Not a Baby Anymore

This cutie turned three!

She just loves the idea of getting bigger:)

We got to celebrate in Utah with our cousins.

All the kids got their own little ice cream cone on the cake:)

My mom really gets credit for the party. She is awesome! 

We had a treasure hunt to a prize, each round having an activity and a clue...

One round they had to do hula hoop, one round was kicking a ball across the yard, one was ring toss:

 Sometimes making it in is just a matter of the right positioning

 Callie just makes me happy. Everything she does. Including her impromptu songs.

 Treasure Found!

  Opening Presents

One day at the pool we put some unusually large goggles on Mackayla for her first time wearing them. Even though she could barely see, she was pretty excited and walked proudly around the pool to the steps.

On our way we passed some even larger snorkeling goggles to which Mackayla stopped, pointed, and loudly squawked like a parrot, "What?!?!" and then kept walking.

The image is seared in my brain. So dang funny. I find myself squawking "What?!" to my kids pretty often even though they don't get my little inside joke and think I'm a little nuts.

She is loving swimming and has decided lately she can swim and doesn't need her floaty anymore. Then starts to sink to the bottom;) but she is learning fast!

For each kids' birthday we try to think of something special we can do with just them.

For Mackayla I knew her love of clothes would make getting a new outfit the perfect outing.

These are her new Elsa jammies:

 We went to the mall to choose and she was just beaming the whole time!!
Here's her new outfit:)

Mackayla really is such a sweetheart. Luckily though, she can hold her own if crossed (probably an essential characteristic to have nowadays). She's been known to tackle her brother and sister or tell them how it is. She's my little shadow and so fun and easy to have around. 

She pretty much constantly wants to "play puppy". If I play it consists of me telling her to do tricks and then giving her a pretend treat and petting her.

Other loves include playing the ipad, fruit snacks, blueberries, the Sword in the Stone.

I love you Kayla. We're so glad you're in our family!!

PrePack

The day I was going to pack to go to 

UTAH!,

I saw a couple of these guys in our garage...

They are maggots. DISGUSTING!!!!!

 Then I realized that there were actually one bazillion so I had to move out everything in our entire garage - ugh. I guess we did move out (and right back in) this year:)!

Pretty much the grossest thing I have ever done.

 Also instead of packing, we went swimming.

 That night we rented out a theater for a date to the movies.

But really, if you go to a 3D movie that has been out for a long time, you get the entire theater to yourself!!

 Ben didn't get to come to Utah with us because he is responsible and he has a job

He does NOT do well when we are gone. It's nice to be loved:)

What do you do in the summertime

It's been Hot. We've done a lot of swimming!

 Macey and I, almost in the same week, discovered that we actually love swimming.

Miracles do occur.

Visited Riley Wilderness Park 

 Poison Oak

 Montage Beach at the exclusive Montage Resort. THE prettiest beach.

We wanted to see the tidepools (in background).

We found out ALL starfish on the Pacific Coast are dying from a wasting syndrome, possibly by some bacteria or something. From Alaska to the Baja Peninsula. They will hopefully make a come back in a few years. 

 Sometimes it's worth getting up early.
I love watching sunrises.
I'm training for the St. George Marathon.

Cody has been getting in some great workouts and trying his skill out in Martial Arts class

 Macey took a cooking class. I was promised pictures...so hopefully some pictures of her in her cute apron are coming:) How cute are these cupcakes?!

Angels and Camping Weekend

We went camping this last weekend!

This was the deal for finishing Mosiah, which we finished that night in the tent:)

Ben's favorite camping meal is tinfoil dinners

-and it really helped to partially cook everything beforehand. 

 These guys built the fire while I put up the tent

and she slept in the car...

 Least comfortable night of sleeping for Ben and me. Ever. But worth it.
The kids slept great. Apparently they don't go numb every ten minutes on the ground.

 The next morning

 I got ready to go on a run.

 But first we stopped at a little nature center at the camp. 

these guys held a constrictor

 Later that day we went to our stake yearly party. They have the Best hamburgers and tons of activities for the kids. Plus, these awesome balloons. 

Cody and Macey got swords and Mackayla got a dog.

 After the stake party, we went to an Angel's game.

Is it mean that every time I hear his name I snicker, or just really immature?

They announce it so confidently, but all I hear is poo-holes.

He is one of the best players.

 Fun night, good seats

 good company:)