Fun at the Beach!

Talmage hanging out in the shade with Rachel

Why is Eden's swimsuit around her waist? ...Very good question

Wyatt catchin' some rays to have a rockin' tan for the ladies!

So a bunch of friends from our ward got together this week to go to a beach on Lake Washington. It was so fun...a little crazy with 4 kids and no Ben (mid week activity) but with the help of some friends hands,.I made it through the outing without losing a kid to drowning or a stranger. Kind of. I almost lost Kesley so I was running around the beach like a crazy woman for about 5 minutes when a friend spotted her a 1/4 mile away at my car. Yikes. Anyway, props to a FABULOUS summer here in Seattle...those who haven't been to Seattle need to know that the summers here are better than anywhere else...not too hot that you're miserable but not too cold to do everything a summer should be spent doing! The summers are what we live here for...we just get through the rest of the year to make it to these nice 3 months!

Kesley Turns 4!

Family party at the park

Water ballon Hot Potato game with friends

You think she is happy to start opening presents?

Her not-so-creative Ariel cake!

So Kesley has been talking about her birthday....oh, since November of last year when Wyatt had his. I can now say that was the LONGEST 8 months to a birthday I have ever experienced. She had the theme, guest list and presents picked out back then and would threaten her siblings with not being able to attend her magnificent "Ariel" birthday party if they did ANYTHING she didn't approve of ie. not eating their lunch, not sharing a toy, not sharing a treat etc.... The smack down was put down on that threat anytime I caught it, but nonetheless it continued...luckily her sibs were on "good behavior" to attend the bash. Oh the drama! We had a little family birthday at a park in Issaquah on her real birthday with pizza and princess presents. Her "Ariel" birthday party was on Saturday and was full of squeals and presents fit for a princess-loving Kesley. Happy birthday Kes! Now, no more talk of birthdays for at least another 11 months please?!

Taking Utah by Storm ...Part 2

Wyatt taking a dip in Syrenna's pool

Nina, G and G, Talmage and Ben at the Bowling Tournament

Grandma with the grandkids!
These horses we feed every year when we go to Midway..the kids love them!
The cousins taking a juice break in the cool shade!

The second week of our Utah trip was spent with Ben's side of the family. Brooke and John drove out from California and us from Seattle to meet up with Syrenna, Justin and their parents. We stayed in Midway at Brooke's parents vacation home with Brooke and John. It was a fun week with swimming, the annual Reynolds Family Bowling Tournament, playing games, eating, and feeding horses in Midway. It is always so fun to see the Reynolds family...I just wish it was more often than once a year!

Taking Utah by Storm ...Part 1

Riding the train at Hogle Zoo

Poor Talmage smothered against my chest on an earth shattering hot day!

Taking a break at Hogle Zoo with Shelby, Garrett and Brooklyn

Ahh...Gandalfos! Brings back so many BYU/dating Ben memories!

Wyatt ..feeling the heat of the spraying sparkler

Hogle Zoo..in the smelly giraffe house!

We made our annual pilgramage to Utah the first two weeks in July. The first week was spent visiting my sister Shelby and her cute family. We had so much fun! We went to Hogle Zoo on a day that rivaled hell for maximum temperature. (Mind you, we are wussy little Seattle-ites who are used to more moderate summer temperatures!) We strolled through the 4th of July Provo festivites and ended with a fun BBQ and neighborhood firework extravaganza. We got our "utah fixes" while there too...Cafe Rio, Gandalfos, Tai Pan, BYU bookstore etc.. can't leave Utah without having been to all 4 of these places every year. Thanks to Shelby for letting us descend on her home like a tornado. I think she is still trying to catch her breath! Luckily children each come one at a time right?

Our Growing Boy!

Talmage at 7 weeks
Talmage at 2 months

Talmage is just getting so big so fast! I'm trying to revel in this baby time since Talmage is going to be our last one. It is bittersweet to see him get older. With age comes more personality and interaction, but also the curled up into a ball, fall asleep anywhere, yummy baby breath stage starts to fade...sigh