Utah - Week 1

We've been in Utah for a week and a half, and I'm already exhausted. It's so much fun, but we go like crazy when we're here to try and fit everything in. Here are a few highlights from the first 10 days...

 We always have a "Welcome" sign waiting for us when we come, the kids love it.

 Mitchell getting a hug from Grandpa.

 Cambrie playing Water Balloon Baseball with cousins.

 Mitchell, Max, and Ty enjoying the view of the orchard.

 Gabi, Tanz, Cambrie, and our dear friend, Kirk in the hammock. The kids spend a lot of time in this hammock!

 Drew and Grandma going for a ride in the orchard (probably to check on some robin eggs).

 My dad sets the camper up for the kids each summer so they can sleep in it. This is Max and Ty getting comfy for the night.

 Breakfast in the camper (Max, Drew's friend Blake, Drew, and Mitchell).

 The kids go pick cherries almost every day, so good! The cherries are the only thing ready to pick right now on the farm.

 Tanz, Cambrie, Liz, and Gabi, hanging out on the deck. These girls have so much fun together, it's going to be hard for them to say goodbye!

 Sorry about the sideways picture...Grandpa and the kids going for an evening ride. Mitchell has to go on the 4-wheeler right when he wakes up, and then just before bed (in addition to the many rides during the day). They go help my dad change the water while he's irrigating, and they always have a few birds' nests to check on too.

 The kids while visiting Joel's grave.

 7-Peaks Water Park, with our friends, the Olsens.

 We always have to visit the fire station to see my brother, the ambulance, and the fire trucks. This particular day, my brother got the fire hose out and let the kids spray it. It's amazing how much fun water can be!

 The boys all went fishing with Grandpa, so the girls had an "Anne of Green Gables" night. I had the girls help me with the menu, and it turned out perfect. We had watermelon, cream puffs, chocolate covered strawberries, "flower" shaped sandwiches with colored bread, brownie bites, and punch.

 After we ate, we watched Anne of Green Gables. My sister and I used to watch that movie with our cousins and our grandma when we were growing up, so we're trying to carry on the same tradition with our girls. It was such a fun night.

 My mom took the girls to lunch and to get a facial for our Mother's Day gifts. It was HEAVEN! It's nice to have an afternoon with the girls, I'm so lucky to have such a great family.

The boys after their fishing trip.

Guess what we're having for dinner tomorrow night?!?

Family Pictures

My sister took family pictures for us when she was here in April for Drew's baptism (more on that soon).

Love them! Thanks, Cort.

To Do List

We're leaving for Utah in 2.5 days, and the "To Do Before We Leave" list doesn't seem to be getting any smaller. The problem is, we're spending too much time at the pool with friends, and not enough time working on the list. Oh well.

It's 12:36 am, and I did just finish one major item on my list. Check out these cute Father's Day projects I just finished for primary...

This one is for the bishop, I love how it turned out. It was fun to cut all the little hands out and to see how different each of them were. My favorites...definitely the Sunbeams!

     This popcorn project is something I had the kids make for their dads...easy and low cost.

        Love being the primary president, and love my break when I'm in Utah each summer :)

So, I'm back to the blogging world...happy Kenon? I tried to get a blog going through Wordpress, but didn't like it as much. Now that blogger has changed some things, I'm giving it another go. I've started with the latest, and will work backwards to try to catch up. Hopefully I can get caught up before we leave for Utah on Sunday...it's just that, so many other really important things get in the way of my blogging. Like eating.

 

A Day In Helen

We had a Gordon-Smith/Gines day of fun today celebrating both my birthday, and Father's Day (early). Cambrie was the only one who knew what the plans were, the rest had to wait for the surprise. We went to Helen, which is a beautiful little town in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the Chattahoochee River, it reminds me a lot of Midway in Utah.

First stop: Horseback Riding

The kids had the best time. It was the boys' first real horseback riding experience and they were champs. Cambrie has always had a love for horses, so she was so excited. She's very confident on horseback, much more than I.

Mitchell was a bit nervous at first, but was fine once we got going. He didn't stop talking the whole time, our guides were probably glad to see us go. He kept saying "giddy up horsey," and made good friends with their horse, Hershey.

After our horse ride, we stopped at a little place called Nora Mill, and fed some fish.

Next, a picnic in the park...

And a super good fit thrown by Mitchell. It was after nap time, and there were a few things not going his way. He drew a lot of attention from other people trying to enjoy a peaceful afternoon at the city park...each of them probably wondering why we were all ignoring him.

It only takes about five minutes of screaming, but if you ignore him long enough, he eventually comes to his senses. Then he apologizes, and we're all friends again.

With full bellies and dried tears, we headed for a hike up to Anna Ruby Falls.

The hike is only .4 miles, but Mitchell had to stop at EVERY bench and take a picture.

Ummm, not sure what they are doing...

Helen, such a charming town. The big pink bus you see on the road is the one you take if you're going tubing down the Chattahoochee. We did that last year and can't wait to do it again...super fun!

We had such a good day. Happy Birthday to me, and Happy Father's Day to George!