Hogle Zoo

We decided to go to Hogle Zoo last weekend. It is something we have not done for a long time. But it was fun to do something together as a family. I must say we probably chose the hottest day this year.

Look at those cute kids!

Did I mention it was really HOT that day!

They had huge fans that would blow mists of water, Sophia
just couldn't get enough of the cool mist.

This is inside the giraffe house. Hope was really excited to see them
until she got there. Then she didn't really want to go inside.

We had fun on our little staycation, glad we did it!

I Love to See the Temple...

We decided to go to the Manti Pageant this year and take our kids for the first time. We have always hesitated because it is so late and the kids would probably sleep through it anyway. But this year we braved it and we had a great time. We have a special place in our heart for the Manti Temple because we were married there 16 years ago (could it really be that long)!

We had reserved a spot at the Palisades campground and found out Mark's brother family would be in town and so we were able to get another camp spot and they joined us. For the kids having their cousins there made it much more fun. Mark's sister Belinda and two of her kids joined us just for the pageant. So we got to Palisades in the late afternoon, set up camp and then headed over to the turkey dinner at the stake center there in Manti. Then we went and saved some spots on the temple grounds. The wait seemed like forever, just look at these photos of the kids their faces tell it all.

This was the first time we had been back there since we got married. I know that sounds so crazy, but its true.

Kimball is getting sick of my picture antics. Oh well, too bad :)

Nick silly boy, wasn't ready for the picture either.

Kate is starting to get snuggled up because it was getting chilly, it actually sprinkled a few times.

Sophia was very bored before the pageant started, thank heavens for cousins who brought games.

Hope just chillin with Dad.

What cute sisters!

The pageant was great and it was cold, but we were prepared for that. We spent the night at Palisades and then got up in the morning and just hung out for a while.

Hope was more excited about sleeping in the tent than anything else we did. While we were waiting for the pageant to start she kept saying I just want to sleep in the tent right now!

The kids had a great time playing in the water and our nephew Seth caught this very cool frog.




We also rented on of these paddle boats and the kids all got to take a ride.

Crystal Hot Springs

We are really good at staying home and being couch potatoes. However, a couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to plan something so that our summer didn't run away from us without any memories to show for it. So this is us at our first staycation spot! It is Crystal Hot Springs which is in Honeyville, Utah (it is just past Brigham City). They have six hot pools and then one cold pool. We went for family night and it was really fun although the water slides are only open for the weekend so the boys were a little bummed.



Hope loved being in the warm water. It actually rained on us while we were there and she didn't even want to get out!

The boys were the only ones that were brave enough to get in the cool pool. After being in the hot pools, it was too cold for the rest of us.

Check out these cute sisters. I knew they loved each other!!!