The Great Outdoors

We have had a lot of fun this summer getting out and about and enjoying the great outdoors. What was not so much fun was all the fires. I swear it was hotter sometimes because of them. Even though we couldn't venture far because of gas money and our tires we still had a lot of fun.



One place we really enjoyed was Salem Ponds. We had a nice little picnic lunch there one Sunday.







Being summer we found we had a few weddings to attend. One was for a friend of mine from childhood. I think this was a first for me. The first time I attended a wedding reception for good friend, that I grew up with. I guess I didn't have many childhood friends. Her reception was at a golf course down by Utah Lake.



We also enjoyed a fun trip to the Mt. Timpanogos temple in July. The Provo was closed for cleaning that month, so we drove to American Fork so I could get my monthly temple visit in. Craig kindly watched the boys. After I was done we walked around the temple grounds with the boys. Big H was so upset that he couldn't go inside so only Little H and Little M would pose for a picture.



One of our other ventures found us feeding the ducks down by Utah Lake-- I like this little spot right where the river meets the lake. We stopped by after dropping Craig off at work one day.




Of course, as everyone knows, this summer brought a lot of fires. At the beginning of summer there were several burning all over the state. The effects were seen at our house. There was ash everywhere,



and outside was tinted with a weird sepia like light. It was kind of weird. I tried to capture the moment on camera. I didn't do a great job though.



After our, above mentioned, picnic at Salem Ponds we came home to find smoke billowing out of our local canyon. We drove up to try and get a good picture of it. The smoke looked so thick from far back I could have sworn the fire was just around the corner. The further we drove into the less thick it seemed. And we never got to a spot where we could get a really good picture of the effect.



We also enjoyed taking the boys to a fun sports camp this summer.




And we joined my parents for their wards Book of Mormon activity. The boys loved the play battle scene area.




We've enjoyed ourselves a pretty full summer of fun. I can't believe it's already over.


Did I Forget to Mention. . .

Craig started a new job back in June. Here he is with his certificate saying he passed training. He now works at Teleperformance providing tech support for Verizon. He talks on the phone with people when they are having trouble with their service. So far he really enjoys it.



My brother graduated from POST. I was so happy for him. I hope he finds a job soon because he'll make a great cop.

Baseball Season

Back in June we enjoyed another round of baseball games starring my Nephew K. The boys loved going to the games, and they just can't wait until they are old enough to play. I really thought I had more photos then this, but this was all I could find.

Nephew K did a great job this year. I'm so proud of him for getting involved and trying! And I hope those new snazzy glasses helped him to be able to see the ball better than have before.

Our Summer Full of Projects!

Our Dresser

I was tired of the dresser we had, and I knew we would need a new one for the baby, so I started searching KSL. That way I could have a new dresser and we could rotate our current dressers so the baby would have dresser too.

Before




After



Our Nightstands

Another KSL find.

Before



After



Upstairs Bathroom

We decided to switch the bathroom fixtures around, so I could have somewhere to put my stuff upstairs.

Before




After




The hardwood floor

Our hardwood floor really needed some TLC. We used the yard sale money to complete this project. The floor looks great now!

Before




After



The boys' beds

You already saw this project in the making. Here it is complete and in their room- now if we could only get them to sleep on it.




The boys' dresser

No before picture. This was our dresser, and it is now the boys dresser. The refinish turned out beautiful. Way to go Craig!

In the Good Old Summertime. . .

. . .we picnicked up Hobble Creek Canyon.



Hey good lookin'! What you got cookin'?




. . .we went down to the river to pray. Well, creek and we went to play. And we actually didn't play because the boys were kind of grumpy.



Look Ma! No hands!



Someone wasn't happy about something.



Corn husk on the toe anyone?



. . .we ate!




. . .we held another yard sale. Not nearly as successful as the first. Though it was a success in the fact that we no longer have all that junk in our house. Off to DI it went. Except for this couch. It went to Savers.

August 3-4, 2010: The Great Outdoors

Craig and I love camping. Or maybe we just love the idea of camping. Either way we convinced our selves, yet again, to give camping a try.



We were going to work out all the kinks. We packed the boys special blankets and stuffed animals. We got a fancy tent that had separate rooms so the boys would sleep better- they sleep best when the can't see anyone. We'd- more like I'd- write lists and make sure the packing was organized so we wouldn't have to scramble all over to find things. We'd stay a couple days this time so we could get settled in and used to our surroundings. And, most importantly, we'd camp up the canyon that is 20 minutes away from our house, so that we could just run home if needs be.



Well things didn't work out quite that well. We remembered the boys special blankets and stuffed animals, but we forgot binkies. Of course we were able to grab some since they wouldn't go to sleep anyway- they kept peeking their heads around the room divider- so Craig had to take them for a drive. I packed everything really well and organized, but we didn't have the time I thought we'd have to set up camp, so there we were fumbling around in the dark for things. We stayed just 20 minutes away from home, at a beautiful campground, but we only stayed one night- camping is just too much work to stay one night, but Craig's school schedule interfered with our options to stay longer. I guess it's for the best because the noon heat came on and, even though we were in the mountains, this pregnant woman was on her way to miserable.

It was good that we stayed just 20 minutes from home because we forgot the boys suitcase, and had to run home and get it. And the boys ended up having a cry fest at 3:00 in the morning, and we threw in the towel and drove home. I stayed with the boys, and Craig went back to spend the rest of the night with my nephew.

On the plus side we got some cute pics!

Big H loves the dirt. Oh if you could have only seen the mess he made of himself. Both boys made a mess of themselves. We had to clean them up and change their clothes before we ate because they got so messy.



This is my nephew's trike. The boys love it! We may have to get them one of their own.



This is me after going down to the creek with the boys. They couldn't keep their hands from getting grubby, and they couldn't keep those grubby hands away from mom.



One little boy spilled his Trix on the ground, so two little boys kept trying to eat them. No that is not chocolate all over his face. That is dirt!



Lets get cleaned up and go home. Isn't he so cute?