We ended summer with a bang this year. Every other year we like to go to this particular cabin in Cascade, Idaho. To say the kids love it would be an understatement- they absolutely adore it. After the first couple of days Travis and I were saying that they'd probably prefer the cabin over Disneyland.
The first day we unpacked and just relaxed around the cabin. We bought a new hammock just for the trip and it was a big hit!
Ginger just loved the squirrels and chipmunks which are everywhere.
We actually saw a family of deer visit our cabin a couple mornings! A doe and two fawn would come by and eat around the cabin. The third morning we were there, Travis and I awoke to sounds coming from our window. We opened the curtain and the entire family was RIGHT THERE eating at some vines growing up the cabin! It was amazing!
You can't see it, but the doe and her fawns are down by those rocks.
Day two consisted of more relaxing/playing around the cabin and then down to the lake to cool off! We got a small inflatable boat to tow someone/supplies when we went kayaking, but alas, we couldn't take the kayaks this time (we couldn't fit them along with all our other stuff), but we did bring the little boat!
On Wednesday we went up to beautiful Ponderosa State Park and had a fun family hike. Where did this little chubby boy go?
2014
2018
A usual highlight of these hikes is picking huckleberries along the way to use in our pancakes the next morning, but this year we were so surprised to find a record number of them! Violet was eating them by the handful.
That night after a delicious dutch oven lasagna by Travis, we had s'mores around the fire pit.
The next day the kids helped Travis make our traditional huckleberry pancakes. So good!
In go the huckleberries!
Delicious!
Then it was another day of outside play and an afternoon at the lake. Can't get enough of it. Before, however, the kids found Finding Nemo ("Buscando a Nemo") downstairs and asked to watch it during Ginger's nap. It's now their new favorite movie (Christmas idea!).
Travis cuddling with Violet and catching some Zzzzs...
At the lake I couldn't figure out why Ginger was so upset. Then I realized it was because I forgot to put a swim diaper on her! I was going to do it once we got to the lake and I totally forgot. The poor thing felt so uncomfortable with this GIGANTIC wet diaper hanging off of her. "Terrible mother" moment right there.
I'm so sorry, Ginger!
Unfortunately, Friday came too fast and we had to leave. However, that was not the end of the trip! We planned on stopping for the night at Lava Hot Springs (at a some-what shady place, but it's was just to lay our heads) and go tubing on the river the next day! Oh my goodness...SO.MUCH.FUN!!!
I was hesitant to let Ginger go, so we originally planned on Travis and I switching off with the older kids. But after Travis went the first time he felt certain that even Ginger could handle it, so we tried it! She was a little indifferent to the experience but it was so fun to share a huge tube as a family. I'm so sad I didn't get pictures of it. But next time we will!
We went down about 4x's before the kids started to get tired. We had lunch at their local restaurant that's famous for their scones. After that we had planned on going to the local pool, but we decided we were all too tired and decided to call it a day and head home. But not before stopping by the local playground.
It's a horse made from a tire!
We had an amazing trip! It was certainly the highlight of the summer and I know the kids will always remember the memories they make here!
If I could give July a theme this summer, it would be "family". We've spent so much quality time together that it really strengthened relationships within our immediate family and extended family.
We celebrated the 4th in our usual fashion, hot air balloons and doughnuts, followed by a very American barbecue lunch we threw for our ward friends.
That evening we joined the Talbots for fireworks and treats. We were so tired by the end of the day, the thought of staying up till dark was too much. Luckily our kids were also too tired and only wanted to see the daytime fireworks (parachutes and tanks) anyway. Yes!
We've really enjoyed time with cousins this summer. Britain and Jaxon and Laykin and Violet just love being together. Language barrier or not, they just LOVE playing together.
My Mamita passed away the first of the month, which was very bittersweet. She was pretty frail and had suffered a lot of ailments (90 years old), so we at least had the comfort that she was no longer suffering and that she had lived a very long life. She was one of the first pioneers of the LDS church in Mexico, and we are so grateful for her sacrifice to join the church and serve a mission even when her family shunned her for it. It's really amazing the effect her decision had in all our lives.
We made the decision to drive to LA for the funeral. Travis said we would regret it if we didn't. It was 108 degrees in the middle of a scorching heat wave, but I still don't regret it.
More cousin time.
Jaxon had Bright Ideas Summer Camp through the Alpine School District gifted program. He loved it so much, he's still talking about it and playing with the things they concocted weeks later.
No time in between a birthday party and Lego club for Free Slurpee Day? I don't think so!
Violet has really caught a reading bug these last few months. This summer we've let the kids pretty much read themselves to sleep. I don't care how late it makes them stay up (usually no later than 9), I figure summer is the only time of year where reading is more important than sleeping. Besides, they can always sleep in. And if they sleep in, guess who else is sleeping in? Win-win!!
We've enjoyed a couple fun birthday parties...
And Ginger has demonstrated the same animal-loving characteristics as her sister.
Playing piano together
We splurged and got this swing for the front tree. Best summer toy ever!
More cousin time, this time up the canyon with the Anderson cousins. The kids got to float little wooden boats and held them by a string.
These two are always in cahoots with each other...
And guess who decided that she needed a haircut? Violet's first ever haircut, and she did it herself. Apparently it was Jaxon's idea. Like I said, in cahoots with each other.
And that sums of part 2 of 3 of our adventurous summer! Part 3 is the big finale!
Now that summer is a third of the way over, here's some of the exciting adventures we've had so far!
June was chalk full of swim lessons. Actually, the kids pretty much wore swimming suits nearly all day every day. It was so fun to see them improve over the weeks and see what amazing progress they made. I was very impressed.
Here's Violet enjoying her post-lesson hot tub time. I love how people try to use whatever Spanish they can with Violet (I never ask them to). Her swim teacher would count to 10 in Spanish for her.
Violet also had her first dance class at BYU. She had so much fun, and she was pretty good at it too!
I think she's got some natural talent.
And speaking of trying new things- Jaxon's now taking piano lessons! Travis' parents were so kind to offer us one of their pianos. It's only been a week (I'm teaching him for now), but he's doing very well and learning quickly. What I've loved most is seeing how it's challenging for him, but that he keeps trying and barely complains about it because he WANTS to learn.
This is day #3 of piano practice-
Summer is also the time for scrapes and bruises, and the kids have received plenty of those, especially this little girl. She was trying Jaxon's bike for the first time...and downhill. (Head+curb-helmet=ouch!)
Hopefully she's learned the importance of wearing her helmet!
The kids can see the Kimball Tower from our backyard, and for some weird reason they're always calling out to it- things like, "Hey! BYU! Come here! Why won't you come here? BYU! Come to our party!" and things like that. They're just kind of funny like that. So we stopped by on our way to the Eyring Center and let them talk to it face to face. They got a kick out of that. "Hey, BYU! Why didn't you come to our party?!" The students got a kick out of it, seeing two kids yelling at a building in Spanish.
The kids have loved going to the local elementary for their free breakfast and lunch program. And I don't mind it myself if it saves me a little money. :) And I figure Jaxon could benefit from some pre-1st grade cafeteria experience.
We enjoyed Kneaders free french toast for Fathers Day.
Ginger was pouting at Travis so he returned the face
We had a sporadic cousins-tramp with sprinkler-pizza party that was fun.
And this one is just all smiles about everything.
Sometimes I call her Curly.
So far summer has been very good to us. Can't wait for July's adventures!
"Look mom, square root!" Yes. A square root Cheeto in his lunch. He thought this was the best thing ever. I will show this to his future-wife one day.
