Summer Time Recap - Warning Long post ahead!

Our summer started out slow with swim lessons and just enjoying the pajama mornings, but when we vacation, we vacation. It started the first weekend in July, packed the kids up on Friday afternoon and drove through the night to get to Draper, Utah the next morning. We spent the morning with some friends, the Rees', and then headed up to have lunch with the greatest Great Grandparents in the world! We went to the kids favorite place - McD's - and loved even more that Grandma & Grandpa Storer were there. Kate just loves talking to her Grandma Storer.
Then we headed up to meet up with the Parker Family to begin the family reunion. Only half of the family was there at Fred and Dorene's but it was a full house. It was great to spend some more time and memories with the family. Kate had more girl cousins than she knew what to do with and Cole loved playing with his cousin, Aaron, and all of his uncles. Lizzie - well, she was just loved by everyone. Although, I must say, she took a liking to Taylor and his music. Watch out girls, you've got competition! The few days we had beforehand were filled with cuddles with Grandma, story reading, and lots and lots of hugs!
Grandma Parker and her girls!

For the actual fourth of July we spent the day at church and enjoyed our time with family and then headed over to Natalie and Steve's for an amazing dinner and fun. Kate thought the ice cream was the best part of the day! Whereas, I know Jared and I enjoyed the homemade German Chocolate Cake!

The children loved playing at Natalie's and being able to roam outside without burning their tootsies! Summer in Utah really is beautiful. Lizzie couldn't get enough of the trampoline. She couldn't decide, ice cream or trampoline....we're on vacation, let's do both!

The crew enjoying the homemade ice cream! Thanks Natalie and Steve!

The day after the 4th of July we spent at Jason and Heidi's horseback riding, riding 4 wheelers and motorcycles, and then playing in their backyard with their homemade slip and slide. The kids spent hours going up and down this thing! They loved it and being able to just hang out together. Lizzie wasn't sure at first about the slide but got into the hand of it after a while.The water slide

Kate and her girl pack - she was in heaven with all these girls around!
The Horse Crew

Kate, Lizzie, and Kendra

Cole loved the motorcycle - he even drove it all by himself out in the fields!

Kate loved the 4 wheeler

On Wednesday, we packed up and headed up to Albion, Idaho, two hours up the road, for the official Parker Family Reunion. Everyone arrived in the afternoon and this reunion center was just incredible! I can't believe it housed us all pretty comfortably and there was plenty to do around the place. The first night we did a Parker Family Rodeo where they split us into teams and did mock type rodeo competitions. It was pretty fun but I forgot how cold it can get at night outside of Arizona! The next day was filled with swimming, sliding, games, and horseshoes. It was neat to see the kids get to know each other again and by the end of the week, you would have thought they were best buds! The next day we drove to a natural rock park where the rocks looked like different things, ie. dinosaurs, turtles. The kids loved climbing up on the rock and most of them made it to the very top - including Jared!
Jackson was so cute and tried to help Lizzie at every turn. Here they are walking up to climb the rocks at the natural rock site.

Kate and Sydney - two peas in a pod!

Cole wanted to go higher, his mom did not....

Kate and her new found girls friends - Anna and Ashlyn.

climbing up the rocks

During the reunion we also celebrated Fred and Dorene's 50th anniversary. The children put on a nice dinner and the older cousins babysat the younger ones so the siblings could spend some time with just the parents! Thank you! We had a yummy dinner and carrot cake for dessert. Happy Anniversary Fred and Dorene! I thought this picture says it all - 50 years and still in love.

During the reunion we also had the oldest cousin, Isaac, get married to Tiffany. It was fun to have the whole family together and to spend time talking and sharing memories! It's unfortunate it only comes every other year!
Cole loved competing in all the games that were planned for the reunion, just bummed he couldn't win them all!

One of the teams for the Parker Rodeo. It was great to be with family and join forces with some of those we don't see as often and we were able to make stronger bonds. Although, this wasn't your typical rodeo.....

Cole loved going down the giant blow up slide with his cousins. In fact, the first night, he didn't even wait to get his suit on the adventure down the slide. There's a boy for you!

On the way back from the family reunion, it was straight to Lake Powell to join the Dunyons. It was just what I needed, a few days of relaxation on a beach. No cleaning, no getting dressed - don't worry, I did wear a bathing suit, and playing with my children. LOVE IT! We had a few storms at Lone Rock but all in all, not so bad. We spent 3 days there and loved every minute of climbing Sand mountain, going up the canyons, jumping off Turtle Rock and riding jet skiis and in the boat. My children are already asking when the next trip is. I believe Cole said this is better than Disneyland....it's a tough choice!

The girls at the floating rock by sand mountain.

Lizzie Lou at the beach - just couldn't get enough of the water, and never complained about her jacket. Angel child!

They loved riding the banana with their cousins, Ellie, Emma, and Andrew. So many friends to play with it was hard to choose!

Cute Katie Boo!

Cole loved to ride in the canoe and would go anytime anyone would take him. He loved rowing out and then jumping off and swimming back to shore.
And or course, we love riding with Grandpa!

Soon after we returned home from Lake Powell, Cole's tooth, which has been loose for about 3 months FINALLY came out - with the help of our daddy. Funny, he let Jared do it but wouldn't let me touch it! Go figure! He was so excited, and I was so unprepared that we ended up putting it in a plastic bag under his pillow. Don't worry, he has lost his second one, and I was much more prepared with a treasure tooth box. He was so excited to get a dollar bill from the tooth fairy that night. What a funny boy!

Our last trip was to California to spend some time with the Grandparents, Austin, Sarah & Luke, and we were even lucky enough to have our Gray cousins there! We spent a day at Disneyland, and the kids had a blast doing rides despite the crowds, a day in San Diego at the Mormon Battallion - WAY COOL! (Now only if Lizzie would sit through the whole thing....), and a few days playing at Grandma's. Who could ask for anything better to end your summer. We even spent our last day at the beach with Grandma, Grandpa, Austin, Sarah, Luke and the Grays. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day! Warm enough to get in the water but not too warm to stay on the beach. The kids LOVED it and of course, Grandpa had to make his famous boat...and of course, the kids had a great time playing in it and especially destroying it at the end. Cole, Nathan, and Paige loved boogie boarding - however, we forgot his rashguard and Cole's stomach got a little sore. Don't worry folks, it didn't stop him. He just kept right on going! And he even got me to go in with him! It was so much fun!

Cute boy Luke!

Lizzie loved the beach, but not the water so much! Must be her father in her!

Digging for crawdads at the beach with our cousins - they caught a whole family!

Beach Bums!

And this was the best way to end our summer. Beach, Disneyland, Family and Fun!