Fathers and Sons . . . . . and daughters!

Our Fathers and Sons camp out was last weekend. It was a beautiful weekend, perfect for camping. I was so totally jealous that Scott got to go up into our canyon and eat dinner made in a fire, make s'mores, sleep in a tent outside listening to the river and the trees, wake up in a forest and eat Eggs In A Frame for breakfast. But, of course, I am not invited on the fathers and sons camp out and neither are the girls . . . . but we crashed it anyway. Kind of.

Scott got off of work early and we all went up to the camp site to hang out, set up, play in the tent, walk around by the river, climb rocks, etc. until all the others arrived for the camp out. I was then going to head home with the kids and Scott could host the fathers and their sons. One father came with his two boys that are Brie and Ava's age. We stayed to play with them. No one else was showing up so we decided the girls could stay with their friends. I ran home for sleeping bags and pajamas and food supplies, came back for a s'more and took just my little Zachy home for the night. he girls did quite well in the tent up in the canyon with Scott. They came home happy and smelling of smoke with bellies full of Eggs In A Frame. What could make you happier? So glad they got to join in the camp out.

Two Buck Tuesdays!

Thanksgiving Point offers all of it's venues for only two dollars each Tuesday in August. This is great for people like me who don't want to pay the full price (and have no interest in the crowded Dinosaur Museum). We take full advantage of Two Buck Tuesdays. We waited until school had started for everyone else and then went to the Gardens one week and the Farm the next. Both were really pretty days and we had a lot of fun spending THE WHOLE DAY there.

The Gardens - I really am so impressed with the gardens. They are beautiful. And, of course, I have girls who get giddy over all those lovely flowers! We start out playing in the Noah's Ark water sculpture and visiting the Children's Discovery Gardens. Love it.Rolling down and then running up the huge hill in front of the waterfall. I did not attempt to roll down this time. Not after the pure sickness and dizziness that hit me last time.
On to visit our favorite gardens. The carousel.
The Butterfly.
The entrance to The Secret Garden. A favorite.
The Italian Gardens.
The Farm - The farm is a fun day for little kids. We started with lunch at the Thanksgiving Point deli. Delish! The kids downed mini corn dogs.They started out in the farm building learning about milking cows, feeding farm animals, watching baby chicks, planting/picking fruits and vegetables and playing games.Then out to the barnyard to see horses, cows, llamas, goats, chickens, etc. Fascinating. The best part for both the girls was getting to ride the ponies. Ava was even brave enough to hop on with no problem. I was so surprised and so proud. Brielle just kept checking underneath each pony to make sure she got a girl and not one with "that thing hanging down". After hours of playing at the farm we went to the ice cream shop for 50 cent ice cream cones. Perfect! They, especially Zachary, thoroughly enjoyed them . . . from head to toe. Thank heaven for two buck Tuesdays. Good times.

Buchanans In The House

Well, the last of the Buchanans have gone. As soon as my family left, the Buchanan families from Oregon and New York arrived and it was awesome to have them. We had a great time hanging out with Glenn, Renee, Alan and Laura. And I'm always happy to see cousins running wild together. We had so much fun with them.

Ariana was excited (after a week at our house) for her parents and sisters to join us. They stayed at our house, which I love, but I'm hoping they'll want to come back again. Two of the girls got sick (from us) and were throwing up and the same two also got attacked by hornets on our swing set. Sorry. We did manage to have some fun together though. We went to Incredible Pizza, rode the rides and ate all the pizza we could manage. Now I would say that makes up for any throw up or hornet stings, right?Me trying to help Brie learn the line dance.
Scott and Brielle won first place in this race and I think Brielle wore the ribbon for the week straight afterward. So very proud.
While everyone was here we celebrated my birthday with backyard snow cones . . . . . . and a few days later celebrated Fred's 79th birthday with a beautiful party in Brian and Rachel's backyard. So many people came to wish Fred a Happy Birthday. There were friends from church, the neighborhood and a lot of family. Bagpipers and a highland dancer even came to perform. It was quite the night. I hope he felt just how much we all love him.Beautiful Rama with cutey Zachy. She is the one who gave him those gorgeous blue eyes.
The edible bouquet was a HIT! I think our girls ate half of the whole thing. That is a lot of melon, pineapple, strawberries and mango.
And then was a birthday celebration for Andrew (turning 3). Whenever Laura and Alan are in town we go with them to Kangaroo Zoo (bounce house). They LOVE it!!! Ava has been asking since Christmas to go back to "Kangaroo Hoo with Androo". Wish granted. Andrew had a jumping party at Kangaroo Zoo. They ran and jumped and ran and jumped . . . while we watched and talked! Perfect party Andrew.Zachy loving his cousin Annabelle.
Then we went back to Laura's parents house for more jumping (on the trampoline and with fewer clothes this time), dinner and cupcakes. Brielle asked the next day if we could please just go live at Nana's house. I guess she had a good time.
And of course, there was a lot of fun times at their own Grandma and Papa's house. We spent our last day with the NY cousins reading books, playing games and going for more "fro yo"!

This is what I got when I tried to take a cute picture of Ava, Andrew and Brielle intently watching Uncle Alan set up his "Chain of Light" game. What sweet girls, huh?
What a nice aunt. All the kids piled on Aunt Laura for story after story.
We love it when they come and are sad they are gone. Until next summer.