Lake Tahoe

Last Christmas as one of our gifts, Erik's parents gave the entire family a trip to Lake Tahoe, and we were finally able to go in August. 

I think it's safe to say that the entire family enjoyed it, and we all want to do it again.

From the second we got there the kids had dug themselves into the sand, and we had a hard time getting them out of it.

The kids loved having their cousins all around them all the time.

If we're being honest, I miss them being that close too.

We rented paddle boards almost every morning we were there. The kids and adults loved them.

Hunter went "fishing." Somehow he caught this tiny fish. 

Hunter was set on releasing it back into the wild, but sadly the poor thing didn't get the chance.

 They were almost inseparable.

We took a tour of the fire station. I think this was the highlight of the trip for the kids.

They got rides,

a turn to drive,

a chance to spray the fire hose,

a turn to push buttons, 

and a turn to wear their gear.

These fire fighters were so friendly!! I'm glad they took time out of their day to show us around.

Summer Update

The kids and I were able to spend most of July and some of August visiting family in Utah.

These are some of our adventures...

Hunter had called my dad a few weeks before we came out and the conversation went something like this...

H: Pa, You're an inventor, right?

Pa: Yes.

H: Can you invent something for me?

Pa: Sure Hunter. What is it?

H: It's a creature power suit from Wild Kratts?

Pa: What's Wild Kratts?

H: Get on Netflix and search for W-I-L-D K-R-A-T-T-S. You'll find it. Watch an episode, and you'll see.

Pa: Okay, I'll do that. What is a creature power suit?

H: It's a suit that can change you into all different kinds of animals.

Pa: Really change you, or just pretend?

H: NO, Really change me. Like if I want to turn into a dolphin, I would grow a tail and my arms would turn into flippers. But! My face would stay the same.

Pa: Wow! That sounds cool!

H: Will you do it?

Pa: Sure. I'll see what I can do.

I'm pretty sure Pa didn't know what he'd gotten himself into.

The day before we got there my mom figured out a way to make the suits.

But Hunter was mad that they didn't really turn him into an animal. 

But they love them!!

We spent a lot of time on Pa's boat.

We took the tram to the top of Snowbird.

Then Kylie turned 21 and so of course we had to go to Vegas!

And we got spoiled and stayed at the Bellagio. Our room is outlined in red!

We saw a grand total of 2 shows from our window. 

Which was a huge bummer!!

But it was AMAZING!!

We went to the Buffet at Bellagio. It was good, but the desserts were unbeLIEvable!

We also went to the Chris Angel Show BeLIEve! It was fun, but kinda creepy.

We were able to spend lots of time together with cousins.

We spent almost every night playing Catan. 

We went and watched Pa race go karts. He did really well and came in 3rd, but he was less than a tenth of a second behind the guy in first.

 Then just a few weeks before school started, Hunter got his tonsils out. 

 They were HUGE!!!

Mckinley's Birthday

This year for Mckinley's Birthday she wanted to have an Ariel party in Grandma's pool.

So that's what we did. 

We invited all our family and had a big party.

She definitely let you know if she liked your present or not.

She told my aunt that she didn't like a stuffed monkey that my aunt had given her.

She promptly gave it to Madelynn.

Two days later, she wanted it back.

We have a diva!

She didn't like everyone singing to her, and she covered her ears.

 Then, right as she was about to blow our her candles, her cousin, Sawyer, ran up and blew them all out.

With some quick thinking on my dad's part, the candles were lit again and I don't think she realized that anything had happened, except a bunch of adults laughing.