Cousin Camp

While I have been going through my Philippine withdrawls

the kids have been in heaven, cousin heaven.

When I ask Sydney if she is missing her old life...she

always replys with a "not really." I can't decide if I should be offended or 

happy? The truth is, cousins are instant friends. And as good as life

was for me, I guess cousins can top that for our kids. Weird.

Playing "school". (Syd, Anna, Tate, Bens and Max)

 

 Nothing like sharing a bowl of cocoa puffs  with your cousins.

Champions!

When parents tell everyone how 

cool their kids are...You can bet that I am the one

rolling my eyes in the corner and most likely making slightly 

sarcastic comments under my breath. Just kidding, I never do that.

But what I am about to tell you is... how cool my kids are.

Yep, Pleasant Grove pool champions.

When I say my kids can rock the pool its because they can. If Emmy could sign autographs

she would. She is the only two year old (as far as I know) that can slay the 

Pleasant Grove pools diving board. Running jumps, belly flops you name it

she can get a crowd cheering her on. Never mind that is usually a bunch of fifth and sixth graders, and that I am on the side lines ready to have to do a deep dive rescue.

One year of swimming every day has paid off. Well,that and a little help from

the annual P.G. Pool swim lessons.

Emmy, Tate and teacher Sydney!

Yep, pool champ for sure.

A Blur...

That is what our Summer has been....

A blur. I have so missed having our computer, actually,

I miss a lot of things. The kids each packed a back pack with

their favorite toys and let me tell you a back pack is not enough for the

dog days of Summer. We try to leave our furnished apartment as much

as possible. We spend a lot of time at the local swimming pool, and exploring parks with

our cousins, in between looking for houses, enrolling our kids in school and all thoughs things that come with relocating. At least we are in a familiar place and have the 

pleasure of being around family...that's it, pleasure.

Seriously, they have been our saving grace this Summer. Even though I am way 

behind on our blog, I would still like to add a few more posts dedicated to our last 

couple of months here in Utah.

I can not neglect adding  the famous "sand hill" pictures from Lake Powell.

I am pretty sure this is the worst activity 

that exists at Powell....but for some reason the whole 

darn family wanted in on this torture.

Tate looked like I felt.

We made it!

The sand hill cheese.

My Powell Heros...

This post is dedicated to ALL who had to endure

one week of Powell with us.

You are my Lake Powell Heroes....

Uncle Troy; 

for being Tates wrestling buddy, Co-Captain and best Uncle ever.

Sophie;

for being Syd's boat buddy ALL week.

 I think they spent most of their days in this position....

Aunt Cec;

For entertaining Emmy most of the week....

(That should give you top hero spot) 

Grandma Susan;

For her patience, kindness and invitation 

THANKS GRANDMA SUSAN! 

Uncle Jim;

For many reasons....

Keeping us on schedule,

 Coaching Syd how to be a wake board Momma,

 This is her almost succeeding. 

Next, knee boarding... 

This guy should get a trophy for how much

time he spent in the water with Syd!

Showing us his mad wake boarding skills...

And for his overall humor...Thanks Jim :)

T-Man;

For his sweet chocolate milk making skills,

wake board technique, water weenie driving

And being the best Daddy...EVER.

  

Aunt Lisa;

for keeping it real, 

I am thankful for her always,

happy attitude. And, how she knows all the 

lyrics to the 80's.

 Kolton;

Need I say more...

 Tanner;

Probably the coolest nephew ever, he

pulled me up on the water weenie

more than any nephew should have to.

I think that he and Kolton thought it was worth the work....

Well, maybe.

Aunt Carri and Tamz;

For enduring Blondie #3's torture chamber

Cute Cousins;

for making our trip fun, fun!

Powell...

First dip in the Lake...

Em is giving Trent a choke hold, which kind of set the tone for the rest of our trip. 

Our kids loved Lake Powell. Emmy made me remember that Lake Powell is not as

fun with a toddler. I know, that sounds like I am a really mean Mom.

I am so happy that we had Tayla, Tessa and Joey on our trip.

They were so good to help with our kiddies.

Trent AKA "Nightmare"...When calling in to the Mothership (houseboat)

he gave us the name Nightmare....so fitting.

I mean, I wish I could say it was a perfect week at the Lake

but it was a little rough and primarly because of this

sweet little, sand cherub.

Life was a little bit easier when we set her out on the 

beach with her bucket and shovel.

I love you Em.

She also loved her wave runner rides with Daddy. Our trip to Powell

was not all about Emmy but she is defintly the part of the trip I 

will remember.

Thanks for putting up with us for a whole week family.

WE LOVE LAKE POWELL!!!

More to come....

FOURTH

We came back to the States the perfect weekend...Fourth of July!

Other than a little jet lag, (that's my excuse for Tate) we had a good time and our kids where in 

cousin heaven.

 Grandma Linda Loo had the honors of being sandwiched between 

"The Blondies" for our ride up to Mutual Dell.

 

It feels good to be back in the good ol' US of A....

My Mom knows how to do the cutest spreads.

Cassie's strawberry's,  cute and delicious.

Tate will not take a normal picture these days...

He is our funny man... for sure.

Tate & Maximus

Hard to say GOODBYE....

Leaving the Philippines will go down as one of the hardest days of my life....

Not just because everything about living there was awesome BUT  because leaving Jeane

was like leaving one of my sisters. (Sniff, sniff)

If my adjustment period has been rough, than Emmy has really

taken it to the next level.  My disclaimer to everyone these days is,

"Sorry, she misses her Jeane!"

The night before we left, Jeane and I lived it up "Filipino style" by taking a Jeepney ride 

through some shady parts of Manila....

We had so much fun and I will never forget it.

Airport farewell....

 Emmy checking out a Filipino baby in the airport.

Two words...

Business Class