Awesome Home Away From Home

We try to make it to Wyoming (Mike's hometown) at least once a year. When we lived there for the summer, I never wanted to live there. But now, after every time we visit, I wish it was an option.

There are awesome bugs...

but there are also mosquitos. On our drive Scarlett had to go potty so we stopped. We couldn't even get out because Mike let it 5 mosquitos. Eaten before we even got there...

Awesome hiking up Strawberry...with snow! ....in June!

Awesome views.

Along with awesome faces.

This is our city folk hiking gear...

Deanne and Jerry plan to sell their house. We have yet found a way to transfer the awesome willows in the back.

Although it was rainy and overcast a lot of the time we were there, it was nice to get out of the Vegas heat.

This pile of logs and branches Michael had made into forts many moons ago. Kyle helped the littles rebuild a pretty cool Eeyore house.

Meanwhile, the rest of us enjoyed a bonfire at the "camp ground". Thanks to Brandon for his awesome go-pro pictures :)

More snow on the hike up to the intermittent spring which obviously was a raging river this time of year and not so intermittent.

We all made it down and no one got washed away in the river!

Making ice cream!

Collecting chickie eggs.

More wilderness adventures up Grover Park.

One last swing.

August had to spend his actual birthday in the car. We didn't have cake, but luckily Maverick had ice cream!

On our way out, we visited Great Grandma. She is over 100!

Some conversations to remember.

Zoey shared a sucker with Scarlett.

S: I'll give it back when you count all those trees.

Z: 1, 2, 3, I can't count all those trees!! Scarlett won't give me it back!

Jana found Scarlett and Zoey walking down the road carrying some chicken eggs.

J: What are you guys doing??

S: Well, you know........we were just going to throw them....

If you're not pictured out...there are more on fb ;)

Summer

I feel like Vegas is taunting me. I just loathe when it gets blazing hot here. I am so grumpy! For the last couple of weeks it gets crazy hot, then cools off into the 70's. Over and over. For now....I will gladly take the 70's!

Scarlett begged to break into the watermelon for lunch. 

I am fairly certain watermelon was the only thing August ate for lunch.

Then, she came out with the big end! Ha! 

Of course August wanted in on the "beeeeeeg" watermelon too.

"They are only clothes...and it's only watermelon," I kept telling myself.

We obviously LOVE watermelon season!

And corn on the cob-, grilling-, and swimming season!

BFF's

While I was pregnant with August, I felt so guilty for raining on Scarlett's parade. It was the end to time alone with Mom and Dad, an end to being an only child, an end to having all your stuff be just your stuff.

But the sibling thing is pretty awesome.

When they are not busy kicking each other...

Or eyeing whatever the other one has...

They are pretty darn cute.

August thinks he's as big as Scarlett. Maybe it's because he's learned to jump the couch-ottoman gap like big sis. Or maybe it's because their hands and feet are almost the same size.

He listens quietly to Scarlett "reading" him books and singing him songs.

I don't know why I ever felt so guilty. 

That's the funny thing about birthdays, they're kind of an annual thing.

Scarlett turned four!

 And in this house princesses are all the rage. Even August begs to watch My Little Pony ("PONIES!!") and play in Scarlett's Barbie house. 

{face palm} 

I've already ruined his boydom. But that's for another post which I will in all likelihood never write.

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Friday night Scarlett came out of her room saying she couldn't sleep because she was too excited for her birthday. We didn't disappoint! Pepto pink EVERYWHERE!

Friends came over to play in the dirt, collect rollie pollies (we've got a whole community), eat, and decorate royal crowns.

...And to destroy the pinata. I caved and bought one this year after last year's bomb shelter of a pinata I made last year. 

 She blew out the candles, opened her gifts, and devoured cake!

Oh, and had a little tea sesh with Uncle Jello. Of course.

What a wonderful day to turn four.

2013 Part III: Tummies, Tangled, and Timeout

SEPTEMBER

Grandma Humpherys' 100th birthday.

Late Nights

We got and sold Hampton. I couldn't handle the smell. And the flies.

The first time this happened.

OCTOBER

Bethany had a birthday.

HALLOWEEEEN!

We took in the lovely "fresh" air of gilcrease nature sactuary.

NOVEMBER

Christmas tree. Check.

Santa picture. Check.

Super clean fridge. Check.

DECEMBER

Best models ever.

Mini hikes with the minis.

This seriously happened again.

And this just plain happened. I'm pretty sure this is a highly accurate portrayal of the nativity.

2013 is almost summarized (pfff....as if 3 posts was a summary). Christmas requires it's own post. I feel like last January was an eon ago. Especially since August wasn't even mobile then. 

2013 really was a good year.