Journeying with the Crandalls: Summer Fun!

This Summer has been a great one! Especially since I was in my second trimester for most of it. (As a side note... I love that I am finally posting about Summer as we are getting the first snow of the season 11/2. But I am going to date this post for the end of Sept just for dates sake)

It started off with us getting excited about a few "early warm days" and thinking we could head outside for an activity...well it was still pretty chilly when we did head out, (that's what you get in April in Utah) but we had a great time. We all piled into the suburban and went to "This is the Place Park" in Salt Lake with Dolores, Gabe, Sierra, and Daphne. It's such a fun park with lots of things to do, especially if you have older kids. But we had a good time on the little train that went around the duck pond, petting the animals at the petting zoo, and riding the carriage train around the park.

These were some pretty feisty goats! They got way too close to Boston, I think possibly mistaking his little piggy toes as an afternoon snack. I literally had to almost kick them away. Then while we were petting the sheep, they started searching for food in Sierra's stroller. lol

Little did I know at the time, that I would very much be able to relate with this VERY pregnant pig in just a few short months. ;)

We've had fun planting our garden and teaching Boston to SMELL the flowers and not pick them resulted in one of my favorite pics of him!

Ever since we played tennis while visiting Paul in March we have really gotten into playing Tennis as a family! We have some nice courts just a few blocks from our home so we can head over and even play for just a half an hour, it's been a great way to get out and get some exercise! Boston loves hanging out in the court while we play, and helps gather the balls. I think it's something we will have fun continuing to do as a family, (especially after I'm not pregnant!)

Boston touched the car tires and then got a good hand print on his face! haha

Then we went to Bear Lake!

The weather was awesome, but in May the water is still FREEZING!! Actually I'm pretty sure the water in Bear Lake is freezing most of the summer no matter what. But we didn't care, we played on the beach and had a great time!

We were invited by Hailey and Kevin, and we love hanging out with them so it was a blast! Ever since we were little Hailey and I always talked about how we wanted our hubbies to be good friends since we were basically sisters, and I am happy to say that that is true! I also love how sweet Hailey is with Boston! He's pretty fond of his Aunt Hailey as well. :)

We all built an awesome sand castle!! We had just as much fun knocking it down with rocks, and letting Boston be the "Castle Giant" and walk all over it, as we did building it. :)

One of my favorite pics from the trip..." KING of the Castle"

After the demolition

One of the mornings Andrew and Kevin got up bright and early and went fishing. They each caught a fish (and let it go)

We enjoyed some pretty yummy food!!

And of course couldn't end the trip without a FAMOUS Bear Lake Raspberry Shake!!! Mmmmm! My mouth starts watering just looking at that pic.

We've also had lots of fun play dates with friends! This time was with My good friend Bre and her kids. Elizabeth is so cute with Boston, she acts like she's his big sister and keeps an eye on him, which I love! Boston was hilarious playing on this big toy at Burger King. It was his first time, and he saw all the big kids running around and wanted to be just like them, and was trying to talk and run around even though he's still little... it was pretty hilarious, I got a good video of it.

Me trying to teach Boston how to eat an ice cream cone. He insisted on face planting into it every time.

Hudson came over and played...they were funny to watch because they're both very serious. lol

Of course we've had a few dates with Boston's little girlfriend Hazel. He's pretty easy going, and she wants to do things a particular way so they play well.. even if it's with girl stuff. :) I'm glad they get a long so well, cause we love hanging out with Jeff & Katrina! They're great friends. :)

He did find the one kind of boy toy in her room though.

Fun at the Zoo!

Hazel also showed Boston the ropes at his FIRST day in nursery!! He loved how they let him drink out of his OWN cup, and treated him like a big boy, even though he was the only one there that couldn't get on to the little chairs around the table. lol I thought Boston seemed so big, until I took him there where he was the youngest one, and he felt like my baby again that needed me... even if he never looked for me...not even once... so I left a little disheartened. When 45 mins later they brought him to me in relief society and he was crying for me and clung to me... I secretly loved it. He'll grow up someday... but today doesn't' have to be that day.

We've also had fun with cousin Daphne and Aunt Sierra! This time we went to the Tree house childrens' museum. So cute and fun!

He loved the troll bridge!

Sierra and I had a good time dressing the babies up as we went from country to country!

MEXICO!

CHINA!

He LOVED the music area, and so did Grandma Hawkins. :)

King Boston... and a grumpy Queen Daphne by the end. lol

Andrew completed 2 races this summer! He never ceases to amaze me! :)

The first one was a RAGNAR where they worked as a team of 12 people for 2 days to run a total of 200 miles!!

They lived and slept in a van... and would periodically get out to run their individual legs of the race.

GO ANDREW!!! He said the terrain and hills were pretty vigorous!

We enjoyed a yummy meal at Red Robin with everyone afterwards, where I'm pretty sure we all ate our weight in steak fries... especially Daniel. :)

The second race was the Timpanogas half marathon! They had to BE THERE at 4am to get started... They're sort of crazy if you ask me. ;) Although Andrew said the run was absolutely beautiful as the sun came up, sooo I guess that might be sort of worth it.

Another fun thing we did this summer: we had a "Hungry Bear reunion party!!" It was a lot of fun making pizza and homemade bread sticks like old times, and such a blast seeing so many old friendly faces. We sure made some good friends in those Hungry Bear days. Some of the most loyal friends my family has. It was sure sad to see the restaurant go after ten years in business, but it brought so many blessings to my family, as we have continually seen through the years. For one, we would have never been able to move from Roy to Layton if it weren't for the restaurant. Which means I would have probably never met Andrew! Also, My SIL Liz met Gary after getting a job there, so had it not been for Hungry Bear, they would have never met either! Those are two huge blessings!! Not to mention it bonded our family in ways a family could never bond otherwise... I mean come on, having your Dad as your boss, your brother as your manager, or being your brothers' manager.... it can stir up some emotions... but mostly good!! :) It also taught every one of us kids how to work hard, and pitch in and be a team! Good times!! :)

good ol' Brian White! One of my favorite dough bros!

Boston was a little nervous about the dancing bear, even when he realized it was just Uncle Dallin.

Of course it wouldn't be a hungry Bear party if we didn't show off all of our dough flipping skills!! Happy to say I hadn't lost the touch, even being a little off center... :)

My favorite part of Summer, and my favorite holiday next to Christmas: The FOURTH of JULY!

It was a great one this year. We stayed close to home, and enjoyed every moment of the fun that we could! Starting with the Layton parade early in the morning. I think Layton actually did a pretty good job this year!

Waiting for the parade to start!!

Boston LOVED seeing all the exciting things in the parade! Especially the marching bands, and waving to the pageant girls... who I'm sure he thought were waving RIGHT at him. :)

Then we went to an awesome BBQ with my family and their sweet neighbors! Seriously, the fourth wouldn't be the same without a good BBQ!

Boston makes new friends wherever he goes... and this sweet guy just started teaching him how to play the piano.

Then we hung out at the Layton park and looked at the booths, played games and waited for the fireworks to start! We love to sit near the symphony to enjoy the music that plays before and DURING the fireworks.

I think their firework show was AWESOME this year!! Seriously we were all blown away by the finale! It lit up the entire sky, literally. Between that and the patriotic music playing loud in the background my heart was swelling with pride and love for my country like never before! I feel so blessed to live in the land of the free, and I am SOOO grateful for the men that fought and families that sacrificed and still do so that I can enjoy that freedom with my family each and every day! I am especially grateful for the freedom of religion that we have here, and never want to take it for granted! God, please continue to bless the USA!

We love Uncle Daniel!

We also had a 24th of July firework party with the Crandalls that was a great time! Boston held is first sparkler, and was fascinated! I love watching all of his "firsts." I think we may have even been more excited than he was.

In sparkler tradition Boston and I wrote a wish into the night sky. Even though it was technically Boston's wish, I don't think he would mind that I used it to wish that these moments will somehow last forever. Even though I know they won't, it doesn't hurt to wish. :) I LOVE summer!

Sometimes in the Summer you get the urge to mow the lawn, or shoot some hoops...naked. :)

Boston has been my little helper with my calling in Activity Days with the 10 & 11 yr old girls! He loved our water party, and doesn't even mind that he's the only boy! He got control of the hose and liked getting everyone wet...especially himself. lol

We also beat the heat by being poolside bums! Being pregnant in the summer, I knew that a pool pass would be a necessity! Several of our neighbor friends got passes too, so we always had friends to go with. And Grandma Hawkins (who was a fish in another life) joined us several times as well!

We loved when Daddy would join us after he got off work for a summer night swim!

While the pool was all fun and games most of the time.... sometimes it resulted in melt downs... from both Boston and I. It was harder than I thought it would be to be pregnant and chase a toddler who was wanting to be very independent, and learning how to run away from me faster each day.

The splash pads were Boston's FAVORITE hangout place this summer! And we went frequently!! He loves to run around pretending he's one of the big kids and feel like he's being independent, even though I am secretly watching and following his every move. (mostly because of older crazy kids running around that like to target him with the sprayers!) I seriously could watch him run around like this all day! It makes me smile to see him so happy!

In honor of "National Ice Cream Day" we have started last year having an ice cream social with friends and neighbors. (Which I failed to get pics of) This year we also did another one with the Crandalls/Jasmers.

The kids love Uncle Gabe! Or as Boston calls him... "Babe"

The ice cream social was Boston's first ice cream cone experience! And later we also had to capture his first Donut! What can I say... with these pregnancy cravings it's been a SWEET summer! :)

I had company with prego cravings this time!

We also went to Lagoon!! Once with my parents, and once with Dan and Sierra! Good times!!

The first time he went on Bulgy he kind of wussed out

These two looked so grown up riding these rides all by themselves! :)

This time he liked Bulgy and did great! :)

Boston loved riding the Jeeps with Dad... afterwards Andrew captured this pic. He had the death grip on Andrew's pants the whole time. lol

Totally rode "love swing" style on the swings and held hands with my cute hubby like we were teenagers. :)
I had to suck in and sneak on too, as you're not supposed go on swings when you're prego...whatever.