Beat The Heat

We beat the heat of July in Las Vegas by going ice skating at the Sobe Ice Arena at the Texas Station and Casino.  The Dustins joined us and we had a great time.

Sara and Katelyn

Jacob and Clark

You can't go ice skating without having a cup of hot chocolate! 

Jake and Michael

These two were all over the rink.  Clark gets better and better every time we go.

Happy Independence Day!

I headed up to Utah on Friday to pick the kids up after we arrived home from Germany.  Joe stayed home because he had to work so I spent a few extra days up there to celebrate the 4th of July.  We stayed at my sister's house and had a great time with cousins, aunts, uncles, and Grandma and Grandpa Holt.

On Saturday, we headed to Trafalga Fun Center for some activities--rock climbing, laser tag, bumper boats, arcade games, and miniature golf.  The weather was rainy all day long but we headed there anyway.  It was extremely busy.  After we collected our golfing gear, we headed to the first hole and it started to pour.  Half of us bee-lined it to a cave on the mini-golf course while Grandma and Grandpa headed indoors.  Luckily for us the rain lasted about 15 minutes and most of the people went home.  We practically had the place to ourselves.  Grandma and Grandpa peeked out the building's door and we peeked out from the cave motioning for them to come join us.  We were completely dry and having a great time hiding out.  They raced for the cave and we all laughed and told stories while waiting for the rain to stop.  The kids actually raced around the golf course getting wet and acting silly.

When the rain stopped, we played our round of golf, rode the merry-go-round horses, climbed the rock wall, played laser tag and then hit the bumper boats where everyone got completely soaked!  I stayed back to take pictures with Grandma and Grandpa (and to make even numbers) but everyone else was drenched!

Katelyn and Sierra are climbing on the left.  Clark and Sierra are climbing on the right.  Jacob is below.

Then we headed out to dinner at Shakey's Pizza.  Cath and Jay ran home to change but I made my kids go to the restaurant wet (they did dry off a bit with the towels in Grandpa's car).  Shakey's is an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet with salad, breadsticks, pasta, and homemade root beer.  The kids loved it.  When they had full bellies but were freezing, we headed back to Cath's for warm baths and bed.

Monday was the fourth of July.  I took my boys out shopping for fireworks and independence day craft projects, then helped Cath with the food preparations for dinner.  She always hosts the Willes family for a potluck BBQ so it was going to be a full house with both families there.  Grandma and Grandpa brought over 4th of July party bags complete with silly string, bubbles, and stickers.  The kids had a great time playing outside.  Dinner was delicious and then we headed to the backyard for games before it got dark.  When it was FINALLY dark, we lined up the fireworks for Uncle Geoff to light and enjoyed the neighborhood show.  Aerial fireworks were legal in Utah this year so we saw fireworks all over the valley and around everyone's homes.  It was so exciting. 

Each child picked out their favorite firework and helped Uncle Geoff light it

When our amateur show was over, we pulled our chairs around to the backyard to watch the firework show from Thanksgiving Point.  It was amazing as well and we had a wonderful time celebrating Independence Day.  Happy Birthday, America!

While Mom and Dad are Away . . .

 . . . the kids will play at Grandma and Grandpa's!

While we were gallavanting around Europe, our children were gallavanting around Brigham City.  Mom and Dad Stuart came down to watch the girls' dance recital and Katelyn's Hollywood Kids performance and then drove my sweet munchkins back up to Utah a couple of days before we left for Germany.  My kids were pretty excited to spend two whole weeks of their summer in Utah without parental supervision.  And for an extra bonus, Matt and Carrie are temporarily living with Grandma and Grandpa while their house is being built so that means 4 cousins that are almost exactly the same age all under the same roof!  It was going to be crazy but oh, so fun!

I mean, honestly, what could be better than . . .
*an unlimited supply of ice cream sandwiches, fruit snacks, and Cream O' Weber chocolate milk

*sleepovers almost every night with cousins

*golfing everyday with John and Zach, taking turns driving the golf cart all over the course and to Uncle Matt's dealership, and buying all varieties of Mountain Dew from the golf shop or vending machines

Clark and Zach (No idea where John and Jake are)

*playing in the irrigation water

*riding horses

*helping Grandpa clean up around the farm and yard and laying new stone

*cleaning out kitchen cabinets with Grandma while earning money to spend on a shopping trip
(no pictures of that one, unfortunately)

*running a lemonade stand

*giving each other spa treatments and manicures

*making duct tape purses, flowers, and other crafts

*wearing the same outfit and hairstyles

*playing with the dogs

*playing basketball on the sport court

*riding bikes and roller blades all over the streets of Brigham

*running through the sprinklers and performing on the grass

*watching the building and progress of the Brigham City temple

*making Woof'ems at Aunt Shelly's and running away from the "Coffee Man"
(no pictures of this one either but lots of stories from my boys)

*and just having a wonderful time with their grandparents

Although the kids were excited to see us when we got home, they were pretty happy to have spent so much time with Grandma and Grandpa making wonderful memories and strengthening their relationships.  They will never forget this summer and we are so grateful that they had such a great time.  Thank you so much, Grandma and Grandpa!  We love you!