Water fight!

Hayden had his friends birthday party on Friday July 29th.  We had a water party in our backyard.

We started off by playing a water balloon game on the tramp.  They had to bounce the water balloon as long as they could without popping it.

Our next game was musical water balloon pass.  They passed the water balloon around the circle and when the music stopped, if they had the balloon they had to sit on it until it popped. Parker helped with the music.  We played the song, "Once I Was Seven Years Old" just for Hayden.

They took breaks cooling off in the pool that Hayden got for his birthday from us.

Parker also helped with the water balloon bucket toss.  Hayden decided that it would be more fun to get his brother wet!

The kids had fun racing down the slip n slides.  We always put them on the hill.  Some of the boys slid really far down the grass.  They were covered in grass by the end and so we sprayed them off with the hose.

My handsome Hayden having fun at his party.

They also took turns running and doing tricks into the pool.  Logan Willis really caught some air.

I told the boys that they could throw water balloons at Hayden's Dad.  They loved it!  Kev was surprised when I announced that but was a good sport about getting soaked.

Then the water fight began.  I went up on the deck to take some pictures from above.

The kids had some otter pops to cool off.  The boys at the party were Logan Willis, Mason Castagno, Brody Frost, Luke Thiriot, Logan Brown, and Zach Roberts.  

Hayden was happy when he got some new Lego sets and Pokemon cards from his friends.

We had some cupcakes and sang happy birthday to him.  

Hayden and Zach hanging out on the slide after the party.

Zach is the son of my best friend Jan.  It is fun that our boys are the same age and also friends.  The boys got to work building the new Lego sets together.  I had a great time catching up with Jan.

Haydens 7th birthday!

Hayden turned seven years old on Sunday July 17th!

We had a party for him that night at our house.  It was fun to have cousins Brady, Hailey, and Elle at his party.

Hayden was excited about his new lego set! He got a lot of fun toys to play with outside.  We bought him a new pool since his old one popped.

Hayden giving birthday hugs to his Grandpa Ken.

I made him a Minion cake this year.  I have made this same cake for Parker before and it is fun to decorate.

Hayden blowing out his candles and making a wish.  It was also fun to have both Aunt Tracy and Uncle Dave at his party.  They were here visiting from Texas.  They have always been so sweet to Hayden.

Grandpa Rob surprised Hayden with this cool pinata.  He was excited to take a swing at it.

It was filled with candy and even some dollar bills for a lucky few.

Hayden with his Great Grandpa and Grandma Grant.  They are always kind and make the effort to come to all the family parties.

Hayden got right to work on his new Legos we gave him.  It is a camper and trailer set.  Hayden has grown up a lot in the past year.  He was in the STARS reading program again this summer during the month of June.  He worked so hard and really improved in his reading. It was sweet to see him sit down one day and just read a book to Addy.  Hayden continues to be a our little firecracker.  He is always full of energy, mischief and fun.  I enjoy hearing him laugh and be silly with his brother and sisters.  We love our Hayden!

Grant family reunion 2016

We spent July 14-16, at Reid Ranch for the Grant family reunion.  Spencer was happy to see all the family and hang out with Addy!  Addy really loves her Uncle Spencer.

He showed us the fishing boat that he put back together.  He gave Cole and Blake rides around the lake.

Cole was excited to show me how he can do a belly flop!  He was happy to do it over and over again until I got the best picture.

We were so glad that Lisa's kids were able to come to the reunion with us this year.  It was hard not having her there at the reunion with us. It just wasn't the same without her there.

Cousins Nathan, Liz, Mckenna, Tucker, and Parker all ready for their horse ride.

Kev went for a horse ride on Jerry Garcia.  We are looking into buying a couple new horses.  He wanted to see what the options were up there.  We know that all the horses at the ranch have been trained well and would be a good option.

Parker woke up early with Kev one morning and went shooting.  Tucker and Parker were the only grandkids that got to go.  It was Parker's first time shooting a gun.  Kev said he was a good shot.  When did Parker get old enough to shoot a gun with the men?

I was recruited by cousin Heidi to help with the face painting this year.  I actually had fun helping Sadie out.  Cole wanted to be a pirate.  I painted on a beard and eye patch.

Claire wanted a butterfly on her face.  It was the most popular choice among the girls.

Addy had fun with Dad at archery.  They even got some bulls-eyes!

I am in love with Robyn's sweet new baby Grace.  I really enjoyed holding her and visiting with all the adults.  It brought back memories of holding Mckenna at the ranch when she was only a month old.

We had our family program that night at the conference center.  Grandma shared about Grandpas Grandpa named Lewis Grant.  Mckenna was there to hand out the Hershey bars to the cousins who answered the questions right.

Alisha, Lindsay,and I were so happy about having one of Aunt Susan's brownie.  They are one of the many highlights of our reunion.

It was so sweet to see Mckenna helping Grandpa Grant walk to his seat by the fire.  She is the oldest Great Grandchild in the Grant family.  

The girls had fun with cousins Maddie, Aubrey.  They were marching around with their glowsticks and holding hands.

The next day we went back to the lake for one more round of paddle boats.  The kids all went with other family members so Kev and I had a paddle boat all to ourselves.

Halle was happy to have a turn with Grandpa Ken in the canoe.  It was another memorable family reunion.

A mountain to climb...

My Grandma Rosen had her birthday on July 8, 2016.  She would have been 84 years old.  My Uncle Phil planned a family hike up Mount Timpanogos in her memory.  We left at 5:20 in the morning on Saturday July 9th.  I am glad we left this early and spent most of the morning hiking before it got hot. It was beautiful when the sun came up and I noticed all the colorful wild flowers around me.  They reminded me of Grandma.

It was my first time hiking the entire mountain.  I knew that I was up for it since I exercise regularly.  I spent most of the 7 1/2 miles hiking up with my Aunt Phyllis.  We both enjoyed talking together about Young Womens.  We are both the 1st counselors in our wards.

It was also Mckenna's first time hiking the mountain as well.  The scenery was beautiful as we hiked along.

When we came closer to the basin we saw many mountain goats.  There were even some baby ones too.  Kenna also made a snowball and threw one at me.

The view from the saddle was spectacular.  We could see across the lake to where we live.

Mckenna and I at the saddle looking back into Heber Valley.

I was glad that Mike went on the hike with us as well.  I hiked back down with my Uncle Phil and Mike. Uncle Phil shared with us how Grandma had always wanted to hike Mt Timp in her seventies but wasn't physically up to it.  He had brought a lock of my Grandma's hair up with him and left it at the top.  He also signed Grandma's name into the book.  It was a loving tribute to Grandma.  I also enjoyed the many hours hiking back because I got to talk with just my brother.  It is not a chance we get very often.

I was proud of Mckenna for making it to the top.  She was the only great grandchild to hike that day.  She and Kev both signed their names in the book as well.

My Uncle Phil, Uncle Dave, Aunt Phyllis, cousins Kevin, and Sam were all waiting for us when we got back to the parking lot.  My Uncle Phil had brought a watermelon in a cooler and he was slicing it up when we got back.  Watermelon has never tasted so good to me as it did in that moment.  It was the perfect way to end the 15 mile hike.

Mckenna was exhausted on the way home.  She never falls asleep in the car so I had to document this moment.  I am so glad that I decided to go on the hike.  Every time I look at Mt Timpanogos now I look at it with a new appreciation.