Pine View Dam

We had such a great time at the dam this year. All of the cousins love to play on the beach, make mud baths, bury each other, ride on 'Big Mable', and some even waterskiied. This is all thanks to Brooke and Ty. Brooke's dad was so kind to bring his boat and pull us around again this year. This is one of my kids favorite things to do and it is always tops on the wish list. Here is some of my pictures from that day.

This is Brady body surfing. You've got to cut him some slack, we're from Arizona.
Abby burying Carly.

Baywatch Babes

This is Carly doing her Baywatch impression.

Speaking of Baywatch babes. My sister always claims she cannot tan because she has no melatonin in her skin. Either that or she is afflicted with the same skin disease that poor Michael Jackson has been battling for years.....Trish are you filming something incredible?

Kelsey and Abby are practicing their cousin handshake here.
Jantz searching the sand for treasures.

Beach Babes

Here are more picts of us enjoying Utah's beach. This is Josh being very patient while I take photos.

Abby and Kelsey
Josh
Carly

Brady Waterskis!!

Brady took a turn at water skiing. He just about chickened out until he saw Kelsey get up and then he just wanted to get up and ski farther than Kelsey.

I think this is my all time favorite picture of the summer. Ty is so excited he made it up and look at Brady's face! This is the first time he has ever even put skis on his feet and this was his very first pull. I might have to put this one up on the wall.
His form wasn't great but he skied like this about the length of a football field.
Here is a great shot of the crash down.
Look how happy. He said, "that was so awesome!!" I asked if he wanted to do it again, and he said, "no, I skied farther than Kelsey". I really must learn to harness and use this competitive spirit. I had no idea.

Kelsey's Turn to Water Ski

Ok, Uncle Ty was a trooper. He was in the water a long time coaching and holding ski's together. Kelsey getting ready.
And she is up out of the water!!!! It only lasted a few seconds but legally she did get up on skis out of the water. Yeah for Kels.

Farr's Ice Cream

Farr's Ice Cream. Another Utah wish is granted. Looks like playdough is the hands down favorite.

Cherry Hill a new Utah tradition? I think so.

Carly got stuck in someones floatie. Nice.

Abby chillin with Dayt.
Looks like Dayt and Dad had a touch of Narcolepsy that day.
Kelsey living it up.

The Lazy River

We were all loving the lazy river. As you know from Trish's postings that my mom spent most of the day there. It was fun because we could all be together and laugh and talk while staying cool.

Abby, Carly, Brady, Josh, me, Kelsey and mom, I think those might be Cami's feet?
We've added Trish, Jantz and Dayt.
Wow, Trish is having the best time ever. I bet we will be doing this again next summer.

Summer Chores

This is Brady and Kelsey doing their summer "chores".

Hot tubbin' with the Heather Carrigan's kids (she will always be a Carrigan to me even if she is a married Jensen). Brady, Nick, Mia, Kelsey and Libby. This is a cool picture because these are third generation neighborhood friends. It is fun for me to see my kids hanging out with Carrigan kids just like I used to hang out with their parents. Some things never change and that is a great thing.

Sundwall and Stone Kids

We were so excited to hook up with Sundwalls while we were in Utah. We usually only get to visit with each other once a year so it takes at least a whole day just to catch up. We all went to an athletic club to swim, water slide, and have a pizza lunch. It was really fun, as you all know my kids love to swim!

Weston, Nick, Carly, Brady, Kelsey and Benne

Visit with Sundwalls

Here are some of the pictures I took during our visit with Sundwalls. After we went to the water slides we came back and let the kids just play. It was SO fun and being with them just makes us miss them all the more.

Kelsey and Benne and Weston in the background.
Weston
Carly, Nick, Brady, Weston, Benne, and Kelsey

Smith and Edwards

As many of you well know, when we come to Utah being at my parents is like living with the make a wish foundation for my kids. Each of my kids gets to write down one or two Utah wishes (things they REALLY want to do). Usually they are pretty simple; be with family, eat Grandpa's scones, play with Utah friends, eat Grandpa's boiled eggs (I only have time for boiled eggs at easter)...One of the wishes that always comes up is shopping at Smith and Edwards. This is somewhat embarrassing to someone like me who has a black belt in shopping. Carly has been going to S&E with my dad since she was 6 months old so I guess she doesn't know any better. This trip we not only went in the store but we walked through the outside scrap yard too.

Carly wanted this steering wheel so bad. She felt for sure she could make the cutest bedside table out of it for her room if she only had a stand to attach it to and some round glass to put on top. I have hauled a lot of things from Ut to Az and vice versa but this was not going to be one of them. I put my foot down on this one but as you will see she is holding it in almost every picture.
Such a rebel.
This is Brady requesting that I take a picture of him looking like he was going to break this chain and get inside the train. Very tough.

Brady and the Gold Car

So while we were in Utah Brady came running into the house and breathlessly said, "I need a piece of paper and a gold crayon." Hmmm. I could produce the paper but could only find a blue crayon. I ask, "why do you need a gold crayon?" He proceeds to tell me that he saw the coolest car ever drive by the house and he was going to draw it for me so I could help him look for it. He did and we walked up and down the neighborhood forever looking for where the gold car might have parked. (he was so excited about seeing it he forgot to look and see where it was headed) Anyway, we looked for a long time but couldn't find it.

Days later my mom saw the illusive gold car drive by. At this point it was becoming a quest for Brady to find this awesome car. Low and behold one morning during our AM walk my mom spotted the gold car parked in a driveway down in the "woods" below my parents house!! Brady was so excited when I showed him that he wanted his picture taken next to it. He really wanted a look inside but the owners were never home when we knocked. (yes, we actually knocked on the door)

After raising two girly girls I am getting a little glimpse of the male perspective on things. I love seeing the contrast between my girls and my son. I have a lot to learn. I couldn't tell you what kind of car this is if my life depended on it. As a matter of fact I couldn't tell you what kind of car anybody I know drives. I am lucky to be able to nail down the color and whether it is a car or truck.

BBQ at Ty and Brooke's

Ok, I know I am the worst blogger ever. I literally have HUNDREDS of pictures of "summer fun" to blog in order to catch up. I have decided to just dive in and start posting some events so here goes....

Dad and Carly chillin' at a BBQ at Ty and Brooke's house.

Brady may need to rethink his way of relaxing in the hammock. Looks like he is bound for a

skull fracture.

I love this picture because even though it is a little dark it just totally looks like summer.

After the food and water fun we came inside to rock out.