Logan pt 3- Utah State, Hey Aggies All the Way!

 While we were in Logan, we really wanted to visit good 'ole USU and take the kids to see the Logan Temple.  Turns out the temple grounds are closed on Sunday AND Monday, so that was a bust (we drove by...) but we did walk around campus a bit.  It was a lot of fun! 

Daddy got a kiss on the "A".  I have a picture of DMP and I kissing, but it turns out it is really hard to take a cute kissing picture, especially when the 7 yr old is the photographer...

We visited Old Main Hill where EJ hiked down and then back up ALL the stairs up the hill. I think we have a future Aggie!  There were also some people ice blocking, so we were able to tell the kids all about that.

There were really beautiful flowers everywhere. Bear didn't want to be left out, so we call this "Cheese Face in the flowers". 

Logan Pt 2- Cousins, Cousins, Cousins!

We stayed the weekend at Ed and Tennille's house and it was so much fun!  They have a huge, beautiful yard, complete with their own hill (Bear's favorite) and plenty of room to play baseball (EJ's favorite).  The kids got to soak up some time with their Logan cousins and they loved it!

There was a LOT of Lego building- giant and tiny...

Aunt T became Birdy's BFF because she straightened her hair for church.  She can always be counted on for new, fun hairstyles! (Plus, isn't this picture cute of them?)

I *tried* to gather the kiddos together after church so I could get a picture of them all dressed up. It's easier said than done (please ignore the ghost arm keeping Mallory in the group :>)

Of course we had to get a picture of the "twin" cousins.  Aren't they cute! 

Papper and Cody stayed through church on Sunday.  Cody rocked my kid's world when he went to church in *gasp* shorts and a t-shirt (he didn't pack church clothes).  He totally pulled it off, like a boss :) 

When it was time to go, we weren't too very surprised when the group hug turned into...

A dog pile!   

Until next year, dear Logan Philips cousins! 

Logan pt 1- Philips Family, Assemble!

We were so lucky to have so many of our Philips family come from ID to see us! Ed and Tennille were so nice to host all of us and it was great to visit and see everyone!  Bear enjoyed the balloons, Emma did too- so much so that she tried to keep all of them for herself!  It was so funny to see her try to hold all 5-6 of them in her arms (but sad too, because she was pretty upset).

We were super-lucky to get to see this little guy- Jakob!!  He was just a couple of weeks old- such a sweetheart!

If you know Charlie, you know there was a lot of this game going on - "Poke Cody?"  EJ is only too happy to help out!

We attempted to get a pic of all of the assembled grandkids (and great grands!). This is my best shot. Seriously.

We hung out with Uncle Don and Aunt Susanne.

Ed and Tennille's yard is the BEST for playing in.  Mallory, Bree and Emma are having fun dancing!

All we were missing is Robert! (and we did miss you, Robert!)

All too soon it was time for people to head home...

 Hugs from Aunt Kathy are the best!  Also, I love the picture below with Charlie and Papper hugging in the background!

We'll have to do it again next year, except visit longer!

Fun Stuff in Heber!

Who says there's nothing fun to do in Heber? Here's what we did one afternoon to have a little fun in my good 'ole home town!

First, we got some silverware from the Thrift Store (EJ and Birdy displaying our victims on a very windy day).  Next, place them on the track of the HHVR, with the handle facing the direction the way is coming.

Then, enjoy the beautiful scenery and gale-force winds while waiting for the Choo Choo to come and simultaneously bring fear and joy to your heart...

The result? Squished silverware!  Not pictured- 6 pennies and 1 dime...  Way too much cheap fun!

Next, we headed to a place where I spent many, many hours- the Homestead.  They've made the crater all purty-ified with a little bridge and pool.  The cascading water? It's a hose at the top of the crater, but whatever :)

The girls and I hiked the million stairs to the top to take in the view.  

I was super-excited to see they installed a fancy bridge over the top of the crater so all my childhood wishes and hopes of looking straight down into the crater were realized! It was freaky, but cool!

We walked around a bit and enjoyed the flowers. Then we got some bread from the Grill Room and fed the stupid geese.  Then we took a peek inside the crater (so awesome- you should totally do it if you haven't yet) and promised the girls that sometime in the future we'd take a swim there.

Then it was off to Memorial Hill.  It is nice and has had some improvements since the last time I was there.  Plus, the view of the valley can't be beat. 

Seriously- I can't get over how beautiful the valley looks in all of these pictures!  It makes me homesick! 

The kid's favorite part was throwing rocks off of the top of Memorial hill.  We topped the day off with some yummy flan from Tarahamara- soo good!  It was a great, fun day in the Heber Valley!

Pick EJ's First day of Second Grade Outfit!

EJ and Birdy are both SO excited to have your help in picking their first day of school outfit!  Remember last year?  Vote for your favorite outfit by letter and EJ (and Birdy) will wear the winner to their first day of school next week!  Stay tuned to the blog for the big first-day-of-school reveal!

Option A- Summery and sweet!

Option B- Rock Star. I told her "This is your rock star outfit". That is apparently a "rock star" face...

Option C- Casual Hoodie



Option D- Sparkly Justice Black! (Don't ask about the pose...)

Also- their hair will be done when it is the actual first day of school. Probably.  And they will be wearing proper footwear!

Pick Birdy's First Day of Kindergarten Outfit!

Remember last year when y'all helped EJ pick her first day of school outfit?  Both girls were super-excited to have you help them out again this year!  Just vote for your favorite outfit by letter in the comments! 

Option A- Rock Star! the leggings are just striped, not sure if you are seeing the crazy pattern I am!

Option B- Pink and Summery!



Option C- Beautiful Butterflies!

Option D- Cinderella Sweetie

A tiger and a Bear

 

This trip marked Bear's first real introduction to Grandpa's tiger family (a pride? a pack? a herd? what is a group of tigers called?).  For some reason, he can never remember the word "tiger" so he calls them "dragon" instead.  He loved wrestling them and he'd tell me "Mom- Dragon, rawr!" when we'd walk by.