RCKC Visit

We headed up to Utah to visit Rob & Corinne for a week.

It was so nice to escape the heat and enjoy their awesome yard, fun fireworks, and beautiful mountains!

We left on a Friday afternoon, stayed the night in Vegas and got to R&C's house on Saturday afternoon. Just in time for a fun 4th of July BBQ and fireworks.

The kids were having a blast getting their wiggles out in R&C's backyard after the long car ride!

Cannon enjoyed the watermelon . . . can you tell?

We did fireworks in R&C's cul-de-sac and the kids were in heaven.

Cannon was a little crazy because he didn't quite understand that he couldn't hold/touch every firework . . .

Uncle Rob lighting snakes for the kids.

Cannon in the "glow-wear" uncle JR brought for the kids.

On the 4th, we headed up to the mountains after church to enjoy a hot dog roast and the cool air!

The kids were having a blast throwing rocks and going on short hikes.

A shot of the four cousins.

RCKC family.

We did fireworks in the cul-de-sac again on Monday the 5th.

We spent the week enjoying the Utah weather.

Dave flew home and worked Tuesday-Thursday.

I didn't get out my camera much, but here is one phone shot of Cannon at the Draper Aquarium.

And . . . the highlight of the trip for Dave . . . his Harley ride!

Rob organized a Harley ride from Salt Lake to Jackson Hole for 17 guys.

I was a little scared about the ride through the curvy mountain roads on a rented harley that he wasn't familiar with, but I was really glad that he ended up going because he had a blast!

They drove up to Jackson Hole on Friday and stayed the night in Jackson Hole and headed back a different route on Saturday.

Dave was in heaven.

I'm glad he got to go and glad he got to spend some time with his brother!

Twice they ran into herds of sheep crossing the road and had to wait for them to clear the road.

Dave is on the bike on the right.

Here is a gorgeous view of the Teton mountains.

Dave is on the far right.

A picture of a mountain lake that they rode past.

So beautiful!

Dave and Rob are dreaming up a couples trip where we would ride on the back of the bike.

Not sure if I'm up for that.

We'll see . . .

So glad we got to come visit you R&C.

Thanks for the great visit!

Can't wait to see you again in two weeks!

Ellingson Family Reunion

Warning: long post.

I didn't forget my camera this time! I took about 600 pictures. Seriously. My sister-in-law Kristi was even nice enough to let me shoot with her Nikon D300 and her 50mm lens on a few occasions. (my dream camera and lens . . . hopefully I can afford one someday . . .)

We had a blast thanks to this guy . . .



The Ellingson's take turns planning the reunion and it was JR's turn this year. He did an amazing job with the planning! We sure missed Matt & Lara's fam, and Caralee & Spencer's fam. As of right now all six families + Mimi & Papa are going to be at next year's reunion and it's Dave and I's turn to plan it! Hmmm . . . what shall we do next year?

Here are some of the pictures from this year's reunion in no particular order . . .

We took the "big" kids to Thanksgiving Point on Thursday and they loved it! Is it weird to you that Cannon gets thrown in with the "big" kids, because it's weird for me. His vocabulary has exploded in the last week and he is saying so much now!



Rob and Corinne have an awesome back yard complete with a huge patio, sandbox, trampoline, swingset and lots of room to run. Since the weather was great in Utah we hung out back there a lot! Here is Cannon playing with Kyson's moon sand.



We made a waterslide out of the swingset and the Lily loved it! Cannon went down it a few times too!



Cannon is a fan of sand (see previous post). He was having a blast in Rob and Corinne's huge sandbox! I just love his expression in this picture. Have you ever tried to get sand out of a little boys hair? It's really not that fun.



Here is a picture of Cannon at the campfire/cookout we had in the Wasatch Mountains. It was beautiful up there! I'm sure many of you are wondering if he is every fully clothed? The answer is . . . occasionally.



We went to a beach in a place called daybreak and it was gorgeous. Mountains in the background, a pretty lake and once again, sand. The kids loved it. Corinne snapped this picture of Dave throwing Cannon in he air.



Lily spent 90% of the trip with her 4 1/2 year-old cousin Kyson. They got along great! They are both missing each other terribly right now. According to Corinne, Kyson wants to put his house on a trailer and move it to Arizona so he can live by his cousins. I say, go for it!



We had a barbeque and shot off fireworks in Rob & Corinne's cul-de-sac one night. Once again, a huge hit with the kids. Fireworks are illegal in Arizona, so it was a "luxury" for us. I had just read a post on the Pioneer Woman's photography blog about night shooting and Kristi gave me her camera to experiment. I love this shot I got of the sparkler lighting up Lily's face!



We took the kids to a petting zoo one day. Cannon kept sticking his tounge in the cages where the animals were. It was pretty much disgusting. He's lucky he didn't get his tounge bit off by a goat!! Who knows what diseases he got from it. I'm sure we'll find out in the coming months . . . stay tuned.



They had pony rides at the petting zoo and Lily and Cannon both rode on them. I had to walk next to Cannon. Thanks Kristi for this cute shot of Cannon and I.



Little miss Lily sat up there all on her own and posed for Aunt Kristi's camera!



Mimi gave all the little kids dollar store sunglasses that day and she let them make fruit loop necklaces to wear/eat. They were in heaven.



One morning we had a giant shaving cream fight. Cannon wasn't so sure all about all of that craziness. He just stood and watched, but Lily was right in the middle of all of the fun. Papa took pictures for us, so the adults could enjoy.



Here is a shot of Corinne spraying the heck out of me.



We had a designated "guy time" and "girl time". The guys headed up to the mountains and went hiking. The girls chose to go shopping in Park City. Apparently we were too busy shopping to get a picture . . .



Here is a shot of the "attendees" all dressed up in our Sunday best, minus JR who was taking the picture and baby Alice, who was sleeping.



A big thanks to Mimi and Papa for continuing the Call tradition of an annual family reunion. We always have fun! I'm glad my family has started the same tradition!



Good times had by all! Now we're back in Arizona for the entire month of August! We'll be enjoying lots of 100º weather. I'll have another good post this coming weekend! Lily is turning 3 on Sunday!