The best back pack

We finally got a nice backpack for carrying the kids in!! It only took 5 kids to finally do it, but it has already paid for itself! The kids love it. We can put the sunshade over it. It holds Olivia. Travis can put either of the little ones in the backpack and head outside to do yardwork and I can get some things done inside. We have taken it on only one official hike, and it was just a little one, but we have used it plenty of other times, including inside our house while we cook or do dishes..... love it!!!!

Rock slides at Bass Lake

Last weekend we went up to Bass Lake and enjoyed some time on the rock slides. The falls fill up pools of water in the rocks and the waterfall goes from rock to rock so you can slide down the rocks into the pools of water. So much fun. It was a great outing on a hot hot day.

Max is 6 months

Max is 6 months old and he is just the most sweet and amazing little guy. We love him so much. We have had him in our home and our lives for 5 months and from the moment we met him there was so much love. He is so happy. He fiercely hated the water at first- if you touched water to him he would freak out and scream and cry... but we are a water loving family! So, we worked and worked at it, starting with giving him a little plate with a tiny bit of water on it. He would tentatively touch it and cry at first, and gradually he came to love splashing it. Then we would only put his feet in the tub. He would cry. But eventually he enjoyed the kicking. Then we gradually introduced the rest of him to the water. It was about a 2 month process of being so careful with the water until he finally started enjoying bath time (right around 5 months). Now he is a water loving baby. He gets in the water at the lake and in our pool and in the tub and plays and laughs! It is amazing to see the transformation.

Max is a laugher. He gets into these giggling fits and just loves life. He will smile all the time. It is rare to not see him smiling or laughing. If he is not happy, we know to its time to eat or sleep or change him, because that is the only time he is not a happy baby. 

Max is rolling all over the place. He rolls and rolls until he rolls into something, then he gets frustrated and we have to move him back to the middle of the room. He is great at sitting! He can balance really well. He loves to eat food. He eats 4 meals a day. He really enjoys eating food!! We all love Max and he really loves his family. He is very attached to us all. He is weary of others, but loves for any member of our family to hold and play with him.  Happy Half Year Max!! We love you!

Our first (and hopefully last) rattlesnake

Last night we found this beautiful but deadly diamond back rattlesnake curled up on our front lawn!! Thankfully Travis was able to dispose of it for us! It was pretty scary!

Time with Grandma

One of the best perks to spending time in Utah is spending time with GRANDMA!!  While we were there, Grandma had a "Grandma's Day" with all the grandkids invited. The kids love all of the fun things that Grandma does with them.  We chalked the back driveway, rode bikes up and down the back hill, made sock monkey puppets, tie-dyed t-shirts, painted dogs (craft ones, of coarse!), had wheelbarrow races, somersault relays, fathers day gifts and more. The time spent with grandma will be cherished and enjoyed for years. We love you grandma!

Spinning honey

While we were in Utah Uncle Curtis "spun" his honey or "harvested" his honey. The kids thought that was so cool!! They enjoyed watching Uncle Curtis and he even let them help a little bit!!

Fun times with family

One night while we were visiting family, we just hung out and tried to get our feet behind our heads...  So much fun! So easy. Maybe we just love being together and that makes everything fun!!