Daddy Daughter

We had Daddy Daughter camp out in Payson, AZ this year. We went up to the cabin for a few quick chores and then back to Payson to play with friends. Halle had so much fun with her friends we didn't spend a ton of time together!

Katelyn Partrige, Reagan Moody, Halle and Kyen Mayhew

Pretty sure Halle only had Hot Chocolate for Breakfast

 

 

We had a Potato Derby. We all carved potato cars and stuck some Pinewood Derby wheels in them and raced down these Pinewood derby practice tracks. Really fun!

 

Our car (potato) pretty much dominated.

And yummy too!

We stayed up SOOO late.Halle was playing with walkie-talkies with her friends in the woods until about 10:00 and then she and I stayed up talking until about 11. We had a fun time, so good to spend time with each of our kids individually. I hope they keep wanting to hang out with their parents!

Random Cuteness

Tried to settle in for a relaxing nap at the cabin. The boys felt it necessary to keep me company.

Cam is a good sport about being dragged around to all the older kids soccer games, dance, and tumbling.

Roen is rocking Pre-school. He is seriously an amazing listener...at school at least.

A conversation with Grandma

Halle has been talking a lot about goverment and the elections in school. So she was excited to tell Grandma all she knew about the President and voting.

Halle: If I could vote, I'd vote for Obama. I mean, he's already the President.
Grandma Reta: When he was elected, it was a really historic day, because he is our first black president.
Halle: He's black? (I'm not sure she even knows what that means)
Grandma Reta: yes, and Mitt Romney, the person he's running against is Mormon, and could be the first Mormon President.
Halle: George Washington wasn't Mormon?!

Happy Birthday Halle!

Halle turned 7! We tried to convince her to have a family only party but she wore us down and we had a small friend party. It was fun, just a late pizza and movie night with a few girls. 

Halle blowing out the candles with Corrine (left) and Eliza (right).

 

 

She has been loving music lately, so we got her an iHome ipod dock. She gets to use Dad's old iPod.

Eliza got her this cool thing. You can color on it and wash it off. But the coolest thing is that it glows in the dark and comes with a light pen to color it with.

Happy Birthday Halle! She is growing up so fast it's crazy. Our kids are still so small and we already kind of sense it all slipping through our fingers. That's what pictures are for I guess! 

It's a boy!

It's a boy! Halle is doing ok with it. And his name shall be Fin. It's French and it's true.

First Day of School!

Halle started second grade! She got to have the red plate for breakfast, which goes to the person who did something great, or has a special day. She asked for crepes for breakfast. Strawberry/Blueberry vanilla yogurt and whip cream. How can your day go badly after a breakfast like that?
One day the backpacks won't look so giant on your kid...it happens too fast.

 

School is always a mad house on the first day. Parking all the way down the street and walking your three kids up to the school when the first day is the beginning of August is not my favorite. I should have dressed like the neon tank top lady.

Halle's cousin Eliza is in her class this year, which is super fun for both of them.

And the day went great...must be the crepes.

Sundance: Part 2



Monday Rob, Brad, and Ryan hiked up to Emerald Lake on Mount Timpanogas. Prettier than I remember!

We stumbled on this momma and baby moose. I don't think I've ever seen a moose in the wild.



Brad looking over one of the many waterfalls

 The hike is about 10 miles round trip and gains over 3000 vertical feet. So you get some amazing views of the canyon.

When we got up there we heard some rocks falling and looked up to see about ten mountain goats! This guy came down to the meadows for a snack

Deer creek reservoir from the saddle where Emerald Lake is

Emerald lake is fed by this glacier. It's the southern most glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. The water is icy cold and clear glacier blue. I told Brad I had $20 for him if he swam accross...probably better that he didn't, I think it's cold enough to cause some major problems.

I forgot about all the wild flowers up here. I tried to take some down to Annie but the 1 1/2 hour decent in the sun kinda wiped them out.

 

The next day we hiked with the kids to Stewart Falls. About 3 miles round trip. They did a grea job!( L to R) Marcus, Eli, Caleb, Cam, Halle, Olivia, and Roen

Wednsday we went to Vivian park by the Provo river. The kids had fun playing with their cousins.

 

Dad let Halle play in the mud in the shirt that was supposed to be worn for family pictures the next day. (dog house)

 

Thursday Halle and Rob hiked up to Timp Caves. 1.5 miles up and 1000 ft gain. Tough! Halle did great.

The caves are a nice 40 something degrees, which was great after the hike. Halle had fun, although tough to not touch things.

I discovered I do not have a good body type for cave exploration!

Pretty view of American Fork Canyon and the valley below.

We had a great time with family and loved getting out of the Arizona Heat. Wish we were still there!