Welcome Back, Gross.

Okay, so I should be cleaning my bathroom right now or mopping my kitchen floor (because they're gross), but it's been too long since I've been in here and I'm ashamed and feeling bad about being so delinquent!
It has been a thoroughly wonderful summer and I'm feeling so melancholy that it's coming to a close already. The weather up here has been so cool for summer so it seems that school shouldn't be starting yet. We do have a couple more weeks so I'm trying to soak it all up!
Well I've compiled several pictures (and I even tried to narrow it down because there are SO many great one's) so hopefully you can share in my joy of a fun summer by the little snippets of photos! It goes backwards and a little out of order but bare with me...you'll get the jist.

We now have a tramp! Excuse me, a trampoline. Ken snickers when I call it a tramp but growing up that's what my sister and I called it. Sounds too shady now! This was a hand-me-down from Ken's cousin which carries a sad and terrifying story of the dangers of trampolines. Much to my mixture of fear and excitement of having one, the kids absolutely LOVE it. Here are the two older boys with the neighbor girl. Mitchell gets on that thing and is a maniac and definitely holds his own with his brothers and it terrifies me. I almost can't watch them all together on there.

We now have a fence, HOORAY! No more Mitchell taunting me with the street. Such a blessing having that up!

We're in the process of building a garage. All of this used to be grass which was a bummer turfing it up but it will be so nice to have extra storage space...heck with the van having a place to park! That shed on the right used to be sitting in the back corner of where the garage is now being built and while I was out of town, Ken moved it with help from his service man at work. He probably did it while I was gone because he knew I'd be freaking out he was going to kill himself. I'm not sure exactly how they did it but I know it involved fence post on the ground and a lot of pushing and rolling. Can you imagine?! Talk about popping some blood vessels in the forehead or hernias!

We celebrated Mitchell's birthday this month. He's the big 2, I can't believe it! Here he is pants-less and in awe at the candles he just blew out. He was hilarious when we sang happy birthday to him. He saw us all watching him and singing and he tipped his head down low, looking at us from under his eyelashes for a few seconds and then he turned around and headed out of the room in embarrassment. I went around the corner of the room after he didn't come back and saw him standing in front of the sink with his head down and his arms folded. I was able to coax him out but it was just the funniest thing seeing him embarrassed at the attention. I can't believe my baby is 2!

We celebrated Alex's 8th birthday in July! He wanted a swimming party at Grandpa and Grandma's house with whatever cousins and aunts and uncles could come. It was wonderful! He asked for a dinosaur party (note the hats) and a pinata filled with candy. We bbq'ed burgers and had some great conversation while the kids enjoyed. Here he's centered in the middle of some cousins and his brother. It was a great day! Baptism here we come!

Here's Jackson and his dad at the swimming party.

This picture is supposed to be a prequel to the fence but here the big boys are digging the post holes. Renting that post hole digger was the best $60 bucks we've ever spent! It took the amount of time to dig all the holes that it would've taken us to dig about 3 holes with just a shovel. That machine rocks!

The boys and I spent a fantastic 10 days in Utah in June. It started with 5 days in Salt Lake with my parents and then we headed over to Cherry Hill in Kayesville for a family reunion. Completely dreamy trip! We did have one night of fright with a CRAZY rainstorm that flooded mine and the boys' tent but other than that, it was perfect. We played at the waterpark, ate great meals, visited up a storm and made great memories. And I would never trade those days I had with my mom and dad in Salt Lake for anything. Priceless and precious time spent with them and my boys. I am so blessed to have such an amazing family. Here's Jackson and Mitchell with their cousin Kallan enjoying some Oreos. There were so many pictures of Cherry Hill I could keep going with those but I didn't want to scare you with a huge line-up of photos!

Me giving my dad a smooch! I love him so much.

We spent an afternoon at Hogle Zoo which is so much fun. A highly recommended zoo! Here Alex and Mitchell are sitting on a huge elephant trunk. The elephant made noises and freaked Jackson out so that's why he's not pictured! Hahaha!

Of course we spent a day at Temple Square which is always a favorite. I absolutely LOVE the ginormous fountain and the landscaping in between the Joseph Smith building and the temple.

Doing a little window shopping at Trolley Square...it seems to be a little more 'upity' now than it used to be. But, still fun to stroll and enjoy the sights.

Grandpa with the boys at the fountain at Temple Square. The picture just before this one was grandpa digging in his pockets for change so the boys could make a wish and toss it in. I think before the day was over, grandpa had no more change in his pockets!

Have you noticed that in just about every picture with Mitchell in the stroller, he's passed out?

This was at "This is the Place" monument. It's like its own little town up there, how cool is that?! The last time I was up there, there weren't houses back in there, right? The boys had such fun in the miniature houses in the playground area. It was so beautiful.
Well, in a nutshell (I guess a good sized nutshell!), this is how things have been this summer for our little family.
Now here in a couple weeks school will begin for Alex and a whole other adventure will start again! Am I ready for it?