Cabin with Friends

We had a great weekend getaway up to the cabin.  Our open weekends are very few this summer between my work schedule and other events going on.  We were planning on going camping over the weekend, but decided we didn't have any weekends to enjoy up at the cabin.  We decided we'd pretend we were camping and get the fire pit up and running that night for tin foil dinners and s'mores.  If I could go home smelling like smoke, it would satisfy my camping need for the time being



Allie found herself a nice roasting stick-perfect for little ones to hold and be kept far from the fire

Macy, Allie, and Cam ready to roast some marshmallows

Enjoying a nice warm s'more

Hanging out by the pit

I had to bring up some Starburst and share my favorite treat on the fire

A nice crispy outside and a warm soft middle; they are delicious

We were also treated to this beautiful sunset on the lake while relaxing by the fire

Following the cook out, we came in and let the kids have there usual pillow/blanket party.  This was a shot of Allie jumping off the stairs down onto the pillows.  I was shocked the kids were jumping from so high, I had to get a picture.  I'm just glad that we didn't end up with any broken bones this night

The next morning and afternoon we enjoyed playing out on the water.  The dad's piled into the raft with the kids and enjoyed a ride out on the lake

The girls waiting for their dad's to pick them up for jet ski rides

Off on a ride with dad

We of course had to bring my hammock.  I just love lounging in my hammock up at the cabin; it is so relaxing.  Can tell who else likes to snuggle in it too:)

I'm glad that we got to head up and enjoy a nice weekend at the cabin.  Hopefully we can squeeze in another few visits this summer.  

Zoo Days and Dairy Parades

With the weather finally warming up, we have decided to venture outside.  One of our first stops was down to the zoo. 

The giraffe is one of my favorite animals.  I don't know if I've ever seen one sitting either, so it was quite an unusual site for me

The penguins were getting the water drained from the tank so it was fun to see them up out of the water.  They were very interactive waddling from window to window to see the kids

Hanging out with the penguin

We splurged and got to ride on the carousel.  Allie was thrilled to be riding the monkey

Taking a turn riding the tiger

Cute Olivia was thrilled to just be out of her stroller running around

Besides the zoo, we were able to hit up the Dairy Days Parade.  I don't know what it is about parades, but I just love them.  I know they are a little W.T., but the kids have fun, the mom's have fun and the dad's just hang back and chat, so everyone leaves happy.  The Dairy Days Parade is one of the best in town.  You get  free cheese, chocolate milk, milk shirts, and TCBY ice cream

The kids with their bags in hand; ready for the parade to begin and the candy to begin being tossed

I don't know what it is about the bagpipes, but they are my favorite too

I love that the kids just wave the whole time.  When did that tradition start anyways? Waving to each other in the parade.  Allie literally just sits and waves the entire parade; to cute:)

Super Allie

Allie has been such a hoot lately.   Her new thing is being a super hero.  She loves for me to clip towels and blankets around her and her animals and they run around the house pretending they are super heroes.  Oh the imagination and life of a 3 year old.  

Sun Valley Getaway

We spent last weekend in Sun Valley for a fabulous time with Blake's siblings.  The original planning of this trip was centered around a run called The Sawtooth Relay.  We had a team of 6 members pulled together and we were supposed to each cover two 5 mile legs to total 60 miles collectively.  Over the last few weeks we have lost and replaced various members of our team due to injury and during the final week we just weren't able to pull a team back together.  We had the condo reserved, so we thought what the heck, let's go and make a weekend of it.  It turned out to be a FABULOUS weekend!!!

Our cottage for the weekend!  We had reserved a four bedroom condo for the weekend.  It ended up being an off weekend, which we were unaware of, and they upgraded us to the "guest cottage."  It rents out for $1900 a night, and we paid $400 a night for our three families

Allie off exploring our cottage for the weekend

We got hooked up....we were pleasantly surprised by our accommodations.  We ended up being right next to the big lodge, we were across from the giant hot tub pool, we had a nice patio with a BBQ, and a nice open field for our backyard which the kids enjoyed running around on

We ended up having an extra room, so the cousins were able to have a sleep over.  I found them awake early Saturday morning after a late night of going to bed, and they were quietly coloring away

Each room had two little closets in it, so the cousins made forts in their room

The girls had one of their own NO BOYS ALLOWED club-houses

Over our 48 hours in Sun Valley, we made 3 trips to the swimming pool.  We were the only ones in the pool the entire weekend.  We never saw another body in there and we enjoyed every minute of it

We also enjoyed two bike rides on Saturday 

Jane sporting her cute self

Blake and I at the end of one of our rides

The whole clan at the the end of a ride

After one of our rides we walked around the shops by the lodge and let the kids play in the playhouse for awhile

Cute Seth got to be adored by everyone.  After our weekend trip, Allie has "changed her mind" regarding what she wants the sex of the baby to be.  She tells everyone she would now like a baby brother.  She decided after playing with Seth all weekend that boys are a lot of fun

Jane and Allie.  Allie just adores her cousin Jane and we are so glad that Jane is such a great friend to Allie

Attempting to get a shot of all the Hansen cousins

Our second bike ride we rode into Sun Valley to get an ice cream cone

and visit with the horses

After we got back the kids enjoyed burning off some energy and played games out on our grassy field while we waited for our delicious pizza dinner to be cooked

In the evening we took a drive up one of the canyons.  We ended up seeing a deer, antelope, a mama moose and her baby 

We were also able to find some snow  

We had such a fun, fast weekend.  We packed a lot in and had a great time.  We hope we can make it back next summer for another great time.

Jane's Baptism

We headed down to Utah this past weekend to celebrate Jane's 8th birthday and baptism.  Allie just adores Jane; she was excited to go down to celebrate 

Allie got to take off a day early with Blake to go help work on Scott and Jenny's basement.  Allie was thrilled to be leaving with dad to go and spend an extra night at Jane's house

The kids all having a great time at the park which neighbors the Hansen's house.   I got this picture texted over to me from Blake.  Supposedly there are raccoons in the tree behind Jane's head

Attempting a cousin shot after the baptism.  Allie apparently thought it was too sunny

We enjoyed the afternoon playing at the park and grabbing some dinner later on that night

Lucy is absolutely hilarious to watch on the Razor.  She is 2 and she just zips, maybe flies is a better adjective, around the playground on that thing

The kids all having fun with the hula hoop

A kid at heart; enjoying one of the parks "spinning seats" with Allie

Allie and Jane

Later on in the afternoon we headed to IKEA for a few hours and then headed out to Day Break.  It is a new planned community down in Utah. 

They had the coolest playgrounds

One more shot of the playground

We were attempting a shot of  just the kids and their heads poking up from the grass.  It doesn't work so well when everyone is hot and hungry.  

We had a great short trip down to Utah and are lucky enough that we get to hang out with everyone in one more weekend when we head to Sun Valley