Winding Down

I can't believe it's nearly over! It seems it just began. Our summer is sadly winding down, and we are really trying to relish the final warmth of the season. Here are some pictures of our latest adventures (that's what we call them anyway). The girls at the Children's Garden at Thanksgiving Point. We had a good time in their splash park. And would you look at the picture below -- we've come a long way this summer when it comes to our buggy friends. Mia is holding a potato bug. She's also been seen holding worms, ladybugs, moths, and caterpillars. I am such a proud mama. Well, maybe I am just thrilled I don't have to hear her shrieking, blood-curdling scream at the sight of a fly.

Our summer wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Box Elder County Fair for a burger and the Golden Spike Arena for a rodeo. The girls got a big kick out of the mutton busting, and the cowboys had some great rides on the broncos. YEE HAWW! Here we all are at the oldest rodeo in Utah...Hey Mom, look at what Mrs. Crook is doing to you.

My little cutie pie.

Libbie started the second grade this year. Oh my goodness!

Another photo of our sweetie.

Now that Claire has a titch of hair, Libbie takes every opportunity to give her a new do.

He Just Felt Like Runnin'

Last Saturday, Nathan completed his second half-marathon. He didn't do as well as he would have liked, but I still thinks it's pretty awesome he can run that far. Yikes. Here he is with the girls after the race - and he's even smiling to boot.

We just returned from a great trip to Iowa to see Nathan's parents and sister. Our adventure started and ended with the leisurely and glorious 18-hour jaunt across the country with our four little ones. Barf. Needless to say, we did survive -- it was touch-and-go at times though. We stopped in Des Moines for the night on the way there, and on the following day we met up with Nathan's family at Adventure Land. Here is Nathan sitting quite comfortably on the diesel truck with Mallory.

The kids rode this ride over and over again.

Libbie with one of her best buds - her cousin Kelbie.

The weather was actually very tolerable for an Iowa summer. Here is Claire at the park.

Here are the cousins enjoying a chocolate shake made by Papa.

Here is Mia petting the large, but very gentle Duke.

The girls love to arm wrestle Grandma.

Libbie loved Grandma's dart guns. We found her shooting the darts at her ceiling fan on many occasion - not a mother approved activity.

The grand kids with Grandma and Papa at the end of a small hike.

We had to break out the water balloon sling shot again.

Here's July

Our first adventure in July took us to Wallowa Lake Oregon for the Smith Family Reunion. Unfortunately, I never got my camera out to show what a beautiful place it was or what a good time we had. Nathan remembered to get it out at one of the gas stations on the way home however. I am not sure I want to claim these children, but here they are in their after shots. I would say that by how dirty they appear and the smiles on their faces, this trip can be deemed a success.

Wow! That's all I can say.

Mallory looking very glamorous.

Look at her arm...oh my goodness. We took them into a rest stop, and I am pretty sure the women waiting in the bathroom line were thinking, "Oh, look at the poor homeless family." Filthy, filthy, filthy.

She is a high-chair-eater!

Libbie celebrated her 7th birthday at the Kangaroo Zoo. Nope, no kangaroos there - just a lot of jumping and climbing children. The girls had a lot of fun.

Libbie has quite an obsession with Star Wars for some reason. Well, we finally got the old school Star Wars for her to watch. This would be the result - all the girls sleeping in our bed because they were sure Darth Vader was in Libbie's closet. Needless to say, we will not be finishing the movies.

Here is Libbie's super spectacular Star Wars cake - adorned with a new Legos ship from Grandma Cardon.

Here Libbie is opening another Star Wars gift from Uncle Caleb and Aunt Marci.

She's a sitter!

Woo Hoo! It's summer!

This past month we have had a great time. We celebrated Mallory's 3rd birthday, had a fun reunion with Nathan's family, and got to spend time with the Oyler girls. Our girls, love, love, love to spend time with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents so we couldn't have asked for a better June. Here are some pics of our recent adventures. The whole Cardon bunch. We sure are growing!

We headed to Tremonton to meet up with Hannah and her girls while they were visiting from Texas. It was soooo fun to see them. They are the sweetest, cutest little dolls. We will miss you so much.

Look! Mallory is actually not being grumpy.

Grandma with sweetie pie Annie.

We went to hang out with Grandpa at the golf course too. Here are the girls eating a treat from the shop - just a little bag of candy.

Grandpa took the girls on three wild rides on his rhino. They were in heaven.

Settling down for a movie at Grandma's house.

One day we went swimming with the Cardons and Eskelsens. I think the kids would have spent the entire day in the pool if we would have let them. Here is Crystal pulling Mallory and Macy on a noodle.

The main event of the Cardon reunion was at Spruces campground up Big Cottonwood. It was a very nice area. We did it all - dutch oven, smores, no showers, yummy breakfasts, singing songs around the fire, and hiking. Don't forget the very, very, very dirty children as well. We even got to see a moose right by our tents. Here is Nathan, Mara, and Ben sitting around the campfire.

The boys shooting water balloons with a sling shot - a very serious sporting event.

Mallory on day 2 in the wilderness. Eeek. She needs a bath.

We hiked to Donut Falls. The kids' favorite part was finding snow and throwing it at Uncle Rich.

The first super-warm day when I stopped being the mean mom and let the girls get the pool out. They actually played in it for longer than 30 minutes too!

For Mallory's 3rd birthday she got this sweet Fred Flintstone car. Her sisters haven't stopped fighting over it yet.

Mallory with her slightly ugly Elmo cake. I think she liked it though.

Sorry, I can't stop taking pictures of my beauties.

Little Claire, looking not so little.

Dancing Queen and Such

Mia was able to participate in her first dance recital last Saturday. Here is a picture of her and and her best bud Lexi. Don't they look sweet? They sure did a great job. It was so much fun to watch them.

Our girls before the recital.

This is what Mallory's bed looks like nearly every night. I am not sure how the girl doesn't swelter to death. She has us tuck her in with the sheet, a heavy blanket, plus three smaller blankets laid on top of her in the correct order and right sides up. It makes complete and total sense that the light side of the pink polka dot blanket must face outward. And then an array of every toy imaginable must accompany her in bed. She doesn't want anyone or anything to feel left out.

Mia in her New York duds.

Our little sweetie. She sure is growing up. We still love to squeeze them cheeks.

She recently discovered her toes. I love when this happens. It's sooo fun to watch.