Labor Day Craziness

Kaden, Stryder (my sister's boys), Bronson and Mazryn on their hike.

 For Labor Day we had our annual camping trip with my fam planned.  We usually always go up Hardsgrabble in Morgan.  My dad's family owns property up there and they pretty much let us go up and stay anytime we like.  It's beautiful country and has been in my dad's family for years and years.  We always have the best time, hiking, 4 wheeling, playing in the creek, relaxing, just whatever we want to do.  The kids have this specific hill that they play on most of the time.  They slide down the dirt....they get FILTHY!  But it's so much fun to them, and hey, that's what camping is for when you're a kid....getting dirty!  During this weekend our very close friend's Rachael and Paul were going to be in town from California.  They only had this weekend to see everyone that they wanted.  So they planned a little get together with all their friends at our house.  So we came home for the night to hang out and visit with them.  We LOVE them so much and wish that they lived closer to us!  Rachael has been one of my best friends for years now, I don't know what I'd do without her!  Then it was back up to Hardsgrabble for the rest of the weekend.  So....here's the pictures!

Ryan and I at the falls.

Ryan thought it would be funny to take a picture of me driving the go cart.  It was very distracting!

Bronson in the dozer.

Mazzy and Bronson were in the dozer with my dad.

 While we were up camping, my dad's cousin who owns this property, wanted my dad to cut a road for him.  So my dad took all the kids for a ride and pushed down some trees with them.  They thought it was the coolest thing ever!  BUMPY ride!

Maz, Brons, and Stryder taking a break with grandpa.

Stryder, Mazryn, and Bronson in all their filthiness!

Rachael and I....aren't we a cute couple?

Rachael, Christi and I. 

We had a little birthday party for Maz.

Stryder and Maz playing in the cold creek!

Bronson and Ryan having and intense game of chess.

My sis and I throwing gang signs in the go cart.  Misty's means "That's right foo, I'm not sporting a beard" and mine means "Be awesome or I'll punch you in the throat!"

This is the hill the kids play on and slide down.

They were ANGRY at having their pictures taken!

Mazzy waiting to go for a ride in the go cart.  My parents surprised us and gave this to us!  EXCITING!

First Day of School

August 23rd was the first day of school!  Mazryn started 3rd grade and Bronson started 1st grade!  Can't believe my kiddos are this old!  So far they are both LOVING LOVING LOVING school and doing really well!

Randomness....

At the end of July we decided to get a dog.  Ryan was completely in charge of this and wanted to find a dog that I wouldn't be allergic to.  He found us a 8 pound 8 month old Maltizu puppy.  (So he's half Maltese and half Shitzu)  He doesn't shed and we LOVE him!  His name is Bender (we kept the name that his previous owner's gave him).  We are pretty sure he wasn't treated very well, and it's taken him a while to adjust to being around people, but he's doing great now!  He's been a wonderful addition to our family!  It was fun to surprise the kids with him. 

At the first of August I was able to go to Young Women Camp up to Bear Lake (and no, this was not my choice, but I sure as heck wasn't going to complain).  We had a great time!  I LOVE spending time with these amazing young women!  I got to spend most of my time out in the water with the girlies!  Too much fun is all I can say!

We had a few boating trips this year up to East Canyon, but for some reason, we never took any pictures of these trips.  Oh well, we had lots of fun anyways, even if there is no proof!

Right before school started, Ryan and I decided to take a couple days and go up to Bear Lake without the kids.  We spent one day with Ryan's childhood friend James and his wife Steph, on their SWEET boat!  We had a great and relaxing time!  I'm always so glad to be able to get away with my best friend!  I love him so much!  I'm so grateful for all he does for me!  Thanks hon for the fantastic time!

Bronson's 7th Birthday!

How can my baby be 7???!!!  I can not believe how fast this little boy is growing up!  I love him so much!  He keeps me on my toes, and is pretty much my little ray of sunshine!  He is my little kidder!  He loves to make people laugh!  And best of all, he's all mine!  I thank my Heavenly Father every single day for this little man in my life!  Thank you to EVERYONE who came and celebrated his special day with him!  We have some of the best family and friends around!  Love to all!  And to Bronson, I love you so so much!  Happy 7th Birthday sweetie!

 I made Bug a volcano/dinosaur cake this year.  It was actually pretty yummy, even though it looked more like a bell than a volcano.

More Fun in July!

We went back up to Bear Lake with my family for Bronson's birthday!  He was so excited!  We had tons of fun together.  Ryan, Kaden and I worked on our wakeboarding skills, which I'm proud to say, I'm starting to get some sweet air (finally)!  We got all the kids up and going on the knee board, which was pretty awesome!  They all did great at it!  Bronson was even doing little tricks, letting go with one hand, almost spinning....it was pretty cute!  One of the days we took a day trip and hiked up to Bloomington Lake.  It is a natural glacier lake, with pristine emerald green water.  It was beautiful!  There was quite a bit of snow up there too.  The kids had a blast sliding down the big hill on there bums!  We even had a little surprise birthday celebration for Brons.  It was another fun filled trip to our heaven on earth! I LOVE my family so much!  I don't know what I would do without them.  Thanks for coming with up with us!

 Here's the kids dying to play in the snow!  (This right by the trail to hike back into Bloomington Lake.)

 Here's Bronson, Mazzy, and Stryder by one of the first lakes you pass on the hike to Bloomington Lake.

 See the "iceberg" floating in the water?  Yes, the water was FREEZING and there were kids playing in it!

 Grandma Shell and Grandpa Thayne with the grandkids: Mazzy, Kaden, Stryder and Bronson.

 This is the view just walking up to Bloomington Lake.  It's beautiful!

 Bronson sliding down the "snow bowl".

 My little jail birds!

 Bronson knee boarding!

 Mazzy knee boarding!

 Stryder knee boarding!

 Brons opening a few presents for his surprise party.

The kiddos swimming out to the dock with Grandpa!

Some Fun in July!

  During the month of July, we were pretty lucky to spend A LOT of time at our favorite place on Earth....Bear Lake!  Ryan's brother Greg and his family came up with us for our first trip.  We had such a great time!  The kids swam, played, went tubing.  We even got our nephew Jake up on the wakeboard!  It was so fun to spend some quality time with Greg and Gena and their awesome kids!  Love them all so much!  After they left, my best friend Julie (from 1st grade) and her family came up for the day with us.  We had a blast just swimming and relaxing together.  Unfortunately we didn't get very much boating in with them, due to the windy weather.  But it was still tons of fun!  So thanks to Julie and Trevor and their cute kiddos for sacrificing to come play with us!

Above and below is Brons and Brookie!  They were little daredevils! Brons is giving the thumbs up to go FASTER!

Mazzy and Cassie's turn!  They liked to go, oh, about the speed of a snail!  It was super fun for them though.

 Greg enjoying the boat ride and watching his boys get thrown off the tube!

Here's Jake wakeboarding.  He did AWESOME!

Maz and Brons giving me the thumbs up that they want to stay here forever!

Here's Brook and Kennedy (Julie's kiddos) having fun in the paddle boat together!