The Home Stretch

We're in the home stretch of summer.  We've survived most of it and school is in sight.  Good thing too.  I think we're all breaking down a little every day.  My kids are fighting more.  They somehow find it impossible to go to sleep before 10:00 or wake up before 8:30.  This is going to make the start of school really fun.  The things they've been doing to stay busy no longer seem as fun.  I no longer have any patience to entertain them.  Really, I don't understand why kids need to be entertained these days.  I don't remember being entertained when I was a kid.  We were on our own, and that was cool.
I'm actually freaking out a little that we only have three weeks left.  This week has a lot going on, next week has even more going on (camping with my family which will be awesome) and then we'll be into the final week of summer freedom.  I'm not gonna lie, the silence that will exist in the house the first day of school will be amazing.  Beyond amazing really.  But I am dreading the morning rush.  This year Zack has to leave for school at a little after 7:00.  This is 90 minutes earlier than what we're used to.  90 minutes.  That's a lot of minutes.  Those minutes mean that I will now have to wake up in the 5's to work out.  The 5's people.  That's way too early.  It may kill me.  There will be weeping and whaling and gnashing of teeth I'm sure.  So, even though I've lost patience with everything lately, I'm trying really hard to take a deep breath and enjoy every second.

In other exciting news, Zack got the priesthood last week.  It was a great experience that he was excited about.  Today was his first day of passing the sacrament.  He was nervous but did a great job.  So far his comments are that "deacons quorum is really different than primary."  True words.

Beautiful Cottonwood Lake

We went on our one vacation of the year.....for three days.  While its a definite bummer we couldn't get away for longer, we all enjoy Cottonwood Lake so much that I think we're ok with it.  One of the reasons we love it is because of how remote it is.  You can't drive into town easily, so you're pretty secluded.  There's also no cell service anywhere close by, which is double awesome.  We especially had a great time this year because we were able to camp with our cousins.  We don't get to see these cousins very much, so it was really great to spend time with them.

Kate and Sage had tons of fun playing with their cousin Chloe.  They spent hours swinging each other in the hammocks and doing crafts.  Who knew you could craft while camping?  Definitely not my idea of fun, but they loved it.  Jake's birthday was on Saturday.  He and Zack went on a 13 mile hike.  Jake is so excited that Zack is finally old enough to do things like that with him.  They're already planning their hike up Timp.  That night Jake took Kate fishing and she did great!  She caught a decent sized fish and loved it.  When they got back we had some chocolate cake.  Jake declared it his best birthday ever.  Awesomeness.

This year we took a raft with us to use on the lake.  We had great fun in it, although I learned that I'm not so good at rowing.  The first time we went out Jake had Zack and I row.  It took us a second to figure it out and the girls were screaming because they thought we were going to go over the waterfall.  That would have been exciting.  Right before we left we went out on the lake one last time.  This lake is ice ice cold.  Freezing.  Kate said she was thinking about jumping in.  Next thing we knew she was in the lake.  Then Zack followed, and even Sage.  It was hilarious.  They were so proud of themselves and Sage made sure they got an extra treat for their efforts:)

We had a really great time, were able to relax, and really loved spending time with family.  It was a perfect trip:)

And I can't end this post without saying that Zack turned 12 the day before we left!  I can't believe I have a 12 year old!  He's so excited to get the priesthood this Sunday.  Although he admits he's nervous to pass the sacrament.  He's such a great kid and we love having him in our family.  He's a super hard worker.  Love that I can count on him to help.  He's pretty mellow and goes with the flow (we are starting to see some teenage complaints though).  I also love that he's pretty much incapable of telling a lie.  I always know that whatever he tells me is totally accurate, which is awesome.  Zack chose to have root beer floats for his birthday instead of a cake, which makes him my favorite at the moment:)

Snuggling in the morning.  I kept having to wake everyone up at 9:00.  That never happens!

First ride on the raft

Our awesome camp site

Beautiful Cottonwood Lake

Rope swing fun!

Kate and Sage rowing

Wet from jumping in the lake.  Sage wasn't sure what to think about it all

Beginning of the extreme hike

They hiked really high.  Beautiful!

Love this picture

Kate, Chloe, and Sage

Water balloon fun

Kate's first fish!

They spent hours playing in this creek

Some serious crafting

July Festivities!

It's been an eventful July already.  We had a great time on the 4th.  We went to the Kaysville Parade for the first time.  The kids had great fun getting candy.  Then we went to a family barbecue.  Delicious food and great company.  There was a huge slip and slide for the kids to play on.  They loved it.  The grass got muddy at the bottom, which made Zack love it even more.  We hurried home from there and went to another barbecue with friends.  You know its a good day when you get to go to two barbecues.  We finished off the day lighting off our own fireworks and then watching the Memorial Hill fireworks from our front yard.  They never disappoint.  What a great day:)

During the week we took the girls mountain biking while Zack was at his class.  They were both timid at first, but by the end they were having fun and doing a great job.  I'm hoping to get them mountain biking while they're young so they don't have to try to learn when they're older like me.  Much harder that way.

This past weekend was Farmington Festival Days.  This time the girls and I went while the boys stayed home to play.  Jake and Zack went rock climbing and on a big mountain bike ride, so they didn't miss us much.  The girls and I trained a little (emphasis on little) to run the 5K.  They both did a great job.  Kate ran with her cousin Megan and finished in just under 31:00.  Sage finished right around 33:00.  Its so much fun to run in races with them.  I'm sure it won't be long before they're finishing way before me since I'm getting slower and they're getting faster (getting older really isn't fun by the way).  After the race we had my dad's famous breakfast casserole and then headed to the parade.  Two parades in one week is awesome.  The kids got even more candy and had fun with cousins.  We finished off the day with more slip and slide fun and another delicious barbecue.  Yes, this is not the time of year for dieting.

Obviously we had a great week.  We're getting ready for a camping trip in a few days.  July is off with a bang!!

braving the heat at the Kaysville parade

The awesome slip and slide

Zack was so proud of his muddiness

Sage and her friend Kami.  All of Sage's friends are missing their two front teeth.  Its so cute.

Sage rocking the mountain bike trails

Ready for the race!

Love that our family races!!

The girls at the parade

Ready and waiting for candy

My crazy family sporting the clothes Lagoon threw out:)

Summer Fun!!!

Holy cow!  I thought for sure I had posted at some point in June.  Guess not.  We've been having a great summer.  It's been pretty low key, which is how we like it.  Summer is great for a lot of reasons.  I love having more time to do things as a family.  I love, a million times love, summer mornings and evenings.  I love not having to run like crazy to get the kids out the door in the morning.  That said, sometimes I wish I could send the kids to school.  I love having them home, but its definitely exhausting.  But I'm trying hard to let the little things go and really just live it up this summer.

We started off the summer with a Higley family reunion in St George.  We had a great time.  The kids pretty much lived in the swimming pool.  Zack and Jake went mountain biking a couple of times.  We got to go see Tarzan at the Tuacahn Theater (which is awesome).  The girls had great fun playing with the cousins their age.  It was great fun getting to know everyone better.  Thanks to Greg and Tracy for putting up with all of us and making it happen!

June was the month of swimming lessons.  The girls loved it and did a great job.  It was fun watching them improve.  We also rode the lifts at The Canyons and went on a little hike to a cool lake with huge fish.  I can handle more hikes where you ride the lift up and then hike down.  Awesome.

We've of course been working in the yard, but not as much as before thank heavens.  The grass is coming in and we've even mowed the lawn a couple of times!!  We finally got the back cleared next to the barn and its ready for grass.  We're going to seed it with pasture grass.  Its so nice to look out the window and not see piles of dirt or rocks.  Hooray!!

We started July with a rodeo.  We used to go to the Oakley Rodeo every year, but its been a while since we went.  It was fun to visit with family and watch great rodeo action.  I really enjoyed it this year.  One of the best rodeos ever!

Phew!  Its been a busy month!  Can't wait for the rest of the summer.  Birthday season is almost upon us!!!

This is how Sage lays out

Zack did a mountain bike race

Hike in St George with Grandma Tracy!

We went on a hike for FHE and got stuck in a rain storm.  Then Sage fell and was covered in mud.  It was awesome

This is Sassy Sage.  She did a dance camp.

Riding the lift

Hiking at the Canyons.  Zack says he can't smile in pictures...

The first mowing!

Swim lessons!

Ice cream at Timp Freeze.  They were melting so fast that the kids were a mess:)

Zack's first Crown Burger.  According to my family he is now a man.

Oakley Rodeo!

Mountain biking with Zack and Jake.  You can't tell from this picture but Zack is crying and super upset.  Most of the time he does great, but sometimes we should leave him home....

Sage lost her two front teeth!

Our backyard ready for grass!!!