Life's a Picnic

Sometimes I forget that life is a picnic until we go on a picnic and I remember how much fun Lunchables at a park can be on a summer afternoon. Look at these guys---the LIFE of the party!

We also spent time up at Grotto Falls this week, another favorite place of ours:

There were tons of butterflies.....

and lots and lots of rock climbing and waterfalls..

P.S. I've been playing around with new photo editing software that I love called ipiccy.com. Check it out! Unfortunately, I had edited all of the above photos but then I couldn't get them to post correctly in blogger. Not sure what the problem is, but picture in your mind the above photos with all the exposure problems fixed! I know, amazing, right?

Weekend Wrap-up

Cass participated in the Utah State Feis (Irish Dance Compeition) on Saturday. And when I say participated I mean that she took home medals in 4 of her 5 dances! She was amazing, especially given the fierce competition and the fact that she's a beginner.

After each dance all the dancers gather around the results board and wait for the scores to be posted. She ended the day with 4 hard-won medals.

(Practicing in the lobby)

So proud of Cass to step outside her comfort zone, try something new, and practice practice practice.

In other news..............

....we enjoyed a Saturday night at the BYU soccer game. I think we were all a little blown away by the level of play. So amazing.

While most people go to a sporting event to actually watch the sporting event, our family goes to....

climb fences and

play peek-a-boo. Oh well. That, too, can be fun.

And lastly, because I know you're all dying to know....

the chickens are alive and doing well. Still no eggs, but we keep hoping any day now.

And for some reason they really love my painted toe nails (ouch!).

Thanksgiving Point

How lucky are we to live so close to this oasis?

(And how lucky am I that grandma and grandpa give us a membership to Thanksgiving Point each year?)

Very lucky and extremely blessed, I guess!

We love going to the gardens on Monday nights in the summer for their themed family activity nights. It's relaxing to walk through the gardens and fun to let the kids participate in the games. Last night was Pirate night!

Every pirate ship has a pooper that's why we invited you....pirate pooper!

Ahoy mate! Where's yer smile?

(Seriously, though, don't you wonder what he's thinking about?)

The children love SANCTIONED fighting as much as the forbidden sort......

and fencing works, too.

Looking for some pirate booty(ies)...

And this picture just begs the question......what kind of fertilizer do they use? That grass is amazing! 

Who's on first......Garrett!

Garrett had an AMAZING baseball season this year on the Cubs. It was fun playing with so many of his friends and he learned so so much from his coaches. 

He can connect with the ball at almost every at bat.

He knows how to lead off.....

how to speed around the bases....

and how to cross home plate.

And he looks good doing it all. Some consider baseball a "slow" game, but I think it will always have a special place in my heart, having been a baseball fan since I was a young'un. But watching your kids play any sport makes you love it that much more. Way to go, G-dawg!

Tracy Aviary

Eva and I loaded the troops up and headed to Liberty Park and Tracy Aviary. The best part of this picture is that AFTER I had squished all the kids together and tried to get everyone to look for at the camera for the better part of several minutes---the Aviary volunteer in the front said, "oh, did you want me to move?"  

We picked the hottest-day-in-June-EVER to go but still managed to get a few smiles and make some memories. Tracy Aviary is FREE on  Mondays if you have a Pass of all Passes, but thankfully it wasn't crowded at all.

Some of our favorites:

I was trying to think of a cute caption for this photo, but I came up with zip.

But this little gem NEEDS no caption:

It was relaxing, it was fun, it was educational, it was hot, and it was FREE. AND I got this
GREAT photo out of it! If only I could remember to get my fingers out of the way when I shoot with my iphone!

(and it was tiring for some, evidently)

Provo River Falls

Memorial Day found us playing in the snow up at Provo River Falls above Kamas. The drive was long but beautiful and the falls were amazing, especially considering we live in the second driest state in the union.

I just love this kid. Sure, he's wiggly and messy and can't follow directions but he has a heart of gold, is always ready for an adventure (even when we have to drive for 2 hours for a 15 minute hike), and always has a smile. I hope he knows how much he makes ME smile. Love you, G-dawg!

What would I do without my Cass? Always helpful yet sometimes sassy, I love that I can count on her to be a second mom to her brothers (sorry, Ben!) and she is always always happy to help me. Everyone needs a Cass, but too bad 'cuz she's mine! Love you, sis!

I love this guy. I am thankful each minute of my life that he is my partner in this mess we call life. Seriously, when I think about the crap challenges we go through in mortality, my sanity is knowing he has my back and that he would and does do anything possible for my happiness. I mean, how many people get to marry a Rich King??

Hey, Ben. I know you are 13 and I am forbidden to take your picture and double forbidden to post it on my blog so I hope this shot is legit. Thanks for coming to my waterfall, even though the drive was torture. Love love love having you with us. You are awesome. On and off the court (but mostly on).

And the waterfalls were amazing, to boot:

(And we rounded out the day with a stop at the Dairy Keen in Heber and shakes all around. Yum!)

Love you too, Sam-I-Am. Sorry you didn't get your own dedicated paragraph but you don't read yet so just know that you are my favorite but don't tell the others! Shhhh!