Month in Review

July consisted of a LOT of travelling. We drove down to Utah to stay with my sister and go to a family reunion on Jeff's side. The kids had a lot of fun playing with cousins on both sides of the family and enjoy some nicer weather.

We got dressed up (with my sister's family) and went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house in the Salt Lake Valley. It was a gorgeous temple and very modern. It was a great opportunity to show the kids what the temple looks like inside and how quiet and sacred they are. Only in Utah do you get several opportunities to go to temple open houses. We are really looking forward to the one in Calgary!!!

We went to Seven Peaks Water Park one day but I didn't take my camera because I didn't want it to get stolen. It was a lot of fun but I think we picked the coldest day to go. BUT, the lines were not that busy for the slides!

We went 4x4ing in our mini van up the American Fork Canyon. I was so mad about this road and I was sure we were going to pop a tire or need new shocks in our van after this trip. It was absolutely beautiful though. I wanted to turn around and go down the mountain because the road was so bad but the family reunion was up the mountain. When we got up there and saw the other cars that made their way up that road, our van had more clearance than those and I didn't feel too bad. (I am not kidding when I said we went 4x4ing. This road was 1 1/2 car widths wide and was hard to pass other vehicles going the opposite direction. There were really pointy rocks poking out of the path and big pot holes. On the side of the trail (not considered a road in my opinion) was cliff droping really far down and I thought we were going to fall down it when we passed other vehicles). Let's just say my heart was pounding!

The next day of the reuion we went to the Lehi Legacy Recreation Center and had relay races in the gym, and went swimming. It was a lot of fun! That day was July 4th and so later we had a BBQ in the park and watched the 4th of July fireworks (that in my opinion were slow and kinda lame). I know that doesn't go for all 4th of July fireworks, just the ones we saw at Thanksgiving point.

Mylee, still not walking at this point, wanted to be on the ground and was putting holes in all her pants and scraping up her knees. She's close though!

Our drive home from Utah was LONG. We ended up getting stuck at the border for 2 hours due to traffic. Of course as soon as we got through, they opened up another station to get the traffic flowing through.

We were home for a couple weeks and then on July 18th we headed out to Shuswap for 2 weeks. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful 2 weeks EVER. It was 35-40 degrees EVERY SINGLE DAY! Yes it was almost too hot without A/C but I did not complain a single day. When you have a lake, that weather is bearable! I absolutely loved it! (Then we come home to the rain and 10 degree weather).

My baby started walking the day we got to the cabin. She just decided to get up and go and hasn't looked back. I really wanted her to start BEFORE we got to the cabin so walking on the rocky beach would be easier for her, but oh well. She looks so dang cute when she walks!

The first day out there grandpa took all the kids to the Sea Store (the floating houseboat store in the middle of the lake) and bought the grandkids a huge jaw breaker. The kids tongues were all raw by the end of the day and their faces looked like this...

...but for some reason the kids associate the cabin with the jaw breakers you buy at the Sea Store (whose prices are totally inflated of course). Does anyone know where you can buy those things in bulk?

The water was so nice. I think the boat registered it at about 25 degrees. Which barely cooled you down. But it was perfect. We all LIVED in the water for 2 whole weeks.

The highlight of the cabin also is driving way up the lake to the sandy beach. This is our little Hawaii. The sand is so beautiful and the kids run around like they have found gold! The three little boys had to "surf" where they run down the beach and jump on their boards and surf out into the water.

Mylee loved to feel the sand in her toes.

Mylee and her grandma's. We are lucky to holiday at Shuswap with both families and we always go up to the Sandy beach together. My mom and Jeff's mom love to sit and chat together.

And of coure what would a sandy beach be without burying the kids! This time we were smart and dug one big hole and put all the kids in it instead of individual holes.

Then you can fit all their heads in one picture! Here's all the Gibb grandkids (minus Luke and Mylee).

And the Hudson kids built a sand castle. Of course my kids had to get in on all the action.

Then of course, every one crashes on the boat ride home.

Back at the cabin, Black Jack (the dog) was waiting for us while we were at the Sandy beach, for someone to throw his ball. Mylee was the only one giving him the attention he wanted! Black Jack will drop his ball at whoever will throw it for him...even if it is only a couple feet away.

Other days were spent lazing around reading magazines...

...getting lauched into the water...

...kneeboarding...

...and just chillin' in the boat listening to music.

Mylee loved the pool that was a little warmer and where she didn't have to wear her life jacket! She was just swimming on her own and loved it. I'm so glad she loves the water.

Farewell to the cabin until a couple more weeks when we go out again for more of the same ol' fun times! There you go Susie...there's Jaden skiing for you! Cody chickened out.