Swimmin

We don't get to swim in Utah quite as much as in AZ, but my kids both love the water! I took a class with Tate during Ruthie's lessons.

This is my favorite swimming picture of the summer! How can you not love these cheesers? They went swimming at Ryan's cousin's.

This is the local rec. center where Ruthie and Tate took swimming lessons. It is fun place!

Ruthie loved having her very own class to go to.

Brave girl jumping in.

Up and Running

I am happy to announce we have a new and fully functioning computer. Our laptop was having issues and we made it work as long as we could but it bit the dust mid-July. Hence the month long recess from posting, which is even bad for me. I figure we will start with the highlight of July: the Arizona Bevans coming to visit. We had the best time playing at the cabin, Lagoon and celebrating a Big birthday for Ryan's mom.

Ruthie and Orren are the best of pals. They went on every possible ride they could at Lagoon.

The ferris wheel was the scariest ride for all.

Ruthie liked the big kid rides the best. The faster the better!

This expression is why one of Tate's nicknames is Captain Serious.
The guys just blasting off on The Rocket

Ruthie taking a 'big' jump
Watching Ryan play ball. Tate thinks he's on the team half of the time. He always has a bat and ball ready.

Let Freedom Ring

We had a fabulous Fourth of July weekend! Thursday night we went to the Oakley Rodeo with the Fraziers. It's supposedly the best and we were sure entertained. Friday, Ryan got off a little early and we hiked with the Heightman's to Lake Mary. It was a steep hike, but a beautiful place at the tops of the mountains. That night we went out and had our own 5 minute fireworks show. Saturday, we had every meal at a different house - thanks friends! That night we went to the Bee's game and fireworks show. It was fun until it went into 3 or 4 extra innings (I lost track). Even though the fireworks didn't start until 11:30 they put on a great show with patriotic music. It brought tears to my eyes. We even saw fighter jets fly over that morning. I commented how lucky we are that fighter jets aren't scary here. We are truley blessed to be Americans!

Tate loves ball games!

Ruthie and Melanie kept each other entertained the whole time!

Tate had a ball, ball game, and cousins to play with, heaven!

These are the rodeo fireworks.

Ruthie's reaction to watching the rodeo fireworks.

We got a few blurry pictures of the cowboys in action. This guy is like 6 feet
in the air!



Ryan couldn't believe Ruthie and I wore flip flops to a rodeo. City girls :)

Lake Mary

My big kid throwing big rocks

Tate and Mason checking thinks out

Our group

Hiking a couple of weeks ago up Little Cottonwood. (What can I say we are hike-a-holics now!)

Wheeler farm for playgroup.

Tate liked the horse until he got up in his face!

Finally Kicking Off Summer

For one of my birthday presents and one of Ryan's Father's Day presents, we bought 2 kid carriers for hiking. We rented some last summer and just loved them. We took them out on Saturday for a trial run. It was a little chilly and rainy and so much fun! Hopefully this is the first of many treks this summer. By the way, we have sunny 90's in our forecast! Happy day!

Oh Babies!

Miss Piper

I have to say congratulations to my brother Landen and his wife Kristen on their pretty little addition Piper Lily last week. That makes Tate the lone grandson with 4 girls now in my family. Also my BF from high school (and beyond) Lara, just had a cutie named Sam. Way to go! Please remind me that I am not ready to have another one yet! Your babies just make me think I want one now! :)

Birthday Surprise

(Top: Me, Kathryn, Melanie, Lindsay, Melinda

Front: Hosts-Nicea, Angie, Marti, Reagan, Chelsi looks like a host, but she's one of us!)

I am lucky to have some pretty amazing friends in my neighborhood! For my birthday they showed up Friday at my house at 9am. I had just gotten the kids out of the tub and I was half ready, but still in my pj's. It was supposed to be a surprise where we were going, but Ryan was also supposed to tell me to be ready at 9. He forgot. At least I do love surprises! The girls each grabbed one of my naked children and got them ready in 2 minutes while I got dressed. We dropped the kids off with one of the husbands (thanks Chad) and headed off to our secret destination. Good Things Utah! This will not mean much to you if you live in another state. It is the morning show that every woman loves to watch here. We got to see the behind the scenes, had Bajio pork salads, got Bajio gift cards and Robert's coupons since they were the guests that day. Debbie Gibson (80's fame) was a guest co-host. We had our maybe 3 seconds of fame when they showed the studio audience. Loved it!!! We will have to do it again girls!!!

Saturday was my actual b-day. I worked Friday night, so really I slept quite a bit of it. That night though we enjoyed a great (in other words kid free) dinner and movie with our good friends Dave and Catherine. Cat's birthday is the 16th so we always celebrate together. I don't know how we forgot to take pictures with them. It was super fun though!
Thanks for all of the happy birthday calls, texts, cards and gifts! I am so lucky!!

Debbie Gibson and Reagan making Bajio salads

Pre-show

I am hiding this picture further down for a reason. This is my 'thanks for surprising me' face!

We also went to the aquarium last week with cute little Evalyn.

They love seeing all of the fishies!

Just Catching Up

It has been a while since I have posted for a couple of reasons. Life is busy and our computer is on death's doorstep. So here is the update for a few weeks of fun!

Tate decided to take a ride on Princess Belle's horse.
Here are a few of our friends kids at the cabin Memorial Weekend. It was so nice to get away for a little while from all the work and real life stuff. We are lucky to have great friends and loved every minute. Tate ended up getting sick the last couple of hours which was less fun. I was a little stressed about getting home and Ruthie asked what was wrong. I told her I am sad because Tate has a fever. Ryan got in the car and asked what was going on. Ruthie said "Mom is sad cause Tate has a bad beaver!" We got a good laugh! She knows now it was a fever.

I have been promising to take my kids swimming for 2 weeks. I just can't bring myself to do it when it is only 75 degrees and windy! Instead we went to the farm at Thanksgiving Point for 20 minutes before it just poured rain.

Ruthie and Tate had to keep an eye on the scary calf poking its head out so they couldn't look at the camera.

The kids still rode the ponies, drenched as we were. And for those of you thinking "Does Ruthie only have 2 outfits?" The answer is no. But, she usually chooses what she wears and it is a very short rotation! Hopefully when it warms up she can branch out a bit.

Ruthie had her 2nd dance recital. Her teacher is a neighbor girl that teaches in her basement. Ruthie refused to perform (again). Luckily Makenzie let Ruthie do a private performance for just mom and dad after the other girls and families were gone.

Ruthie did the dance again when we got home and she had to watch the music video on You Tube while she did it. Tate joined in too!

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