Dates

With school starting the next week, I did some shopping trips with a few kids at a time. Which meant some fun lunch dates. Even though I grump on my blog a lot about how sad it is for kids to get older... GOOD NEWS, they are also so much fun to hang out with.

I never realized how much Ashlin and Dallin look alike. In the above picture, if Dallin had eye make up on and longer hair... I think they would almost look like twins. (Minus the sore on Dallin's nose... which is thankfully gone now)

All SIX kids were excited to get new VANS, because Ashlin works at the mall and 1 day last week the VANS store did 30% off for mall employees. Thank you Ashlin!

And guess what... I even found someone who was willing to do hair cuts for all 6 of my kids at the same time! ha ha. (Ashlin has bangs again)

BACK TO SCHOOL HAIR CUTS:

Date with these 2 silly girlies. 

Can you tell Sophie did her own hair? ha ha.

Volunteers

The week before school started I signed up to volunteer at Deseret Industries for 4 hours. (It's just like a Goodwill store, but owned and operated by the church) Melissa brought her 2 kids and I brought my boys. 

You can see the boys beyond the "employees only" doors in their volunteer aprons... getting a "behind the scenes" tour, and orientation.

 We sorted clothes and color arranged racks for 4 hours. Quite honestly, I was exhausted. It was hot, didn't smell so great, and I was SO ready for the 4 hours to be over when we left. I told the boys, "this is why you go to college. So you don't have to do manual labor like this all your life". It made me thankful for all we've been blessed with.

It would have been easier to go with out the kids (isn't it always) as it took much effort to keep the boys focused on what they were suppose to be doing. They were easily side tracked begging me to buy everything cool they found. {Dallin did get a couple sweet suit coats for church though} But I was thankful for 2 sons who didn't even complain when I told them what they were doing that summer day. 

But the best service was the day before.

We FINALLY made it to the temple with our 3 oldest kids to help with baptisms!! It was my goal all summer. (We strategically went early in the morning JUST so we could go to Kneaders for breakfast afterwards. Homemade cinnamon french toast, Yum.) It was Ashlin and Bruce's only day off that week, so bless their hearts for being willing to give up their only day to sleep in... love them!

What a beautiful morning. 

I love my family and the temple.

Just Around the Riverbend

On Sunday morning we lounged at the cabin for a while before cleaning and packing up. We went to Blue Ridge Reservoir and spent the day kayaking as a family. It was heavenly. The prettiest place we have kayaked in Arizona thus far. I called dibs on Sophie in my kayak... because she is a hoot.

This time we had the right number of kayaks so everyone had one and we could just spend hours exploring the lake together.

The 12 second birthday message the kids did for me:

And for my birthday... even I jumped off that cliff. It felt A LOT higher than it looks. Chubby mom takes flight! ha ha. 

I kept singing...
♫♪"Just around the riverbend" ♪♬
from Pocahantas. Because that's what it felt like.
Blue Ridge is a 2 mile long winding river shaped lake. 

This was probably in all my years, honestly, my favorite birthday I can remember. Everyone was happy and got a long. The weather was perfect. The activity was perfect. I prayed constantly thanking God for such a beautiful day as a family. 

The kids were even happy in the car the whole drive home. 

*This was the first time I had been to my Uncle's cabin since he or my mother passed away. I thought of them both constantly. One night when praying I just cried. I am so thankful for his example of generosity in his life. 

*Bruce also commented that it was the first time in a long time that he could remember missing church as a family. When we go on trips we still go to church, always. But we were far from a building, and we made an exception this one sunday because it was the only day that worked. I am thankful we did it.

*Thank you to my wonderful father for lending us the kayaks!

The Hike

 After Ashlin and her friends left saturday Bruce took us on this hike down the canyon to a creek. It was beautiful and even sprinkled a little on us.

Dallin was the only one brave enough to get in. 

And thank goodness for him, I don't know how else Sophie would have finished the hike.

 When we were leaving Dallin climbed out on to this ledge and just stood there for a long time looking at the view. When we left I had to call back to him that we were leaving... because he was still just standing there.

I took a picture, because it made me happy to see
him appreciating God's beautiful creation. 

When we got back in the cabin neighborhood, we saw an ELK crossing the street. It was seriously bigger than a horse. 

So cool.

Uncle Ernie's Cabin

Such a beautiful weekend up north in the rain.

Ashlin brought her posse. 6 of them.

The entire impromptu trip was because of Ashlin actually. Her friends were planning to go to Fossil Creek on saturday. Then her Scout Master father Bruce informed her that it was closed. So Ashlin asked him what else they could do. Bruce said, "how about kayaking at Blue Ridge Reservoir?" And since my Uncle Ernie and Aunt Sharon's cabin is 10 minutes from there, I said "lets see if you guys can stay at the cabin". (of course with us) I sent my wonderful Aunt Sharon a message. She responded right away saying we could. Yay!

 So within 20 minutes the trip was planned and she texted/invited her friends.

They got there and loved the game basement. 

... I feel a little guilty that her guy friends may have left with a slight gambling problem. They loved the poker table.

And the girls and us loved the carmel popcorn we made friday night... and playing cute non-gambling games. ha ha

Even Logan brought a friend...

Calvin

CALVINATOR

COUSIN VINNY!

On friday after getting there Ashlins friends went kayaking. On saturday we were going to all do a picnic hike. 

But.... it.... rained..... all.... day. {Twas Lovely} 

So even though the girls spent lots of time friday night decorating lunch bags...

 ...they just had a picnic in the gazebo.

ha ha.

 Ashlin and her friends left late saturday afternoon.

After playing with Bruce's guns a little.

 (photo bomb by Tyler)

Bruce and I still took our kids hiking... and kayaking... which was beautiful and probably my favorite birthday day ever. 

More of that to come.