Camping Reunion

Josh's extended family had a reunion up around the Boise area on Fathers Day weekend. It was so fun to see his cousins that we had not seen in a couple of years. We got there on Friday and set up camp. The kids hiked up the mountain a couple of times, we sat in some hot pools near the river, ate good food, and had great entertainment, and great conversations. Remember we tried camping in our backyard and no one slept outside because of all the weird noises. Lets just say we were a little worried what the kids would be like once it was time for bed. The first night Josh made up a cute story about all the noises you hear while you are camping and after that it was a breeze. They all slept great.


This is our tent.


The kids Spencer was tired and grumpy if you couldn't tell.


Some of the other campers.


Kaitlyn and her huge smore. We found these really big marshmallows that fill the entire graham cracker. The kids never ate the whole thing but it was fun.


Kids coming down from playing on the side of the mountain.



There were seven dogs camping with us and Spencer loved the three big dogs.


Smores


Josh and Jared (his cousin) setting up another tent.


The parents camping in style.

We all had a great time and we can't wait for the next one.

Welcome to the Spa

We have been tired of not being able to play outside for very long due to not so nice weather, so I had to get creative. I thought it would be fun to "go to the spa." I found a homemade recipe for an oatmeal facial scrub and a sugar scrub for your feet (which we didn't get any pictures of maybe next time). At first the kids were so excited to try it but no one wanted the face scrub above the eyes for fear that it would get into their eyes when washing it off. After about two minutes they all wanted it washed off. The foot scrub was funny because when I started to rub it on their feet they started laughing because it tickled. Spencer kept saying owe, owe, owe. After the facial and the foot scrub we moved onto toes and fingers getting painted.



At about this time they were all ready to wash it off.



I love his face in this picture he was so excited to be in on all of this.



After we got done with the girls they thought it was our turn to get in on the facials. And yes they did our facials and our foot scrub. Not too bad. Josh thought this whole idea was crazy.



Moving on to the toes and nails. Yes Josh painted but I did Makenzie and Kaitlyn in the time that it took him to do Hannah and Spencer's two big toes.


I think that the girls loved it and that it will become a new tradition in our house. They are already talking about when we can do it again. I love how excited they were for the whole surprise and the end result. Little things that make me happy. And there was no fighting.

Picnic at the Park

We have not had very nice weather yet, so on the first sunny day we hopped on the idea of eating lunch at the park. Lets just say everyone needed out of the house for awhile. It was only in the sixty's but still sunny. Better than rain.




After we ate they all ran up the hill several times only to roll back down. It just makes me sick but they love it.



They also had a tree that the kids liked to climb in. They are such posers.

My Jump roper

Makenzie's school has a jump roping contest every year. First they see who is the fastest in each classroom and they pick one boy and one girl for every grade. Then they see who is the fastest for the entire school. She was the fastest in her class out of the girls so she got to compete with all of the grades.

This is her warming up.


Before they started they gave a ribbon to all of the kids competing.

She did a good job but the kid to beat had 294 jumps within the minute time. Sadly he took home the trophy. But I am surprised that Makenzie did so well. It was fun to see her up there trying so hard. Her teacher made her that shirt and on the back the whole class signed it.

Battle Wounds

Last night Josh was doing something in the garage and the kids all decided to go ride bikes. They were racing across the street to ride on our neighbors gravel when Makenzie and Spencer collided. Spencer went down and his head hit the asphalt. After screaming and blood dripping down his face we found a big cut and a huge goose egg on his forehead. We decided this was a trip to the ER. Of all the weekends to go this one happened to be the one Josh's mom was not working and on vacation.

On the way to the ER.


The doctor looked at it and determined that instead of doing stitches he would put dermabond(like super glue)on instead. So this is him eating his Popsicle after he was done.



He is a bit happier now that no one is touching his head. The glue is still shiny today.

I am surprised we have not been in to the ER before this. Spencer is our most active child, he is always jumping off of things counters, dressers you name it or climbing things. But look at how cute and happy is even after all that.

Kids in training.

Josh had gone out to mow the lawn and when I looked out the window this is what I saw.
Spencer helping daddy.


Makenzie started to help Josh last year and is so excited to be helping again.


When Josh is out mowing the lawn the kids are right out there to help him, they love to help pull weeds and do what we are doing out in the yard. I think it is very cute that Spencer follows Josh around to help his dad work if its fixing a bike, or mowing the lawn, or pulling weeds with me, or washing the cars. He always has to be holding a tool or whatever we have so he can help.

Motorcycles

We decided that after we had gotten all of our chores done we would do something fun. We loaded up the bikes. We borrowed Josh's parents four wheeler because Josh's bike is leaking fuel when it is running. So my bike and the four wheeler and went up to Kelly Canyon. Little did we know how busy it was going to be up there. The snow still had not melted in some spots. We first started out with Makenzie, Josh, and Kaitlyn on my bike.



And Spencer, me, and Hannah on the four wheeler.


We have been up riding here before so we went to the trails of the ones we knew. We started up one and got maybe a fourth of the way up and started to hit snow. Josh decided to keep going until it turned into mostly snow and no trail. When we got to that point we decided to turn around because he was sliding everywhere. The kids got on with me and Josh rode out sliding everywhere (not sure if it was on purpose having fun, or truly sliding). We got back down onto the main road and Makenzie and Spencer hoped on with Josh and off we went to find another trail. We came across this one that takes you to a look out area. Awesome.


And of course you always get one of these pictures.


I love that we can decide to go for a ride not very far away see some great sites, get the kids out of the house, and enjoy our time with each other. Everyone has fun there is a little fighting of who rides with who but for the most part enjoyable.