Fishing with Grandpa Stobbe

Ryan and Shan got to go fishing at Strawberry Reservoir with Grandpa Stobbe and my uncle John.

Shan caught a crawdad with a worm and that thing refused to let go of the bait. Ryan thought it was hilarious.

Not even a heart attack can keep Grandpa from fishing. He's such a trooper.

Sundance to Stewart Falls

We took the Sundance tram up the hill and then hiked to Stewart Falls. The kids did really great! We ate lunch at the top and got cooled off in the mist of the falls.

Emma's stuffed dog, "Puffy," hiked with us the whole way...

Madeline loved this tiny caterpillar.

" I've arrived."

The whole gang at the falls.

From the trail:

"It's just sooo pretty!"

"This is fun."

"Look at that huge tree."

"I'm the trail guide... follow me!"

"A heart rock!"

"I'm hot."

"This is hard."

"I hear water... Listen!"

"A bumblebee!"

"A caterpillar!"

"Eeeek! A snake!"

"I want to go to the top!"

"We made it!"

"Woah... we're up high."

"Mom, I love you a million, googolplex, forever, infinity, period, period, period."

On the good/better/best list, Shan and I agree that family hiking is on the best.

So much to be grateful for...

So Shan had been in Washington D.C. for a month-long Contracting Course. I decided enough was enough so I went to visit him for a few days and we were able to have fun together and catch up with lots of old friends. (Thanks mom and Jen for taking the little ones!)

The first day at Ft. Belvoir, I was able to veg by the edge of the Officer's Club pool, overlooking the Potomac River. I happened to look up and see a bald eagle soaring in circles above us. All on the 4th of July weekend... what?!

There is nothing like being in D.C. for the 4th of July weekend. After seeing the monuments at night for the first time, and touring the Holocaust Museum with a dear friend, my heart was full. I was really humbled and grateful. Our Nation is so amazing, and no one can ever tell me otherwise. If you need a reminder, just study a little American History.

Friends Barr and Marci were fantastic dinner hosts and showed us the town. Thanks guys!

Then, we were able to drive down to my favorite place on earth, (North Carolina) and spend some time with dear friends. Rebecca is a sister to me.

And if that weren't enough to fill me to the brim, we were also able to spend an evening with more dear friends, Jennifer and Brandon, and their darling family. Jenn and I spent the next day touring the Holocaust Museum, eating at the most amazing restaurant, Founding Farmers, and taking in Iwo Jima. It was such a wonderful time, and I am still thinking about it.

Jenn and I were next-door neighbors at Ft. Bragg during our very first military experience. I had no idea the Lord would put such a lovely person right next to me, but we are lifelong friends because of it. She's helped me through deployments, kidney stones, and even watched the two older kids in the middle of the night when I was in labor. And she is the best cook on earth, so I always know where to go for a good recipe.

And these are her two little darlings, James and Lily. They stole my heart.

Kennecott Copper Mine

You can't live in Utah and not experience Kennecott Copper Mine. The place is totally amazing! It is 2 1/2 miles wide at the top and visible from Space!My sister, Jen convinced us to go and after a few mishaps in the day, we finally made it! The kids thought the huge tire was amazing. Each of their trucks uses 6 of them; they cost $10,000 each and only last a year.The overlook was windy, windy, windy. In fact the wind blew so hard, the power went out in the Visitor's Center and they made us go home before we could watch the video! But then we got to hang out in Jen's van and eat Oreos so it was a good thing in the end:)

All of those ridges carved into the sides of the mine are the roads that the trucks drive up and down.

The Bearded Lady

It's our very own circus around here.

Ode to the Swagger Wagon

It's official. We have acquired 100 thousand miles on the Sienna. I was so glad that Shan pulled out his phone to snap a picture (in the middle of the night on our way to Oregon) and capture this moment of greatness.

These 100,000 miles have been filled with singing (and arguing about who is singing and who should or should not be singing); finishing up breakfast on the way to school; running errands with toddlers in tow; being lost in the middle of nowhere; hauling camping gear; going to DisneyWorld; shuttling family to and from airports; driving across the country, not once, not twice, but three times; meandering through the Appalachian mountains; screaming through Kansas just miles ahead of a terrifying tornado; and hauling bikes, diaper bags, strollers, golf clubs, suitcases, Christmas trees, science projects, folding tables, chairs, beach gear, Christmas presents, PTA bake sale food, and furniture (thank you 'stow and go' seating). These miles represent close to a thousand trips to the grocery store and a zillion bags of groceries (thank you grocery hooks). They represent hours of laughter, tears, listening to books on tape, rockin' out to music, and great conversation. To me, they are trying to nurse a baby in the back seat on long road trips; passing out a million wet wipes; buckling and unbuckling those car seats and boosters (thank you tether hooks); trepidatiously carrying sleeping babies into the house; vacuuming out sand, cheerios, and goldfish; and washing it down in the driveway with the juvenile work staff in bathing suits.

We've had to pull over for a vomiting car-sick child, to change dirty diapers, and twice when one of the kids dropped an entire cup of lemonade on the floor (thank you spill-resistant mats). We've spent hours playing "I Spy" and "Slug bug" and "Trivia." We've pulled trailers and boats, and the car top carrier has been a frequent accessory. Once when we were lost, we spun around on the road, and two year old Emma referred to our "U-turn" as a "W-Twist." For these great times and so many more, I heart the Sienna.

I love how the Sienna is equipped with 12 thousand cup holders, and how in our van, every single one of them is filled with napkins, chapstick, change, toys, hair elastics, maps, and trinkets, so I still have no where to put my cup until I remember the pull-out cup holder in front. Genius.

Actually, I think Toyota should put me on their payroll, since I have successfully encouraged 4 friends to purchase a Sienna. Recall nothing. We love you Toyota!

Given my feelings, you can imagine my sheer delight at this:

Plenty more for your laughing pleasure on Youtube.

Starfish on the Beach

We took the children out to the beach for a few days and shockingly, we had two beautiful days out there without any rain and no wind! The first night we were there, we went down to the beach to look around, and each of the kids found a starfish, which was a first for all of us. They were so cool. (And yes, we threw them back.) It was a perfect beach for us because there were thousands of agates and the girls and I treasure hunted our hearts out. Our hotel was right on the beach. I loved falling asleep listening to the waves crashing and the view was just spectacular.

The next day we met up with Jade, David & boys, and Peg, Alex & Crew for some tide pool exploration at Yaquina Head.

This was super fun! The kids loved seeing so many creatures up close and being able to touch them and watch them tighten up.