The Exciting and Miscellaneous

What a great summer 2014 has been! This is the first time I felt like it really could have gone on longer, we were having so much fun. Until that last week of summer. That made me ready to get the fighting kids back on schedule. I guess I needed that.
There was more fun at the museum with those that missed out on the last trip, thanks to Ashley meeting up with us and giving us her discount again. Adren had felt real left out, since he'd been at Day Camp and missed all the fun the first time around. And this time we had the Boc's !

Afterwards Abby and I were wondering what to do with 2 vans full of starving kids. We settled on Dickey's BBQ and those kids licked their plates clean. 
This started more swapping and sleepovers which is always so fun.

 I mean, really. Such cuties.

I took them to the Bean Museum to see it all remodeled and finally done. There was a bear cave the kids said was really dark and creepy inside. They couldn't quite make out what was in a hole, and no one dared get too close. I sent my phone in with them so we could get a better look.

Yikes! The word is Eli actually touched it's tongue!

We really only stayed there for 5 minutes. It was crowded and the kids were more interested in playing tag so we went over to the water fall rocks and played and played until EFY groups gathered quietly around us and started singing hymns. We took the hint and pressed on.

There was a lot of family hiking, it's fun to find one with a refreshing waterfall at the end, especially on these blazing hot summer days.

 Paisley and I found some time here and there to do a little window shopping and grab a treat together. There is always time for that! Some evenings she'll ask if just she and I can go look at cute things together. It's my fave!

What a darling!

While Jon was out and about with Zekey I told him to grab a new garbage can for the kitchen but was kind of specific on what I didn't want. He said he found one but would send me a pic to see if it was ok. I had to chuckle at Zeke cozying right up into the shot. Zekey...

ps~ the can was a no. Two-tone? What?

We got to meet up with as many as could join us for some cousin swimming time at Pleasant Grove pool.

I was so excited to hear Jen would be visiting for a few days here in Utah! We planned a day to meet up, let the kids play together and catch up. Despite our constant texting and frequent phone calls, we had a lot to chat about. It went too fast!

The next highly~ and I mean, HIGHLY anticipated event is the now annual family campout!!!
These kids could. not. wait. I was getting pretty excited myself! It really is a fun time to all be together.
We the sista's all decided we were tired of packing our coolers! We were tired eating sandwich meat on rolls! We were tired of making grocery lists and we were tired of packing up the car! We decided we would not bring dinners- or lunch- to the camp-out. This is getting crazy!
It all worked out great! Abby had the genius idea to go to the nearby elementary school and partake in the free lunch program. Boom. done. The first night we did Hawaiian haystacks. Ok, that took a little prep work, and Eliza and I did haul up crockpots of gravy and everyone contributed to a yummy~ but still easy peasy meal. We didn't want to be slaving over dutch ovens after setting up camp. One night all of us adults went out to a lovely dinner at a nearby restaurant while we sent up pizza's for the kids. One night we made a run to the nearby grocery store and grilled up some hot dogs. We joked that next year we'll all be craving dutch oven meals and want to pull out all the stops. We shall see.

 We got to see fun Mallerie in action on the Heber Creeper! There was singing, dancing, a near high-jacking and kidnapping.... good stuff!

 We cooled off at a fantastic spot in the Provo River. JoAnna and Meiken and little Bea even joined up with us.

 Adren and Ivy have a sweet little friendship

There were cozy movie nights and chalk drawing, and plenty of exploring in the woods. And chipmunks!

I think these little guys got more aggressive and fearless since last summer.

We enjoyed an evening hike, long talks over the campfire with s'mores, local shakes, and all the love in the world. I know the kids will look back at these adventures fondly and I am so happy they will have them. Family is the best!
ps~ Best line heard:  
someone: "Where's Shafer?"
Sadie: "Probably modeling in the woods somewhere."  he-he.
We arrived home from camping on July 24th, Pioneer Day. We spent the day unpacking, cleaning and laundering. I sent Jon and Eli off to the store to get groceries and he texted me this picture:

Look who we ran into!

This party don't stop. Of course we had to have the Whitmore's + Landrie over for some more fun!

Happy Pioneer Day!
A few days later the Taylor's invited us up for a fun night of dinner and a movie in the awesome basement Shafer built. Of course we can't leave cousin-less!

 Cute shots of them all walking in from church. This also shows who buddied up with whom.

There have been crazy hair days...

 There have been crazy face days...

 There have been crazy ride-on animals at the mall days...

Here's a sweet shot of Eli, who just woke up, taking in the glorious summer morning.

There have been loud, crazy outdoor movie nights and sleepovers at the Lloyds~

(I know you can't even see the billions of boys in this shot, but I know they're there.)

One Sunday we thought we'd head up to Cascade Springs and hike around. The drive was so gorgeous! We noticed we were low on gas, but figured we'd be ok. But the road kept winding and winding and really started guzzling the gas! Then we hit a big pot hole and wobbled into the parking lot with the strong smell of melted rubber. Then it started to rain. Jon immediately went to work on the back flat tire because we could see the front tire was losing air quickly. We coasted back down on fumes. It was quite the white-knuckle adventure, but we made it!

Yes, Zeke has a kitty face and Paisley is in a kitty costume.

With all the busyness and laziness of summer I wanted a day with my kiddos~ I can sense it's drawing to an end. We spent the day at the Planetarium up in SLC, then the nearby Village Inn for dinner for the slowest service on the planet. (Really- why do I keep doing that to myself???)

Zeke blends right in

Alien gonna getchuuu!

Waiting for the movie-in-the-dome to start!

And finally, a great summer performance by Paisley, Zeke and friends.