Mt. House

After beach camping we headed to the Mt. House for a more comfortable vacation. 

The Mt. House is a beautiful place located in the San Diego mountains at Lake Cuyamaca. 

We took a walk by the lake and enjoyed skipping rocks.

Having fun together!

We swam (well some kids did, it was cold), enjoyed the weather, played games, did a puzzle (well only a couple special people did that as well), picked apples and berries, ate good food and enjoyed being together!

Clark and Ella played as normal as toddlers can play together (sometimes great and sometimes not so great). I think they look like twins in their green and black outfits. 

Isn't this such a cute picture of Ella, my brother's little girl.

It was fun doing Ella's hair and making her this cute headband, it made me ready for another baby girl. I'm excited to watch her and Clark grow-up together!

Beach Camping

We love our traditional beach camping trip, it's a family favorite!

My friend Chanelle (an old mission companion of mine) and her family came and spent the day with us. Our kids look like they could cousins since her husband James is Danish like Danny. Plus as you can see in the pics. James is super tall (he's 6'10") which makes for tall children just like us! We had a great time visiting with the Neilson Family and we all agreed we need to plan a vacation together!

My dad came and brought us lunch and a buggy board the next day!

The little kids squeezed in a nap on the beach.

Burying each other is a must!

Sandcastles and splashing in the waves! 

(Oh and bee stings that swell up too).

Excited to go again next year!

Timeout

Clark had his first timeout today! He bit Hanna super hard on the cheek and pulled her hair. I put him in his crib and told him no biting, you are in timeout!  He was not happy about that.

(This picture was taken last week at the beach, but it fit this story well!)

A couple weeks ago we were at McDonald's and he and a little girl about his age were playing inside the tunnel and the little girl started screaming. Clark had bitten her on the leg! I felt so bad! I told her dad that I was so sorry. I also told Clark no, no, we don't bite! but he just smiled. I made him sit with me the rest of the time we were there.

 I really hope the biting ends soon!

Just a side note, Clark is usually a pretty calm, sweet little boy.
Yesterday, Van was sad and Clark tried to console Van with his pacifier.
Clark sure knows how comforting it is!

Swimming

It's so hot here the only thing we can do when we're home is swim!
Even if the pool is small!

When we're in Vegas we usually stop and swim at Dee Dee's.

The younger kids took swimming lessons. Daisy and Walt are officially swimming without floaties!

I guess the plus about very HOT weather is swimming all summer long, which=swimmers!

I thought they looked so cute in these life jackets.

Clark didn't like floating on his back!

Daisy swimming!

Daisy jumping from the lifeguard station.

Walt swimming!

Walt loved jumping off the lifeguard station.

Clark was my first child who didn't just love the water. If it was cold he'd rather stay out. 

Swimming lessons helped him like the water, which was want I was wanting.

"Mommy and Me" swimming lessons.

Sharing the toys or should I say "hoarding" the toys.

We even got to go to Wet'N'Wild with our friends the Severt's one day. 

Hanna got to go with them a second time and had a blast of course!

Granite Creek Dude Ranch

After leaving Ely, NV we headed to Idaho to visit Grandma Susan! 

First we stopped in Twin Falls to say hi to Grandpa Darrell. 

The kids had fun playing on his beautiful green lawn!

We stopped in Burley at Aunt Lola's house, (Great Grandma Mike's cousin).

Then we headed to the beautiful Granite Creek Dude Ranch near Swan Valley in Eastern, ID.

My mom was working there as a cook this summer and we got to visit her and stay at the ranch, ride horses, fish, paddle boat, canoe and enjoy the beautiful ranch for free! (Besides the gas and food). 

It was a spear of the moment opportunity we couldn't pass up.

Paddle boating and canoeing was a hit!

Kittens, swings, archery and beautiful weather.

Feeding the calves.

Horse back riding.

Danny, Max and Hanna went on a long trail ride with Laurie, who was in charge of the horses. 

Hanna's dream is to live on a farm when she grows up, she was in heaven!

The kids held garter snakes, even Daisy!

We wear about 40 mins. from Rexburg so we went and visited Brittany and Brannon and 

their cute little boys and drove around BYU Idaho.

It was a long drive home, but the kids did awesome! Clark has been our best baby traveler!

Northern Nevada Trip

We choose to go the long way to Idaho so we could have a few days in Northern Nevada. Danny had always wanted to see the stars at Great Basin National Park so we camped there the first night.

The next day we took a tour of the Lehman Caves, which were so neat to see and then

 we headed to Ely and stopped at the Beehive Ovens.

We stayed in Ely for the 4th of July and enjoyed the town parade and firework show.

We had a great time swimming at the Mcgill Swimming Hole!

Day Camp

I was a Cub Scout Den Walker this year at Day Camp and even got to participate on the fun!

 The water was super cold, but boys swam anyway!

 Rock wall was tough, but a great since of accomplishment!

 Max had to try a couple times, but he didn't give up!

He got to the top and buzzed away!

I am so afraid of heights, I wasn't sure I could do this. 

I tried not to look down.

I made it! It was pretty challenging. 

I was so shaky afterwards.

 The boys accomplished a lot and had a great time!