June in a Nutshell

  I seriously can't believe June is almost over! We've had a lot of fun this first month of summer. Here's a summary, in a nutshell, since I've been terrible at updating lately. 

  Lydia was elated to blow up the swimming pool for the first time!

Between helping my parents move and looking at homes, we've spent quite a bit of time in Avon lately. It's been so much fun to hang out with Grandma and we really appreciate her watching the girls so much for us.

  Peaceful evening up at the cemetery.

 A couple Sunday's ago we went up the canyon and hiked a little up the trail. It was a perfect way to spend the evening.

  Lydia loves her pool! Even if it deflates within two hours of blowing it up.

  Lydia started swim lessons again. There's five classes of kids her age and every class has 5 kids except Lydia's. She was the only one! So she get's some great one-on-one time with her teacher.

  It was hard to capture the scope of the chaos these two girls inflicted. We had the best time with Clint, Michelle, Adeline and Christian a few weeks ago. We had dinner and reminisced about our wonderful days in Lexington. Adeline and Lydia, as always, have so much fun together. They'll be moving to Texas in August and I wish there was a way we could keep them here.We sure love them.

  Can't watch Spirit without the real Spirit by her side.

  My sister Emily came and spent a weekend with us. We had fun shopping at City Creek and doing mud masks while watching a good chick flick. I wish she could come down more often, I love our time together! The next day we went to American Fork and swam in Cam and Mary's pool. What a fun time. Greyson and Lydia are little fish! Allie absolutely loved the water and loved to drink it even more. Yuck.

After many weeks of packing, moving and cleaning, it was finally time to say goodbye to our Hyrum home. So many wonderful memories were made there, sixteen years worth! Although it was hard to let go, I'm so excited for my parents to start building their new home. They deserve all their dreams to come true. Allie saying goodbye to a dirt clod.

Loren and I looked at a home in Hyrum and fell instantly in love. Although it was out of our budget, we found ways to make it work. We made an offer and prayed we'd get it. Long story short, we were outbid and came away feeling crushed and deflated. So after taking a five day home hunting hiatus, we'll be back at it again this week.
  We went with Kristen, Atticus, Lexi and Elizabeth to the Nibley Heritage Days parade. It was cute and the kids got a ton of candy.

  Afterwards we went to Grandma and Grandpa Rigby's in Nibley and ran into my cousin Stephanie. She was taking her boy, Joshua, who's Lydia's age to the carnival and so we tagged along. It was so much fun! There was activities, games, food and a pony ride.

Aaron came and spent a few days with us while mom and dad spent some well deserved time away.

  We went to the Gateway Children's Museum in Salt Lake. It was a really fun place and kept the kids entertained for hours.

  Aaron really wanted to roast marshmallows over the fire and so even though it was crazy windy and hot, out they went. The wind eventually blew out the fire but Aaron got his marshmallow.

   We were supposed to go camping at Lake Powell last Thursday through Sunday with my family but an extreme heat wave hit Southern Utah. We decided for everyone's safety to forego camping. We were all pretty bummed until my dad saved the day and rented a condo in Saint George for the same days. Mom and Dad Peck came Wednesday night and helped clean the house, entertained the girls so I could pack, took us shopping and bought us dinner. After they left, I couldn't stop tears of gratitude for such sensitive, wonderful and loving parents. They were angels and we couldn't have got us all ready without their help. We're so blessed.
  Thursday morning we headed out early for Saint George! My dad got us tickets to The Newsies at Tuachann Theatre. Although it was really hot, the show was incredible. The set was mind blowing and acting superb, even in 110 degree heat. Loren was so sweet and volunteered to stay home with the kids while the rest of us went to the show. I seriously married the best man in the world. It was a fun night.

  The next day was Sand Hollow beach day! We'd rented a couple paddle boards and kayaks and they were so much fun. Except for burning our feet while carrying all our beach stuff, plus four boats across blistering hot sand for what seemed like a mile, it was such a great day. Everyone had fun floating and playing in the boats.

  The kids love Emmy time!

  Exploring Pioneer Park was another highlight of the trip. Although, again, it was really hot, it didn't stop these kids from having a blast.

  Our condo! It was brand new and really nice.

  We also went swimming at this incredible indoor pool. It had a lazy river, sweet water slide, two huge kid areas and a lap pool. I'm so sad I didn't get any pics of it but it was one of the best pools I've been to. So fun! Lydia still talks about how fun the river was. She also loved the slide and begged to go again and again. It was an afternoon well spent for sure. 

  As it always does, time flew by and it was time to head back home. We had such a wonderful time with family and the only thing that could have made it better was if Nate and Kiana had been there. They're currently selling pest control in Chicago for the summer. Hopefully they'll come next time. It was a much needed and wonderful get-away. Thanks again, Dad, for all you did to make our time together so special!