Summertime Fun

This summer, Maddie Jane loves to play with rocks as well as pick our blackberries, peppers, and flowers. 

 Todd surprised me by bring this beautiful flower pot home.  He is so sweet!

 We picked apricots and realized we had an apricot thief in our home.  Madelyn would reach up, grab an apricot off the counter and go hide eating it.  This happened all day until we finished juicing them.  

 We enjoyed cooling off in the pool with Daddy.

Madelyn is learning how to ride her toys better.

 Probably her favorite activity is going to the park.  She always says, "Yay!" when I bring up that we are going.  She loves the swings and going down the slides.

She walks around the house singing her ABCs, and counting 1-10.  Lately, she has learned what each letter says, by singing, "The A says 'ahh', the A says 'ahh', every letter makes a sound, the A says 'ahh.'" [even though the part "every letter makes a sound", doesn't quite sound like that yet]  Her favorite songs are Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree and Book of Mormon Stories.

Woodbadge Training Scout Camp

Todd and Roger attended Camp Bartlett in Idaho for Woodbadge Scout Training.

They were busy in their groups---Todd, an owl and Roger, a beaver.  Leadership and scouting skills were the main things they reviewed.  Also, they did flag ceremonies, scouting cheers, and songs.

 During their down time, they went shooting and threw tomahawks. 

 Todd enjoyed his group, the Owl patrol.

 Even though Roger was in a different patrol, Todd was able to eat with Roger and do some of the training together.

 Their tents and campsite at Camp Bartlett

 Camp Bartlett

 

Russ and Jen's Family Visit

Russ and Jen's family came to Utah for a wedding as well as to continue on and visit the Oregon coast.  We felt lucky that we could see them for a few days.

 Madelyn loved having so many cousins to play with.  McKay made sure to keep us up-to-date on the World Cup and we watched a few game together. Matthew loved getting sprayed with the hose by Uncle Todd.  We made sure to have girl time and do our nails.

 We played outside and had an ice cream treat too.

 At night, the glow sticks were brought out and we played night games.

Timp Hike with Roger

Todd and Roger started off early to hike Mount Timp.  It was a cloudy day perfect for hiking.  Jill, Madelyn, and I spent the day going to see the Bean Museum.

Todd has always looked to his dad as an exemplar example.  Roger is hard working, dedicated to his family and faith, and is truly a wonderful man.  I am glad Todd grew up to be just like him.  

 The men said they saw and crossed over lots of waterfalls.  There was still plenty of snow that they had to cross.  They also saw some great wildlife too.

 They made it to the top.  The hike up took longer than they expected just because the snow slowed them down.

 These two love to hike and go on adventures together.

We were there waiting for them as they came off the trail, so relieved that everything went well.  Roger called the hike "a beast", and then Madelyn started saying, "beast, beast."

Week with Grandma and the 4th

While Todd and Roger attended a week at Woodbadge, Maddie and I were able to have a girls' week with with Jill.  What fun we had every day!  Several times we went for a morning walk and Madelyn loved playing at the park.

One of our favorite outings was the Dinosaur Park. Madelyn was scared of the dinosaurs that moved.  Every time we walked by, she would cover her face. 

 Then when we went outside to see the other dinosaurs, she loved running around and growling at them.

 Madelyn played on the swings, went down the slide, and made a very fierce dinosaur mask.  Then we stopped for lunch at the Rainbow Gardens to eat at the Greenery Restaurant.

 For the 4th of July, we went to the Riverdale parade with Adam and Alyssa's family.  It took a while, but by the end, Madelyn wanted to be out by the street chasing candy.

 We saw Jillyn walking in the parade with her dance group.

Afterwards, we ate lunch with Adam and Alyssa's family in their backyard. Maddie Jane got a little sparkly face tattoo and just loved it.  She liked playing on the airplane teeter-totter. 

At night, Madelyn crashed early, so Jill and I watched several firework shows from her front porch.  It was incredible to see fireworks every where you looked. We missed Todd and Roger, but still really enjoyed the 4th.

Washington DC Part III

Madelyn enjoyed the food and dish set while playing with Sofia and Lafe.

 Riding the Metro was really a fun adventure.  I was glad that Todd was a fast learner and helped us get on the right trains. Madelyn loved riding on them.  One time while riding, we had her laughing.  It was definitely not a usual sound the normal commuters hear on the train, because I noticed everyone looked at us.  To hear a baby laugh, changed their expressions from the busy life of the city to remembering the small moments in life. It was neat to see their faces. 

 The final two places to visit were Gettysburg and then Mount Vernon. 

 I was amazed at how large the battlegrounds were at Gettysburg.  Good thing we did the driving tour!

 We went on the observation decks for the overlooks. 

 We enjoyed having Mark and Lafe with us.

As we walked through the woods in the heat of the summer, I could just imagine what it must have been fighting in the heat, wearing a wool uniform, having little clean water and food, and bugs and mosquitoes everywhere, trying to fight a war.   

It really made me appreciate those who fought during the war as well as Lincoln's struggle to keep the country together as we walked through the cemetery.

 The next day, I could tell Madelyn had had enough traveling and was sick and teething, so I sent Todd with Mark and Lafe to visit Mount Vernon.

 Todd said the home, farm, and grounds were incredible.

A special thank you to Mark, Louise, and family for allowing us to stay with you, drive us around to all of these incredible sights, and have a wonderful visit!