Olympics

I love that every 4 years I get to watch hours and hours of Olympic footage. Not just the games, but also the small segments that are ran all day long on the culture of the host of the games.  Love it! The last time we watched the summer Olympics was when Luke and I just bought our home. We didn't have any kids yet or even a dog. We watched Micheal Phelps win medal after medal, Kerry Walsh and Misty Mae-Treanor win the Gold in a palm sweating battle. We loved watching Sean Johnston and the rest of the US Gymnastics and just feeling such emotion as we watched footage of Olympians feeling complete glory and even complete defeat. The Olympics re-unite the world for some (hopefully) good clean fun and competition all for the love and passion of "the game". Even the commercials like Visa, GE, Nike and P&G (no T-Vo here) tend to make me a bit teary eyed on occasion. LOVE it! Like I said though, we don't have anything to record anything. Not even a VHS player to do it the old school way so, I stayed up night after night watching the games. Who knew watching Water Polo, BMX racing and kayaking could be so cool. Not me. I loved that it was in London. It looks like such a cool place that I hope to visit someday. Luke and I would laugh at some of the stories about the customs there and how quirky the British are. On the flip side, I also enjoy their learning about their very traditional customs.

Of course my favorite is always watching Misty Mae Treanor and Kerry Walsh Jennings play beach Volleyball. They are just the ultimate duo. I also loved watching the Women's indoor Volleyball along with Swimming, Diving, Running, Gymnastics both Men and Women's and all the many other events. It was all just so amazing. It would be a dream to be able to go down to Rio for the next summer games with Luke, but I guess I have a pretty good seat here on my own couch. 2016 summer games, you can't get here soon enough.

Summer Outdoor Retailer Expo

We love going to this but it's not very easy to get into unless you have some sort of connection. We had in years past, but sadly haven't found a way to get in for the last 2 years. This year when he heard that a vendor needed some extra hands to help for a day, we jumped all over that especially because we would be working with Prana, a company we really like.

And for our lunch break, we hit up the fabulous Chick-Fil-A.

It was work, but well worth it.



24 Hour Camping

Actually, It was less than that but it was pretty fun.

Karina called me earlier this week and asked me if we were up for some last minute camping. Luckily we didn't have much going on so we met up with them to camp.

Since it was so last minute, we had to test our luck and see if we would get a spot Friday at around 6:30 PM. The only camp that you can call to make reservations for was full so we really didn't think we'd have much of a chance at actually getting a spot. The first camp we drove through was completely full, but luckily we found a spot at the next camp.

The weather was so perfect that night and surprisingly we were able to have a fire so that the kids could make s'mores and so the adult could stay up chatting and what is camping without a fire?

After a restless sleep we got up to get the day going.

I got a quick run in (it still terrifies me to run in the mountains)

When we got back from camp I found out that there was a Moose running around our camp. See, I have reason to have that fear.

And then we all cooled off in the river.

Luke used Oliver's life jacket and a noodle to go down the river...it worked well enough but the people with the real river tubes sure gave him some looks.

 
I love that even if we go camping for less than 24 hours, we are still able to hang out every now and then.
And tell me that these 3 are not so dang cute together....



Snow Shack

There is a cute little snow shack less than half a mile away from our house that we have loved to visit this summer. We've been walking there a lot at nights which is so nice to enjoy together complete with all the usual stops.

We have to stop at the water mill and tiny stream every single time

And walk along the trail to make sure we don't fall into the hot lava (grass)

And there is usually a large stick that is found either on the way there or back

And finally when we get there, we get to pick from one of coolest menus we have ever seen.

Of course Luke and Oliver had to get the hulk

and it was Thor hands down for me....although I have to admit that the Hulk tasted better.

And the very best parts about this place it that a {good sized super syrupy} snowcone only cost $1.00 AND you get a punch card.

   I just love summer nights with my family and refreshing treat. 

The Actual 24th

I have just loved that the 24th of July holiday has been spread out for about 4 days this year. We ran out of things to do on the actual day so it was a pretty random Saturday-feeling day.

I have been training for some up coming races so running was on my list of things to get done this morning. I even had a friend join me. We later decided that we would consider it our 24th race.

After my whole family was awake, we stayed in our jammies to watch the parade on TV. Luke said it was the best way to do it. I on the other hand grew up with going to the Days of 47 parade and I would have loved to run the race down the parade route and then stayed to watch it in real life with Oliver. Some day...or maybe not.

After a late lunch/early dinner we headed over to Liberty Park. I haven't been there is years and years and we saw on TV that they were doing some crafts, a PowWow and fireworks. Since we didn't have anything else to do we thought, why not?

I didn't love it. I remember as a kid going there with my cousins and we loved it, but this time not so much. Dare I say that it was a little scary being that I grew up in somewhat of a ghetto neighborhood myself? Maybe it's because I've been living in this Bountiful bubble for almost 8 years now that I forgot that I was once a part of that hoodness...anyway, I felt uncomfortable and I know that is almost rude to say but whatev. It was a bit trashy. There, said it.

We still enjoyed walking around though.

That night we got some ice cream and headed back to light the last of the smoke bombs with the Feils. While we were sitting there chatting, huge fireworks were going off in all directions around us. It was a pretty great and unexpected show.

You know it's a long day when your son asks you if he can go to bed. Until next year.

Smoke Bomb Extravaganza

Smoke bombs have been a huge hit this year with our family. We didn't realize that our driveway was the perfect place to roll them down and add to the entertainment. Oliver loved running around them playing in the smoke and watching them burn out and we loved watching him be so happy. Luke loved the smell of them and I just loved being with them on these perfect summer nights. I even loved that it stained our driveway just so I could have that constant reminder of nights like this a little bit longer.

It was all perfect and we we had one more smoke bomb to light. We lit it and watched it start to roll down the drive way and saw Oliver run right towards it and then he did what we have been telling him not to do. He stepped right on it. He luckily had his shoes on but still burned himself. He immediately started to scream that it was hurting. We ran him inside and put his foot under cold water. Luke grabbed some ice and threw that in the sink. Oliver hated the ice and that seemed to hurt more than the burn itself. We tried to wash off the orange stain and black burn but it would not come off. I think seeing that stain made O feel like he was hurt more than he was because he even started to walk with a limp. So there we go. Another tally mark to add to the accidents this week.

Even though, we still love smoke bombs, our smoke bomb stained driveway and now our smoke bomb stained kid.

Handcart Days '12

It has been said that next to Christmas, this is Luke's favorite holiday. We absolutely love going to the fair to enjoy the little rides, foods and being with family and seeing our friends there. The parade, not so much. It's all about hitting up the fair...twice.

Day 1

The group

 We ate so much. I alone ate a pulled pork sandwich, nachos, corn on the cob, half a scone and a Sprite.
Yikes!! I think Luke ate very similar to me with an added hot dog.

This Fish pond is a must. The kids sure love this.

 Oliver went fishing a couple of times today.

 Love my family.

and Amy too.

And the photo booth they had this year. 

 (excuse my makeshift scanner)

Although we weren't big on watching the parade, we still watched the finish of the Stripling Warriors and even got to take a picture with Helaman. Watching that finish was pretty cool and it was fun to spot our ward members right in the front and our Stake President leading them all.

 Later that night we headed up to Trent and Amys for the perfect set up on the roof to watch fireworks.
Not a great shot, but you get the idea.

 And taking a self portrait shot with Luke is nearly impossible, but this made me laugh.

 After the end of a long day we were tuckered out. Oliver is getting so big I can barely hold him up like this anymore.

Day 2
We met my mom and sisters at the park today for lunch. We certainly didn't get enough last night, so here we are...round 2.

Oliver and Jack loved going on the little rides together.

They also loved hanging out with aunt Phia,

Again taking pictures at the photo booth,

Eating,

 And playing some more.

That night we took it easy and burned some smoke bombs at home.

In fact, we burnt so many that now we have a tie dyed stained driveway. But that's okay. It looks pretty cool.