Morning Walk/Bike Ride, June 30, 2012

June 30, 2012

We wanted to load everyone's bikes in the van and drive to the trails for a bike ride. We can't fit everyone's bikes in anymore. Annabelle and Jonah's are too big. So those two had to walk with me. The three little ones enjoyed a ride.

After a lovely walk, we went down to the nearby creek to explore.

We had to go first thing in the morning, since temperatures are rising fast. By 10am it was already 80 degrees.

Sewing Lessons, June 29, 2012

June 29, 2012

Grace asked for sewing lessons. She kept reminding me so I wouldn't forget. 6-28-2012, Thursday, we got out the fabric and pins and thread and needle. I suggested we start with a beanbag, but Grace insisted on making a quilt. So quilt it is! Thursday she pieced together the top layer. Here is the top layer, finished. Grace did a great job stitching by hand. Friday we layered it with batting and a back. But we haven't sewed the layers together yet. Quilting is a lot of work!

This reminded Annabelle that we never finished her quilt. She started one a year ago. Annabelle gets to use the sewing machine. All she had left to do on it was the trim, and she finished today!

 

This is what the two little ones were doing while we were sewing:

This is what Jonah was doing while we were sewing:

Just for Fun, June 28, 2012

June 28, 2012

Having fun in the back yard.

 Olivia later put on 3 capes. She said, "Now I can fly REALLY fast!"

 The kids are playing house up in the clubhouse. Annabelle is the mother and assigns chores for the others to do. She cooks them meals and they all help clean up after.

 A tiny squash appearing in our little garden! It might be ready to eat in a week! I was inspecting the garden when Grace came running over to join me. "Mom, can I weed?"Of course I let her! Then she said, "How is pulling weeds so gun? It's supposed to be boring, but I think it's fun!"

Family Vacation - Karla's House

June 20-22, 2012

Right after finishing up at Mt Timp Cave, we drove to Karla's house. I was very excited to see my sister and her cute kids again! They gave us a tour of the house and yard. Our kids jumped right in with the outdoor play. Easy to do when there is a giant zip line!

Heidi and Olivia in the hammock seat, going down the zip line:

Left to right: Kolby, Iliana, Jonah in hammock, Annabelle, MaKaylee:

MaKaylee, Navena, Grace:

Grace and Navena were inseparable:

We played spoons and oink. We took turns being blindfolded. The blindfolded person had to use spoons as feelers to find someone, and try to identify who they find. When playing "Oink," when you find someone, you ask them to oink. You try to guess who it is by listening to their voice oinking. Very funny!

We had a great time visiting family! Jonah had fun playing Risk and Battleship and Scotland Yard with  the big boys Levi and Kolby. Annabelle and MaKaylee played together. We all enjoyed all of their company.

From here we drove home via I-80. We stopped somewhere in Nebraska to sleep before heading the rest of the way home. We had a great family vacation!

Family Vacation - Timp Cave

June 20, 2012

The day after Annabelle and Jonah's big hike, we went to 7 peaks with Merrillyn's kids. Annabelle and Jonah grouped up with Daniel and Macey. Grace, Mekeli and Tamia did everything together. Olivia got to have Jennifer as a best buddy. We all had a great time!

The next morning, Wednesday, we loaded up our things and said goodbye to Grandma Hallam early in the morning. We wanted to tour Timpanogos Cave before going north to Karla's.

The walk up to the cave entrance is 1 1/2 miles up steep inclines. Even little Olivia and Finn walked the whole way holding Dad's hands! Wow, what strong little legs!

At the top we put on our jackets again. Dad gave us hand warmers that fit in our pockets. The cave was dark and cold. Annabelle and Jonah got to take turns leading the group with the flashlight.

Here is Grace in front of the largets stalactite. We enjoyed seeing all the different cave formations. One of them looked like a carrot hanging down from above. It drips water every few seconds. Jonah stood right underneath and caught a drop in his mouth!

Finn actually fell asleep during the tour of the cave. Ezra carried him. It was hard to duck and walk while carrying a child. He stayed asleep for a small portion of the walk down the mountain. But then walked the rest of the way down with all of us.

The view on the mountainside:

Perfect, beautiful day!

Family Vacation - Hike up Mt Timp

June 18, 2012

Ezra invited Annabelle and Jonah to join him on a hike to the top of Mount Timpanogos.  He told them what it would be like, how long it would take, how hard it would be, and how beautiful and worth it it would be. On accepting his invitation, he gave them one rule they would have to follow on the hike: No complaining. So here they are, at the trail head. Ready for their adventure! Loaded with lots of water, gatorade, granola bars, trail mix, map, compass, sunscreen.

Off they go!

Ezra says he set his timer to go off every 30 minutes so they would stop and rest regularly. While Ezra and Annabelle sat down for a few minutes, Jonah climbed trees, scaled up the cliff a bit, explored further off the trail a bit. He was really enjoying himself! And full of energy.

As they neared the top there was more snow than expected. It covered the trail so they got lost a few times. The snow also was slippery, which cause much anxiety whenever the trail slanted up. 

Finally made it to the top!!

What a view!

 On the way down, Jonah finally felt the effects of the altitude and became quite sick.

But he eventually revived and everyone made it down the mountain ok. It took 12 hours to complete this hike! Wow, what troopers! They are so exhausted! I'm not sure they want to do this again. But what exciting memories! And what a huge accomplishment!

Family Vacation - Farm

June 17, 2012

While doing our touring of places in Spanish Fork, we of course stopped at J Merrill's farm. The kids loved petting the horses.

 And playing in the straw.

 And climbing on the tractors.

And visiting the pigs.

Ezra wanted to pick up a piglet so the kids could pet a piglet. Of course they run away so fast they are hard to catch. Ezra had Jonah sneak up behind and grab onto a leg and hold tight until he could get there. The plan worked! Grace was up in the enclosure when the pigs went wild running away, and she was crying, "Get me out of here! Get me out of here!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJe4SOE2KhY&feature=g-all-u

But the piglet squealed so loudly/wildly it scared the kids! They covered their ears. Finn didn't even want to come close.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImtbV0f7i20&feature=g-all-u

Family Vacation - Spanish Fork, Hallam Family

June 17, 2012

We were happy to arrive at Grandma Hallam's house in Spanish Fork.  She gave us all big hugs.  She told us great stories. 

Sunday we went to Grandma Hallam's church, then Ezra took us on a tour of places that have meaning to him in the area.

This is the apartment his family lived in in Provo when Ezra was 13 years old.

We visited the cemetery to find his two aunts' graves.

 His Grandpa Merrill's grave:

His Grandma Phyllis and Grandpa Keith's grave.

The kids are always asking about the scar on Ezra's head. So he took us to Canyon View Park to show us where it happened. Here he is reenacting the event.

Later Sunday evening all the cousins came over. Most of the Hallam family stayed either in Spanish Fork or very close by. Fun get-together.  The littler kids (like my kids age) made friends quickly. They played kickball and ran around together. The bigger kids (like Ezra and his cousins) visited. It was a perfect evening.

Kids running through the sprinkler:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsYE05uNF9A&feature=context-gfa