Grandpa and Grandma's

 After Lake Powell the kids and I went to Ashton from the 5th-16th.  As always we had a wonderful time.  Porter and Callie Cat picked up right where they left off, with Porter following her around.

 Porter and Grandpa were best buddies.  Grandpa was going outside one time and Porter followed him.  He said to Grandpa, "I'm sticking with you."  Grandpa said, "How did I get so lucky?"  And then cheeky Porter said, "You are lucky!"  I think Grandpa was bribing Porter with his can of mixed nuts.

 One of our favorite things this visit was going to garage sales.  We found some awesome deals!  Ainsley found a monkey that was the same as the one she has had since she was a baby.  We couldn't believe how fluffy and clean Monkey used to be.  Of course she had to have it. 

 And Brinnley found some awesome "night vision" goggles and a gun for playing spy. 

We hit a few more garage sales the morning that we went home.  It was a goldmine for me.  We found three bags of kids clothes and 3 coats for cheap!  And of course we hit up the Deseret Industries in Rexburg and I found a ton of jeans for the kids.  So excited!  School clothes shop is almost done!

Porter loved riding back and forth across the patio.  Truly we loved being there and being outside.  I didn't get any pictures but the neighbor has a duck and a goose and it was a daily event to look over the fence at Clyde and Calvin (the goose and duck).  At first it was a little startling hearing the honking but after a while I got used to it and I kind of miss it.  The same neighbors also have puppies that the kids loved petting.  It was fun for them but made us all a little puppy-hungry.

 And it wouldn't be a summertime trip to Ashton without going to Sand Creek.  Porter  loved the water this year.  He got right in and had a blast, unlike last year when he stayed close to the bank.

 They made mud balls then threw them in the river.  Porter went to the top of the creek and threw sticks in for Brinnley to catch as they came down to her.  She got most of them but some got away. 

I didn't have my camera, but we went up to Kirk and Christi's one night for a cookout around their pit in their backyard jungle.  The kids had a lot of fun exploring in the forest.  And the girls also got to spend the night.  The cousins were so good to them and they loved being there!  I'm so glad they have this time with their cousins!  Great memories they are making.  

It was a wonderful trip!  We love being there and I was a little sad to leave the peace and quiet and come back to the real world.  I always miss my reading couch and the sound of the Quaking Aspen leaves dancing in the wind.  Thanks for everything Grandma and Grandpa! 

He's 4!

 June 6th my little boy turned 4!  I am having a hard time thinking that my baby is no longer little!  We were at Grandpa and Grandma's for his birthday.  We made him a chocolate cake with buggies all over it. 

 It was pretty funny because after I lit the candles I slid the cake over to him and he instantly blew his candles out.  He didn't even wait for us to sing happy birthday.  I was lucky I even had the camera ready.

 We sang happy birthday to him anyway :)

 I got out his superheros that he opened at Lake Powell.  I was nervous that he would ask about more presents, but he was excited to open the packages we hadn't yet and he was perfectly happy.

 A word to the wise, don't interrupt Grandpa for a picture while he's eating cake.

Brinnley made Porter a frog and horse paper animal for his present.  He loved them and wouldn't let anyone else touch them.  Just ask Ainsley.

Happy birthday little boy!  I hope you know how much we love you.  Our family wouldn't be complete without you!

June 3-4: Lake Powell 3-4

 After we got back from exploring on the speed boat, Chant took the kids on a hike.  This was their view.

 I love these three kiddos!

 Chant and Brinnley swam from one shore to the other.  Brinnley asked while we were on the boat why she had to wear a lifejacket and what it does.  So Chant showed her.  She was even more of a fish with that thing on.  She was everywhere! 

 Porter and Mitzi finally decided to be friends, or more correctly, Porter finally warmed up to her.

Grandma brought this raft and it was perfect for the adults to be drug around in.  Grandma was even waving like royalty.

 After watching Brinnley swim so far in her lifevest, Ainsley wanted to try.  She was a little more nervous about it but after a while she was having fun and letting go of Chant a little more.

 Every morning and night the guys went fishing.  This was Chant's haul our last night there.  Our last morning Brinnley got to go along and she caught a fish all by herself.  She was pretty proud of it. 

 Grandma and Uncle Layn, her brother.

We spent a few hours on the 4th playing in the water and then took our time cleaning things up.  We got back to Layn and Anne's just in time to make dinner and take more 4-wheeler rides.

 While we ate Porter gave us a concert of his favorite Bieber songs. 

It was a pretty fantastic trip.  Really, things couldn't have gone any better.  We all had a ton of fun and no one even got sunburned (well, Chant already was before we left, so he doesn't count).

June 2-3: Lake Powell Day 2-3

 Porter's birthday is June 6, but Chant wouldn't be with us that day and so I brought Porter's presents so he could open them while we were all together.  He got a few Marvel action heroes, Spiderman, Superman, and Batman.  I opened Spiderman right away so he could play.  Watching his face was so funny!  He was really getting into it, doing voices and everything.

 "I'll get you Hulk!" (He's a little confused on who the green guy with claws actually is.  It's ok, we just go with it.)

 The kids loved pulling each other around in this little raft.  It was the perfect size.

 Firing up the grill for dinner.

 Brinnley had quite the collection of shells going.  She searched all over and compared shapes, sizes and colors.  We have a huge gallon Ziploc gallon bag full.

 The full moon made falling asleep interesting.  But I was so glad we had the breeze because oh man was it hot!


June 3:

 About 10:00 or so we packed up a lunch and then got in the speed boat to go exploring.  It was kind of funny because the girls took turns sleeping.  Brinn didn't last very long before she was out and Ainsley didn't sleep very long.  Once Ainsley woke up her mouth was moving constantly.  At first I thought she was talking to me.  When I asked her what she said, she looked at me like "Why are you bothering me?"  And she kept herself company the rest of the ride.

 Uncle Layn took us to this place called Cathedral.  It was amazing!  That bright light on the rocks is the sun reflecting off of the water.  It was dancing and making it look like flames on the wall of rock.  Uncle Layn said in all the times he's ever been there he's never seen anything quite like that.  It was beautiful!

 Once we got back inside the rocks, Chant found this rope and went climbing.  There was a pool at the top that drops really far down.  He said he couldn't tell how deep it was.  I told him not to find out :)

 Grandpa

 Waving at Daddy who is taking pictures from his perch up on the rocks.

 This is on the way back out.  I thought it was pretty fascinating and I wanted to share.

Lake Powell

 Ainsley's last day of school was May 31st.  She had a pajama party and watched a movie.  I was lucky enough to be able to go and help out in her class that day.  It was so much fun and I hope that I will be able to help again next year in her class.  I cannot believe that next year it will just be Porter and me all day long.  My kids are growing too fast!

Brinnley's last day was June 1st.  We pulled her out of school an hour and a half early because Grandpa and Grandma were here ready and waiting to take us away on vacation to Lake Powell.  I think she was okay with it, but she will miss school.  She loves school and her friends and her amazing teacher.  She had a great year!  I hope her second grade teacher is just as great as the one she had this year. 

We got to my Uncle Layn and Aunt Anne's house around dinnertime that night.  While we settled in and did some cooking the kids explored the wide expanse of red dirt.  And of course we took them on a few 4-wheeler rides. 

 Anne and the kids got into a sword fight with hot dog roasting sticks.  Don't worry, no one was injured in the taking of this picture.


The morning of the 2nd we loaded the boats and headed out to the water.  The kids sat on the bed in the back of the houseboat while we searched for the perfect spot. 

 And Grandpa let each kid take a turn driving the houseboat for a while.  Rather brave of him I thought.

 It took a while to find THE spot, but once we did it was perfect.  We had the best beach ever.  It was shallow for quite a ways out and we had a perfect beach to put our our camping chairs.  Seriously could not have asked for a better spot.  The kids had so much fun swimming.

 Uncle Layn came with us, Anne had to stay and work, and he brought his dog Mitzi.  The kids had a lot of fun playing with her.  She was really a good dog.

Day one was a huge success!