Gunnar's Birthday!

Gunnar turned 1 on the 25th. I pulled out a toy that our family has not seen for over 8 months. Gunnar loves it! I love that he can have something to open that is "new" and we don't have to have more toys on the shelves.

This fire truck really came from Aunt Michelle but we saved it for Gunnar's birthday. The sirens like to go for a LONG time before finally turning off on its own

Here we are singing with the traditional cupcake for the first birthday

July

In July we had fun together as a family. Bryant has been enjoying his job and we have enjoyed having him home in the mornings. We have gone to Seven Peaks in the mornings with him, it would be practically impossible otherwise. We have also been enjoying the new splash pads in Springville and Provo. I like the Springville one the best and it feels closer than the Provo one so it is my choice when we go to one.

The kids helped Bryant wash the car the day before it rained, of course. Even Gunnar got in on the fun. He understands so much. He wanted his own rag to stick in the bucket and wipe the car with.

Occasionally I permit Gunnar to feed himself. I really don't like cleaning up super sticky, yucky, grossness :)

We had a "surprise" visit from Bryant's parents and one of his brothers with his wife and 5 kids. We put 7 kids in one bedroom! It would have been 8 if Luke slept with his cousins but he opted for his parent's room. Bryant and I also gave our bedroom to his parents which put us on the futon. I don't know how our guests have "enjoyed" staying with us when put to sleep on it. after rearranging all the bedrooms after the guests left we parted with it because it didn't really fit anywhere and it is not an easy bed to share with someone.

I took Bryant's family to Burraston Ponds in Mona, Utah while Bryant was at work one day. We had lots of fun. This is a place we were introduced to a couple of weeks earlier by a neighbor that has now moved away. It is loads of fun and close enough to spend a couple of hours swimming, eat lunch and come home.

These are videos from Grandpa Rex's phone. Tucker and Hunter each tried out the rope swing. Hunter went on it a few other times but Tucker opted to stop after two times. I was impressed that they both went and neither of them ran into the rocks! On Hunter's first attempt he didn't let go over the water and swung back in. Thankfully, he continued to hold on until we pushed him back out.

On Sunday we built a big track while Gunnar was sleeping. I got most of these at a garage sale for $10. It was fun to share with them. We had lots of fun with them and are grateful that they surprised us by coming up to visit in the summer!

Tucker thought is was really cool that he could balance the giant frisbee on his head.

And so Brylee needed a picture taken with something on her head too :)

Hunter's birthday!

Hunter turned four this year so it was his turn to have a birthday party with friends. We went with a construction theme and had a blast. Here are some kids decorating their construction helmets to wear around the construction site and their "tool bags"

One activity at the party was building with toothpicks and marshmallows. 

Tucker really enjoyed this one.

Hunter build himself a campfire and roasted the smaller marshallows over it :)

There was a dig site (using rice not sand). Thankfully, it vacuumed out of the church carpets just fine

I got lots of boxes from grocery stores and people who had moved. The kids were able to build things with them and then throw wrecking balls at them to destroy them. This was quite the hit for the older boys there

We also played pin the wrecking ball on the crane. Hunter had fun wearing all the balls after the game

Here is the awesome cake that I made. It looks a lot more complicated than it really is and gives a great hidden effect!

The following day was Hunter's actual birthday so he got to open his presents here

And for dinner we went out to eat at Sizzler using their free meal coupons from the summer reading program!