Thanks to Ash, we kicked off June just right. With Scarlette visiting, she invited us to join the cousins for some fun kayaking at a nearby reservoir. The kids were in heaven, and we loved watching them swap around with eachother.
We brought home Scarlette and Cade and Asheley's kids for a cousin sleepover. The next day we
ALL went to the summer Rocky Mountain BBQ in the beautiful mountains. None of us realized the fun that was in store!
I chuckled because at first they had all paired up with who was going to ride with who- which made the wait time a bit long, but the cousins were glued to each other. They loved riding those horses so much, soon enough they were just jumping on with anyone that would take them whether they knew them or not.
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| Ivy riding with some guys uncle- whom I don't even know. Who cares! |
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| Me riding my horse while fumbling with my phone and taking pics I didn't realize. |
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| Sofi |
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| Paisley and Christine |
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| Cal with- Who knows! Who cares! Look at that face, he doesn't! |
They really were the sweetest horses, we were all crazy about them and they got plenty of love. They just moseyed around while we ate.
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| Violet dressing the cute baby. |
I think by the end of the evening everyone had braved the big rope swing!
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| Scarlette! |
I took the girls up to the house for a bathroom break- where they discovered a whole bunch of cats living in the garage. Soooooo much glee and love!
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| Adren braving the zip line! |
Hooray for Rocky Mountain summer BBQ's!!!
I took the kids the next day to the local duck pond while we munched on our lunch.
When I brought the cousins back to Ashely's we arrived just in time for the apparently annual firetruck spray-down at the neighborhood park!
So sweet to get these cards from the nieces left on my nightstand:
Next on the Summer Agenda: THE TAYLOR FAMILY CAMP OUT AT MINERS RETREAT!!!
Paisley told a darling story of some animals in the forest that cleared the ground and made a tent and friends- along the way the kids are to ice their cookie and add candy.
This was probably the first night- then I don't take pics anymore! All the fun was had like usual. Lots of games, volleyball, a dance performance from the little girls that they had been practicing, the hike up to the boulders, a movie on the white sheet (Jurasic Park), roasting marshmallows, working on the fort, we rented ATV's for a day and took turns taking kids out and about~ which took the entire day for everyone to have I think one turn. I have a fun memory of me, Jon, Abby & Matt, and Brent & Sadie taking it back to return it. There was a
major down pour all of a sudden when we drove off~ We couldn't even talk to each other, and got so drenched! Quick stops at the local grocery store, driving kids to the showers in the late mornings- it really is always so fun! There were some major injuries this year in the Goulding family that cast a dark cloud. Little Hartman fell and broke his arm at the bottom of the hike after the boulders. His arm from elbow to wrist was "U" shaped! He was whisked off for a cast and we all gathered for a family prayer. Then when all the kids were playing a game in the parking lot, Landrie fell so hard on that gravel and skinned her elbow and knee worse than anything I've ever seen in real life! Ouch! It looked
so painful! She was bandaged and hobbled around the rest of the time, poor dear. But still, the kids love being together
so much! They could spend their entire summer at Miners. And my time with the Sista's is never enough. There was one moment where us gals were all gathered in the parking lot and got talking and laughing
so hard about something- At one point my stomach was in such physical pain like I had done 1,000 sit-ups I was laughing so hard, I couldn't even catch my breath. It's the best!
And then... the BIG TAYLOR FAMILY LAGOON DAY!!!
Sam and I bonded this year at Lagoon. We went around together for a bit, going on rides.
He's a real sweetie.
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| Ollie and I had a great chat on the boat. |
I took Zeke on Musical Express
(bless me!) and he
loved it! He then recruited more cousins to join him. I sat out because I can only do that once. Paisley is still not quite up to riding Bombora, maybe next year. It is great to run in to family while out and about, take a break at Home Base and meet up with other groups. We really are at the place where our kids can all come and go at their leisure. They all form their agenda's at the camp out together and really hit the pavement when we arrive. It was another great year at Lagoon! How grateful I am for this wonderful, big family of mine and that we seek time to spend with each other, and that we are able to create these lasting memories that will shape their lives and future traditions! Whoot!
Other little snippets I'll add of summer:
Stephanie. She lives at the Chrysalis house in our neighborhood with two other women. I visit teach her roommates, and we've "adopted" her, you could say. The kids know her well and she is a neighborhood staple. You'll see her walking, walking, walking all over. She stops by most days to see if I will be visiting her house any time soon, and to remind me Peanut Butter Cups are her favorite. She used to sit with us at church before she glomed on to another family. I'd look over to always find her head back, zonked on the bench. One Sunday she called to let me know she wouldn't be there, so not to expect her to sit with us. I replied, "Yes, perhaps your nap at home would be more comfortable." She agreed.
She is very sweet, has a very hard life story, and I am glad to know her.
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| Her morning stop-in to say hi to "Electy" (her name for Adren's electric guitar). |
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| Glorious Summer Sunsets! (That sky!) |
We also were able to spend a couple of nights up at Carol and Conway's cabin near Duchesne with the Geertsen side. We ate delicious meals, watched movies, sat out on the deck in the cool summer evenings and chatted, napped and kayaked out on the lake. It was a nice, relaxing time.
It was so great to attend little Christian's special baptism day. He looked so handsome in his suit, and had the sweetest smile. I've always thought of him as such a little baby guy, so crazy he is now eight and baptized! Zeke sure was excited to attend this special day!
Precious faced cousins.
This family is the best!
We brought home Scarlette and Cade and Asheley's kids for a cousin sleepover. The next day we ALL went to the summer Rocky Mountain BBQ in the beautiful mountains. None of us realized the fun that was in store!
I chuckled because at first they had all paired up with who was going to ride with who- which made the wait time a bit long, but the cousins were glued to each other. They loved riding those horses so much, soon enough they were just jumping on with anyone that would take them whether they knew them or not. 
They really were the sweetest horses, we were all crazy about them and they got plenty of love. They just moseyed around while we ate.
I took the girls up to the house for a bathroom break- where they discovered a whole bunch of cats living in the garage. Soooooo much glee and love!
Paisley told a darling story of some animals in the forest that cleared the ground and made a tent and friends- along the way the kids are to ice their cookie and add candy. 
This was probably the first night- then I don't take pics anymore! All the fun was had like usual. Lots of games, volleyball, a dance performance from the little girls that they had been practicing, the hike up to the boulders, a movie on the white sheet (Jurasic Park), roasting marshmallows, working on the fort, we rented ATV's for a day and took turns taking kids out and about~ which took the entire day for everyone to have I think one turn. I have a fun memory of me, Jon, Abby & Matt, and Brent & Sadie taking it back to return it. There was a major down pour all of a sudden when we drove off~ We couldn't even talk to each other, and got so drenched! Quick stops at the local grocery store, driving kids to the showers in the late mornings- it really is always so fun! There were some major injuries this year in the Goulding family that cast a dark cloud. Little Hartman fell and broke his arm at the bottom of the hike after the boulders. His arm from elbow to wrist was "U" shaped! He was whisked off for a cast and we all gathered for a family prayer. Then when all the kids were playing a game in the parking lot, Landrie fell so hard on that gravel and skinned her elbow and knee worse than anything I've ever seen in real life! Ouch! It looked so painful! She was bandaged and hobbled around the rest of the time, poor dear. But still, the kids love being together so much! They could spend their entire summer at Miners. And my time with the Sista's is never enough. There was one moment where us gals were all gathered in the parking lot and got talking and laughing so hard about something- At one point my stomach was in such physical pain like I had done 1,000 sit-ups I was laughing so hard, I couldn't even catch my breath. It's the best!
I took Zeke on Musical Express (bless me!) and he loved it! He then recruited more cousins to join him. I sat out because I can only do that once. Paisley is still not quite up to riding Bombora, maybe next year. It is great to run in to family while out and about, take a break at Home Base and meet up with other groups. We really are at the place where our kids can all come and go at their leisure. They all form their agenda's at the camp out together and really hit the pavement when we arrive. It was another great year at Lagoon! How grateful I am for this wonderful, big family of mine and that we seek time to spend with each other, and that we are able to create these lasting memories that will shape their lives and future traditions! Whoot!
