Cousin Time

Heidi and the kids came to visit for a weekend this summer.  We stayed at grandma and grandpa Carlson's for a night so we could visit.  Grandma and Grandpa Carlson live just a few minutes from one of the beautiful Utah canyons.  We had a picnic on Saturday and hiked up to Crystal Lake.  Elsie and I did not make it to the top, but everyone else did.  Even baby Paige and Chloe who was wearing sandals.  Jessa and Chloe had fun making up fairy names and looking at the flowers along the way.  The wild flowers were amazing!

On Sunday we went to church with Grandma and Grandpa Carlson, and the Ashton's, and afterwards Aunt Evelyn made us a beautiful lunch.  The next day Shane and I went with Heidi and the kids to the Odgen Nature Center.  We had Cafe Rio for lunch, and when the kids got home they got to crack open geodes that Aunt Heidi bought.  Connor and Shane played some basketball, and then the kids took Caleb's little car for a spin.  We also had slurpies and Heidi and I talked about houses.  She is remodeling her house, and we are building a house - so we had a lot to talk about!

Lagoon 2011

The Little Ones

Elsie is feeding Paige a picnic.  She does not always approve of Paige's manners, but she a a generous host.

My Tender Dad

 Ahh, it breaks my heart that I don't take more pictures.  I am going to promise to do better from this day forward.  Here is my Dad at our house for a Sunday Dinner.  My mom was here too!  It makes me so happy to see my mom and dad.  They are such kind, loving grandparents.  They love to talk with the grandkids, tell them stories, and hear about what is important to them.  Here is my thoughtful Dad helping Elsie eat her dinner.  I think he's added honey to help it taste better...it seems to be working.

Jessa and Caleb standing in the hole for our house. 

Digging the Hole

The hole for our Riverside house.  The kids loved running around in this big hole.

Sweetness

 Elsie's eating some french toast

 Paige in her high chair

 Caleb made a 'nest' for Elsie and him to read books in.

 Running Errands...:)

Paige Crawling

Kool Aid Popsicles at the Little Red House

We sold our house!  The beginning of the summer was a busy time moving, finishing up school, and then taking a vacation to the Oregon Coast.  My camera broke, so all the pictures from our Oregon trip I was only able to print.  We are living in the cutest little red brick house on Tremont Street.  It's Miss Nicole's house, :) where she teaches preschool in the basement.  The kids have taken preschool from Miss Nicole for the past three years.  They love Miss Nicole and they all thought it was pretty special they would get to live in her house.  It has been a blessing living here --- we have a yard, we are close to the library, park, school and stores...and this little house has lots of charm with wood floors, arched doorways and built in storage.  It's a little tight, but we are making it work. 
Here's a picture of the kids enjoying summer bliss on the porch steps.  Orange Kool Aid popsicles - yummy!