I Pee Outside?

Isabelle has had quite a month. In the course of this month Isabelle has gotten rid of her binky, or we have gotten rid of it for her...Then this last week she made the momentous move from the diapers to the potty. Yea!

While we were in the midst of the potty training she reminded me that Lillian peed outside while we were camping and she wanted to pee outside also. She kept saying "I pee outside?" So I kept saying, No we only pee outside when we are camping and there are no bathrooms. In true Isabelle style she chose not to listen to me and I found her outside pulling her panties up. She proudly told me that she peed outside and showed me the wet spot on the driveway. I thought, having girls, we would not have to worry about them peeing outside. I guess I was wrong. I have to apologize to my neighbors if they saw a little girl peeing on her driveway, sorry we usually aren't that gross at our house.

Top of Utah Half Marathon

It all began in February...my aerobics instructor, Leigh, told us she wanted us all to do the Smithfield 10K in May. Well, while I was training for that race I caught the running bug. It really is a love/hate relationship actually. Running a half marathon was on my bucket list so I decided this was the year to run one. Mick also caught the running bug and we decided to run the Top of Utah Half Marathon together. I convinced my neighbor Katie to run the race with me and thankfully she became my training partner.

We woke up bright and early on the day of the race. I was sooo nervous!

It was really so great to run the race with Mick and Katie. They helped push me at different times in the race! Plus they helped keep my mind on other things besides just running.
Our cheering section!!! Kevin, the girls and my parents met us at mile 7 and mile 10.5. It was great to see them - they made me so happy and really gave me a burst of energy.

We finished the race in 2:01!!!

We set a goal for ourselves to run the race, all 13.1 miles of it, in 2 hours, 15 minutes. Almost at the end of the race, Mick looked at her Garmin watch and told us we had to hurry and finish strong. When she said that I thought, "oh great, we are not going to make our goal." I pushed it as hard as I could and we all crossed the finish line together. When we crossed I saw the clock and it said:
2 hours 1 minute!!
We beat our goal by 14 minutes. I was so proud and excited!

I was so glad to finish the race. I just kept thinking as soon as I cross the finish line I can walk all I want!

Do we look great or what? It meant so much to complete my goal with two awesome girls. It wouldn't have been as fun without them! My wonderful family got up so early to come and cheer us on - they are the best!! Isabelle kept saying Mommy you run? You run fast? It meant the world to me to have them there to share in this accomplishment.

After some water, a roll, and some fruit we were all smiles. What a great day!

I loved this picture of the girls. They really are the best!

The Logan Temple and Minnetonka Cave

My parents and Michael and his girlfriend Sarah came up to visit us after we got home from Island Park. We were planning on going boating in Bear Lake but the weather got cold and rainy so we decided to go to the Minnetonka Cave instead. Our first stop was the Logan Temple. Sarah is from Buffalo, New York and had never seen the Logan Temple before so we took her to see it.

I love that the kids can go and touch the temple. Even though they are young they know that it is a special place.

We headed up Logan Canyon to the Minnetonka Cave. Sarah had never been to Idaho either; there were a lot of firsts for her on this trip.

The girls sure love their Papa Dave.

Sarah and Lillian waiting to go into the cave.

The cave was fun, even with all those steps, 888 to be exact!

Island Park and Bear World!

We went to visit Kevin's parents in Island Park. The first day Kevin and his brother and his dad went fishing so my very generous mother-in-law, Mary, took me and the girls to Bear World. We had always just passed by Bear World on our way to Island Park, but now we know what we were missing. Bear World is way fun!
We saw an albino elk, deer, bears, and wolves. Here is one of the wolves we saw sleeping in the grass.

Bear World not only had animals they had rides too. We decided to go on like the hottest day of the year it was 100 degrees that day - we were roasting! So if the girls faces seem a little red and hot it is because they are.

Here we are in the bear tilt-a-whirl.

We rode the rides twice - they were actually really fun. Mary was such a good sport and rode all the rides with us.
Out in front this adorable little mallard had made a nest for herself using petunias. They had even set out a little bit of water and food for her.
They even had a little petting zoo. We decided to feed the animals and as soon as we put the money in the dispenser this mama goat jumped right up and started eating right out of the machine.

Bear World was tons of fun and we saw so many animals; it was really a treat.

I don't know why I didn't take pictures of the rest of our trip but we had a really great time.

We had a BBQ out in their fire pit with hot dogs and banana boats - yum.

Kevin and I went for a 6 mile run in Harriman State Park. I had visions of wasting Kevin but hello being the super athlete that he is he ran ahead of me for a lot of the run. I was really ready to throw something at him. Thankfully I did waste him in the end but he sure held his own. It was actually really fun to run with him and it was a beautiful run; the most beautiful run I have ever been on.

Later Kevin's dad, Jim took me and Kevin on such a gorgeous float fishing. We were really supposed to be fishing but I couldn't help looking at the beautiful scenery. I am regretting not taking my camera! I caught 2 and Kevin caught 3 fish, so I did do a little fishing. Jim did all the hard work rowing us down the river and we were able to just enjoy ourselves. Thanks again Jim it was really a great float.

That night we went out for a great dinner to celebrate Jim's 60th birthday and had cake and ice cream. It was really fun for our family to celebrate with him.

We had so much fun Isabelle was all tuckered out on the way home.
Thanks again Jim and Mary we had a great visit!

Pineview Again

We headed back to Pineview. This time my grandparents and Daniel joined us.

We left Lillian on the beach with my mom and my grandparents. We have taught the girls the Aggie fight song, "Utah State hey Aggies all the way, go Aggies, go Aggies, hey, hey, hey!" She was dancing around singing it. My grandpa, a die hard BYU Cougar fan taught her the Cougar fight song while we were away on the boat. We came back to her singing, "Rise and shout the Cougars are out!" See what happens when you leave your kids for even a second?

My brother Michael on the wake board. He is way better than me, I am kind of a wimp; I am afraid of pain.

Pineview, We're Back!

We all took off a Friday to go boating at Pineview. It had been 3 years since we had taken out my parents boat. It was so nice to be back! It was the first time the girls had been on the boat and they loved it. My mom was so excited she even met us on her way home from her Girl's Camp. We had such a great time!

I was worried after 3 years that I wouldn't remember how to wake board, but it must be like riding a bike. It felt so good to be out on the lake again!

Even Kevin had no trouble getting back up on the wake board. He did awesome!

How cute is she? Seriously?!

Eating lunch in the tube.
The tube was big enough for our family to ride in. We started off in a no-wake zone so we were going super slow. I could have stayed that way for hours. Then we started to go faster and Lillian started to get anxious. She didn't want us to go over any waves. My Dad told her thumbs up for faster, thumbs down for slower. Her thumb was down most of the time.

Kevin hopped in the boat and Steven joined us in the tube.

We had such a great time, can't wait until next time!

4th of July, Delta Style

Todd and Mick have been telling us how much fun the 4th of July is in Delta, so we decided to go and see it for ourselves.

The night before the 4th they have this huge children's parade where they decorate their bikes, scooters, wagons, jeeps, and ride down main street as parents wave and snap pictures. Mick and I nominated Kevin and Todd to be in the children's parade with the kids.

It turns out Lillian is a crazy driver, who would have thought? She hasn't had that much practice and it definitely showed. We had to keep reminding her to watch out where is was going and to steer. There were a number of near misses!

I didn't get any pictures of the Delta 5K and I am so disappointed. We will just have to picture it in our minds. Mick and I ran in the Delta 5K early on the morning of the 4th. This was unlike any other 5K mind you. As we began the run it started like any other race. Then we came to an obstacle. There was a 6 foot chain link gate that was locked on the race route. Myself, I was ready to give up but everyone else were scaling the fence. It turns out it is harder to scale a fence now than it was when I was a kid. Well we did it, Mick with some injuries, and we finished in 26 min 01 sec. We were happy with our time, especially with the little obstacle.

Pace, Lillian, Jaygen, and Isabelle ready for the parade to being. Mick made them the cutest treat bags all decorated for the 4th of July.

Lillian is very particular about her candy, even if it is free. She would go and look at the taffy and if wasn't the kind she liked she would just walk away from it, much to Kevin's dismay. He kept telling her just to pick everything up and he would eat everything she didn't like. It was really funny, she was cracking us all up.

Isabelle was so proud of her loot of candy.

After the parade we headed to the park for lunch and lots of fun...

Isabelle found her new favorite toy, a giant blow up slide. Yeah I don't think that is going to be under the Christmas tree.
Lillian was so excited to ride the horses. When she got up next to them she realized how big they actually are and needed Kevin to ride with her.
Cute little cowgirls.

After the park Mick and I took the older kids to Ice Age 3 at the movie theater. Then we had a swim party in the back yard while the men went golfing.

After they got home we had such a yummy BBQ, I am still thinking about it. Then the fireworks.

It was a super fun 4th of July holiday! Thanks Todd and Mick for the great weekend.