Playing catch-up

 Okay well, I am not sure what I have been doing, but I have definitely been neglecting the blog.  Here are some of the hi-points over the last couple months.  First, Mallory mastered bike-riding. She loves this new freedom and zips all over the neighborhood (okay, her mother is a little too paranoid to let her roam the neighborhood. She zips around the block mostly).

 Libbie completed her final book report of 5th grade.  They had to choose an influential American to research and then did a wax museum.  She decided to do her report on Wilma Rudolph the track star.  Here she is with her 3 gold medals.

Here we are at the second annual Dirty Dash.  This year we convinced the kids to do the Piglet Plunge.  I think they all had a great time getting dirty.

Maybe not everyone...Mallory said she did not enjoy the squishy mud.  At least she smiled for a photo.

Mia all muddy.

Libbie may have got the most dirty.

Mallory turned 7.  Can't believe our little fireball is so old.  We had a low-key day on her actual birthday since Dad was away at scout camp, but we celebrated a bit before he left.  She chose to see a movie (Madagascar 3), have pizza for dinner, and a mouse cake for dessert.  Much to the dismay of Libbie, Mallory received a LaLaLoopsy from Mia (Libbie has a great fear of dolls with button eyes).  Ha ha.

Malsie with her mousie.

This year, the Cardon reunion took place in Victor, Idaho.  We met up in Swan Valley first for some river rafting.  It was a lot of fun.  If only I would have taken some pictures. Marci and Mara were kind enough to stay behind and watch our little terror so we could really enjoy the ride.  Victor  was sure beautiful and our accommodations were ideal.  Grandma was very prepared with all sorts of fun crafts, activities, and treasure hunts for the kids.  Here they are getting started on their first one.

We got up quite early to hit Yellowstone on our second day together.  It was a little more driving than I think we bargained for, but luckily we got to see some beautiful scenery along the way. 

Mia and Macy smiling in front of a hot pot.

Mallory was nice enough to pose in my Old Faithful picture.

Outside a lodge in Yellowstone. 

Jaren was quite fascinated with all the hats that had blown into this hot pot.  He reminded us about "the hats in the water" many, many times that day. 

On our third day we did a little exploring up Darby Canyon.  Rich took us to a slide he remembered from his youth.  The kids had fun on it for about 3 minutes before a mean man came and scared us away.  Apparently we looked quite threatening, and he didn't enjoy us using the facility at the same time as him.  Ha ha. 
Papa teaching Mallory to throw a stick off one side of the bridge and quickly get to the other side to see it come through.  So fun. 

Claire getting her toes wet in the stream.

Papa skipped a rock from one side of the river to the other.  Pretty cool.

Last but not least was our trip to Earley Park for the Smith/Palmer reunion.  Jake and I were in charge this year. It really wasn't too bad a task but I am so relieved it is over.  We think everyone had a fairly good time and the facility was better than I imagined (minus the rocky areas - Jaren insisted he throw every rock in sight or at least suck all the dirt off them - please tell me he will outgrow this fascination so I am not appearing on Strange Addictions with him in the future).  Thank you to everyone for taking the time to come, for preparing great meals, and for planning such fun things that kept us busy!

 The first full day was a bit of a bummer in that it rained the entire day.  We were wet and cold so we spent a lot of time being crazy in the tent.  Here are the kids at the peak of their cabin fever. 

We did sticker facial hair.  Molly.

Annie.

Claire posed like a weirdo over and over again for fun.

And Mals has some pretty intense sticker nose hair.  Unfortunately, I was too preoccupied with keeping Jaren out of the bathrooms, eating garbage off the concrete, or running off to who-knows-where that I never got my camera out again.  Trust me though, fun was had, fun was had.