And our Summer begins

It is always an exciting time for kids and parents alike...the last few days of school and the anticipation of Summer break! Finally, we get to sleep in, read some good books while basking in the sun, take some fun family vacations, and make some Summer memories! Doesn't that sound great? Well, my reality is; more laundry piling up, more housework, lots and lots of running around, more cries of "i'm bored", and less sleep as the sleepover parties commence...oh how we love Summer!!

We started out with a bang this year and took a ten-day vacation to St. George, just me and my five kids (Matt unfortunately had to stay home and work, we really missed him). I had fun hanging out with my mom and siblings, and I know my kids had fun with their cousins. We did a lot of swimming in the 90 degree weather (heaven)! And we missed some pretty gnarly weather at home, so that was good!

The first place we head right when we arrive to grandma's house is the park down the street with the cool splash pad for cooling off!

Croydon, with Bridget in the background cooling off in the water...

We love to go to the park and get wet at the splash pad! It is so nice and refreshing!

My mom's neighborhood has a community pool that just barely opened this year, so that was exciting for the kids. Haili and Bridget watch as Tucker runs and jumps!
This kid just loves water! He is so brave and will do anything...a dang fish!

Brdget enjoyed being able to swim in the "deep" all by herself!

Bayli and Haili found entertainment in the tube, that is when Tanner wasn't trying to take it from them!

I just loved Bridget's pudgy little bum!

There is a really nice lake just a few minutes away from my mom's where we love to go boating, the water is nice and warm, the beach is big enough for all of us, and there is sand for miles and miles to enjoy some great days on the beach!

The tube gets broken in as the kids play around in it...

Brightyn loves to be outside!

The sand is so nice and soft, Bridget loved the beach!

Bridget and Croydon enjoyed making sand castles together

Bayli, Bridget and Tucker...

These girls found what else? ZEBRA sunglasses and just had to show them off at the lake!

Little miss beach girl ready to hit the water and sand with her new Dora sunglasses!

Tanner entertains himself by jumping from rock to rock as we wait for the boat to be launched.

Tucker just loved grandma's boat, especially with Uncle Quinn at the wheel blasting his awesome music!

Haili and Emma take a gander over the edge of the cliff, debating whether they are brave enough to jump, or not...they eventually both did the 30-footer! It's a lot farther down that it looks! I was only brave enough to do the 20-footer, and that was scary enough!

Tanner discovered that cliff jumping was a real rush and eventually braved the 30-foot cliff to the right!

Bayli tries out wakeboarding for the first time...she's a natural!

We always end up taking our trip right around my sister's birthday. Last year we got her pretty good with some funny surprises. This year, these girls made up a dance and performed it for her complete with the ensembles you see here! We laughed until we cried! It was great!

Of course, we can't have a dance without Bridget's cheer moves!

I am so grateful for my mom's hospitality which allows us somewhere nice and warm to go with lots and lots of fun activities for my kids to enjoy! Thanks, grandma, Aunt Cori, Uncles Quinn and Dane for a great time! Until next time...