Just having a BAD day...

Don't you wish that "grumpy" looked this cute on the rest of us?

It was nothing a good nap and some cuddling couldn't fix!

Girly

I don't think anyone can call my girls "girly".  They've got some toughness and a little bit of tom-boy in each of them.  But their girliness comes out every once in awhile!

Violet has such a sassy saunter when she walks.  Her bum sways side to side...it's so stinkin' cute!  And I love to watch her run around on Sundays in her dress.

Doesn't she look girly?

 

Aaron and I have been taking the kids out on "Daddy & Me" or "Mommy & Me" dates.  They're so much fun!  Rylie was ecstatic when her daddy called her up on the phone while he was at work and asked her out on a date.  She was so excited and said, Oh I need to go get pretty!  She wore a skirt and I straightened her hair.  She definitely looked pretty.  And she was tickled to death that daddy was a gentleman and opened doors for her.  And she made sure to let Aaron know that he looked handsome.  It was really cute. 

I couldn't help but wonder what it'll be like when she first starts dating for real.  I bet she'll be all giggles then too :-)  And I'm sure that daddy will be threatening teenage boys and pacing the floor until she gets home.

A typical hike (for us)

Violet's little legs do a pretty good job keepin' up!

 

But when she gets all tuckered out this is her ride:

  

There's always lots of UP!

 (I think this must be a man-pose:)

And of course I have to climb a tree or cross a log.

(Yes, I know that's strange

for a woman in her thirties...,

but oh well.)

 Wait...what kind of trail has ladders???

 And there's always a stream or river to cross with daddy's help!

 Aaron's redneck-ness almost always comes out!

 And then it starts spreading to the kids (yikes)!

 WARNING: 
REDNECK-NESS is CONTAGIOUS!

(Yah, they both have grass sticking out of their mouths)
 
And it's typical for me to take a gazillion pictures.

I haven't decided if this one is
STUNNING or kinda FREAKY:

Sara's "S"

Tuesday is Library Day!

We go every week during the summer.

And just about every time

I find Sara here:

 ...curled up with a book in the S!

This spot was made especially for her
...she's pretty sure.

(The "S" is part of "KIDS")

FiShiEs

The fishies loved swim lessons

and they made lots of progress this year!

 

 

Violet watched part of the time,...

and then tried her darndest to get past me

and join the kids in the pool for the rest of the time.

We LOVE grass!

It's amazing what a little bit of grass can do! 

We love our backyard!

cAmPiNg!

...soft lush grass, shady scrub oak,

clean bathrooms just steps away,

and no parents!!! 

 Where is this AMAZING camping spot?

In the

BACKYARD!

 We made a campfire and

invited some neighbors over for

S'MORE FUN, too!

Colorado Cousins

 (Sara & Hannah)

My sister and her family came for a visit.  I was so bummed I didn't get a picture of Ollie (he was napping when we went to the park), but here are the others:

 (Will)

 (watching the ducks)

Oh and of course miss Clara!

 So sweet!

FIVE Little Monkeys

We love the

PARK!

 

 

Independence Day!

  On Sunday we BBQ-ed!

We had chicken shishkabobs, grilled pineapple & mushrooms, oven roasted red potatoes, corn on the cob,  jello jigglers, and topped it all off with homemade strawberry ice cream!

It was YUM!

 

 Yesterday, we went down to Provo for their Freedom Festival!

 We had some BBQ at DICKIES!

(and Yes, it is VERY hard to get Sara to sit...even for a meal :-)

This guy is SERIOUS about his BBQ!

And then we headed to Electric Park (Thanksgiving Point) for fireworks.  We hung out for over 3 hours!

And of course Sam climbed a tree :-)

  and we played some frisby and football,

 But most of our time was spent chasing Violet.  She WOULD NOT stay with us!  I guess it's safe to say she's over her separation anxiety...

 It rained off and on.

But we mostly just hung out,

Or cuddled :-)