Swimming with the Cousins

Ella, Avery, Malia & Meryn getting their feet wet
Brendon going down the water slide
The 4 Princesses playing dress-up

Princess Ella playing on the Moon-Walk

Ella & Ethan giving hugs and kisses

It was a family day of swimming yesterday at Roger's. At one point all 21 of the cousins were there swimming. All the cousins had lots of fun playing in the pool together. Ella enjoyed just playing on the stairs were she new she could touch. When it was time to get out Ella enjoyed playing dress-up with her older cousins and jumping on the Moon-Walk with Ethan. It is always fun when everyone is able to get together.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!
Alex & Ella
It's Raining!
It's still Raining!
A little swing time
John & Brian playing basketball in the barn

John showing the kids how to use the Sparklers
Ella playing with the Sparklers
She really enjoyed the Sparklers

Ella & Austin enjoying the fireworks under the blanket

We spent the 4th of July with my family at my Grandparents house. The kids had fun playing in the rain and watching the Fireworks. Ella really enjoyed watching the fireworks. She was clapping and cheering after each time they lit off a firework. Thankfully the rain didn't last too long and it cleared off just in time to shoot off the fireworks.

Swim Time

Dawson was pushing Ella around the pool

Ella helping Taylor try to find his contact
Lounging in the pool

Ella has not been wanting to swim at all this summer. But yesterday she found a swim diaper and decided to she want to go swimming. So we went over to Roger's pool (Thanks Guys). She had lots of fun playing with the kids. She even went down there water slide. Although she did bump her head she didn't cry she just put her hand on her head and said "Oh my, Boo Boo". She is getting really brave a little too brave around the pool. I was surprised at how well she did in the pool. I guess we will have to start going swimming more this summer.

Day Four - West Peak

West Peak MountainCaleb & Trey climbing up the rocky terrain
The animal they encountered climbing

View from top of the Mountain
Brittany, Trey, Trevin, Brendon, and Caleb made it all the way to the top

John on top of the Mountain
Playing the card game Rage

They started the day with 18 people wanting to climb the mountain. There were 7 adults and 11 kids. When they got to timberline some of them stayed and the rest climbed the mountain. They were a little unprepared. They didn't have enough food or water and didn't put on sunscreen so they were quite burned. When they made it to the top they were so thirsty they ate the snow. After they got back they played the card game Rage.

Day Three - The Meadow

All ready for the hike to the Meadow
Starting down the trail
Ella wanted to walk on the trail
All the cousins except for Molly
Gramma & Grampa with all the Grandkids at the Meadow

Our Family Tree
Gramma, Ella & Brittany resting in the Meadow
Ella & Meredith sitting during our Church Service in the Meadow

Ella & Ethan walking down the trail
Some of the older kids had walking sticks so Ella had one too

We took a hike to the meadow where John's family always went when in Colorado. Each family has there own tree that has there names carved in them. John carved Ella and the year '07 into our family tree this year. We also had a little Church Service in the meadow. We sang songs, some kids said Bible verses and Grampa talked for a little bit.

Day Two - Sand Dunes

John, Ella & Ethan
Walking in the muddy, sandy, watery beach
Playing in the mud
Messy Muddy Ella
Climbing up the Sand Dunes
The kids taking a break
Some of the kids climbing
View from above

Our second day we spent at the Sand Dunes. It had a big muddy sandy beach that had only couple of inches of water. The young kids really enjoyed playing in the mud and sand. Even Ella surprisingly since she never seems to like to get dirty. The older kids and some of the adults climbed up the sand dunes. But I don't think anyone is ready to make that climb again anytime soon.

Our first night at the lodge

Ella enjoying drawing

John, Roger and Phil playing pool

Singing songs

Ella praying

The lodge had provided paints and markers and other toys for the kids. Also they had a pool table and ping ball table. Ella had so much fun drawing with the markers. The guys had fun playing pool and the kids had fun rolling the pool balls out the door and into the woods and throwing them on the table. The first night there we all gathered in the family room for Devotion and Testimonial time and while Grandpa was talking Ella thought that he was praying. So she sat there quietly with her hands folded.