A visit with the Colvin Family!

Our good friends from Law School came to Idaho Falls to visit over the 4th of July weekend.  Kyle is from here so they came to visit his family...and we'd like to think us too. :) They came over Tuesday afternoon and we all caught up and seemed like we were still living back in Orem one door down from each other! We went to dinner at Cafe Rio (just like old times). Then we went to Kyle's sister's for a little birthday party for cute little Jones who turns one the end of this month. We got together for a bit on Wednesday too.  Had a BBQ for lunch and let the kids play and boys watch sports (the women's world cup!) while Lesley and I went and did a little shopping. Thanks for making time for us Colvin family!  It was so good to see you and to have friends like you!

This doesn't have to do with the Colvins...Carter just made this cup holder the day the Colvins came over out of Mike's belt.  I was impressed.  Maybe we'll try to market the idea. :)

Carter took this picture of us.  I again was impressed.

Carter and Ella picked up right where they left off.  It was so cute to see them play together again.  Ella has grown up so much since we saw her last.  Still so adorable!

Jones kept grabbing at Emory's "hair" I think he was wondering where all of hers was! 

The boys....

Playing in the sprinklers at Kyle's parents house.

I think this picture is so cute.  I wish I knew what she was thinking about here. 

Carter's little fist makes me laugh.  I don't think he was posing like this..I think I just happened to shoot the picture at a funny time.  

Cute little blondies!  Of course there are no pictures of Lesley and I since we are always taking the pictures.  I am excited to see what great pictures Lesley got since she is the photographer!

4th of July!

July has been the best month ever so far!  We have done so many fun things.  That is why I haven't blogged in a couple weeks yet again.  I have TONS to post though because we have been going non-stop.  We had such a great 4th of July. We did fireworks with some friends the Bailey's on the Saturday before in an empty parking lot across from our complex.  On the 4th the kids and I made homemade Oreos in the morning, we went to a BBQ at the Frew's that evening, and then met up with the Bailey's that night to watch the big Idaho Falls Fireworks.  It was such a nice, low-key day. 

Carter loved doing sparklers.  He was very careful NOT to touch the stick after the sparkler went out since he did that a few years ago and burned his little fingers.

Carter was enthralled with the fireworks.  Good thing the Bailey's got better fireworks...ours were pretty weak.
P.S. Emory did NOT like the fireworks!  She cried and wanted to be held the entire time.

I liked the shadows on the wall when the "flashers" went off.

After seriously the best hamburgers we've had in a long time Kelly did a little firework show.  Emory did much better with these.  I think since it was still pretty light they weren't as scary.

I LOVE these pictures of Emory.  She was posing like crazy!  

Old Glory

To prove that I was there. :)

Carter enjoying the big IF firework show.  They didn't start until almost 10:20, but both kids did surprisingly well staying up so late.  We watched the fireworks from FedEx  out by the airport.  It was a great spot.  Not too close that it scared Emory and we could still see it all and it wasn't so busy and hard to get home when the show was over. Thanks Bailey Family for inviting us! :)

Michael was there for all of it too.  I need to work on getting more pictures of people other than our children I think. :)

We LOVE Summer!

This post and the previous 2 or 3 are all about why I haven't been blogging the past few weeks.  We've been out enjoying the sunshine!  Summer finally found us here in Idaho Falls and we couldn't be happier.  We spend our days going on walks, finding new parks, going to playgroups, going to the zoo, playing with bugs, riding bikes, eating ice cream and Otter Pops!  So, sorry for the few of you who I'm sure have been wondering what we've been up to! :)  Here it is!  We don't want summer to ever end!

Carter has been LOVING his new bike.  I walk and push Emory in the stroller while he cruises around the neighborhood.  We all get some great exercise....well, all of us but Emory I guess!  :) 

When we got home from a ride/walk I took the stroller up the stairs first.  When to check on Emory's progress up the stairs I found her wearing Carter's helmet like this!  It's a miracle she made it to the top.

Packages from Grandma make our day!  My Mom sent a fun summer package with yummy treats, goggles, squirt guns, beach towels and other little toys for the kids.  It made out day!  Carter wears his goggles daily in the tub.  :)

Emory enjoyed her animal crackers!

Sometimes nothing hits the spot in the summer like McD's ice cream cones!

We love rollie-pollies.

We've gone for a few walks/rides around the greenbelt. Here we stopped for a little rest on one of the tree stump benches.  We clocked it tonight and it is 2.6 miles.  I'm amazed that Carter just rides along and loves every minute of it!  Tonight he did fall asleep on the way home though.  2.6 mile bike ride right before bed=very tired little boy!

I love this one!  They can have so much fun together.

We stopped and had our snack on this bigger stump bench on the other side of the river.

This temple has become one of my favorites.  It is so beautiful and in such a beautiful location.

After our trek around the green belt we stopped at a park.  Carter did a great job pushing Emory on the swings.

Another trip to the zoo.  I loved these orange Poppies.

The classic lion drinking fountain.

I love when trees grow up and into each other creating a little canopy over paths or roads.  This is really one of my favorite things in nature.

At yet another new park.  Carter being silly while enjoying his snack.

This morning we watched a friend's 4 children.  I was a little worried about having 6 kids, mainly because Emory in the past hasn't liked me holding other people's babies, but I told her that a baby was coming today.  She did much better!  I let her hold the baby which she LOVED!   Also the baby slept almost the whole time.  

Last night when I was talking to Emory about the baby coming over in the morning I asked her if she was going to help me with the baby, to which she replied "No".  I then asked if she would be nice to the baby, to which she said "No".  I said you have to at least be nice to the baby...Emory's response: bursting into tears. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised to see how well she did with her.

  Carter put on his bike helmet and gave his hard hat to Eli so they could play football!