Where did the summer go?

This summer was packed with a million activities! I felt like we were running from one thing to the next. I guess that helped to keep the house a little bit cleaner since we weren't home as much to mess it up. OR the house was messier cause we weren't home in solid amounts of time to cleanit up! Who knows. A few highlights of the summer were:

Swim lessons at the PG pool for the kids

Gymnastics for Braxton & Abbey

Abbey's baptism

Demolition Derby in Fairview on the 24th of July in which Deric won theWipe Out heat!

T-ball with Braxton

Soccer with Braxton (he is so aggressive and he scores almost every game!)

A weeklong "staycation"

The older 3 kids spending a few days in Idaho w/ Grandma & Grandpa Christensen!

Camping in Idaho for Tim's 60th birthday!

Landen & Abbey's birthdays

4th of July BBQ & fireworks

Random swim days at the PG & Lindon community pools

Bryce and I were lucky enough to have Bryce's parents invite our kids up to Idaho for a few days. They had a BLAST!!! They were able to spend time with their "Idaho" cousins at the local splash pad, pizza joint, museum and much much more.

Bryce and I just had Mason to worry about and felt light as a feather! Last year when the kids were gone we went non-stop the entire time but this time we were worn out and relaxed much much more. We did do a single track motorbike ride up American Fork Canyon while my mom watched Mason, hit a few buckets of golf balls, went to dinner, did a little shopping, watched a few movies and took some naps! Now that was a vacation!

We couldn't really think of any place to do a vacation this year w/ the kids (cause I want to go to Disneyland but Bryce doesn't) and we didn't want to spend our entire vacation driving in the car (especially with a baby!) We decided to do a "staycation." We camped overnight up AF canyon, went to the pool, saw Toy Story 3 at the theatre, visited the Living Planet Aquarium to pet the sting ray, went to the demolition derby and just plain old playing. I think the kids had the most fun jumping on the trampoline and playing 4 square with us! We all had a great time and I think the kids have gotten over the fact that they still had to make their beds and clean their rooms that week. :)

To top off our summer we went camping in Idaho for my father-in-law's 60th birthday! We had such a great time!!! There were NO bugs! I was totally dreading the bugs! The kids were filthy dirty the entire time and smiling. As adults we enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night eating snacks and chatting. With all I packed I chose to leave my camera at home. It was a mistake but I didn't want to have to worry about one more thing and I figured Mason was going to be in my arms the entire time anyway. So many people were willing to hold him at various times so I could do random stuff and that helped a ton! It was also nice that Bo & Celeste brought a port-a-potty so we didn't have to hike up to the outhouse or squat in the trees! Lucky me! I can't believe of all people that I had fun camping! I am a changed woman. :) Here are a few pictures thanks to Dustin's wife, Jeanie!

Landen w/ his walking stick that Bryce carved for him!

Trent harrassing Bryce with Landen looking on.

Both my Abbey & Dustin's Abbie riding bikes with Dustin keeping tabs on these two speed demon girls!

Trent & his daughter, Lucy, entertaining Mason.

Braxton & Landen whipping up something delicious with all of that gourmet mud!

Bryce intently carving a walking stick for the kids. They each got their own and he had to put their names in them too so they would quit fighting when somebody lost theirs.

Landen playing w/ one of grandpa's birthday balloons while he watched the older kids ride dirtbikes.

And the birthday boy himself, Tim, holding Conrad & Brody while his good wife, Tricia, continues to be at his side! :)

With all of the fun of this summer I have to say that I haven't shed any tears yet that the house has gotte a bit quieter now that Abbey is back in school. 2 more days till Braxton starts kindergarten and one more week till Landen has preschool a few days a week. I still have Mason at home and a whole list of chores waiting to keep me company in the mornings and lots of hugs to squeeze, car rides to give and homework to help out on in the afternoons to keep me on my toes till bedtime!