Carrie Visits

Matt's oldest sister lives in Virginia and comes every summer with her 3 kids to visit.  We always try to fit in as much as we can while they are here since we only get to see them once a year.

There were lots of dinners and games and grandma's.  We also took a trip to Tony Grove.  Dustin brought up the kayaks and that was really fun!  We saw a moose walking down to get a drink in the lake.  Brooke and Cole were terrified and sobbed and wanted to get in our car and hide and go home.  We had dutch oven dinner and marshmallows and grandpa told the story of Old Ephraim.  Cole pretended to hunt bears for days after.

All the big kids had a late night movie and popcorn at my house and then a sleepover at Cammie's and a sleepover at grandma's (that was supposed to be outside).  Brooke and Macie got scared and came in before it even got too late.

We bought material and made skirts for all the girls (that I still haven't finished-- need to do that!). We went to the pool and had a water fight in the ditch.  Cammie and Carrie gave everyone pedicures and we played lots of games with dice, mostly because Catherine kept losing and wanting to play more.

Cole and Michael were such boys and always getting dirty.  Cole loved having someone who loves the same things as him.  Last year for Christmas Cole and Michael drew each other's names and Carrie and I got them the very same fire truck puzzle without even knowing it.  They are two peas in a pod.

It is fun to see them and we wish they lived closer, but at least the aren't in Spain anymore (Carrie missed our wedding because they were living in Spain at the time)!  Maybe one of these years we will get to go to there house and visit.

4th of July

Some how I managed to only get one picture on the 4th this year.  The kids were too busy lighting fireworks and playing to hold still for pictures.  We had our annual cook out and fireworks show at my parents on the 3rd and then water baseball on the 4th.  We started the water baseball tradition shortly after Matt and I were married and it is something we all enjoy.  We had the whole family this year, minus Blair and Tyler doing summer sales in Minnesota (we missed them LOTS!).  The kids are big enough now that they love playing too.

Family Campout

This continues to be one of my very favorite traditions.  It has been going on since long before I was born... before my parents were even married.  We miss grandma and grandpa but there is no doubt they are watching over us and there with us in spirit!

The kids were really disappointed that we didn't stay over this year, but after Ragnar and Girl's Camp I was so ready to sleep in a bed!  We still spent lots of time up there though.

Matt took me shooting and made fun of the way I shoot.  I did hit the target though!  I bet I could do better with a shotgun, I've never shot a handgun before.  We went on lots of 4-wheeler rides.  Matt hit a squirrel with Cole and Cole was very distraught about it.

Saturday, Amber, Brody, Ace, the girls and I went over to the lake.  I forgot a swimsuit but it was still fun to sit at the beach and hang out.  Amber wouldn't let me take any pictures with her in them because she was in the awkward pregnant but I look fat stage :)  (we are excited to be getting a new nephew in December!)

Brooke is in love with Brody's dog.  Whenever we go to my parent's house the dogs see her and bark at her because they know she will get them out.  When Ace was a smaller puppy she'd haul him all around.  Now he is too big and strong for her to control.  She thought it was pretty awesome that he was camping and then swimming in Bear Lake.  She also loves the horses and always asks to ride them when Grandpa has them anywhere.

Bailee was so so dirty, but she loved it.  I think she falls asleep on the 4-wheeler every year.  This year we couldn't get her to get on the horses.  She is terrified of them.

Cole is a piro.  He loves the fire.  And dirt, and everything about camping.  He is in heaven in the mountains (surprise, surprise right?)  Just a funny side note... his swim teacher finally figured out his name by the end of the summer, but for the last few years and the first part of this year she has called him Brody :)  We took swim there as kids and I guess he must remind her a lot of Brody.

Mom and Shawna had just gotten back from a week at the beach in California.  They've suddenly become sentimental and decided to take lots of pictures.  We had to get one of them at a "Jardine" vacation.  I still don't think the kids quite grasp the whole brothers married sisters and they are on both sides of our family relationship... all they know is they have extra grandparents, aunts, and cousins and it is fun.  :)

I love seeing my family and being away from the world for a little bit.  I was sad we didn't get to be there for breakfast this year (it is my favorite part!) but sleeping in my bed after 7 days of camping was totally worth it :)

 

Girl's Camp

I was the girls camp director for my ward this year.  Camp was at Heber Valley so I was gone for an entire week (with no cell phone service).  I had just run Ragnar the weekend before so Matt had the kids for 7 days by himself.  My mom and his mom both happened to be out of town that week so we were very grateful for the help of Cammie, Amber, and Annie!  He tried to do lots of little things to keep them entertained.  The picture is a night they went to Macey's for icecream.  

I had a lot of fun at camp.  We were the smallest ward there -- we had 9 girls and 4 leaders.  I work with some amazing ladies and it was a great experience to be up there with them for a whole week.  I loved girls camp as a youth so it was really fun to be there as a leader too.  I took the older girls on the over night hike and we had a blast!  They are some amazing young women.  Even though it was really stressful to leave my young kids for a week I felt really blessed for going and I am excited to do it again sometime.

Ragnar #3

This was my 3rd year running Ragnar with the same team.  It started out as a Cafe Rio team but most of the original people have now left Cafe Rio and we've all become great friends.  I do not function well at all without sleep so for me to do this for 3 years in a row is saying A LOT!  These awesome people sponsored me to go to Boston and I LOVE running with them every year.  It is something I look forward to and I think the world of them.  We had a great year as usual!  My friend Jamie ran in the other van so it was fun to have her there too!  I was runner #1 and picked up part of an extra leg for someone who was hurt.  I think I ended up with about 24 miles.  My legs were long and hilly.  I averaged about 7:15 through the whole thing but I was sore for WEEKS after.  My first leg was up 14th north to the Bonneville Trail and then down past first day and through the island.  I picked up a portion of a leg coming down the dirt road out of Avon (brutal brutal down hill)!  This one was average sub 6:30 pace.  Super fast for me.  My second leg was coming down the hill from Snow Basin, 8 miles.  I had to stop and go to the bathroom... terrible with so many people around!  I still managed to average 7:17 even with my pit stop.  My last leg was 5 pretty flat miles into Kamas.  All I know is I was tired!  I left for girls camp the next day so Matt had the kids pretty much by himself for 7 days.  I love the memories and friendships I have with this team!  We are onto year 4 next year... so excited!

Me, Jane, and Mickell at the starting 

3 years - at the starting line

1st Leg

Michael, me, Jane, Cyrus, and Tyler waiting for Mickell on the last leg of Van 1.  (Jane and I needed diet coke after being up all night :))

Girls at the finish line

Team at the finish

Karen's Retirement

My mother in law retired this year from being a school nurse.  We planned a surprise dinner for her and invited all our family and close friends to our house for a barbecue.  She was very surprised and it turned out great!  After, our immediate family went on a 4-wheeler ride up Prov.  We used to go all the time when we were first married but I haven't been up that way for years.  The kids loved it!  It is nice to be close and be able to just jump on and go.

Running Buddies

The kids have really enjoyed running with me outside this summer.  Brooke is finally old enough to ride her bike while I run and she is a trooper!  She rode several times from our house to my moms (7 miles) and love every minute of it.  Next year Cole will be big enough to ride and I'll be down to a single stroller!  They ask almost everyday if we can go outside to run.  So much fun, I love that they enjoy what I do!