Week long Celebration...

Our Week long celebration started Saturday morning with the big 4th of July Parade.

Our friends the Lunts were kind enough to let us in on their good parade spot that they camped over night to save. Thanks you guys it was lots of fun.

We had a BBQ at aunt Jodys house and then watched the stadium fire works on the Provo High Football Field.

Even though it was late, I promised Hunter we could do sparklers. Grant didn't make it for our own fire works show, but Hunter and James were thrilled. It was a successful 4th of July.

Sunday evening we drove to my parents cabin in Manti to spend a few days with my family.

The highlight of the trip for the boys was the endless swimming in the lake with their Dad.

Hunter thought he was a trickster doing back flips off the water tramp and having my brothers through him in the water.

Other than swimming we just played Games and hung out together. We discovered Grant is a Memory Wiz kid. My mom got the biggest kick out of watching him get match after match.

We got home from the cabin just in time to do laundry and pack the trailer for our Fish Lake trip.

We look forward to our fish lake trip every year.

The boys were excited to paint t-shirts with their cousins. Hunter was extra careful creating his pirate master piece.

We were excited to see our cousin Jensen. James and Ally can't wait until he can run around with them.

This year we rented a boat and did a little fishing with the kids. James thought he was hot stuff driving the boat.

The kids were a little bummed about not catching anything, but they had a lot of fun trying.

Grant and Grandpa Ivie have a really cute relationship. Grant is always sitting by him and they make each other laugh. I thought this picture was sweet.

Our family at Fish Lake 2009.

9 Years and counting...

Matt and I celebrated our 9th Wedding Anniversary yesterday.
In 9 years we have had 3 and a half kids, 6 different cars, 3 different homes, 2 job changes, 1 college graduation, 1 major medical scare, lots and lots of love and more kisses then you can count.
It was fun to look back on the past and set new goals for our future together. 9 years is only the beginning and I can't wait...

Something old into Somthing New...

This was my creative project last week and in my excitement to get started I forgot to take a before picture...
I bought this bench from my girl friend who gave me a screaming deal, Thank you Tay. It was natural wood and I painted and glazed it to look like this. Pretty cute if you ask me. The boys call it the reading bench and look at library books while sitting on it. Totally worth it.

Howdey Rodeo Fans...

We are true Rodeo Fans! Cowboy hats, boots and all.
This was the strawberry days rodeo in Pleasant Grove.

We met up with our friends the Hinkley's. The boys love the Hinkley family because of all the fun kids to play with.

For early entertainment they have silly games for the kids to play. This year they taped dollar bills on a cow and let the kids chase the cow around and try to get the money. Hunter ran like crazy, but never got close. He thought it was fun anyway.

The best part about the strawberry days rodeo is a cup of Strawberries and cream. Matt goes a little crazy over it, and it has rubbed off on the boys too.

Little James ate that whole cup full no problem.

Something to Treasure...

This is baby Ella's blessing dress.

There is a little story behind this dress. When my sister Brooke was born, my grandma Haymond made her a beautiful blessing dress that was extra long with pretty pleats in the skirt and the top was done with a pretty smocking pattern. This dress made a real impression on me even at the age of 8. I've always wanted grandma to make one for my daughter, and I finally got my wish. Grandma and I went just this Monday to pick out the fabric and tonight she showed me the finished dress. She is amazing and the dress is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It is everything I've dreamed of and more. The picture's just don't do it justice. I just can't wait to try it on my sweet little Ella.

Midway weekend...

We decided we needed a family weekend away...
so we packed the trailer and headed to Wasatch State park for some golfing, shopping in Park City and a little R & R...

The boys were thrilled with the little duck pond. Nothing like throwing rocks at the ducks.

They road bikes and found secret forts to play in.

I'm pretty sure that shoe is clean...

School Days...

The End of the school year means a Field trips to the Zoo...

And a super fun Water Party outside...

Hunter really loved His teacher and friends in first grade.
He wrote his teacher a sweet letter that said she was a great teacher with a good reading voice. I thought that was exactly what a first grade teacher would like to hear. We loved first grade!