On Wednesday, July 2nd, we packed up our gear and headed up to Thompson Flat to go camping for a night.
After Ben got our tent set up, the first order of business was to put this tired little girl down for a nap. It was a hot day and I tried my best to make it as comfortable in the tent as possible. She fussed for a minute or two, then went right to sleep. She didn't sleep for very long- probably not even an hour, but it was better than nothing.
Ben brought up one of his hammocks and it was a hit with everyone. Jackie and I had a few cuddles in there.
It's also the perfect place to take a nap! (Until a child comes over and interrupts it!)
Before we started dinner, we drove up to the Mt. Harrison summit to see a beautiful overlook of Cassia County.
Papa, Grandma and the grandkids!
After, we drove off roads to play in some of the remaining snow. I tell you, the way to play in snow is during the summer. No snow clothes required and it feels good to get wet and chilled!
The kids had races sliding/skiing down the hill.
Getting up was a bit trickier!
Livy enjoyed eating an ice clump.
Back to camp for dinner- tin foil dinners- my favorite camping meal! Nap time and meals were the only time I could keep this busy girl contained. Taking a mobile, non-walking baby camping is tricky, tricky.
She doesn't like just to sit and be held anymore, which only leaves one option- putting her down on the dirty ground. She tried eating lots and lots of dirt.
And crawled around and got really dirty. She was ready for bed at 6:00 p.m. We moved her pack and play to the back of our van and she slept in there the entire night.
After dinner, it was time for the ever anticipated s'more roasting.
Kids love fire! They should change the saying "Like a moth to flame" to "Like a child to a flame."
This son of mine was counted as eating at least 6 s'mores. Soon after this picture was taken, he exploded. :)
The next day we made, ate and cleaned up breakfast, then broke camp and loaded everything up in the vehicles, then drove over to our favorite spot in Mt. Harrison: Lake Cleveland. When Ben and I were first married, we used to come up to Lake Cleveland every summer when we'd come to visit my parents, for a number of years in a row.
It is so, so gorgeous. This shot does not do it justice completely. There are camping spots on one side of the lake. The lake is good for fishing and swimming.
We thought we were going to have to hike in to the lake (about a mile or so from the entrance) as the road to it was closed just the day before when we drove by. But it was open that morning! We were able to drive all the way down, but still put a very tired Livy in the backpack to walk around the lake. She was exhausted and ready for her morning nap. She likes the backpack just fine, until her pack horse stops walking.
The kids had a blast playing in a little stream.
Soon enough, they all put their swim suits on and got into the FREEZING cold lake. Go Team Andros!
Livy hung out with Papa while her siblings swam!
The little stream also had a nice mud pit that all of the cousins took full advantage of. We had to inspect everyone before they got into the vehicles.
The next day was the Fourth of July! It had been HOT all week and that day was no exception. We started off the morning by going to an annual ward breakfast held at a neighbor's house. It is the house that neighbors my parents, so we all were able to walk. Livy was a cranky mess that morning and she only lasted 15 minutes there before I had to bring her home and put her down for a nap.
She was still asleep when it was time to leave for the Albion Parade, so Ben stayed home with her.
There was some delay, which had us sitting in the baking hot sun for a good 45 minutes until the parade started.
Most of the candy was typical parade candy. But this parade threw frozen otter pop/popsicles- genius on a blazing hot day! That was something even the adults could get excited about!
They also threw nerds, or "Trophies" as Jax randomly calls them. He can't eat very much sugar, so nerds, being small and easy to give him just a few of them, are one of his go-to, favorite treats. He was so excited!
The rest of our fourth was super low-key and relaxing. The men went golfing and the women stayed home and napped all the kids. All 5 of my children were asleep at the same time during the day- and I got a nap in too! A miracle if I've ever seen one.
While we waited for the BBQ dinner, the kids found lots to keep themselves busy.
Mitch and Carter played an intense game of battle ship.
Leah gave Livy a ride on the wiggle car.
Aunt Courtney sure wanted to hold Livy, who was having a rough week of "stranger danger."
There was lots of swimming on that hot day! The 3 little girls in their patriotic swimsuits!
Lexi wanted me to take a picture of her mad swimming skills
I grabbed this shot as she shot up out of the water!
Livy and Jax loved the baby pool.
The toy water snake that grandma put in the pool was a hit! She started becoming danger baby when she wouldn't sit down at all, so our pool fun was cut short.
Flashback to July 2009: Livy's swimsuit is an original Leah/Lexi suit. She has worn lots of their hand-me-down clothes and it's fun to go back and look at pictures of the twins when they originally wore them.
Not pictured that day was the yummy BBQ dinner we had and the pie and homemade ice cream we had for dessert. We also played a number of different baseball games over the course of the day and previous day. It was fun enjoyed by both adults and kids. We are a baseball loving family!
The next day, Saturday, July 5th, was the end to our fun in Idaho and Utah. We were able to get up and leisurely pack and not rush too much.
Before leaving, Cath tried one of her old baby dresses on Olivia. Livy didn't think it was funny at all! She did not appreciate looking like a 90's baby. :)
On our way out of town, my siblings (who were still in town) and my parents and I all went out for lunch and said our final goodbyes there. Then back home to Seattle we went! We had a fantastic visit and I was so glad to have been able to see all of my siblings (though not all at the same time, due to work schedules).
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