Busy Fun!!

We have been busy having lots of fun!!! Our summer has been filled with 4-wheeling trips, camping on a whim, family reunions, and Raging Waters! Our month of July is extremely busy as both the kids have birthdays, along with both Grandma's and other numerous extended family members! I feel like I've been stuck in the middle of a whirlwind lately! Between doing laundry, packing, unpacking, and keeping the house clean I'm exhausted! Not to mention the kiddos...they keep me on the go for sure! This last weekend we were fortunate to go up to Hanna, UT for our annual Duke family reunion! We have the Warm Springs Retreat reserved every year, its fully equipped with cabins, tent area by the river, pavillion, and ampitheater for campfires! We were so lucky to have my older brother and his cute family there from Virginia.. They sure had a time getting here on standby tickets! After going from DC, to Atlanta, then Cincinatti,(they had to get a hotel also) they FINALLY made it to Utah!! All this with Sammy who is 3 and Caleb who is almost 1.. Sheesh! Anyway, we had a fun time seeing family, eating yummy food, floating down the river, going on a hike, riding some horses, herding some intruding cows, doing the paddle boats, and just being in the outdoors! The trip to Hanna is never complete until Emily vomits in the car on the drive home due to the windy road! Good thing we had a large cup for that.. We are just thankful that she is now at an age where she'll tell us its gonna happen! It was cute to watch Sammy and Emily play since they don't get to see each other very often with them living so far away.. And Caleb is too cute with his dimples and smile!

Emily holding Caleb! Isn't he adorable! He was born on Easton's first birthday so they are exactly one year apart!

Sammy and Emily are such good friends! Sammy is seriously so cute, with her naturally curly hair and dimples, she makes you smile just to look at her!! They played so good together!


Here's my brother Marlon, his wife Alysia, with Sammy and Caleb..And us of course!



The horse back riding was not a planned activity but it worked out that we were able to talk these ranch hands into letting the kids ride around the field.. We lucked out! Emily was a pro, and Easton was a little nervous and I was afraid the horse was going to buck us off with his screaming! She was a mellow horse so it worked out great!


They picked up right where they left off! Being apart and not seeing eachother for a long time doesn't matter to these two! They love each other!!!





The river tubing was a hit, everyone got into it..literally! The river was freezing cold, but after being dumped several times it didn't matter! After the kids all got turns some of us married and almost married folk went farther down stream! Man, we hit some rapids that dumped us a few times, and we got dunked after getting caught up in the branches near the river. It surprised me at how deep it actually got! And we even saw a bat swimming, making his way to the edge! Crazy!


Here is my beautiful Grandma Duke! She hasn't been in the best of health but look at her smile! You'd never know.. She doesn't get around very easily so it was a strong effort on her part to make it to the reunion.. She is such a trooper!


My dad invented the name of "S'mores" did you know that? At least that is his claim.. Sitting around the fire at night, talking and getting caught up with family makes for some fond memories!

Oh so cute.. love ya hun!

At the pond we love to have paddle boat races! Last year Emily caught her first fish in this pond! I enjoyed every minute of this trip!! Can't wait until next year!!


After getting home on Sunday and unpacked, we seriously just vegged.. It felt so good to lay down watching TV for hours doing NOTHING!! I normally can't sit that long and do nothing, but it was easy for me after such a fun-filled weekend! We then woke up early Monday morning and packed up for Raging Waters for the day with Nate's mom, sister and most of the cousins! I felt like a kid again sitting at the top of a really steep slide and getting those nervous jittery feelings about going down! We had a blast!! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for treating us to such a fun day at the waterpark! Seriously Easton feel asleep sitting up in his lawn chair! The cutest was when I was tucking him in bed Monday night and he said, "fun day!" What a cutie!

All the cousins, soaking up the sun at Raging Waters!


Playing in the water makes for a strong appetite!


Check out those lips! She was trying to get sandwich from the roof of her mouth!


Winding down after lots of fun...But not as pooped as Easton was!

This NEVER happens! He fell asleep sitting up!

I am looking forward to some time at home getting caught up with stuff. It feels good knowing that we will stay put at least until our next trip planned at the end of July. We will have fun celebrating birthdays and finishing up swimming lessons!