What a cute little first grader!

Doesn't every mom have to post back to school pictures??

Of course they do!

Collin thinks he is pretty big stuff for being in the first grade.

When I asked Collin what he did today he said, "We had two recesses!" Typical. All he remembers is the recess. Later he did remember that they worked on something involving big and small, made a storybook, and he remarked on how long of a day it was. Yep, going from half a day to a full day is quite different. I think he'll do okay. I'm just hoping when his sissy goes back to school on Wednesday she'll be able to handle a full day too.

Collin was sooooo excited that Kolton and Blake, his two best friends, were in his class. He also said that he had new kids in his class. "I should have made one of them a friend today," he said looking thoughtful. "I'll do it tomorrow." Isn't he cute!

After school we celebrated his first day with popcorn and Nestle chocolate Sno-Caps. He kept coming back to the chocolate saying, "I'm attracted to these!" That's one way of putting it...

Welcome to the first grade Collin!

Welcome to school going by in a

blink of an eye mom and dad. :(

Hogle Zoo

Our 2009 Lagoon Trip

Ahhhh,
water slides, amusement park rides,
entertainment, and food.

Is there anything better?

I think we may have started a new summer tradition down in Farmington, Utah. Last year only Eric and I headed to Lagoon. This year we brought along Collin, my cousin Kaitlyn, and my mother in law Tina. We were really bummed that Larry couldn't go. This was supposed to be his birthday trip! I know he would have had a blast in the water park. I just really hope we can get him there next year. We also missed Carlee. We made the decision for her to stay home with my mom this year. She is just too little to go on much of anything. She would have loved splashing in the water park though!

The sun was doing a great job of heating things up so we headed to Lagoon-A-Beach first. Eric probably would have spent the entire time there if we would have let him! As it was we spent most of our time on Eric's favorite attraction where you go down little curvy slides on a tube and splash into pools of water. (No idea what it was called.) The line goes quicker so you can have fun without the long wait involved on the other slides. Kaitlyn and Collin wouldn't try the body slides. I didn't want to either though since I tried them last year. I just think the tube rides are more fun. Tina went down a big body slide though! Way to go!

I didn't get any pictures at the water park but I did get some pics on some of the amusement rides:

Poor Collin had to ride the helicopter himself since everyone else was too tall. I don't think he really cared though.

We went on the Terroride and Collin put on his best scared face. Unfortunately, he really was scared! He does not do good in the dark.

Tina convinced Kaitlyn and I to ride the Jet Star with her. Yikes! I didn't really like it. Now I was the one who was scared.

Isn't Collin getting to be a handsome boy!
He was riding on the ski lift thingy with his daddy.

View of the fountain from above.

Kaitlyn and Tina rode in the car ahead of them.

Nice view of the swings!

And of this one, whatever it was called.
I'll have to try it next year.

Where was I while the others were riding? I took a walk and beat them to the other end by like five minutes or so. It's so much faster to just walk. Plus, to tell you the truth, I hate riding that thing! My fear of heights gets me again. Yeah, I'm a wimp, what about it?

When the others finally caught up to me we passed by this gentleman. Maybe he was a Carney. He could have been; just look at his feet! Ew! He showed us how he could turn them backwards and walk. Talk about flexible joints!

We all got completely soaked from head to toe after riding on Rattlesnake Rapids. I made the mistake of wearing my blue jean capris that day and it took for-e-ver to dry out.

Collin on the train.

Aren't these two precious! I took this while Tina and Eric stood in line for this:

The rest of us chickened out and didn't ride it.

This first drop looked too scary to me. Like I said, I'm a wimp. Next year I need to ride it first and get it over with. Then maybe I won't chicken out! Maybe...

Collin was waiting in line to go on the Tidal Wave for a second time but his stomach was upset. Tina and I got in line for the swings instead. This time Eric wimped out. Hee hee! He said the swings make him sick.

The kids made new friends while waiting for us.

Yaw hoo! So much fun!

All us girls rode the scrambler together. I thought it might make me sick but I did okay on it. I actually didn't get really sick until the last ride when we rode the old rickety roller coaster again. Thank goodness it was the last ride! That roller coaster I can handle better than the others. I don't know why. Anyways, the park was closing soon so we hurried up and got a pretzel and caught the end of one of the music shows. I absolutely love watching the entertainment there! The performers love what they do so it makes watching them fun.

Overall it was a fun trip. We can't wait to go back next year. Hopefully we will get even more of our family there. That includes you too mom and dad! Start planning!

Copper Basin Campground

When you think of camping don't you just naturally think of S'mores? I know I do! This year we did a different kind of roasting. I never would have thought of it in a million years, but thanks to my brother and sister in law we were introduced to a new campfire favorite. What was it?

Can you tell?

That's right...it's Starburst candy!

I was skeptical at first. How were the sweet little candies going to hang on without slipping off? Well, for the most part they did hang on. Would the candy even taste any different? Yes! The outside was crystallized and the inside was ooey, gooey, warm and chewy. Yum! Seriously, try it on your next campout. You won't be sorry.

I think Kaitlyn roasted the most. She was loving them!

We were lucky that one of our favorite Copper Basin campsites was available. In this campsite was a little mountain trail that leads to a meadow. The kids were heading partway up the trail with Collin's little bike and then racing back down.

Woo hoo!

Go Collin!

Go Kaitlyn!

They even convinced Metny into giving Kaitlyn a ride down with her. You are such a good sport Metny! We tried to take a few bike rides on the road but Collin kept crashing or complaining that we had to ride his way. Needless to say, we didn't go too go far.

Oh well, I think Collin had more fun in the dirt anyways...

...and racing boats down the stream.

He was so cute.

I just can't believe Carlee didn't get as dirty as last year. I was prepared to take home a little girl with more dirt than hair and with two shining white eyes blinking under a soot covered face. Maybe she wasn't as dirty because she can walk better this year although she didn't really play much in the dirt at all.

Well, except when she helped me build a stick garden!


We had so much fun (for the most part)! It was just so nice to get together with my family to play cards, enjoy each others company, and enjoy nature. We missed Matt's campfire entertainment involving a lighter though! Maybe he'll come next year. Thanks fam for all your hard work putting this camping trip together. It was exhausting but fun!

August 15th Green Lake Trip

I am finally getting around to posting some pictures. Whoo hoo! What with camping, unpacking, repacking, heading to Lagoon and the zoo, unpacking again, plus being completely lazy this Saturday and Sunday, I haven't had the time! Okay so I could have posted sometime this weekend, but like I said, too lazy. So without further adieu, here they are. Our pics going up to Green Lake!!

First of all, I must tell you that it felt like fall and not summer. We haven't really had much of a summer weather wise. We all bundled up in coats, hats, gloves and layers. It turned out to be a very good thing for two reasons.

Number 1: We wrecked on the motorbike. That's right, we wrecked. Little miss Carlee was holding onto the front. Eric was in the middle and I was hanging on the back. Usually that would be just fine but as it turns out the fallen tree up the trail didn't think so. We smacked into it and we all tumbled over to the right. Thankfully Carlee and I only scraped up our knees a little. Eric's hand got all cut up (yuck!) but at least the gloves he was wearing protected him somewhat. Carlee's hat and coat saved her from being scraped up too. She was a trooper though and handled it fine except for a brief stint of not wanting to get back on the bike. Who could blame her? I know if Collin had been the one in the wreck it would have been near impossible getting him back on. Plus we would have seen a lot more tears. Carlee is much tougher than her brother.

Number 2: We were greeted at the end of our motorbike ride with snow. SNOW! In August! Soooo glad we were dressed warm because it was freezing!!

We can only take the motorbikes up so far before we have to get our lazy butts off and climb the rest of the way. Carlee only wanted her mama to carry her up the mountainside. Why Carlee why! I had to oblige even though I was huffing and puffing and had to take a few, okay more like 10, breaks.

We are almost there!

The poor little flowers are cold! The snow came down in little balls which I was told still doesn't qualify as hail.

Our first view of the lake was so rewarding because now we could rest! Oh, plus it was beautiful of course.

Backside of the lake.

Cute Mr. Wayne was nice enough to pose for a quick picture.

This trip was the first time we have EVER built a fire at Green Lake. It is usually so hot that we have to shed clothes not put more on.

Carlee was worn out by the time we got there so she laid by the fire and napped for awhile under an umbrella. I'm so glad I remembered to bring umbrellas! I thought I would be using them for shade though, not for snow cover.

I had to take this picture because Kaitlyn thought it was funny that crumbs were sticking to Carlee's booger nose.

Everyone was ready to do some fishing and see if they could pluck out some of the yummy red-fleshed fish. They are the yummiest! Don't know what kind they are though...

Eric of course got the first fish.
Carlee giggled in glee as it wiggled!

Eric is always the first and last one fishing.
Maybe that's why he catches the most...

Everyone else had fun fishing too. Despite getting wet.

Go Kevin!

Tauna, Kaitlyn, Collin and I made our way around the entire lake for some exploring. Aren't the kids cute!

Kaitlyn was dared to climb up to the snow pile by her uncle Kevin so up she went.

She brought back a sample in her candy bag but it didn't last very long.

Kaitlyn and I hiked up one hill so we can see the upcoming storm. We were just hoping it wouldn't come and get us before we got back down the mountain. She climbed up this tree below right before she *shudder* fell off it. I tried to catch her but she biffed it too fast. The poor girl fell right onto a sharp rock. I felt so bad! Thankfully she only got a bruise and scratches on her back.

Turned out to be a cute picture though!

We had a fun time despite the accidents, snow, and poor quantity of fish. At least Carlee let daddy pack her down the mountain on the way back and even got back on the motorbike with him! I just hope next year will be back to all of its sunny glory.