July Fly By

 July flew by with 2012 Summer Olympic Games, Pioneer Days, rainstorms, Youth Celebrations, and those other things I've already posted about. I feel as though my blog has been so random and out of order lately, but I am just trying to keep up and to catch up!

 We kicked off the Summer Olympic Games at Nicolette and Ryan's house. We gathered with friends to watch the opening ceremonies. The kids all played so well, with the help of this sweet little 8 year old - I think - Hayley. She played with all the younger kids and kept peace and quiet! The kids especially enjoyed the costume box! Above is Lydia as a cowgirl riding a horse and what is that? Oh yes, it's Gabe...in a lion costume that is a couple sizes too small for him...Lydia had it on before him and that one sure brought many laughs to the audience of this costume parade.

step 1: place hands on the stick and line feet together

step 2: begin pulling

step 3: Pull three year old over the top

Step 4: Face her Daddy! Who wins no contest with one arm.

 Miles has now discovered the joys of bouncing. He didn't seem fond of this thing at first, but he has learned how it works and he is quite content jumpin around in there...that is until Lydia comes along and gives him an earthquake or something crazy.

 Lydia has got her use out of these little boots and umbrella. She loves a good rainstorm, just like her Momma. When I first got these boots for her she wanted to wear them every day, and the umbrella, well she has played with it so much, I'm surprised it still serves its purpose!

 NORTHERN VIRGINIA YOUTH CELEBRATION 2012

 We got to attend the big Regional Youth Celebration. Mom is the Stake Young Women's President and so she was involved in the planning and organization of it. It was a lot of work and we went the first night so there were a few glitches....and a pretty good rain storm....but it went well and it was fun.

Miles doesn't let much get him down! He weathered the rain with the best of us.

The Grand Finale Dance! Arise and Shine

A COUPLE TRIPS TO MONTCLAIR LAKE

 

Brittany Crane had a friend that let her use her pass to the Montclair Beach while they were on vacation. It was so nice to get a couple of "beach" trips in without all the hassle of driving to the actual coast and dealing with huge waves and salt water. The kids could still enjoy the sand, swim in the fishy water, and we avoided the salt and them being tired and cranky! My kind of beach trip. The picture above makes me laugh because I have two others before it in sequence. The first is Hallie a couple feet away from Gabe, smiling for the picture, the second is her noticing that Lydia was hugging Gabe for the picture and realizing that it must be a competition (as almost everything is with Hallie), she moves in and, as you can see, both Lydia and Hallie surrounding the little Lady's Man for the last picture. 

Ocean City (from our one and only beach trip this summer)
I already posted about it, but it was in July so I thought I'd include a picture here too....