July 2013

The month of July pretty much revolves around this cute little guy....but there were some other highlights to include!

The boys' Lego creating skills get better every day!

The 4th of July started off with the Murray City Parade!

Katie Gardner, our favorite babysitter on the planet, helped Charlie catch some candies to put in his bag.

Good thing the Gardners were there to help me with the kids....Matt had to work during the day at the hospital, so I was grateful for their help!

Lexie was super helpful too, especially during the breakfast buffet. 

Tyler was super impressed with their life-like dinosaurs that came down the parade route!

Later that day we went up to Grandma and Papa's house for more fun!

We did some fireworks of our own, had dinner, met up with Dad (who was able to get off work in time to join us for some of the fun), and big kid fireworks at the Country Club! Oh yeah!

These two are just so awesome! For the most part, they play so well together and it just makes me smile!

Mid-July we joined the rest of the Cropper clan down in sunny St. George for a little reunion trip of sorts. We call it a reunion, because Matt's brother Bryce and his family live in Maine...so when they come for a trip we might as well call it a reunion!

Yes, that is how HOT it got!!!! 

The Hansens got the hook up through Dave's boss (I think?) and stayed at this huge mansion! The mansion featured an amazing backyard with a swimming pool and sports court. The pool had a rock slide and cliff to jump off of....at first Sam was a bit nervous, but after his first jump -- the boy was hooked! That is all he wanted to do for the rest of the trip was go swimming and jump off of that cliff!

Tyler and Lilly enjoyed the pool too, but by the end of the week all of their toes were absolutely raw and blistered! Ouch!!!

One morning we all met up at the Bear Paw for breakfast and then to the city center splash area.

The kids were loving it....until it started to downpour! We had to make a run for the van and were totally soaked to the bone!

July 20th marked this little cutie's 2nd birthday! My, how time flies!

He wasn't as excited about his b-day breakfast as I had hoped, but that is ok.

We had a fun day of presents and letting Charlie be in charge.

Grandma came over to take Charlie on a "balloon date."

At our Sunday dinner get together with the Cushing side, I presented Charlie with his basketball cake!

YUM!

It was great to get together with everyone and celebrate our sweet Charlie boy!

Some other fun randomness from July included:

An impromptu tea party with Grandma! Pinkies up!!!

Feeding the neighborhood horse (we call him "George" but his real name is "Blue") some carrots and an apple.

Sam worked hard at "U Can Learn." He did some therapy to help him with his auditory processing skills.

Weekly "swim days" at Great Grandpa Rod and Grandma Nan's pool with the Cushing cousins!

Aunt Jaymie treated us to pizza one time because the kids were just STARVING!

Our little family celebrated the 24th of July with a trip to Wheeler Farm!

As you can see, Charlie was thrilled to be there!!!!

My Matty....awwwww.

This picture cracks me up: Tyler's face, my face in the background, Charlie doing his thing, and a random little girl.

Whoa...I actually made it in a picture!

Do they get any sweeter???

Lu-lu and her daddy-o.

One day we initially went to go for a swim day at GGR's pool, but the pool had to be closed for repairs...rather than have tears and meltdowns, we decided to take the kids to the splash pad in Cottonwood Heights. So much fun!

We took advantage of one of our Pass of All Passes perks, and went to the Tracy Aviary!

This picture is so fitting....Charlie is always squawking like a little tropical bird!

Sam wanted to pose by his favorite bird....the bald eagle!

Tyler likes the hawks....

Charlie and Lilly liked this random bird??? (Lilly is also signing "bird.")

The day Sam graduated from "U Can Learn" we went out for dinner at Jason's Deli to celebrate!

Gotta love free ice-cream with every meal!!!

This picture was taken in honor of my kids' nasty feet....sick!

That's what happens when they run around outside with no shoes on! 

(I think the trampoline contributes too....but seriously? GROSS!)

This boy is just growing up way too fast.

Tell him to SLOW DOWN!