24th of July

We always go to the cabin for the 24th of July for the annual horseshoe tournament.  I dare say this year was the best so far.  It's no longer a bunch of crazy people partying it up and getting out of control.  It's turned more to a family affair and I'm all in.  I loved it.  Eden loved it too.  She had all sorts of friends to play with and she was all smiles all weekend long.

We started the weekend off enjoying the Kamas parade.  Dennis drove us down in his old car.  I thought I was going to die before we made it the 3 miles into town.  That car was a shakin', there were no seatbelt, and Eden was on my lap in the front seat...super safe!  But we made it and Eden & Bronson yelled "WEEE" the whole ride.

we enjoyed a savory treat while we waited for the parade to start

Then the kids proceeded to honk the horn at every fire engine, cop car or horse that walked the parade.

Saturday morning we had our children's parade down the lane.  We decked ourselves out in our 24th of July attire and strutted our stuff and waved with the pose and skill of a beauty queen.

  After the parade it was time to kick off the horseshoe tournament.  I do not play horseshoes.  I am not coordinated in that way and so I opt to watch.  Despite all the begging and convincing to play, I firmly stand by my conviction of sitting it out...plus I always bring my proxy (a.k.a. Tracy) and so there is no convincing this little lady.  I am a happy spectator. 

Plus, if I had to play, who would be in charge of watching everyone's kids and getting their games off without a hitch?  Eden loved the games this year.  She was very much into it.  Each of the mom's had a game for the kids to play while the men threw those shoes.

The ever famous Sawdust Hunt...and what's a party without a pinata.

Pretty much the weekend was awesome.  We stayed up late, played hard and were surrounded by a great group of people.  Unfortunately, Les and Tracy didn't place this year in the tournament.  Tracy took 4th and tore it up around the campfire at night.  Les was out early but kept thing organized.

I look forward to this event every year and it never disappoints.  I mean it's a reason to throw a party and we all know how I feel about those.  Happy Birthday Utah!

I'm planning to Post

I swear...so much to catch up on...I will do it shortly.  Sunday is my deadline...it will be done.  True Story.

Family Vacations

Family vacations used to mean dreading a week with your family and counting the hours until you returned. It used to mean fighting and bickering until you left not closer to your family like your parents had planned, but wanting to get away from them faster than ever....

Now family vacations mean something a little different...

they mean waking up early to an overly ecstatic little girl who is SO excited that her cousin are still in the same house as her. They mean early morning cartoons surrounded by your favorite little people and loving on your favorite cousin

They mean gorgeous sunrises with an excellent view

They mean not only enjoying the days filled with lots of kids running and screaming (or helping lather on the sunblock)

but it means cherishing spending the day underneath a canopy watching your child have the best time of her life

and relishing the company surrounding you

Family vacations no longer mean only doing what you want to do and putting up a fight about what's on the agenda...now they mean creating the agenda without thinking about what you want and doing only what the chicklets want, like spending the day at the lake without stepping foot in the FREEZING water and pulling a screaming baby out of said water because her lips are purple

it also means spending your days at the pool next to the lake because you have 6 little fishes on your hands

Or it means doing things you normally don't like (for example, miniature golf) but wanting your little girl to give everything a try and so you grab a club and give it your best. Come to find out...miniature golf isn't so bad when you watch your "big girl" swing over and over and over again only to miss the ball every time.  You hold back a laugh and just kiss her head and show her how...

 Family vacations mean eating ice cream every.single.day (we can all thank Pa for that one)

and letting your kids roam free while you enjoy some much needed frozen yogurt

It also means you get to watch these little people, who you always think of as babies, grow right before your eyes and you are lucky enough to get to see their little personalities (frightening as times) blossom as they become, very much their own person.

Family vacations always mean playing card games until the wee hours of the morning each night (only to band your mother from ever playing with you again)

or setting the "wild animals" free while the big kids enjoy some dinner and hearing the sounds of laughter escape from some silly little mouths...

but mostly, family vacations are just that...FAMILY, and I'm lucky enough to now realize that I have an AWESOME one...just ask us, we'll tell you that ourselves

 I love my family and we had such a blast on this trip, can't wait to do it again, but I'll say one thing...hanging out with your family is EXHAUSTING.

Love them to death but I'm glad to be home