Utah Trip!

I made an unexpected trip to Utah in July. I felt so young and impetuous going on an impromptu vacation. My friend, Holly, was planning a trip to Utah for months. She was going to travel alone with her 3 kids. She decided it would be easier to take three extra kids if that meant she has an extra adult to help. So she offered me a free transportation to and from Utah. I thought it was going to be a miserable 11 hour drive with 6 kids under 7 years old. It turned out to be a lot of work, but a lot of fun! We left Arizona around 5:30 am and got to Kanab around lunch time.

I was seriously drooling over this scenery. It was a GORGEOUS place to stop for lunch. I was also gawking over the LUSCIOUS grass. Oh beautiful, soft grass. How I miss thee!

Sadie playing with Caroline on one of our many stops.

Poor Genevieve had a high fever on the road trip, but luckily none of us caught her illness. We tried to get everyone to take a nap after lunch. Holly and I talked almost the entire trip there and back. It was so fun to have a traveling companion to talk about books and boys and girlie things.

After about 7 or 8 stops and 15 hours later, we finally made it to my Mom's house.

The first day we were there we saw the Alkema side of the family. We went to Uncle Nate's pool with all our cousins. Here is Uncle Nate with Kaya.

Aunt Stefanie and Dylan

Mia and Boston

My first time meeting my niece Kylie

We had lots of fun at the pool with Aunt Brittney and Bryce too. Then we went back to Stef's house for some pizza and games. We had a great time. We've missed having family and cousins around.

I felt so spoiled. Here is my Daddy making me an omelet for breakfast the next day.

The masterpiece.

Cousin Payton and Sadie climbing a tree at the park.

My mom has been to AZ a few times this year, but we hadn't seen the rest of my family since last June.

My parents, Uncle Bryson, and Payton joined us on a trip to the Museum of Curiosity at Thanksgiving Pointe.

The next day we went to Jordanelle to go waverunning. Jack and his girlfriend were adorable and played with the kids in the sand. Boston was too scared to go out on the wave runner unless it was just idling.

Aunt Ashley joined us too! We sure love her.

These two were peas in a pod on the beach. Payton loved to go fast on the boat, but Sadie wouldn't let me go above 10 mph.

Auntie Kyrsten and Jessica

Thee stick

The weather was so lovely. I didn't want to go back.

Later that night we had a nice bbq at Devin's house. Here's all the kiddos.

Brooklyn was lovin on the dog, Oscar.

"Grandma Grapes" and Boston (Instead of Great Grandma, we call her Grandma- Great...which Boston interpreted as Grandma Grapes)

I sure love my Grandma!

We had a great trip and I was soo grateful to see family on such short notice. I hope my Utah friends will forgive me that I wasn't able to visit them, but it was a short trip. I still love you all!

Random July Pics

This photo cracks me up! Perfect portrayal of sibling love...

Setting up our little pool for the kids. FYI: It was the hottest July on record here in Phoenix. I shake my fist to the earth asking, "Why? Why does this happen when I'm here?"

The kids have had plenty of different places to assuage the heat.

Sadie decided to give Brooklyn a tape goatee and eyebrows.

This girl LOVES to read. It makes me happy!

My mom came to visit! YAY!

We can't get enough Grandma time. These kids stuck to her like glue.

Sadie and her best friend, Genevieve.

Silly Boston

Snuggles

My husband is FREAKING HOT! WOO!

Sadie expressed her morbidity by coloring "blood tears" on Brooklyn. Apparently Sadie uses Brooklyn not only as a servant/dress up doll but also uses her as a canvas.

Another splash pad

Trying to stay sane indoors by playing with a Halloween Mullet Wig

Ryan and I finally went on a date. It is unfortunately a rare occasion for us. We went to go see Jurassic World and walked out early. It was SO RIDICULOUS! We were laughing the entire movie! The plot was SO BAD! SO. SO. BAD. It was totally improbable and full of gaping holes! We kept laughing and finally people in front of us gave us dirty looks enough that we decided to leave early and this was our celebration shot. I will not apologize to any of you that enjoyed it. Because even YOU must admit the plot had WAY too many holes.

Dear July, I will not miss your weather. Sincerely, A very hot Erin

Independence Day Weekend 2015

We went for a swim at a friend's house first.

We were having some water wars with all the kids and Boston would squirt people and then shake his fist in the air yelling, 'REDEMPTION!" Ryan and I couldn't contain our laughter. How does he even know that word?

We had chicken fights...

And at the end of the day we were invited to slide down this baby!

I felt like a little kid going down this thing giggling like a maniac.

Our friend rents a blow up slide like this every year and they set it up for the next day, so we were the only ones there to use it. We ran up over and over again. It was a BLAST!!

We even tried running up the slide as far as we could before bouncing back down. We were in hysterics by then. It was so funny! Boston and Brooklyn kept to the bottom pool most of the time.

The scouts got our flag up!

The following day I went to a baptism for one of our Primary kids and were invited to a BBQ and pool party at the Hadley's. We sure love our ward!

Their kids are a little bit older than ours, but they played really well together.

Brooklyn has really blossomed in her swimming this summer. The first two weeks she wouldn't let go of me in the water. After getting used to the puddle jumper, she refuses to let me swim with her. She sure loves her independence!