Fun with Cousins

We had the wonderful pleasure of having Kurt's cousin, Roger, and his family come stay with us. We were so excited when they called and asked if they could come visit us - we couldn't wait for the time to come for them to get here.

They arrived Wednesday, July 3rd, the day after I spent running Trevor around getting x-rays and getting his cast on. Since I unexpectedly spent that day running around, I wasn't as ready as I wanted to be when they got here but some things just can't be helped. Luckily it wasn't a big deal.

They arrived at the end of a major heat wave we were having here. The day they arrived it was 110. They live in Washington state where, I think, they said their high is normal around 80. Welcome to California! Hot, sweaty California! 

Thursday

We went to a church breakfast at a park. The kids got to decorate their scooters or bikes for a kid parade. Unfortunately, humidity was added to the heat that morning. It was quite uncomfortable, bearable but uncomfortable. They asked if our weather was always like that. No, definitely not. 

Little T folding his arms for prayer.

Such a sweet boy!

This is Charlotte. She is Roger and Veronique's youngest at 4. Isn't she a cutie?

Getting ready for the parade.

After the breakfast we went home and collapsed in the air conditioned house and relaxed for a little bit. Then the Mickelsen's invited us over to go swimming and we couldn't resist. Then it seems like we did something after that but I can't remember so . . . on to Friday!

Friday

We had planned on going on the boat but with Trevor's cast I thought that was out but Kurt came up with the idea to get a babysitter to stay with T. Luckily we were able to find one last minute so off to the lake we went.

Roger and Charlotte

We went up the north fork to the 5 mile an hour zone and let the kids play and swim. The water was wonderful! The heat wave had warmed the lake up to a perfect temp. I even got in the water - that is saying something!

This is Jacob.

After we had lunch and enjoyed the water, we got to playing . . .

First we started off with some slow tubing with Evan and Eliza.

Then Roger and Jacob got in the tube and fun really began:

After they were done tubing, Jacob wanted to try knee boarding. He had never tried it before and he got up on his second try. He did a GREAT job! He was like a pro!

Then Veronique water skied. She also did a GREAT job and looked like a pro!

Jacob got to drive heading back in.

Saturday

After spending Thursday and Friday in the sun, we were all wiped out. We couldn't decide what to do on Saturday so we made a list and voted. And then the parents kind of over ruled the results because we didn't have the energy to go to a local water park (i.e. be in the heat and sun all day) or go on a hike (i.e. be in the heat and sun all day). So we decided to go pick blackberries near our house.

There is a creek and we walked down the creek (in the shade and cool water) and picked blackberries.

The kids ended up swimming. They just couldn't resist.

The only way to keep T and his cast out of the water.

Miss Cutie Charlotte

All going for the same clump of blackberries.

Roger and Veronique.

The adults went out on a double date that night while Kayla babysat. We got to have real adult conversations. Amazing!

Sunday

We went to church and then after dinner we decided to take dessert to the Sacramento Temple. It was beautiful. I think it was Sunday (or maybe it was Saturday) that the weather returned to normal. Cool mornings, hot during the day and then wonderful cool evenings. Ahhh! Back to normal.

And T definitely wanted in the water.

Eliza and Hailey

Evan in a tree.

All the kids in the tree.

What cuties. Eliza, Charlotte and T.

Our whole group.

These are random photos from the week:

Evan and Charlotte were little buddies:

Their very own fort!

T tried to convince us he didn't have a broken arm and could do everything he wanted to do (and that the big kids were doing) like riding bikes and scooters.

The boys' fort.

Notice the disco ball? Yes, the baby shape sorter is their disco ball. Take one baby shape sorter, put a flash light inside, hang from your fort and spin it really fast and you have yourself a disco ball!

The girls' fort

Comfy and cozy.

One tired little boy.

Oh, look at that face! So precious!

What a fun week. We really, REALLY wish we were closer to our cousins.  It would be so fun to see them more often. Thank you Roger and Veronique for coming down to visit us. We had a great time and miss you guys!

A Little Day Hike

When Kurt's cousin was here, we planned to do lots of things. Unfortunately, they arrived right at the end of a major heat wave we were having so the heat zapped a lot of our energy out of us. By Saturday, we were wiped out so instead of doing a hike like we planned, we rested and went blackberry picking near our house. I will post all about their wonderful visit another time as all those pictures are on my computer which is down at our office. 

We decided this last Saturday to do the hike we had planned for their visit. We had never been there before so it was a fun adventure. It is called Hidden Falls and it is located in Auburn. There are a lot of trails in the area so it was fun to try to read the map and follow the correct one. They do have signs up but sometimes that didn't always match the map exactly.

This was the first little water fall we came to. Evan wasted no time in climbing out there.

And Cody wasted no time in testing out the water. The boy is a serious water dog. Kurt unhooked the leash and it was like he was shot out of a cannon directly into the water. He swam round and round with no intention of ever getting out. He loves him some water!

We hiked on and came to this swimming hole.

We were not exactly prepared for swimming so Hailey and Evan went swimming in their clothes.

Next time we know to bring the swimsuits and towels! It was hot enough that they were {mostly} dry by the time we got back to the car.

Leaving the swimming hole. That's me in the hot pink shirt.

 Another waterfall.

The only thing I didn't like about this trail - well, actually, there were 2 things - was that the trail itself was very dry and dusty. Our legs and sneakers were completely covered in an orangey/brown dust. The other thing was that there was poison oak {or ivy - how do you tell the difference?} right on the side of the trail. It wasn't too bad as the trail was wide enough that you didn't feel like it was touching you but all it takes is one kid to goof around and fall (or push a sibling) and *poof* poison oak.

Overall, it was a very fun hike. We definitely should have gone earlier so it would have been cooler but we made it and had fun. 

On the hike back, Mr. Cody decided to face plant on the dusty trail and try to roll in it. Lovely. Our all black dog came back half brown. Crazy boy!

T-Man's Birthday!

On July 11th our little boy turned 2!

I can't believe it. He is growing up way too fast!

Here are his morning birthday smiles:

He just cracks me up.

Trevor and I have been having these very special moments lately. Even though he is super busy and {what feels like} out of control and is definitely our most "active" child, he and I have been having these moments where, I don't know, we just connect. Does that make sense? We "talk" and he tells me all sorts of great stories and we laugh and cuddle and it is just super special to me. 

He is starting to "get it" and listen when we ask him to do something. Right now it is a 50/50 chance of him following through but that is better than the 0 chance it was before. He wants to be a good boy and thrives on positive attention. He is just busy. I guess that is the best way to describe it. He doesn't want to be naughty or get in trouble. He is just busy and loves to explore and has no fear. So he definitely keeps us on our toes!

Since his birthday, he has started talking A LOT more. He seems to be speaking in sentences way more instead of a few words. For example, he just got a time out for hitting and after he served his time, I told him, like I always do, to go tell Evan he was sorry and to give him a kiss. Usually he says "sowwy" and gives a kiss but this time he walked up to Evan and said "I sowwy Eban" and gave him a kiss. He is also copying everything the big kids are saying. . . which they think is hilarious and they try to get him to say funny things.

We were super low key for his birthday this year. I don't know what it is but I just haven't been in the mood to throw birthday parties for the last few years. My big kids don't like this at all but T didn't seem to mind . . . yet. We just made cupcakes and had a friend and her 2 kids over for dessert. Very simple.

Oh, little man. We love you so much! You are such a special and loving little boy. You bring so much fun and smiles and laughs to our family. You are super fun right now with your facial expressions and your "stories". Oh, and you LOVE to dance. Anytime music comes on, you can't control yourself. You just have to dance. Absolutely adorable! I love you my little T!