Activities & Outings

In July and August, we filled up the rest of the summer with activities closer to home.  Michael went to cub scout camp.  Here's a video of some of their den's skit from pack meeting.  I'm shaking as I record it because I'm laughing.

The boys had a soccer camp that Michael had to miss because he was sick.  But they both tried out taekwondo with Jared and really enjoyed that.  They are hoping to continue advancing and practicing at home.  This is a REALLY cheesy picture I had them pose for after they practiced in the backyard. :)

For my birthday we had a campout at the Clarks.  We had a twilight bat show from the old (100 year old) school next door while we roasted marshmallows.  The bats sent out a scout first and then a couple minutes later, 50 or 60 more emerged in turns for their night time hunt.

We made it to the Wheat and Beet Days Parade.

Olivia had her first sucker from the parade treats!

The kids were old enough this year to enjoy the firemen-style water fight. 

We also spent some time at the pool for swim lessons, exercise, and play.  Tessa got pretty confident in swimming (in the shallow area) and all the kids decided they enjoyed jumping off the diving board.

For the 24th of July, the kids and I enjoyed a free visit at Red Butte Gardens.  I was so excited to go and I was happy they enjoyed it so much too!

Leisel stopped to smell lots of flowers. :) 

A resourceful and rustic bench maybe Grandma can make at the cabin.

We had a special guest rattlesnake visit our lunch spot!  He left and then we did too!

We were so glad to make it to a few hikes with cousins and friends.

Battle Creek Falls in Pleasant Grove

Tessa likes to pose and ask me to take her picture. :)  But the boys have yet to ask....

The kids wanted to climb higher at Bridal Veil Falls.  I took the picture and then read the sign to them.  Something about "Climbing further is prohibited.."  Then they quickly turned around...such good kids!!

The little pond at the bottom of Bridal Veil was stocked with big rainbow trout and a few albinos.  So tame from kids feeding them that Jordan could pet them.  

Lake Catherine in Little Cottonwood Canyon

It was one of the cold and damp August days so we are a bunch of happy ragamuffins in borrowed longsleeve shirts.

I love these boys and girls chatting away as they hike together!

Even though it's fuzzy I had to share a photo of Tessa's dance class.  She has begged for almost a year, so we tried a summer session of tap and ballet.  I think she's the cutest girl ever, wearing tap shoes with my name on the bottom.  Sometimes we do relive our past a little through our kids.  

The kids love riding around the neighborhood and we also tried to get out for some family bike rides.  By the end of the summer Tessa decided she can ride without training wheels.  Since we finally took them off she has been zipping all over.

The 4th and 5th

This year for Independence Day, we went to some of the Freedom Festival events in Orem and Provo.   We really enjoyed it and didn't put a dent in the activities and exhibits.  

We may have to go back next year and the next...!

Meeting up with family and friends was great!

This baker was very authentic and knowledgeable.

This Cries of Freedom show was really neat.
Then we used money earned from the Riverton City Parade to buy tickets for the Stadium of Fire.  Michael was really excited to see Studio C!!! 

Then we got to spend the 5th with Grandpa for his birthday.  Even though it may have been more of a treat for us, at the Museum of Natural Curiosity.  

Cutest water play table :) dry seats in the wet pool..

Clark Family Time

We fit most of the family reunions into the last two weeks of June.  Since the boys didn't get out of school till the 13th, it was the big bang to begin the summer.  The Harstons spent a week at the cabin and then we went to meet the Clarks in St. George.

We found an awesome park :)

with shaded play areas..which was necessary even at 10 am!

Andrew is a bug guy. ;) And there were lots of lizards and new insects around.   

The Children's Museum and splash pad were amazing, but somehow all my photos were blurry.... So this is all you get.
We loved swimming at the pool every day and Pioneer park was a pretty sweet outing.  It would be a great place for family photos, but alas the camera was dead.  I swiped this one from the internet.
  

Then Jared and the boys went with two uncles to explore the Narrows at Zions.  Michael got sick that morning so I had to worry all day while they were out of phone range.  Then Jordan was sick the next day.  But it's impossible not to have fun with crazy uncles!  Here are Jared's photos:  

Harston Family Photo and Gathering 2014

Our shortened trip to the Peterson Reunion allowed us to be back during my brother's and sister's visits from out of state and before my other sister's trip out of state.  So... The Harston kids were all together again for the first time in a few years.
Here are the updated family photos!

some of the kids were just about done...

ahh. sweet rewards.

Michael is the monkey in the cherry tree.  He joined Ben and Seth up there to fill some bags.

We had an amazing harvest this year from the tree in the backyard.  It was really good we had an army to help.  

Then we headed to the cabin for a new version of Harston reunion...unplanned.

We took a nice hike near Smith and Moorehouse.  I think we have a photo like this each summer. :)

A family excursion to the Kamas rec center!

playtime at Rockport

Jenny brought jet skis and hosted the family and took care of the Balls kids for the week..

Dad and Mom also hosted the annual Hatch Family Summer Reunion and gathered a pretty good looking group.

Health to thy Navel

Jared says I don't cook for flavor and "that's OK."  But he liked this black bean and mango salsa with avacado and homemade tortilla chips.  Actually I think he likes anything with tortilla chips....

In April my family decided to start a health challenge together.  The goal was to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, no junk food, desserts or fried foods, and to exercise a little every day.  Some of that was pretty challenging for me and I still had my indulgence days.  But overall I loved it!
The challenge helped me see that I can do some things I didn't think I could do.   It ended in June as first trimester morning sickness was setting in, but it helped to start pregnancy on the right foot. Now we're back to establishing those good habits again.