Atlantis

Edward Jones is a wonderful company to work for and we have nothing but great things to say about them. Every six months the financial advisers have the opportunity to qualify for a free trip with their spouse (kids can come too but you have to pay for them). Since Scott is super awesome at his job we were able to go to the Bahamas for a week. We choose to leave the kids at home, they had a great time with my parents. We stayed at the Atlantis Resort and it was amazing! Along with the beach there are like 11 swimming pools, 7 big water slides, and two lazy rivers to float on. All we did was play and eat all day long for a week. By the end of the week we were ready to come home, Scott was anxious to get back to work (to qualify for the next trip) and I was ready to be with my babies again. Cannon started walking while we gone and it seemed like he grew up several months even though it was just a week.

Scott and I ready to head to the airport and the kids overjoyed for their week long sleepover with grandpa and grandma.

When we go to to the resort we had to wait about an hour for our room to get ready so we decided to walk around. We got stuck in a twenty minute downpour and started wondering if we brought enough stuff to keep us entertained in case we had to stay inside all week. The rain passed and we had great weather for the rest of the trip. You got to love the self portraits, I swear I don't really have that many chins.

The view from our room

There were several tunnels to walk through that had sharks, sting rays and other fish swimming all around you. One of the water slides even takes you through a shark tank (of course there is glass around you).

There were hundreds of fish swimming around, I thought it was funny when we ended up taking a picture not a single one could be seen.

Most days we set up camp at the beach, the water was so clear and blue!

We ate so much good food while we were there and I think I probably gained 15 pounds in just one week. One restaurant we went to had portions so big that even though we shared an entree there was enough left over to feed 12 people. Most of the nights our bill for the two of us came to around $200, thank you Edward Jones for picking up those tabs!

The rest of summer

This has really been summer of playing everyday with cousins but we did manage to sneak in few other fun activities.

No summer would be complete without at least one trip to the ER. One night while over at my parents house Logan came running upstairs crying that he hit his head. Anytime that Logan gets even slightly hurt his first reaction is "is it bleeding?!" 9 out of 10 times it isn't and I didn't notice anything right away (in my defense his hair is really dark). Once he calmed down I peeked at his head and noticed an inch long gash. It didn't bleed too much but I knew it was deep enough that it would have to stitched up. At the ER Logan really wanted his Daddy to be with him, but the mommy in me just couldn't stay away so poor kid got stuck with me which he was more upset about than his bleeding head. He ended up getting four staples put in, luckily he was so tired that he feel asleep waiting and never woke up while the Dr put them in. The staples didn't seem to bother him, he only complained that he wasn't allowed to swim for the five days that they were in.

Jaden took a golf classes again this summer. He enjoyed it but definitely didn't look forward to it as much as he does other sports. Next summer he'll be able to play at an actual par 3 golf course instead of just practicing at a park. He's really looking forward to that.

Sadly we only went camping as a family once this summer, but it was a trip that we won't forget for a long time. We went up to Camp Zarahemla with our ward and had a great time cooking dinner, eating smores, and signing campfire songs. The boys were so tired that they all feel right to sleep. At midnight Logan (without any warning) threw up all over himself and a couple of the sleeping bags. We cleaned things up the best we could trying not to wake up the other two kids or any of the other people camping near us. We got Logan back to sleep and Scott and I somehow managed to drift back to sleep with the smell of vomit surrounding us. Around 3 am Cannon woke up because the poor baby was freezing. We have a tent heater but didn't bother to pack it because it never gets too cold in the summer. Well that night it dipped down to 38 degrees. Scott ended up taking Cannon to the car and driving around with the heater on until he finally fell back to sleep. They spent the rest of the night in the car. Saturday morning Logan felt fine and we were able to enjoy a canoe ride that was absolutely beautiful!

On of Scott's clients (who also happens to be my old 8th grade math teacher) has an antique car and offered to take Scott and the boys for a ride. The kids thought it was awesome that the trunk folded up to make a little seat for them.

Jaden and Logan took swimming lessons and loved every second of it. While several of the other moms were stressed because their kids were afraid to get in the water, I was stressed because my no fear kids would jump in regardless of wether there was a teacher in the deep end or not. Jaden did really well the first two weeks, but at the beginning of the last two weeks they tried a stroke that was hard for him and it broke his confidence. Since then every time he jumps in the water he flips out like he is going to drown until we remind him that he knows how to swim. That doesn't stop Jaden from diving in or tying to flip off of the diving board though.

It's hard to say what Logan learned. Just like everything else he does Logan is just there to have a good time and see how many laughs he can get. He was in a classes with a couple of girls that didn't like the water so he got a lot of attention which he loved. Logan has absolutely no fear of the water so I have to watch him like a hawk all the time.

Hatfield Cousins

When we got back home from our Idaho trip my brother Derek and his family were in Yakima for a month long visit from Pennsylvania. My sister Melissa and her family came up from Utah for a week during this time and we had so much fun during our summer of cousins. We seemed to fill up each day with various fun activities, most of which included water. We took the boat out a couple of times, went to a waterpark, swam often, and spent many afternoons in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard on the waterslide. The kids loved every minute of having so many friends to play with, we just wish everyone lived closer!

We spent one day at Remlinger Farms, a family favorite. The rides are the perfect size for our kids and you rarely have to wait in a line.

I thought it was awesome that there were enough of us to fill an entire ride. The bright shirts make it easy to spot the kids which is always a plus.

Jaden showing Grandma a good time!

Meagan was the only kid I felt comfortable riding with Cannon, she was very kind to take him aboard.

It's a wild ride on the roller coaster!

Jaden loved his pony ride and was disappointed that we didn't get a chance to ride them again.

A few of the non riders.

Jaden, Logan and Meagan. We couldn't get Jaden off that tube, Logan preferred his rides slow and on daddy's lap.

Cannon did not enjoy wearing a life jacket at all and therefore did not enjoy the boat ride.

Cute little Mackayla!

A little down time watching Grandpa's favorite movie Barnyard.

Idaho

We spent Cannon's actual birthday driving to Idaho for a fun Holt Family Forth of July weekend. We all stayed in a cabin near Driggs, ID and the kids loved being able to spend so much time with their cousins. Sarah and Emma put on a super exciting cousin's camp with a cowboy theme, we enjoyed an awesome firework show and played lots of games outdoors. On the 4th we drove over to Jackson Hole and hiked up to a waterfall (I don't remember the name anymore) and then rode a gondola to the top of the Teton Village ski resort.

Cannon got to celebrate this birthday with a twinkie train cake.

Decked out and ready for cousin camp

On a nature hike

Jaden, Blake and Grant

Cherry seed spitting contest

Before the firework show the community put on a fun family event with different attractions. The kids loved watching the bmx bikers. We tried to watch racing pigs, but the crowd was just too large so Scott got his workout lifting up both of the older boys.

Cannon sat in here just long enough to get his picture taken

Josh, Scott and Mike with all their boys

Carson, Dallin and Jaden were amazing hikers and left the rest of us in the dust for the majority of the hike.

Gondola ride to the top

It was pretty cool to be able to play in the snow on the 4th of July!

The boys all loved the ride