Summer Fun!

Train Ride to the Air Show

We took the train to the Air Show.  The kids were soooooo  excited to ride on the train! Ella found a real telephone at the station.  Somehow, even though telephones no longer look like this, she knew exactly what to do with it.  This occupied her the whole time we waited for the train.

 Mason was really excited to ride the train.  He kept staring at the tracks and asking... "is it coming yet??" 

We saw some pretty awesome things at the air show! The kids loved climbing in all the air crafts and we loved watching the show overhead.  These pilots were pretty amazing!

Mason had to do some push ups to win some prizes.  We were pretty proud of our little six year old. :o)

 FAMILY REUNION

 BEAR WORLD

There were all sorts of rides and Ella had no fear.  She went on spinning toys, roller coasters, and all the other rides, but her favorite was the train.  So cute!

Mason liked MOST of the rides, but especially would not try the roller coaster.  These cars that went up and down and all around were pretty cool.  His cousins even let him be the driver! 

 Then there was a petting zoo.  They had lots of little animals and they even had deer! It was so fun for the kids to chase and touch all the animals.  :o)

Let's see how Mason measures up to a bear.... hmmmm!

Mason petting a deer.

 Family Bike Ride

Now for a family bike ride.  All of the kids actually made it 6 miles! They were such troopers.  We went on a trail that took us around the Idaho Falls Temple.  It was so pretty!

We actually took Ella in more of a baby seat, but when we stopped to take pictures she helped herself to one of the other kids' bikes.  Our little biker! She tries so hard to be as big as the others...

 Family Fourth of July 5K

We all ran a 5k and since this would be my second one with the kids and Josh knows I like to be a little competitive, poor Josh volunteered to take the kids on this one and let me go ahead.  It was pretty fun! The only disappointment was that because we signed up as a team they wouldn't let me win an individual prize.  I got over it... :o)

 Kids Bike Race.... 

24th of July

Mason raced ahead like the cool kid that he is and Ella waved to every person as though she were a princess on a float.  So cute!

24th of July Festivities

Mason and Ella climbed up the slide together.  He helped her up and let her go down first.... such a gentleman.  Haha!

Ella is never afraid of anything, but when she saw the Chick Filet clown riding the cow train she refused to get in and even was afraid for me when I got in.  Poor thing. :o)

Happy Birthday Mason!

He always chooses what cake he wants, but this year we had to wait until last minute to decide  because he kept changing his mind.  It went from Ninja Turtles (like last year), to Planes, to Jake and the Neverland Pirates, to dinosaurs, to superhero squad, and finally to Planes again.  We kind of had to cut him off the day before and tell him no more changes...  He opted for chocolate cake (no surprise) and Kit-Kat frosting on the inside.  Sounded interesting, but turned out to  be a very delicious choice!  I would definitely do Kit-Kats again. :o)

This kid loves his birthday!! He is one that walks around like a king all day and says... "can I do.... because its my birthday?"  To be honest though, Mason can find a way to make any day special if it seems like it could get him what he wants.  He is so creative!  Most days of the week Mason will ask me "can we have donuts for breakfast because it's a special day"?  I love his enthusiasm!

This year his big present was a bike.  He keeps complaining that his other bike is not as fast as his friends so he needed bigger tires.  Josh really liked University of Utah Red and Black.  Mason loved it too!

 We had a bunch of kids over for his birthday party later on in the day.  It turned out bigger than we expected!  We had about 20 kids show up and it was seriously crazy, but so much fun!! We had several activities planned, but the best was when the kids (representing the fire and rescue planes) got to chase Josh (representing the fire) with water balloons and squirt guns.  It was hilarious!! The kids really got into it and Josh really got his workout. :o)

 Happy Birthday buddy! We love you so much and can't believe you are already six years old!!

Mason is such a sweet, tenderhearted little guy.  He is so creative and so sweet to his sister.  We are so lucky to be his parents. :o)

Birthday Time....

My kids love birthday parties! This was their cousin Taizley's Birthday.  There is nothing better than slides, swimming, and cupcakes in the eyes of a child.

Taizley and Ella.... Little cousins two months apart.  They are so cute together! Bounce houses are seriously the most amazing things ever! The kids could have played in them all day long!

There's my boy.  He was the one chasing his cousins around with a water gun.... and being chased as well.  He must have changed in and out of his swimsuit at least three times because he just didn't want to get wet.  Then it happened and there was not stopping it.

My little cheeser!! She is such a cutie.  I love that she loves pictures!

Even though she loves pictures and usually will pose if she is in a moment of fun, nothing could take her away from this purple frosted cupcake.  Thank you Mason for pausing before diving into that cupcake.  I know it took some major self control! :o)

Picnic Time

Mason love, love, loves picnics.  During the winter he wants to have picnics on the carpet with blankets, and in the summer he loves them on the trampoline, the grass, his mini table outside, and anywhere else he could possible think of for eating, but his favorite spot is by the river at a park nearby.  We spent a very small time eating, and a very large of amount of time throwing "stuff" into the water.  It was time to go after I had to chase Ella's shoe and get it out before it went through the bars at the end.  Little stinker Ella.  :o) I turned my head and laughed when she thought she was funny throwing her sandwich and carrots in the water, but when the shoe came off her foot, I couldn't move fast enough to stop her.  We love picnics!! We may do the next one away from the water though... haha!

Coolest Splash Park Ever

 I had a wedding shower to go to with my sisters on Saturday, so Josh took the kids to the splash park! They had a blast! Josh sent me a video of them running through the shooting water and I was so sad to be missing it.  I am not used to being the one missing out on the kids and all their cuteness!

Frosties and Snow Cones

 We went with my sister and her kids to get frosties and snow cones.  For those who didn't think they would like snow cones we got kiddie sized frosties.  Ella decided to try both! My favorite flavor... Coconut!! Yummy! Okay so it's the only flavor I've tried in years, but it was so delicious! My nephew got coconut with cream on top! The cream was just the right touch! So good on a these hot days!

Last Day of School... Time to celebrate!

We met one of my best friends at the Animal Farm at Thanksgiving Point.  It was so much fun!

Ella is quite the little climber these days! Such a cutie!

 Mason rode the ponies twice this time.  He was even brave enough to sit on one of the bigger horses!  He is getting way too brave! He used to be such a timid, little guy.  I can't believe he will be on to first grade next year.  Oh boy.... Here come the tears.  Why is it so sad to let your kids grow up?!

 Last time we were at the farm Ella was a little nervous and wouldn't ride the ponies, but this time she only got nervous when they began to move and then with a little encouragement she was off!  All I had to do was tell her how big she was...  These days her favorite word is "me".  She wants to do almost everything by herself like her brother does.

 Mason and Ella love hanging out with Ella and Sophie.  They are all so cute together! Here they go on a horse drawn hay ride! So fun!!