August Came and Went... Here's what we were up to!

Once again, these pictures are out of order but I don't have time to move them all around and I don't think it really matters in the long run. So here are our pictures from the month of August. We worked hard and played hard and had some really fun adventures. I take the most pictures when we are away from home, but most of our days consist of staying home playing, doing chores, reading, watching cartoons (I'm trying to cut them out but they are just so nice sometimes), and going through our daily routine. However, I'm not very good at getting the camera out on those days. 

We are in the process of redoing our front yard landscaping so we have slowly been removing all of the rocks. The kids have been excellent helpers. We like to go out first thing in the morning before it gets to hot and try and get things done but it has been a very slow process. We are ready for a nice yard so hopefully things speed up this month. 

One of Cason's favorite activities to do outside is hunt for bugs. I sure love watching him be a little boy. It one of the best things about living in Hurricane. He has so much space to explore and get dirty! He is proudly displaying one of those bugs here.  

Kami and Grandma! Kami doesn't look too excited in this picture but she really loves visiting Grandma at her house! 

This was taken on Cason's first day of Kindergarten. I can't believe how fast he is growing up. He is such a handsome kid. The poor boy had about 15 cankers in his mouth on the first day of school so I didn't get very big smiles in his before school  pics because it hurt to smile, but don't be fooled he was beyond excited to start school! He has an amazing teaching named Mrs. Reid and has been doing so great so far. He loves it! 

I sure love having three hours a day to focus on this cute girl (Ellie usually is asleep while Cason's at school). She is so much fun and sure loves the extra attention. 

A few weeks ago we made the trek to Casper to see Tony. This is just a pic of Ellie and Dan outside Tony's house. She was such a good sport on our trip. Even after 12 hours each way in the car! 

Tony still has a three-wheeler that Dan and his brothers rode growing up and it is so much fun for the kids to ride now. Cason loves it! And is really good on it. He also rode Tony's little motorcycle with no training wheels while we were there and did great!

Kami rode the three wheeler for the first time this trip (with Dads help of course). It was pretty cute. 

We broke the drive to Casper up by stopping in Park City for a mini family vacation. We did the Alpine Slide, hit up the outlets to do some much needed clothes shopping and stayed at a hotel with a pool. It was a really fun, quick stop. 

Dan and Cason rode the Alpine slide first. 

Kami, Ellie and I waited for them at the bottom and played around in the grass at the bottom. When they were done Kami and I took a turn but didn't get a picture. It was really fun. Both kids thought it was the best thing ever! They are pretty easy to please. 

Look at that smile! 

Cason got to the do the trampoline too. He was trying so hard to do a flip the whole time but didn't quite have the umph to flip all the way around but it was pretty funny watching him try. He finally figured it out and the whole experience definitely lived up to his expectations. 

Here is Kami and Dan taking a turn on the carousel.

We got to see Grandpa Frank while we were in Casper. Frank is Wendy's Dad. Dan has told Cason stories about Great-Granpa Frank hunting a cougar and so naturally Cason thinks he is the coolest person ever! All he wanted to do was talk to Grandpa about hunting.  It was pretty cute. 

At the beginning of August I took the kids to the Animal Museum. Cason has been dying to go there since we moved to Southern Utah. It is basically just a bunch of taxidermy animals that they charge you way to much to see. The kids thought it was amazing and we got to check it off our summer bucket list so we'll count it as a win!  

We went to this awesome spot at Sand Hallow a few Mondays ago and went swimming for FHE. It was so fun. We bought Ellie a little float and put the big kids in their life jacks and just swam around the rocks and did a little cliff jumping. We weren't there very long but it was such a fun and simple activity that was a hit for the whole family. 

Back towards the beginning of August we took the kids to Little Mountain (I think that's what its called) to ride motorcycles. I drove in the car with Ellie and  Kami and we drove to this really awesome spot where there are these big rocks to climb on and in the middle is this cute little pond. We spend a lot of time here, skipping rocks, climbing around and having snacks. It was a really fun family day. 

This is our best attempt at a family selfie. I sure love this happy little family! We have so much fun together. 

Unfortunately when we got there Cason's motorcycle wouldn't work so he and Kami just took turns riding with Dan. I ever rode for a little while on the way back.  

On our way to Casper we stopped in Fillmore and had lunch with my parents and Erin and her three youngest kids. It was a fun little pit stop. We always love an excuse to see the Mays. Riley and Amanda are very loved at our house. 

Amy and her kids (minus Ava, who was in Texas) came to visit my parents for a week. It was so fun to hand out with them. We had so much fun while they were here! Here Lizzy is giving Kami and Kate a ride on Maggie. 

While there were playing at our house one day I snuck a picture of Kami reading a book to Bobby. They are the cutest little buddies. 

One night while they were here my parents set up their little camp trailer for Amy and I at Sand Hallow and we had a little impromptu camp trip with these funny kids. It was so much fun! 

It was really fun to have some one on one time with Cason. He doesn't get much undivided attention and I think we both loved going on an adventure just the two of us. 

We woke up before Amy and her kids so we went on a fun little hike down to the lake bright and early. After Amy's family woke up we all took the kayaks down to the lake and kayaked and swam. then my parents brought us breakfast and we headed home. I'm so glad we decided to go. 

My mom took Amy, Lizzie and I to Tuacahn to see the Beauty and the Beast one evening. It was spectacular. I enjoyed it so much more than I expected too. It was a great night with great company. 

These are more pictures from Cason's first day of school. I had to document how concerned he was with his hair. It was not turning out how he wanted it too and he was so distraught. Don't worry though, he finally got it looking great before he had to leave. 

Cason is so happy to have our neighbor and one of his best buddies in his class. They walk together every day. 

Ellie is growing like a weed. She is moving all over the place and is as happy as can be.  I'm not quite ready for her to be mobile. She's not full on crawling yet. She usually goes up on her hands and knees and then drops to her tummy to scoot to where she wants to go. 

Cliffside started Saturday brunch a couple weeks ago so we took the whole family to try it out. It was delicious as always. We actually ate there the Friday night before as well because our elderly friend Howard Gonzales was in town for a wedding and wanted to try it out. He stayed the night at our house as well. He is such a kind and generous man and for some reason he really loves our family. It has been really wonderful to know him and have him a part of our lives. He is a great example to us. 

After brunch there was a little flood at the hotel so Dan had to go to work so I took the kids to the park down the street and played for a while. Ellie was pretty happy about it! 

My stylish little walking buddy to pick Cason up from school. I love living so close to his school. We love going to pick him up everyday.  

The mornings in Hurricane are AMAZING! Its hard to stay inside when its so nice outside. So we spend a lot of mornings in our pjs outside. On this particular morning Cason was teaching Kami how to shoot. He was a very good and patient coach and she was a good student. They really are the best of friends! 

The kids and I got to Costco last Friday to find this fun surprise. And of course I didn't have any wipes or extra clothes so we turned around and went home. Sorry for the gross pic but this whole blog is for journaling purposes and this picture best describes my life as a stay at home mom is. 

Last Saturday, Ellie went to brunch with Grandma and Grandpa and Dan and I took these two 4-wheeling and Sand Hallow and the sand dunes. But first donuts and chocolate milk of course. 

Dan and Cason getting some air at the sand dunes. When we got to the rocks at the topped we stopped to rock climb. Cason and Kami are both way braver than I would like them to be. Cason at one point got stuck way high up and started sliding  (not 2 seconds after I told him I wasn't comfortable with him being that high). Dan was on another ledge about 10 ft off the ground holding Kami and being the super hero Dad that he is, jumped off the cliff while holding Kami, put her down, and ran over to Cason just as he was about to fall. It was really cool to watch. He really did look like a super hero. Dad's are amazing and I'm so glad my kids have a good one. 

When we were down by the lake Cason got to ride the little 4-wheeler all by himself as we went around the lake. He is a champ. 

Last week the kids and I went to the park nice and early before school started. It happened to be the day they irrigated the field so naturally we had to stop and play in the water. It was a blast.