Summer Visitors: Part Deux

So what that we still technically had a house guest when Liza called and asked if they could come this past weekend? Burke could be considered a part-time resident (and a welcome one, I must add), and besides, who could miss the opportunity to see this little face?

It was Pioneer Day and even though everyone really wanted to put on long skirts and recreate a portion of the handcart journey, I insisted we just relax at the park with assorted loved ones. I'm not going to tell you which park because it is awesome and too crowded already. I'm a little bit like Jack Barratt in that way...but maybe if you beg.

Now, I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad, but Uncle Burke is in the lead in our Uncle of the Year contest. He received 1000 points for letting a kid with a muddy butt sit on his shoulders.

He also received 250 points for letting Elise pretend he was also HER uncle.

I remember going camping as a child, and there was always one kid who was immediately filthy.

(Anna West and Dan Barratt: I'm thinking of you.)

Kiki is that kid. She had tons of fun sifting through the ashes of our BBQ pit.

She immediately waded in the creek up to her waist then repeatedly slid down the bank.

The Shelton's and the Wolfley's.

The Pritchett girls and Bruce.

The Judd/Hunter/Barratt/Hatch/Shelton Ladies.

We had dinner with Grandpa Jack.

He thinks the pioneers were quitters so we set our bonnets aside and acted like it was a regular day.

Kiki is horribly amusing to grown-ups and horribly exasperating to her older sister.

"You're playing Barbie Glamour Camper? Well, hang on a second then and I'll go get my dragon!"

I realize I have very few pictures of Kiki where her face is unobscured by a food item, a swim cap, or her hair.

On Sunday we celebrated my nephew Eric's birthday.

Eric would have received a lot more attention from my girls if these little puppies weren't there.

The birthday boy.

Dave and Jill with baby Layla.

July is a busy birthday month for us.

I talk a ton about my sisters, sisters-in-law, and bonus sisters, but did you know I have bonus BROTHERS too? It's pretty awesome.

Beau's birthday was last week, but we will take a celebration any time.

Beau and Emilee

The Hunter Gals.

Today was the last day of summer gymnastics. Kate has done so awesome. She has been practicing her stretches and other moves. I will remember this summer as the summer she pushed for her independence. She has seemed so secure in her gymnastics class, she wants to walk to Grandma's house instead of me driving her, and she wants to order from the pool snack bar and pay herself. Maybe I need to stop thinking of her as shy, because she is asserting herself in many ways.

I don't worry about Kiki's ability to assert herself in general. I worry about her asserting herself appropriately.

Kiki's gymnastics teachers have been very patient even though no matter what they ask her to do, she just crawls around.

These movements are not approved for the apparatuses pictured nor are they endorsed by anyone with any gymnastics experience whatsoever.

Kate is getting very brave on the beam.

Lastly, it was my mom's birthday today.

We celebrated with lunch and pedicures.

My mom is a good mom. I hope she had a happy birthday.

The excitement continues this week: Bruce is gearing up (although technically he's tapering, so maybe I should call it "gearing down") for the Spudman this weekend, so we are off to Pocatello in a few days. Wish him luck!

Summer Visitors: Part One

Burke, Mark, Brett, and Lirio came into town for a few days. My kids were beyond excited to see their aunt and uncles.

First stop: Bridal Veil Falls.

If you are beginning to wonder if I:

A) dropped a grand on a new camera

B) took a photography class

The answer is:

c) Neither A nor B. These are Lirio's pictures that she downloaded to my computer.

She's nice that way.

Second Stop: Sundance.

Third Stop: The Smoking Apple for some tasty BBQ.

Fourth Stop: PG Pool.

"Why in the heck isn't anyone helping me with this giant sno-cone disaster?"

"Oh. I see."

Fifth Stop: Our house. Giant BBQ.

Mass quantities of corn were required.

If you are wondering why you wind up sick every time you eat at my house, check out what Kate is doing in the background.

And...I sincerely apologize.

Why Uncle Burke might be the favorite.

Sixth Stop: AF Canyon/Tibble Fork.

Bruce bike there and back. He's looking like a serious cyclist lately.

Seventh Stop: To bed early. We fit in a lot in 48 hours!

It was well worth it though to have such a fun time with family.

How We Filled A Week

I frequently marvel at all the fun times that can be had within a half hour of home. Last Friday my friend Steph and I loaded up our brood for a field trip to Santaquin.

"What in the H-E-double hockeysticks is in Santaquin?" you ask?

The Family Tree, for starters.

It's the home of the biggest scones you've probably ever seen.It's also the home of my favorite vegetable beef soup.

After our delicious lunch, we went to the Big Red Barn (Southridge Farms) for fresh cherries, dried cherries, salt water taffy, and homemade ice cream.
Steph and I split 4 pounds of dried cherries only to later admit to each other that our cooking ideas for dried cherries far exceeded our individual 2 pound allotments.

George celebrated his 25th birthday. It's a little embarrassing to have a step-dad younger than I am, but it comes in useful when I need questions answered like:

"What did Lady Gaga just say?"

"Why are kids wearing those weird jelly bracelets?"

"Who are the Jonas Brothers again?"

He knows the answers to all of those questions.

My cousin McCall came to town, so we had a little cousins reunion with her, Jamie, and Alisa. My cousins are rad and we had an awesome time.

Since all of our kids were too busy playing to pose for pictures, you can safely assume that they had an awesome time too.

Tonight we went to a Beez game. The girls were not baseball fans, and are still not baseball fans. They are, however, fans of hot dogs and cotton candy.

Several notes on this picture: A: My fauxhawk is nicely illuminated. B: My hands are SO VEINY. C: The expression on my child's face is what will henceforth be known as "Classic Kiki." Because it is.

Kate said, "Ummmmm....I thought this game was supposed to be fun."

And a note to myself: The next time you work out like a fiend, then get your hair cut, then think to yourself, "I'll just pop in to Walmart real fast and pray I don't see anyone I know," remember that you did exactly that today, and you ran into one of your cutest friends from high school and she was STILL that way, and you looked and smelled like a dog. Sheesh.