Zion's.....June 25-27, 2011

One of our families FAVORITE places to go is Zion's National Park. My parents took me and my brothers there every fall when we were growing up. We would go with my cousins, the Chandler's. It became a tradition to every year to climb Angel's Landing. Every year you climbed the great hike you got an angel "star". My family bases what kind of hiker you are off how many angel "stars" you have.

Sam and I love that tradition and we've started it with our children as well. Hadlie and Daxton are officially a one star hiker from last year and half star from this year. Tage is a two half stars from last year and this year.

This year we took the kids just to Scout Overlook, which is a little more that half way up Angel's Landing. Angel's Landing is a dangerous hike, we didn't feel like it would be a good idea to go all the way to the top with Tage and Paizlie. They are too small still. Tage will be ready to do it in the next few upcoming years.

We also hiked Emerald Pools while we were there. Before we headed to Emerald Pools we stopped in the Lodge and bought the kids an ice cream cone. Then we headed off again. We ran into our neighbors, the Larsen's, on the trail to Emerald Pools. They live two house south of us. It was fun seeing them there. We had a really fun time and I KNOW we wore the kids out. Poor Tage fell asleep on the tram ride down the canyon. He was wasted.

The kids are already asking when we are going back. Hopefully soon, hopefully soon...

Here is our trip:

Tage, Hadlie, and Daxton starting Angel's Landing to Scout Overlook...

Larsen family and us....

Tage and Sam on Walter's Wiggles, part of Angel's hike....

Hadlie, Daxton, Tage, and me at Scout Overlook...

Sam, Paizlie, and me at Scout Overlook....

"Hold that rock up for me, Dax. Don't let it fall...."

Happy 5th Birthday Tage.....June 22, 2011

Happy Birthday, It's Your Birthday Tage Man!

Numero 5!

Dear Tage,

I know I say this every year, but I CAN NOT believe you are the BIG 5 this year! What an exciting year this will be for you. The BIG 5 means you have 5 BIG things happening soon:

#5: YOU get to make lots of new friends and BIG friendships.

#4: YOU get to learn to read, like a BIG kid.

#3: YOU get to learn to ride a BIG kid bike.

#2: YOU get to ride a BIG kid bus in the mornings to school.

#1: YOU get to start KINDERGARTEN. In the BIG kid school. Ahhh Yeah!

What a fun year this will be for you. I can't wait to watch you grow more and more everyday. I already can't believe how much you are growing before my eyes. I love to watch you play with your little sister. I love to listen to your cute giggle. I love to watch you get excited when you do BIG kid things with Hadlie and Daxton. I especially love to listen to your cute conversations you have with your friends.

You are a sweet boy. You definitely keep me on my toes and challenge my creative parenting skills everyday. I love you tons and I am so grateful you are my son. I don't know how life would be without you and your big beautiful brown eyes. Thank you for being such a joy in my life. I love you so very much.

Keep looking to your big brother as an example. He loves you and I am grateful for the wonderful friendship and bond you two have. You are a great little brother too.

I hope you have a wonderful BIG 5th year! Happy Birthday Tage!

I love you,

MOM

Cupcakes with Tage on his Birthday....

Tage opening his presents....

Tage also had a fun birthday party with his friends from the neighborhood.

He had a swim party. The kids swam in the kiddie pool and played on the slip and slide. They all had so much fun. After, we had hotdogs, chips, cupcakes, Creamies, and we opened presents. It was a fun afternoon. Thanks for coming everyone :) !

Ellie, Conlie, Maden, Issac eatin' hot dogs, "HOT DOG"!

"WOOOoooo"! Tage slippin' down the water slide...

"Yeahhhhh"! Hadlie had fun too...

Birthday cupcakes....

Mason, Tage, Ellie, and Madox ENJOYING Creamies.

(now isn't that the life and cutest picture?)

Birthday friends:

Ellie, Conllie, Tage, Daxton, Mason, Madox, Maden, Hadlie, and Issac.

Father's Day......June 18, 2011

Happy Father's Day to all the Father's out there. We hope your day was GREAT!

We really hope Sam had a wonderful Father's Day. My friend, Meghan, found this CUTE template that allowed you to print out fun decorations for Father's Day. I copied her idea and did it for Sam. It turned out really cute. (Thanks for the great idea Meg.) Hadlie helped me get it all cut out and put together. She was so tired when I woke her up to help me get it ready but she was also very excited to make her dad's day special. We "tied" a few cute notes up for him. (I love how excited the kids get to celebrate things for their dad, it shows how much they love him.)

We love you Sam and we are so grateful for the wonderful man you are. You are a great example to me and the kids. You are a hard worker, great supporter, a wonderful friend, and a fabulous father. We LOVE YOU so VERY MUCH!

Sam's Father's Day:

It looks like we made Dad feel important, say "CHEESE", Sam Dawg....

Cheers to the: Number ONE Dad!

Happy, Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day/ Birthday Party.....June 17, 2011

Sam and I invited his family up to our house for a big Father's Day/ Birthday party. We celebrated Paizlie and Tage's Birthdays and we also celebrated Father's Day. Everyone was able to come except Stacey, Ryan, Eli, Andrea, and Emma. We missed them.

We had SO MUCH FUN! We went to Roy Blake Park and barbecued hot dog's. The kids played baseball, football, and then we had a FAMILY game of kick soccer. IT WAS A BLAST! Everyone played except Grandma Bobbi and Grandpa Jerry. They watched the babies: Fin, Paiz, and Tyson. We divided into two teams and played ball. I don't think we've had so much fun in a long time. I think Tim, Dan, and Sam win for kicking the ball the furthest.

After a few games we opened Father's Day presents. Dan and Alisha gave Grandpa and all the father's HOT sauce. They bought it in Park City. It was FLAMING HOT! Alisha decided to give it a try and about burned her mouth off. It was quite funny. After, Paizlie and Tage opened their birthday presents too. We had cupcakes and sang to them also. I think everyone was spoiled. It was a great time.

Here's our day....

Maizlie and Aiden...

Alisha, Grandpa, and Grandma...

Aunt Kayla...

Daxton playing football with Uncle Tim...

Tage opening his birthday presents...

Paizlie opening her birthday presents...

Grandpa opening his Father's Day presents...

Dan and Sam opening their Father's Day gifts...

Aunt Alisha burning her mouth off with her gift to the father's...

"Ahh Yeahh....."

Our Family KickBall Game...

Aiden up to kick...

The babies wanted to play too, Hadlie tried to help out with them...

Hadlie cheering for her mom, run mom, run...

Kayla and Fin...

Fin kicking the ball...

Daxton's turn...way to GO!

It was a fun afternoon. Thanks for coming up everyone. We loved spending time with you. We love you all.