Horseshoe Falls

We had a wonderful Saturday hike with our friends they Wise's up to Horseshoe Falls.  We hadn't ever hiked this falls so it was a new waterfall for us on the string of waterfalls on HW 84.  The kids had a great time being with their friends and the weather was perfect.  The waterfall is named Horseshoe Falls because the surrounding area around the waterfall makes a horseshoe shape.  We love hanging out with the Wises and experiencing the beautiful nature around us.  

Talmage and Gordon touching the water.

Gordon with all of the kids.

Friends hanging out in the cave.

Adalyn and Daddy touching the water.

Audrey and Daddy touching the water.

Pioneer Celebration

We had a great time celebrating Pioneer Day this year.  Our Stake did a breakfast, activities, and then a children parade. Each wards primary walked in the parade and it was really cute.  Our ward had a mini covered wagon that was adorable and stole the show; Audrey finagled her way into riding in it.  We are so grateful for our pioneer ancestry and for their sacrifice.

Audrey showing off her face painting.

The Oakhurst Primary

Talmage is so cute and waving.

Audrey in the wagon and Adalyn waving her flag.

This was one of the crafts they made; and then they waved them in the parade.  ADORABLE!

Summer Soccer

Talmage played soccer this summer which was fun.  He hasn't played since Utah so it was fun to get back to playing again.  His team was called Super Thunder Jaguars; they were a really cute bunch of boys.  This was the first time that Talmage played where a goalie was used and he was usually volunteering to be the goalie.  He did a good job as goalie and out on the field.  We had fun cheering him on as a family; we wore purple to the games and Audrey made signs to cheer with.  GO SUPER THUNDER JAGUARS!

Out on the field; you can barely see him. 

Taking a break on the bench.

Eating ice cream after the last game.

Super Thunder Jaguars

Smith Time

After our time with the Hills we headed north to be with our Smith cousins.  My kids were so excited to go back and be able to swim at Aunt Melanie's.  We also headed to Hill Air Force Base Museum again because we had such a great time last year.  Mel and I had fun exercising, shopping, and eating Cafe Rio; another thing I miss living in WA.  I loved having quality time with both of my sisters this trip.  We stayed up late talking  and watching movie and doing what we wanted to do; I can't wait for our visit next summer so we can do it all over again.  Thanks Aunt Melanie and family for a wonderful visit!

Making rockets

Carson and Talmage making their rockets.

Talmage launching his rocket.

Audrey launching her rocket.

Adalyn with her rocket.

All the kids

Dress up time as Fighter Pilots and Astronauts. 

Playing video games.

Amelia trying a spinning experiment.

Audrey the human bubble.

Amelia

Amberlee

Adalyn

Cute Abbie

Talmage blowing a bubble out of the bubble.

Pretending to be soldiers; cute.

Amelia and Adalyn swimming.

Adalyn showing off her make-up and dress ups.

Joseph ready for his first swim.

He is so cute and chubby.

Swimming with my kids.

Audrey

Carson and Talmage building with Legos.

Amberlee and Joseph

The Smith girls just adored Joseph and were so sweet with him.

Joseph and Amelia

Sisters!

Life Long Friends

While in Utah this summer we were able to catch up with some life long friend.  First, we were able to see my childhood friend Emily Francom Dursch.  Emily and I lived next to one another from Kindergarten through High School and then her family moved to Idaho.  I have such fond memories with Emily of  playing dress-ups, playing in my backyard together, going on hikes with her family, and watching Anne of Green Gables, gymnastics, Miss America Pageants  and ice skating.  We had a great time growing up together!  Emily now lives in upstate New York so we are on opposite coasts.  We were lucky to be in Utah and Idaho at the same time so we could see one another.  We meet in Brigham City so we could see the outside of the new Brigham City Temple; it was beautiful.  We had such a wonderful time visiting with one another; we realized that it had been eight years since we last saw one another.  Her family is adorable and it was sweet to see our kids playing with one another.  I hope that my children are able to have life long friendship like I do with Emily.  

The next friends we saw were the Johnson's and Iverson's in our old Draper neighborhood.  We had a great time visiting with both families and having the kids play together.  Talmage enjoyed seeing his friends Miles and Carson.  We loved living in Draper and are so grateful for the wonderful friends we made there.  

The Thomas and Johnson kids

Talmage and Miles; best buddies.

Me, Emily and all our kids in front of the Brigham City Temple.

All the kids

Samuel, Benjamin, Adalyn, William, Talmage, and Joseph

Audrey and Spencer - Catherine wasn't into taking pictures.

Last time we meet I was pregnant with Talmage and Emily had two.  

Now Emily has five and I have four; we are happy Mommies.

Brigham City Temple at night.

Hill Time

We had a great stay with my sister Lisa's family.  Since my parents are on a mission in Nauvoo we got to spend our Jensen part of our trip staying with my sisters.  The kids loved being with their cousins; that's what they miss the most about living in WA.  Anyway, we had a blast at the Splash Pad, going for snow cones, and just hanging out.  

Adalyn and Talmage at the Splash Pad.  This use to be Gordon's elementary school growing up and they now have knocked down the school and put in this awesome splash pad and play ground.  The kids loved it!

Adalyn and her goggles.

Ashley and Audrey finding some shade.

My kids are not use to Utah heat anymore.

Snow cones!

We went for a nice walk to the snow cone place and it was yummy.

Micheal liked the snow cones too.

We were lucky to have my brother Mark come into town from Arizona while we were there.  We had a fun day at the park and up in the canyons.  

Ashley did all of the girls hair like Pocahontas and then they all played Indians together; it was adorable. 

We went on a hike at Silver Lake up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  We saw a Bull Moose, and Cow and calf; it was AWESOME.

The gang on the hike.

The little "mountain goats" climbing the rocks.

Audrey, Ashley, and Adalyn playing. 

Ashley is pretending to be pregnant in the picture it was really funny.

Micheal and Joseph hanging out on the floor.

Dinner at my Aunt Janet home.  

We had a great time with my Uncle Roberts family, Glen and Janet, my cousin Rachel and her husband, and Lisa's family. I got my Nertz on this night too! I LOVE Jensen game time.

Me and my Aunt Janet; she is one amazing woman.

Adalyn with her sparkler.

Sparkler time with the Hills.