California Time with Cannons!

 We headed to California on Saturday after the boys' games and the ward bake sale.

We landed that evening and made it to Shelley's house. We were so glad we could see the Cannons before our Miner reunion started! And it was extra special to be there on Ella's birthday. We love her so much.

We went to church with the Cannons, talked with Anthon in Japan, had a fun birthday dinner with Ella's people (seriously, she's so loved!) and enjoyed a Sunday with them all. Then on Monday we did the LA Zoo (the baby orangutan!) before driving down to Anaheim. We hit the pool with the Miners and got settled in, plus tacos!

We're ready for some Disney days :)

Off to the airport!

They'll always head for the front of the train

Cute airport guys. They're pretty easy.

We made it to cousins. And Bear!

What a treat to be there on Ella's birthday! She's so loved!

A spin in the convertible! The little guys thought this was the coolest.

LA Zoo Day

That baby orangutan had my heart. The hair!

Met up with the Miners!

Calm Before the Trip Storm

This week was all about that pre-trip to do list.

We leave on Friday for our fall break road trip and I'm trying to get things done before we take off! Michael came home Monday from Dallas, and he had a good work trip. Tuesday I volunteered in Camden's class (I help with math every other week) and it's so cute how much he just beams when he sees me. I don't know that I'm doing very much for the class while I'm there (so many aides, it's awesome!) but I do know it makes Camden's day to see me so that's reason enough to go. 

Carrie and I took Jane to try Thai food for her first time during her lunch hour on Wednesday. I love our Young Women so much. They are really such wonderful souls. Thursday night was a little wild -- Michael's annual flu shot party the same night I hosted book club at our house, all before leaving on our trip the next day. It was smooth though. Bennett and I got our flu shots but everyone else is opting for the at-home flu mist this year. Needles are quite the thing around here. 

Tomorrow we leave first thing after school to start our South Dakota road trip! 

This little guy comes in our bed every morning just before 6 and I'm pretty sure we'll always miss that,
even if it's a pretty early wake up call!

Just such a sweetheart.

Spotted -- squirrel feasting on our porch pumpkins.

Time to recycle some paint cans! Feels good to get those out of here.

Ramen mystery shop with dad.

I have no before photo... but just know that this craft supply closet used to be a black hole of mystery. Changing out the carpet upstairs really gave us a reset in all the bedrooms and closets, it just feels like a sloooow process. 

I can't get over these well fed squirrels running around our neighborhood. 
They are so big. This one not so much, so it was good to see him feasting :)

Cousin Visit and Fourth of July

 Michael was on call this week, and we had a full week with Jack, Oliver, and Finn here with us. Cousin time in the summer is so fun!

We went to Spring Park splash pad the first day, and the free lunch truck happened to come by. That is a very appreciated and easy way to feed 7 little boys lunch! We also went on bike rides and did a lot of fort building and backyard playing.

On Wednesday we decorated our driveway into an Under the Sea theme because my neighbor and I planned a chalk fest for the neighborhood. Everyone was out decorating Wednesday and then the night of the 3rd, everyone walked around looking at each other's driveway. It was really nice to have two nights in a row of everyone outside and playing. Summer nights are really just so great, and I love the feeling of bedtime getting later without any stress about that.

Katie's family went home Thursday night and Friday we had a great Fourth. We had a pancake breakfast at the church, went to the parade with the Schmidts and Wilsons, had some downtime during the day, then had a barbecue at the Schmidts house. Michael was on Oral Surgery and Trauma call this year so we didn't risk firework watching. It would have been miserable trying to take two cars to any of the spots or ending up being there without him if he got called out.

Saturday was Parker's baptism and the weekend was full of a lot of prep for Pam's family and prep for our Utah trip. We don't have a lot of empty days this summer but they're full of good things!

Cousins are here!
We are ready for that 7-boy life for a few days!

The cousins loved our bike ride through the jungle.

Library park for lunch and playing

CSU had a booth up at the park to teach kids about brain science.

Lunch from the free lunch truck.
I am obsessed with Fort Collins.

Neighborhood chalk fest!
My neighbor and I planned a night of everyone decorating their driveways and then looking at each other's work the night before the fourth. It turned out so fun.

Downtown parade

What's better than kids at a Fourth of July parade? So happy.

Parade fun with friends.

Fourth of July barbecue with the Schmidts and Wilsons

Parker's Baptism!

We've loved our neighborhood swimming pool this summer.

He's content.

This dude loves the pool,
just not swimming lessons :)

Date night with the Dimonds -- sushi and pinball.

He loves his Kitty so much.

The neighborhood crew is such a cute bunch of kids.

A cherry pie entirely with cherries from our tree!
They're sour, so this was perfect.