Happy Pioneer Day!

Anyone who lives in UT knows what a big deal July 24th is. For those of you who don't, the whole state pretty much shuts down. Spanish Fork celebrates with a parade, fireworks and the "Speedy Spaniard". This morning Dan ran the 10k and then ran the 1 mile fun run with Bradley and Kylie. It was so fun to the kids cross the finish line with big smiles! Dan did great in his race too. He finished in 49 minutes. Ben wants to do the mile run next year and I think he'll be able to. I'm so glad the kids like running at such a young age. Hopefully this will set good habits for the future.

We got there just in time to see Dan headed for the finish line
Dan with the kids just before their race

Bradley took off and ran a few minutes ahead of Dan and Kylie.

He was so excited!

Kylie loved hearing the crowd cheer as she ran down the home stretch!

Week in Review

We had a few things going on this week so I thought I'd sum it all up in one post. On Wednesday I had my card group. The theme was "kid birthday" and I decided to do a tag instead of a card. I think it looks summery. Throughout the week I have also been working on redecorating our bedroom. No paint, but new bedding and accessories. This was our 10 year anniversary present to ourselves. I really love how it turned out. It is very calm and peaceful. Friday we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. It is such a beautiful temple and surrounding area. The kids were reverent and loved looking around. Ben did try to go in the baptismal font, but we got to him just in time. Saturday morning was the Children's Parade to start the Pioneer Day celebrations which will take place all week. The kids had to dress up as what they would like to be when they grow up. Bradley wore a tool belt and work gloves because he wants to be a builder. Kylie wore a smock because she wants to be an artist. Ben just went along for the ride although he'll probably be some sort of athlete. Dan took the kids swimming in the afternoon, while Grant and I took a long nap. It was a busy, but fun week.

July card
My brand new retreat

I accessorized with sand and shells

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

The "artist", the "builder" and the Ben

Funderland Fun!

So the day after the blessing we were supposed to drive back to UT, but I just couldn't bear the thought of leaving yet, so we got Dan a plane ticket and the kids and I stayed another week. We went to the pool a few more times and tried out a little amusement park in Sacramento. This was our first time to Funderland and definitely not our last. It is perfect for little kids. There are only a few rides, but hardly any lines so the kids were able to ride whatever they wanted. The other thing the kids loved doing at my parents house was playing in the tree house that Bradley helped my dad build along with my brother and brother-in-law. It is such an amazing place for the kids to play. Every day they would take up some little art project to work on in the fort. The kids talk about us having one someday, but first we just need a bigger yard!

The boys on the rollercoaster

Ben was so happy that he was tall enough
Kylie on the rollercoaster

They pretty much had the train to themselves!

Thumbs up for the carousel

Grant enjoying Funderland

The tree house

Blessing Day

We decided to bless Grant in California because we love having an excuse to go there and because so much of our family is there. My dad is the Bishop of the Young Single Adult ward and so Grant became the first (and hopefully only) baby to be blessed in that ward. We had a lot of family come and we were so grateful to everyone that could be there. After the blessing we all went back to my parents house for a bbq. Everyone brought side dishes to share and it was all so delicious. Grant Matthew Weston was the star of the day!

We got some funky shadows from the tree!

This was only some of the group that was there. Some left before we got a picture.

The Hostess
(Thanks, Mom!)

We set up tables under the apple tree and it was very comfortable.

More family

4th of July Festivities

The 4th of July was a really relaxing and fun day. We always see a movie on the 4th and this year we went to Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. I thought the movie was pretty boring, but the kids loved it. Afterwards we went swimming and the kids had such a great time jumping off the diving board. We ended the night with a bbq at my parents house. We were all so tired that night that we ended up watching fireworks on tv. It was a great day!

At the movies

Grant's first Independence Day


Grandma and Grant

The kids loved the diving board (and pushing each other off it)

Dan and Ben chillin' in the pool

We are all doing the "Majide" sign from I Survived a Japanese Game Show

The Other S.F.

On Friday, July 3rd, we went to San Francisco to ride the cable cars and go to a Giants game. It was especially fun since there were fireworks afterwards. We went with my mom, dad, brother and sister-in-law. It was so fun. We rode the cable car to Ghirardelli Square for some ice cream then walked down to Fisherman's Wharf for dinner. Afterwards we went to AT&T park for the game. It brought back a lot of memories because I went to a lot of A's and Dodger's games as a kid. The park is right on the water which makes it beautiful, but also freezing at night! We kept Grant wrapped in blankets and a sweatshirt and he did great. The park has a play area in a giant Coke bottle and the kids loved it! We all had a great time!

Waiting in line for the cable car

At the Giants game

The beautiful park

In front of the park

Back to Real Life

We just got back from a relaxing vacation with family in Northern CA. The kids flew out with my mom and stayed for a week before Dan and I came out. We blessed Grant and Dan went back to work while the kids and I stayed for another week. All in all, the kids spent 3 weeks on vacation and I was there for 2. It was such a relaxing couple of weeks. I got so much help with the baby and the kids had a blast. I need to catch up on all my blogging, but first I wanted to post a few random pictures of Grant.

He has such a strong neck

(He's only 3 weeks old here)

This is a picture of Grant on his first plane ride. He slept the entire time!

This picture is funny because sometimes he starts pulling his hair so hard that he starts crying and I have to pry his hand free. Not many babies have that problem!