Family Camp-out 2012

You may not remember this post from last year, but we're starting to make it a family tradition to go camping for a night when Dar's sister, Georgiana, is in town visiting from Pittsburgh.  I must admit it was a bit harder camping this year having to chase our toddler around everywhere and watching her get filthier and filthier from playing in the dirt.  Last year was much easier when she'd just sit on our laps and just smile at everyone.  We had a blast though, and we love when Anna Janna is in town visiting.

And now for the photo documentation.  The part I love best...looking back at the memories :)

My babes hanging out in the hammock

 I was a neglectful parent shortly after we got there and set up camp.  I put Aurora in Dar's camping chair and she scooted herself enough to tip forward and bonk her head really good on the edge of the fire pit.  She got a HUGE goose-egg immediately and was kind of sad for a bit (I was too because I felt really bad that I let it happen), so we let her play in the water and get soaking wet to help her feel better.  Thanks, Andrea, for playing in the water with Rori! 

 See the goose-egg?  Ouchie!

It was gone the next morning though, and you can hardly see the bump now.

 As I said...playing in the dirt :)

 Anna Janna and Aurora playing in the truck

 Water coolers = fun drums :)

 Playing in the dirt...again.

 The hammocks were definitely put to good use!

Playing in the creek to cool off!

 Cold water doesn't scare this little girl one bit!

 Drama queen?  Maybe.

 Baby girl with Grandma D

Love this girl!

  Squeegee-ing out her soaked diaper

 Andrea can make one mean fire

 Just chillaxin

 Hanging out with Uncle Sean

 Rori and Sloane played in the truck together for a while. So nice!

 Andrew and Ally in the hammock

 Hanging out with Emma

 Anna Janna

 Swinging with Emma again :)

I'm always tempted to post ALL our pictures (or at least most of them), but I think you get the feel.  We love making memories!

Birthdays!

My hubby and I are lucky enough to not only celebrate our birthdays in the same month, but in the same week!  We love having our birthdays so close.  Dar turned 32 on Sunday and I'm 26 today.  Happy Birthday to us!!

We're enjoying lots of free food thanks to birthday clubs at various local restaurants, the beautiful sunshine and warmth of summer time, and just being together.  Our birthday present to each other this year is a new almost-floor-to-ceiling custom cabinet for our kitchen.  Yay!  It'll be installed mid-July and I'll post pics of that when it comes around.  I'm SO excited for our new cabinet!!

Dar's sister, Georgiana, was in town this year for his birthday, so we got to spend a fun weekend camping with the fam, and then birthday celebration with them on Sunday.  We love you, family!! Thanks for all your love and support!

I gave Dar a tripod for Father's Day last week, and he's been having fun trying it out.  On Sunday we took a picture of our family near a special fruit tree at Deming National Park (aka, Grandma & Grandpa's house).  Dar's parents planted a nectarine tree in honor of our sweet Nastassia and we decided to get a picture with the tree since we can't take a picture with our angel baby.

 The first nectarine!

As always, most of our pictures are of Aurora :) 

She loves jumping on the trampoline

 Strolling through the grass :)

 

 Pointing at the horses next door

 Just a cute expression :)

 Back on the trampoline with Dad

 It took 4 people to light all of Dar's candles this year!

 And some extra help from some of the kidlets to blow them out :)

 Darwin: This picture is required for the next one to make sense.  It is a family joke.  On my 11th birthday I wanted a cookie cake.  To take the picture I had to hold it up, but it kept sliding off the tray, so I held it up with two fingers.  Notice the finger preference.  I'm just emphasizing that it is my 11th birthday by pointing it out.  LOL.

 For old times' sake. Silly kid.

 Birthday boy and his baby girl.  Love you two!

No pictures from my birthday, but it was still great!  Thanks for making our birthdays fun and spreading the celebration out over the whole week, babe.  Love you!

Fun with our Aussies

Our Aussies went camping on Tuesday and since I'm recovering from a recent surgery we decided to just go up to roast hotdogs and smores and save our overnight camping for when I'm feeling better.  It was so fun to go up the canyon and spend some time in nature together :)

We finally switched Aurora into a forward facing car seat! Happy Day!

 Silly little girl, just happy to be outside :)

 I love her serious face

 P has such beautiful eyes!

 Giving loves :)

 P was interested in our camera and took about 20 pictures of himself, and he's got this same expression in just about all of them!  Funny boy.

 Yeah, Aurora was eating dirt.

 There was a teeny little hill close by that the kids entertained themselves with.  Here they're just playing in the dirt, but they used it as a slide too :)

Yesterday our Aussies invited us to go to the Spanish Fork splash pad with them.  We've lived so close for such a long time, but this is the first time we've been there.  It will definitely be a place we go more frequently - especially because it's FREE!

Another shot of our little sweetie in her new car seat :)

 The hubbies

 Getting Rori's little piggies wet

 I'm so glad she likes water!

 Getting more brave on her own

 Oh, yeah!

 P was instructing Aurora on how to run through the water :)

 She still needed a little encouragement from Dad :)

 She's covering her mouth while making a high-pitched, excited squeal :)

 Poor little R and her broken arm :(

 The babies - not the most flattering picture of either one, but cute nonetheless.

 Talking about the birds flying overhead :)

Thanks for more fun adventures, McSweeney's!  We love you guys!