Independence Day

We had a great 4th of July holiday!  We actually started celebrating the day before on the 3rd.  Mike only worked a half day, so we took the kids on a hike that afternoon.  We hiked the Timpooneke Trail to Scout Falls.  The Timpooneke Trail is the trail that takes you to the top of Mount Timpanogos.  The hike to Scout Falls is just the first part of the Timpooneke Trail.  We had a lot of fun.  At first, we got lost and took the wrong trail which took us down into a valley instead of up the mountain, but we quickly figured it out and got back on the right path...

The boys are so sweet with Vivienne when we go hiking.  They are always giving her shoulder rides and helping her with more difficult parts of the trail...

Our kids are great little hikers...

The trail was a really fun one.  There were little waterfalls all along the path...

We eventually made it to Scout Falls, which is actually a bunch of little waterfalls in the same area.  The spray from the falls felt so good on such a hot day...

Mike behind one of the waterfalls...

This is our "we made it" pose...

The view from the falls.  So pretty...

See what I mean about the boys always helping Viv.  Here Cohen is carrying her across a tiny little stream...

That evening, we met my entire family at a new splash pad called Wardle Fields...

The kids had fun playing with their cousins...

There was also a playground there where the kids had fun playing when they got tired of being wet...

It was a fun evening...

The next day was the 4th of July.  I went to work in the morning, where we were all dressed in our red, white and blue...

While I was at work, Mike and Connor did a little mountain biking with Dan...

Then everyone went bowling.  Maybe a fun, new 4th of July tradition...

In the afternoon, when I got off work, everyone went to Nana and Poppy's house for a barbecue and some fun water games, like squirt gun fights...

There was lots of hanging out in the shade too...

There was also water balloon toss games...

And water limbo...

Don't do crack, kid.  Haha...

Cute Baby Hazel in her patriotic clothes...

It was a really fun afternoon...

That evening, everyone took off to do various things.  I went home and went to sleep so I could wake up early the next morning for work.  Mike took our kids down the street from our house a little bit where they could see the Thanksgiving Point fireworks show.  It was a great 4th of July!  I love summertime fun!!  --Lindsay

Aiden's Cruise with Grandpa and Grammie

Aiden got the opportunity to go on a Mexican cruise with Grammie and Grandpa...

Here they are boarding their plane to Long Beach...

Aiden getting off the airplane...

They got some yummy food for dinner.  Aiden ordered one of this favorite things--jumbo shrimp.  Then they went swimming in the hotel pool and went to sleep...

The next day, they boarded their cruise ship...

And they set sail.  This was Aiden's second cruise ever.  The only other cruise he's gone on was the Disney Cruise...

First stop was Catalina Island...

While there, they went parasailing.  Isn't that awesome?

This is the only still picture of them, but they actually went really high in the air.  Aiden loved it...

After their parasailing adventure, they got back on the ship and enjoyed the pool.  I guess it was too cool to fully jump in, but Aiden enjoyed dipping his feet in the water...

They also had fun exploring the ship...

Their next stop was Ensenada, Mexico...

While there, they went horseback riding...

Aiden really enjoyed it, and apparently was a natural...

Then they enjoying a carriage ride around town...

Then they got back on the ship and enjoyed some more time at sea.  This guy was carving an ice statue...

Aiden loved all the food on the cruise, naturally...

Aiden's last day at sea...

Sadly, at the end of the week, it was time to come home...

Our kiddos are so lucky to have these experience with their grandparents.  Aiden had a fantastic time!  He had such a fantastic time that he wants to do the same cruise this upcoming summer.  Cohen is going to go along with him because he turns 10-years-old this summer, which is the age when Grandpa and Grammie start taking them on these annual vacations.  Cohen wanted to go on the cruise that Aiden went on, but he was a little nervous about going by himself.  So Aiden said he would choose the same cruise for his vacation and they could do a joint vacation.  Aiden is really excited to show Cohen around the ship, and Cohen is excited to have him as a tour guide.  I love that Aiden and Cohen are such good friends with each other.  Love it, love it, love it!  And I love that they get to have these experience with their grandparents.  They are memories they will always treasure!  --Lindsay