03 August 2011

Everything is better with Cousins...

... and aunts, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents, and siblings.

(JUST found this post, and didn't realize I never published. I'm so on top of it!)

We've enjoyed family, family, and more family time this summer. This is why we love Utah. Family!

Jack and Ellie in a partici-play at the Ogden Treehouse museum...



Jason, Ellie, and Jeff (in that order) on our almost-hike to Donut falls...


Almost the whole crew...


Partially-dressed 2 year olds blowing bubbles...


Movie night...


I can't believe Jane and Mia actually slept here... (our under the stairs dress-up room)


A trip to the Copper Mine with Hawkin cousins and bonus friends...


Alice loving the carousel with Mimi, but NOT the actual horses.


Pioneer cousins trying to look authentic with a non-smiling picture. It was harder for some than others.


Of course, the true personalities come out...


They asked us to play a few numbers in preparation for the shoot-out show. It felt just like old times.


More silly pioneers.


Alice and Drew waiting for the big kids at the dentist...


Jane and Ellie enjoying Memory Grover together...


Alice and LuLu were hilarious in the tub. I love how Alice is looking at her.


Donut falls attempt #2. End of July = no snow (thank goodness). We made it this time!


1st annual Rich Family Fun Run starting line...


It was INTENSE. Ok, the Rich's aren't super competitive, so it was a nice, happy run for all.


Oh, the blessings of family and cousins!

01 August 2011

Pioneer children

We continued volunteering at This Is The Place this summer.


We rarely get pictures while we are in the village because we try to keep any technology tucked away. It was nice to have family visit and shoot some photos for us.


Grandma and Grandpa Ottley with us at the Charles C. Rich home. Love you, Grandma and Grandpa.


During our Rich reunion, we made the entire family dress up and come with us.


Alice eating snack outside the house.


This day, I took the children to the school house. While the others were practicing the Deseret Alphabet with chalk and tablets, Alice found this doll and played "mommy" for a while.



The amount of pictures of each of my children tells a story. Alice is always in my arms or by my side, so almost all the pictures are of her. Jane wanders around the yard and house helping with chores, watering the plants, and playing with cousins. She keeps busy! Jack is hardly ever around. He is either coming or going, always planning the next adventure to the Indian village, train park, or the General Store. There's been something for everyone this summer, and we've loved our time there once again.

Early Summer Fun

Our summer has been so full, blogging got knocked completely off the priority list! But, I have taken SOME pictures, so for those of you who we don't see or text constantly, this might be news to you!

Our Alice turned Two years old in May. She's turned into our little parrot, repeating everything we say. Then saying it over, and over, and over. TWO definitely has its challenges, but it's also my favorite stage of each of my kids because everything seems new and exciting. I love it.


It's hard to believe our "made in Thailand" baby is already TWO.


Jane had her very first dance recital in June. I had no idea if she would love it or burst into tears and refuse to go on stage. If Jane was a character in the "Little Miss..." series, she would be"Little Miss Unpredictable".



Luckily, she loved it.



Jane also had another first... her first lost tooth. I don't remember losing my first tooth, so I made sure we recorded it in her journal because it was a good story. (She lost her 2nd tooth exactly one week later, almost swallowing it along with a grilled cheese sandwich!)


We went on a short hike with the Hillmans during our reunion, which was made even shorter because there was still SNOW in mid-June. Seriously.


Jack has been loving scouts. This year, his troop did Aeoronopolis. It's basically where you build an "airplane" and race around the gym. He was taking it very seriously, except when it came to the pit-stop where you have to snarf a saltine cracker and water. He doesn't like to eat quickly. Other kids were running off with their mouths stuffed full, and he was standing there chewing each little bite. His book might just be titled "Mr. I'm in no hurry".


We had a fantastic 4th of July this year. A spontaneous getaway, small town festivities, and great friends/neighbors for fireworks and s'mores. Alice even enjoyed the loud fireworks once our neighbor busted out her ear protection. This may just be my favorite 4th of July photo ever.


My girls have done a LOT of chalk art this summer. The usual masterpiece always includes at least one Rapunzel. This one had the genuine hair length.


Alice loved her first golfing experience during our Rich reunion. She was much better at looking cute than actually golfing.


Jeff and I ran on a RAGNAR team sponsored by his company. Except for losing one runner during his first leg, it was a perfect weekend. We ran, we ate, we got a little bit of sleep, and had a great time with a really fun team. One thing we didn't do... take pictures. Pathetically, this was our best photo.


Jack wanted money for scout camp so he could buy things that break. My words, not his. He and Jane sold snow cones for 2 afternoons and he earned as much as he needed. It was one of his first entrepreneurial ventures, and I was amazed at what he learned from day one to day two. They had a great time.


Jane finished up her online preschool last month. We LOVED it and would recommend it to everyone. Although, in some ways, I wish I would just have kept my mouth shut because the waiting list now holds over 400. Darnit. These are the characters, Rusty and Rosy, that took her through her lessons. She was so thrilled to graduate! On to Kindergarten!