Family Camping- AMAZING and Miserable

We just couldn't go a summer without camping so we took the whole family Labor Day weekend and found one last walk-up site up AF canyon. Unfortunately, we found out later that it was the worst site you could get- right next to the parking lot where car lights were shining on our tents until late into the night and everyone was so loud. The older three girls did really well. Lucy....well...not so much. I felt like she was back to being 10 days old and I had to feed her every hour or two to keep her from screaming all night long. We also had to wake up and pack up and leave because we headed to William's baptism the next morning.

But overall it was well worth the memories we created with our girls! We loved "Sliding Rock" and the "caves" and other rock formations we explored. We loved playing games with the girls and building a fire and making smores. We just LOVE being away from the worldly things like media and phone service and daily life and being in God's beautiful creations. God is good!!

Other days we just go up American Fork canyon and hang out. We love to explore our surroundings and find places to climb and play in.

We also LOVE hiking and were sad not to have done it more in the summer/fall, but we went with Bryan and Jennie to Donut Falls. The kids howled like wolves almost the entire time. It was awesome. But Cade and I were very impressed that even on a very steep part (where we lost our way), the girls never once complained. They were happy to be on that trip the whole time. It really gave us hope for family outings in the future!

Random Summer Wrap-up

These are a bunch of random pictures that I want to make sure we remember some events, but don't want to make a billion posts for each event. Lots of note-worthy things though :).

There are sometimes hot air balloons around Pleasant Grove so we go balloon hunting until we find them :). The girls got to get in one before. They though it was pretty cool...except Nora. The fire was TOO LOUD.

Reese has come to love water balloons. She calls them her "blubba family" (blubber). Don't know where that came from. This was my attempt at playing water balloon pinatas but it didn't exactly work so we just squished them over our heads!

Indy (Seidi Innoye Bennett) came to visit and it was so fun catching up! Her kids are ABSOLUTELY adorable. I love all my Nauvoo sisters so much!

Miss Emma lost her first tooth on June 26th at Gma and Gpa Bleak's house. It fell in the grass in the backyard and miraculously I was able to find it! She was SO excited! Now Reese comes and tells me about every day that she has a loose tooth too :). 

Reese is such a hard worker. She saved up all her chore money for about 4 months and got her precious princess tutu she's wanted to badly. It cost her $25 so that was 100 chores to get it! I'm so proud of her.

All three girls did survival swim lessons again this summer to get ready for Lake Chelan and it was Nora's first time. The first 3 days were rough, but after that she was so proud of herself for "listening to my teacher" and doing her best. 

Splash pad time! That is a must in the summer. I usually like to play in the water with the girls, but having Lucy be too tiny didn't make it possible this summer :(.

We've had a Thanksgiving Point membership for two years now and the girls love to go to the Curiosity Museum, Dinosaur Museum and the Farm. This pic is with one of Emma's best friends, Autumn Bailey. I LOVE Autumn and hope her family stays by us for good. She is so sweet and polite and fun and is so good for Emma.

A favorite Family Home Evening activity- life size Angry Birds. The girls and Daddy and I all had a great time!

 I started to work out at my friend Rachel's gym built in her garage. I've loved it because I am much more motivated when someone is there telling me what to do and pushing me. This pic below was in honor of Pioneer day- pushing and pulling our handcart as part of our workout.

I learned that Lucy absolutely HATES to be cold. We went swimming as a family and it all started when I sprayed her back with sunscreen- she screamed and cried like I've never heard come out of her and when we put her in the water she would have NONE OF IT. She hung out in mine or Daddy's arms the rest of the time (out of the water and wrapped in a blanket). 

Reese got her first fish so she can show us that she can take care of an animal. She named her beta "flower".

Our yearly Robin's came back to build their nest this spring.

Nora has had a rough transition with no naps. If she gets a nap in in the daytime she will not go to bed until 10:00 p.m. It doesn't matter if it's a 15 min nap or 2 hour nap. It will be 10:00 p.m. It she does not take a nap, she goes to bed right at 7:00 p.m. which is amazing for Dad and I :).

I love to play in the rain with my girls. Here I kinda look scary in Cades' jacket and crocs :).

The girls first lemonade stand. Emma was SO excited! They also sold bead creations that they made. They made $15 too!