More happy summer

I loved some of the every-day shots my mom took of the summer. It seems like when I had my camera out it was to try and get one great shot of the kids, but when I saw hers I was so happy that she had just captured what our summer was really like every day.

Although my picture-taking efforts did turn out some cute ones of everybody as well.

My cousins wedding reception made for a cute backdrop to try to get some pictures of the baby with everyone. And while he didn't always perform, there were still some cute shots!

Although the most winning photo of the whole summer had to go to Grammy:

I couldn't believe it.  I take hundreds of shots with my boys trying to get a decent one with everyone looking at the camera, no one picking their nose, no one holding toys up for the camera, pulling faces or throwing a tantrum... and it NEVER happens. My Christmas cards usually involve body parts and faces from about 17 different pictures being photoshopped together. So when I said, hey, sit here with the boys, and we got a perfect shot on the first try - and a picture I adore - it was nothing short of monumental.  Now that picture really sums up their summer. Just a natural, casual picture out in the front yard on a beautiful day with their Grammy.

It was the best.

(She deserves a good picture with them.  She put up with A LOT this summer.  And is still recovering.  :)

Vacation

We had the BEST summer in Utah. I never realized how blissful Utah is for having children until now. Everything is so accessible!  So much to do with kids. And people expect that you have multiple kids so prices are more reasonable and places are set up to accommodate it. Blissful grass that you can run around in barefoot all summer (and people that don't yell at you for letting your kids do so). For living in a tropical location, we sure have the nastiest crab grass here. Ouch. Anyhow, we had our fill of parks and playgrounds, bounce houses, children's museums, indoor play lands, hide-and-go-seek, ice cream and more ice cream.... Anyhow, as soon as we landed in Utah I saw a lady pushing 2 kids in a double stroller while carrying a baby in the front pack and I knew I was HOME!  :)

Here we were at the airport ready to go (ok, well, this was the first failed attempt).  But I loved seeing the boys walking through the airport carrying their lunchboxes.

Burning through all my planned entertainment.

Spent lots of time with cousins.  Boys, lots of boys.  Leading to lots of time spent like this:

 

Lots of time in the backyard - really the point of my trip.  I just wanted my kids to have a normal "kid" summer with a backyard and sprinklers and walking down the street to swimming lessons.  And bearable temperatures.  It was exactly what we got.  The boys were a bit hard to convince at first. They're really not used to being out that much because in our life it's an "outing" to go outside - meaning everyone has to be dressed, ready, bags packed to go out, no one napping.... So in Utah when I'd first say "Let's go outside!" they were all like, "No, we want to stay inside." And then when I'd get them out, every few minutes I'd have to go fetch someone out who had gone back in.  Finally they got used to it and loved being out. I was mad I didn't have my camera though - the first time we ran through the sprinklers was probably the most sheer delight I have ever seen out of Cash.  He was just screaming and yelling, "WOOOO!!! I LOVE this!!" all over the place.  It was so cute.  (The twins were terrified and wouldn't go near the sprinklers.)

 

 

 

We got to meet up with Brooke and her boys a few times while we were there which was great. Also our friend Rochelle who I probably haven't seen since college.

 

And some good old family entertainment.

 

(And I won for the worst pores on my nose. How lame is that?!)



 

 

And here are the kids at swimming lessons.  I kept wondering why Ashton was coming home with dry hair when all the other kids were wet, and then the day the parents came to watch they had them duck under the water - one...two...three! And there goes Ashton, eyes squeezed shut, big breath of air in, holding his breath - and ducks all the way in...until his chin is under water. And stops there. And the teacher keeps saying, "Maybe you can get your eyes in this time!" Too bad I didn't get a picture, it was pretty funny.

 

And gymnastics:

Enough for now.
I'm tired.

Too big

This is to give you an idea of just how much the little baby outgrew his clothes while we were on vacation - this picture was on the flight home.  I left here with a 4 month old baby - the biggest clothes I took were 6-12 months. I had no idea that wouldn't be enough.  These same pajamas he burst through in July were the same ones the twins were still wearing at Christmas (they were born the same time of year - end of February).  My kids are all big, but so far Diesel takes the cake.