yesterday, we had the pleasure of meeting up with my good friend jessi and her two gorgeous boys, and what better to do on a 100+degree day than go ice skating at the Olympic Oval, home of "the fastest ice on earth."  Kira sped around the track, and daddy, cam and caleb managed not to break any bones.

after a few hours we were all ready to thaw out in the late afternoon sun. while the big kids swam, elsie and jessi’s youngest, grant, posed for pictures!  they are only a few days apart…jessi and i have kept up with each other’s blogs since we both had them so it was so cute to watch them interact. so neat to see the stringhams in real life. 🙂

after swimming, it was back to provo for a date!  we joined chris’s long time friend, ethan and his wife for brazillian bbq at tucano’s.  yummy for all us carnivores! 

on the way home, chris broke out the tripod and tried to catch the setting sun as a backdrop for a family pic, but the sun wouldn’t cooperate.  i still love how this one turned out though.

when we got back to the cabin we popped over to watch some local artisans make some cool looking glassware.  caleb was particularly enthralled with the proceedings and has decided that this is what he wants to do for a living. 

another fun day planned, we’re visiting the american crafts headquarters (one of my very fave companies!!) and then heading off to park city to meet up with jessi and family.  here’s the last pic chris took yesterday, with elsie in her favorite position, my arms!

she’s been such a trooper with our erratic schedule… i can’t wait to see her expression once we get home. 🙂

the first day of our road trip…elsie’s nap didn’t go as planned.. so she was a bit of a grumpy traveler.. i didn’t get this in focus but it cracks me UP!

first stop- vegas to see elsie’s new BFF! we went up to the mountains to escape the heat… it was gorgeous up there. look at els swiping her friend’s cookies! what a rascal!

caleb is always up to strike a pose for us. 🙂

a few days after vegas, we arrive in utah. fellow utah friends, you may spot our giant clan with our big tripod posing around your beautiful state. 🙂

kicking the kids out to burn off some energy after long hours in the car:

first stop in utah: starbucks 🙂
second stop in utah: ZION… we thought we would drive through and see bits and pieces.. then we decided to get out of the car and walk around a bit…the ever outdoorsy dad decided to take us on a hike.. we think, ok, a little hike to splash in the water a bit… i should have turned around when i saw this:

LOL i barely made it. i always think i am up for a hike but 1/4 way through it i am ready to curse everything around me. 🙂 we were so unprepared for a hike. but we did it. 🙂 🙂 🙂 even miss els. who was carried around for most of it.. was such a little trooper.

finally at the bottom of the hike.. the reward.. the river. 🙂 looove how elsie sees everyone and dashes off to join them.

after zion, we head to sundance. we take the ski lift up and today i am prepared to say NO HIKING. 🙂 i could NOT BELIEVE how carefree elsie was in the lift. it gave me the heebie jeebies to be up there with them all. scaaary!

and this is what we get to come home to for the rest of the week. so gorgeous!!!!

i went to my first archivers today! what a wonderful scrap shop that is!!!! 🙂 we may not have AC here in the cabin, but at least we have internet. 🙂 there may be thunderstorms for the next few days.. oh well.. at least we won’t be hiking! 🙂

what do they want to do during their summer break?? go to the zoo? beach? park? no! they want to scrapbook. 🙂

someone has been very happy to have all the kids home.. but in the last few days, hasn’t been herself.

not eating much, waking up crying (usually is so pleasant when she wakes up), kinda clingy.. and lots of this:

crawling in bed and just laying around. numerous times throughout the day. thinking maybe she’s just getting teeth.. or maybe she’s like mommy.. an introvert who needs a break from people every now and then. 🙂 i don’t know. i just hope she doesn’t get sick during the trip!

me, turning around in the car to take pics of the kids. 🙂 we’re going on a road trip in a few days…should be interesting since this family can barely make it to san diego without complaining (that’s only 3 hours away)

and we are going like 10 hours away! hahahaha! 🙂
and one for my mom.. mama.. the kids miss you!

xo

go go go.. that’s what july started like. but now i think we are going to have a bit of downtime before we go on vacation. should be nice. 🙂
first off.. someone turned 18.

someone is still lovely as ever.

we went on a boat with our gracious hosts for the 4th of july.


the fireworks were amazing! elsie fell asleep in my arms before the big finale! and caleb overcame his fear of Jaws. 🙂 such a wonderful night!!!

and one of cam. i was reading through his daily school journal from last year and was so touched by a number of his entries. he is my little writer, just like his daddy. here are a few of my favorites:
‘I think boys have it easier than girls because girls have babies.’
‘I don’t like the McDonald’s guy. I only like him because he gives out toys. I don’t like him because his food is disgusting.’– (this opinion doesn’t help mom when she’s craving some junk food.)
‘If I could choose my bedtime for the next year I would choose 7:30 because I get very mad if I don’t get enough sleep.’ (just like his mom!)

i’m definitely keeping that journal forever!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

amy tangerine shirts! 🙂

the girls and i met up with amy last week and picked up some cute new tops! i love her designs… sooo fun and amazing quality. and she gave els those new shoes she’s wearing. they squeak and she can’t get enough of them! they make her so happy! this girl has a shoe fetish like you wouldn’t believe. when we go into a store.. she makes a mad dash for the shoes and wants to try them all on. not kidding. i haven’t done anything to provoke this obsession, she just is! we’ll be standing next to strangers and if els sees some shoes she likes, she will point to them and examine them and give them an approving nod. funnnny. 🙂
anyways, my girls. so nice to have kira home for summer. she has been such a great help to me. now that she’s 12, i find myself relying on her more. i know she reads my blog, so—i’m so thankful for you, girl! i love you! xo

the haircut is growing on me. especially when i see this flip. makes my heart ache. the flippy hair. the sundress. her little shoulders. she’s standing at the bathroom sink here… she likes to hang out in front of the mirror and brush her hair and teeth. SOOOOoooo girly. sigh.
going to take more pics of my other kids.. esp since they are home for the summer. promise! 🙂
oh and suuuuuper funny. yesterday was our wedding anniversary. the kids and i were at dots (surprise, surprise) sitting at that glass window (see the website) looking out, eating our cakes…when who comes out around the corner.. chris. 🙂 i am there getting him cupcakes, he came to get me cupcakes. lol. we are one!! or we are very uncreative! 🙂 for a split second, i want to run and hide.. but the place is so small.. there is no where to go. he comes in and we totally laugh. everyone in the shop is laughing. this month has had so many celebrations- feels like we are there e v e r y d a y. 🙂 yay.

–is where we went on saturday.
–is a pretty far drive without a lot of pretties to look at on the way.
–is where we took elsie to the park and discovered that she really IS a monkey.

(yes i do usually try and match the girl, but hey, we were out of town and she had to thrown on what was left in the bag) 🙂

–has the best looking ice cream trucks i HAVE EVER SEEN!

–is where our family from texas moved for a year.. and on saturday we said goodbye to them. 😦 we’re gonna miss you guys. we hope to come visit you—really!!!

thanks for all the interest in the leftover kits! i sold the first 2 quick and was able to put 6 more together and sold those just as quick. i will be sure to kit extra next time! 🙂 you scrapbookers amaze me! 🙂

the last day of school– els will be so happy to have her playmates with her all day long. 🙂


in no rush to do anything at all… brother at her beck and call 🙂

our new 7th grader. SIGH!!!!!!!!!

and the new graduate:
***********oh and! 🙂
i have 2 kits left from my class if anyone wants to purchase them. LMK! 🙂