Girls Trip to Jackson

I hadn't been to Jackson Hole for over 15 years, so when my friend Robyn and her friend (now my friend too) Angie Bleochel invited me to go on their girl trip there, I was thrilled. Angie took her little boy Boston, Robyn took Savi, I took Kaela, and Lacee came stag. We stayed at Angie's parent's cabin up there. It was beautiful and so fun!!

The view from the kitchen window.

Boston. What a doll!

It was Kaela's first time fishing. Thanks Angie for showing her the ropes.

We just couldn't get anything to bite.

Angie helped the girls paint rocks. It was quite the hit and they brought home so many fun and colorful creations.

We enjoyed reading while the girls were painting.

Robyn and Savi being crazy monkeys

Everyone but Boston slept up in the loft. Even though the water was cold, Kaela and Savi had a good time in the river.

Baby Boston had a good time too!

We loved this joint. Their hot turkey sandwiches are scrumptious!

Tea Party

Tea Parties with Aunty Letty are the best. She brings her bags of goodies, scarfs and hats, and we all have a blast.

A tea party just wouldn't be a tea party with out a hat!

Frog Fest!

This week's adventure was the junk/fish stand. Hannah and Kaela started out selling odds and ends from Keala's room. Some where along the way, they got the idea to sell fish and frogs from the pet store. Being the nice mom that I am, I took them to Petco to get some critters. The frogs they wanted ended up being more money than they thought, so Kaela just got one for her self. The 13 cent gold fish would be in at Petco on Friday so they decided to come back for them then. But, until then, we had a new pet to care for. We went home, ready to set up the frogs new abode, and were surprised to find 20 anxious frog owners waiting in line on our driveway. They were sadly dissapointed to learn that we only had one frog and it wasn't for sale.

Some of the future frog owners stuck around to see Kaela's cool spotted fire belly frog.

Friday finally came and the gold fish were a hit. Hannah ended up getting a spotted fire belly frog herself and she and Keala decided their frogs would marry. Matt got a fire belly as well and they all lived happily in the big plastic box out in the garage until Peyton, the neighbor boy, decided to take the frogs for himself. The kids recovered them three times and after the third time they couldn't find Hannah's frog. Distraught. Hannah and the girls made "Lost" signs for the frog who's real name is Max, but to keep his identity confidential, they called him Buddy.

Here's the girls with one of the signs. They put up 5or 6 of them all over the neighborhood.

So funny!!

Draper Days Parade and Carnival

We're too sexy for our shades! The boys went to the carnival that night and this is what they came back with.

It's such a fun tradition...All the kids have their bags for collecting candy. It's really what the parade is all about. This was our first year without Dad and Jordan here. (still at scout camp). Matt had to take the four-wheeler down and find us a spot.

Emma C and Kaela (and Emma's crazy dad in the background)

Um, I think that stroller is a little small for you Riley and Matt!

I think it got a little too loud for Emma once in a while.

Kaela's 8th Birthday

Cute Kaela. She is such a giving girl. We love her sooooooo much! She is one of those Mother Theresa's in the making. She is always doing nice things for people. She is either giving money to a beggar on the street, making a card for her sick primary teacher, wanting to buy someone in the family a nice birthday present (with her own money), or making a new friend out of a total stranger on the beach (child stranger mind you). She is a sweet, generous, loving little girl! Happy Birthday Kaela. We love you!!!

For her birthday meal, she wanted to go to IHOP. Wow, what a treat! She wanted to eat breakfast there and then go back for the kids eat free special after 4. Some how I convinced her that it's really just a breakfast place so we didn't have to go back for round two.

She also wanted the family birthday activity to be a trip to Cowabunga Bay. Dad and Jordan were at scout camp, and Matt had heard it was lame, so just us girls went. The lazy river was fun, but the slides were freezing. For all the money that place charges, you'd think they'd heat the water a little bit. I couldn't even convince Emma to go on a slide. Too bad. We'll have to go to Seven Peaks next time. At least we can say, "been there, done that" when it comes to Cowabunga!

I love this pic of Kaela thanking Matt for his gift. This is exactly what happens everytime the girls try to hug their brothers. "The Brothers" as Emma would put it. Jordan is getting a little better, but Matt, well, his face says it all.

Anna and Kaela still manage to share the love once in a while. Oh I miss how they used to be best friends. That will come back again after the clothes wars years, won't it?!

Darling Jordan picked out some shells and a vase for Kaela's shell collection. She loved it.

The sewing machine....a world of fun awaits her! She is my Craft Queen.

The Oreo Cold Stone cake. Yum yum!

The best part of the cake, right? Emma can't wait for her birthday now!!

Sundays

It's Sunday and Anna and I are just fooling around with the Blog tools. We'll see what happens.

Fourth of July at Springdell

Every year we go down to my Mom's to celebrate the Fourth. We paintball, run the river, play in the pond, have water fights, and eat. We have a big breakfast and then a big dinner. The Moms usually head to the Freedom Festival Craft Fair and the Dads take the kids down the river. We do a lot of hanging out underneath the gorgeous Springdell trees. It's the best!

The boys were not afraid of that ice cold water.

There were some pretty sweet moves on the rope.

Grandma B and Anna

Doing some of that hanging out

Kirk launching his potatoe rocket

Elena and Anna

Even Wagna got in on the water fight

Emma was showing off her letter skills

Jenny took Emma for a ride.

Thanks Jenny!

Getting the balloons ready

Emma liked those frosting coated 4th of July cupcakes.

Anna and Elena made pets of their balloons.

Kaela really enjoyed the water balloon fight!