute in their boating get up.

About 6 we decided we were starving and out of food so we headed home to get some dinner and roast some marshmallows. It was a fun and exhausting day. We are going to plan another day that we can find a good beach and have better water.

Adventures Of Nic & Nat

Nic and I always find ways to have fun when we are together and this week was no exception. The older I get the more I realize that God gave me sisters so that one day I would realize I have built in best friends. There is no one that understands me and gets me more than Kimber and Nic....besides Matt of coarse. Wednesday we decided to get together and run errands since both our hubbies are out of town. We stopped at the DI and Nic found a dinning table she wanted to refinish. Problem Kyle had her truck and I had the suburban but we decided to give it a try and we got it to fit in the suburban! That same day we were having a discussion about how we are so glad we were raised to be strong independent women. This is one of the many things I hope to teach our girls. They are capable of anything they set their mind to. 

Growing Girl

Im not sure who told this girl she could be so grown up but I guess it was inevitable.  She has started to stand up on her own in the middle of the floor. She has also started to walk longer distances but she crawls so freaking fast I think walking slows her down

And is so very proud of herself

Sometimes at night(very very rarely) she will let me hold her and if Im lucky actually give in and go to sleep. It seems to be the times I really need the extra cuddles. Im so grateful for this baby. It was a long road to get her here but I wouldn't change it for the world. The times I find myself frustrated with the kids for whatever reason I am reminded that they are the reason God gave me time. Most things will wait because years from now they wont want to cuddle and will be grown and gone.

Vegas Comes to Utah

We were excited when Papa and grandma were finally able to make time to come visit. They got here on Thurday night about bedtime the girls were super excited to get to stay up and wait for them. After we got them some food we settled in for the night. It is so nice to have a place where we can all comfortable stay and everyone has their own sleep space. My mom was the only one that had been to the new house so it was fun to show everyone else around 

 Friday morning Dad, Mom, Nate, and Maddi went to Tremonton to visit Grandma Harris and to make a Pie Dump and Maddox run. They were able to get barnwood for my mom's mantle in Vegas

While they were gone I got some jobs around the house done. Matt came home after lunch planning to go boating with the family but my parents got held up in Tremonton and so we finished the mail box. It turned out great and its nice to have a mailbox now that will withstand the weather.

 Once mom and dad got back we got ready to go to our ward camp out. Although we had no plan to camp we decided to go for dinner and games.

 They had a lot of fun things for the kids to do

 The boys kept themselves busy by playing horse shoes

 Em and I kept an eye on the kids and visited with everyone else there

 They later started a fire and got our the smore stuff. 

 They had an egg hunt with treats and prizes.

 Then we called it a night and headed home for bed. We sat out and watched the stars and enjoyed the peacefulness of where we live. It really is amazing. Saturday morning we got up and moving. Although my dad wanted to get us up at sunrise when he said he wasn't skiing we went back to bed for a couple more hours. We left about 10...got gas...and got on the water. We found a beach spot to put out paddle boards and the cooler.

 We all got a turn to try out the paddle boards and just relaxed

 As we got later in the day the time in the sun and no naps caught up with everyone. 

 Now that it was dinner time we decided to call it a night. Hallie was thrilled when papa said he would ride the tube with her back to the dock

Once we got home and bathed the girls worn their new silky pjs grandma made them

 And we decided to order Huntsville BBQ for dinner and afterwards we roasted some marshmallows and enjoyed the cool air. Nate commented several times about how many stars there were(I guess in Vegas you don't see many stars). 

 It was a great weekend. Possibly the best weekend we have had up here. We had just enough planned but not o much. I love the pace of life here. The simple beauty of things around us that help remind us of whats important. I hope they come back soon

McKay W & C Summer Party

 Last year we missed this party so I knew when we found out about it this year that we wanted to make it a priority to go. Luckily it all worked out and we were able to go. They had it at the Roy aquatic center. I thought I had sufficiently packed for all of us until we got there and realized I had forgotten the puddle jumpers! I was so mad at myself and I feel like I was a little more on edge feeling like I needed to keep an eye on the kids all the time so as not to have them drowned! I was so glad Matt was able to come I don't know that I would have been able to do it myself. They gave us little bags of chips as a snack. The girls loved the water slides even Em got to go down 1 time...she seemed to like it. Just as the sun was setting we decided to call it a night and luckily remembered to get a family pic before we loaded up to leave.

 Em is really into sunglasses these days. She loves to wear them both on her face and her head...probably because she has seen us do both. I can't believe how grown up she is getting. She is turning into a little girl instead of my baby

 The girls sat and ate their chips while Matt and I packed all of our stuff up for the night. These two have such a cute relationship I love to see them together.

I have missed doing things like this as a family. The last year has been a little crazy and it is a fun thing to find a new "normal" together

Learning to do the Stairs

Em by far has been the quickest to pick up on how to do the stairs. I have helped her a handful of times to get turned around and help her find her foot placement and then off she went. I was shocked and very impressed. My kids quite frequently surprise me and I  find myself in awe at how quickly kids learn things...Good Job Emmy