We spent most of August squishing in as much of summer as we could before school started again...
One morning we joined Grandma Claudia and Grandpa Bruce for a hike at the Albion Basin. It was a beautiful hike! I think we were there for the tail end of the wild flowers, but they were still amazing. We even got to peek at a bull moose that was enjoying lunch just on the other side of the trail from us. It was so much fun and we have got to go back next year when Dad can come with us!
Grandpa and Finn were usually leading the way and sometimes had to take a break so the rest of us could catch up to them.
This little guy joined us for lunch. He was really hoping we would drop him some yummy crumbs.
Along the trail there were these signs on trees that talked about different animals that live in this area. Finn loved to find them and read all about the different animals.
Dad's coworker Sara was wanting to visit the thanksgiving point gardens, so we invited her to go with us since we could get her in for free with our pass. We spent all afternoon exploring the beautiful gardens. I swear if you added animals to this place it would be the garden of Eden!
Sadie and I just finished reading 'The Secret Garden' so the secret garden was her favorite part!
These fish kind of gross me out...ok not kinda, they really gross me out! There are just so many of them and they swim all over each other to try and get the food, making a terrible sound. Yuck!
They have a beautiful exhibit of statues of Christ in the gardens. I absolutely love them!
Ward camp out....
We had so much fun at our ward camp out. The kids loved running around with friends all day and night. The one day we hiked to a waterfall. It was a perfect hike and it was nice to feel like you accomplished something with the waterfall at the end. The kids slept pretty well until the last night when Ava would not sleep! It was terrible, she was crying and screaming so loud and both Brian and I were losing any patience we had left. Finally I ended up getting in the van with her and sleeping in there with her. Not the best nights sleep but hopefully the rest of the ward could get some sleep.
We went to see this rock formation called Devil's kitchen. It is like a mini Bryce canyon right in the middle of the forest! It was pretty cool.
Ava turned 2!!
Oh my goodness, this girl had been waiting for her birthday for months! She got to watch everyone have a birthday before her, so she was so excited that it was finally her turn. She was really excited to have us sing happy birthday. This girl keeps us laughing! She talks so much and is always surprising us with the things she will say. How thankful we are she is a part of our family.
August 21st was not only Ava's birthday day but it was the day of a solar eclipse! We spent the morning at the park where some kind people shared their eclipse glasses with us. It was really neat to see.
Sadie started 2nd grade
She was super excited to get back to school to be with her friends. She is excited to have 2 part time teachers this year, Mrs. Smith and Mrs Saunders. Have two teachers will mean less chance of having a substitute. She is a smart girl and she really thrives at school.
With Sadie starting school, I knew I needed to keep the other two busy. We called Tiffany and Beck to see if they would like to go to the dinosaur museum with us. It was perfect because Sadie doesn't really enjoy that museum. We checked out the dinosaurs and still had some time to go to the farm for a bit.
another day we headed to wheeler farm...
Dad's work had a party one night. We had fun playing outdoor games and then watching the movie 'Sing' outside. It was all fun until the sprinklers came on in the middle of the movie!
We went to the stake carnival where Sadie and Finn got their faces painted...
The kids had been dying to have a lemonade stand. I think they may have eaten more than they sold.
Celebrating the August Birthdays with the Taggarts. Bethany and Ava were the August Birthdays.
Miniature golf...
Random cuteness....
This was Sadie's solution to Ava's super stinky diaper! :)
Sadie got this book light for her birthday. It has been so nice that she can read in her bed without bothering Finn. This night she was reading to Finn in his bed. This makes my mom heart happy!
Sadie and Ava were twins for church...
Ava's Bed head!..
Hair cut time.
Our kitchen sink got plugged. I felt like super stay at home mom when I fixed it with just a trip to the dollar store for a new plunger!
I found this picture one day while picking up in Sadie's room. I love it so much!
