Bear Lake 2015

We love our family reunions up at Bear Lake.  We may not be able to make it every year but we try our best.  This year, I was able to reserve our timeshare at World Mark.  Then since the girls weren't able to make it up, Darcee and Jay were also able to stay with us instead of camping.  We weren't there much but it was nice to have a great place to sleep :)

So Friday we headed out early because we had a few stops along the way.  We stopped in Orem to pick up our Acura.  We also were able to have lunch with Grandpa Hight on his lunch break.  We also stopped in Midway to say hi to Grandma Hight.  We stopped in Evanston so the boys could pick up some fireworks for the 4th and I could get some food needed for our trip.  We made it up before the rest of my family but I headed over to my mom's condo to pick up Aspen.  The resort also had their firework show that night so I stuck around to watch that before heading back to my place to rest.

Saturday was spent on the beach.  Justyn and Rachel had brought up their jet ski's.  I was able to take out both of my kids on their bigger one.  It was really choppy out there so I wasn't trying to do anything too crazy but none the less, I went over a huge wave that drenched us all.  David, Austin and Jake were also able to take out the jet ski's and have a little fun.  David also signed up for the volleyball tournament.  Our family didn't do too well but I think they had fun.  We also headed over to the church so David and the boys could set off their fireworks.  We weren't the only ones with that idea.  Colt was fast asleep in the car, Aspen spent most of the time with her fingers plugging her ears.  And the boys (David, Austin and Jake) had fun lighting off the fireworks.  All in all it was a good 4th.

Sunday we had our Stewart family birthday party.  The Rockwell's were in charge and unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate with them so we just had the cake and talking.  (Actually the weather didn't cooperate most of the week but we managed to survive)

Sunday night we played a wicked game of Hand 'n Foot.  David and I started off strong and couldn't finish it out.  But we still had fun.  The kids were either playing outside (when it wasn't raining) or watching a movie.

Monday, David and the boys took off to Lava Hot Springs and then headed home.  The kids and I headed back over to the beach.  This time we were able to get out on Bob's boat.  Kurt and Sher's family joined us along with Ashlyn.  Colt loves riding the tube.  I forgot to mention that Justyn also has a tube he can pull behind the jet ski and Colt loves doing that as well.  Colt was able to ride the tube with Spencer and Matthew.  Then Aspen went out with Ashlyn and Maren.  Spencer is not a fan of going fast on the tube so this trip the girls were definitely better at the tube, going through big waves and faster.  Then the kids got to ride with me.  Colt started out not holding on, he said that he wanted to get knocked out of the tube.  Kurt cured him of that when he went back over some waves and Colt was bouncing around inside the tube that he held on from then on.

We never got back out on the boat or actually down to the beach again.  It was a little cooler this time around.  The kids spent plenty of time at the pool.  They especially like the one with the diving board.  Colt was actually trying to do flip off the diving board and I guess he did it a couple of times but then didn't get far enough away and smacked his head on the board.  He got a nice goose egg on his head but that didn't stop him from going back.  I don't know if he tried a flip off the diving but I think he would still go off the diving board.  Aspen was doing cart wheels off the diving.  Jay got a some pictures of her doing it.  Can't wait to get those pictures from him.

Some of the other things that we did were mini golfing, visiting the ice caves and go karts.  The kids had so much fun with each one.  Colt enjoyed exploring the ice caves with Jay and Jeramiah.  Then he climbed out of the cavern with Jay and his kids.  He is really turning into a boy.  Now to get him off his electronics :)  Aspen enjoyed having a few other cousins that were girls.  She participated in the finger nail painting with all the girls.  Then they would just play whenever they could.

The kids also enjoyed going over to the store and playing ping pong.  Colt borrowed some soccer goals from the Rockwell's and played soccer a few times.  He had a lot of fun doing that with a few cousins.

And on our way home, we had to make a pit stop in Tooele for Grandma to get a crown put back on.  Grandma was able to give the kids a tour of where she grew up.  I also learned a little about my mom too :).  We also went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Stewart's grave.  We made it home before dark but later than what I had planned.

All in all it was a great trip.  Can't wait til the next one :)

Aspen's Big Day

So the kids spent most of last week at their dad's and I spent it making sure I got everything done for work so I could enjoy my month off.  But the biggest news from last week was Aspen's birthday.  This is the big number 8 for her!!!  I can't believe she is 8 years old.  Aspen also made the decision to get baptized.  And it just so happened that the stake baptisms were being held on her birthday due to the 4th being on Saturday.  So she was able to get baptized on her birthday.  How cool is that???

She had a lot of people there to support her in that decision.  David, myself, Austin and Colten were there.  Grandma and Grandpa Chris, Grandpa and Grandma Higgins were there. Paula, Justyn, Rachel, Issy, Jay, Darcee, Kayleeya, Alijah, Jeramiah, Hollee and Jonah were also there.  Aspen also invited her best friend Audra (who is not a member) and her and her parents attended.  Her Aunt Holly also was able to make it and brought her kids along.  Her dad performed the ordinances with Grandpa Chris and Grandpa Higgins the witnesses for the baptism and then David, Grandpa Chris, Grandpa Higgins, Justyn, Jonah and our bishop, Bishop Harris were able to stand in the circle.  Jay had stepped out of the room and didn't make it back in time to stand in the circle.

We had a luncheon and birthday party afterwards.  Most all of the family was able to make it.  You sure are spoiled lately Aspen, hope you are enjoying it.  We had the luncheon at the Santa Clara splash pad since once again it would be the hottest day of the year thus far.  The kids really enjoyed playing in the water.  After your party, we joined Justyn's and Darcee's family out at the lake.  You had fun riding around on the boat with Darcee and Jay.

The next week Aspen and Colt participated in a summer camp called Pirates and Fairies at Aspen's dance studio.  Colt really enjoyed being able to pretend that he was a pirate.  Audra joined Aspen in this dance class so they had a lot of fun together.  I really enjoyed watching their short dance number at the end of the camp.  I think I am going to have to have Aspen choose either dance or gymnastics this next year and I don't think she will choose dance and I will be sad about it :(

We also had Aspen's friend party that week after her birthday.  She choose to have it at Fiesta Fun.  Thank goodness for Wendie, Audra's mom, for having the numbers of some of the girls Aspen was friends with in school.  She was able to invite Audra, Jayden, Kaitely, Samara and of course Colten came.  It turned out really fun and I think that Aspen had a good time with her friends.

I will get pictures uploaded soon :)