mexico

After about 4 hours of sleep, Jace, Lexi and I got up bright and early on the 5th of July and headed to the airport so we could fly to Mexico. We had a great time visiting with family that we haven't seen for awhile. I always love going to Mexico to visit my grandparents and would do it more if I could. Jace had a great time playing with all the cousins his age. Here are a bunch of pictures from our trip.

Jace, Austin & Cooper (Jace's first cousins once removed)


All the grandkids that were there


Jace rode around and around my grandparents house (a favorite activity of most the kids)


Enjoying a paleta


In my Grandpa's peach orchard


One of my Grandpa's delicious peaches


I love this picture of my Grandma and Grandpa that my Aunt Melissa took


This old lady followed us around while we looked at pottery and wanted her picture taken. I love all the jewelry that she is wearing.


Ready to go swimming


Every morning Jace would ask if he could ride the horses


Cooling off in the "pila"

new haircut

Jace's new haircut done by ME! This is the first time I've cut his hair and I think it turned out great. (And I just figured out how to make the pictures bigger. Yeah!)

{independence day}

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday! I love the parades, bbq's, family get togethers, fireworks, etc. This year we celebrated with some of Jared's family, Lexi and Alma and the Smith's. We started out with breakfast at Kneader's (the make the best french toast) and then headed to the parade. Lexi and Alma got up bright and early to stake out a parade spot for us and fight off all the other intense parade goers. Thanks guys! I was confused on the parade time so we missed the first couple of fire engines. While we are walking the 10 blocks from our car to the parade we can hear the sirens and this is the conversation that Jace and I had:

Jace: "I hear it, mom. I hear it!"
Me: "I hear it too, Jace."
Jace: "I love it!"

We had a great time watching the parade in Provo (the best in Utah). After, we headed back to the house for a bbq and swimming. Jace tried floaties for the first time and did great. He can swim around the pool without help when he has his floaties on. He was pretty tired though and decided to take a nap while floating in the tube. After lots of swimming we all went inside for naps and then headed to Thanksgiving Point to play games and watch the fireworks. We had a great time but were all worn out by the end of the day.

A patriotic dish for the bbqThanks for fighting off the angry mobs
Watching the paradeOur favorite floatOur least favorite float

Jace and Carter with their monkey backpacks

Swimming with floaties (or "muscles")

Taking a nap

A grueling game of Wizard (which I won!)Jace playing his own card game

{lehi roundup}

We joined Lehi roundup celebration by going to a few of the activities: the western bbq (complete with blow-up toys to play on), the parade, the petting zoo, pony rides and train rides, and the rodeo. I have to say that the Lehi rodeo was one of the best that I have been too. Rodeos are another love of mine and every time I go I want to be a barrel racer and rodeo queen again (a goal of mine when I was little). For "half-time" entertainment they set up a motorcycle jump that they did tricks off of. Of course, this was Jace's favorite part. I can't even put into words how excited he was to watch the motos jump. At the end of the rodeo they let all the wild horses into the arena at the same time. Horses are a beautiful animal and it was breathtaking to watch them all run around the arena together. I wish I had taken my camera that night but Jared's mom got a couple of shots of Jace. We enjoyed the rodeo with Auntie Lexi, Alma, Matt, Shaunte, Carter, Auntie Katie, Millanne and Grandma McLaughlin.

{parades}

I love parades! They are one of my favorite things about the summer. This year we started with the Strawberry Days parade in Pleasant Grove. We weren't quite sure what Jace would think of it but after the police motos came out he officially became a parade lover! The next weekend we went to the Lehi Round-up parade. No motos in this one but a lot of candy. We could have gone to a parade every weekend but Jared said that too much of a good thing can be bad.

The Pleasant Grove police motos
Jace's face when he saw the motos...it was priceless
Watching the parade

{we're back!}

I know it's been awhile since I've written. We have been having so much fun this summer I forgot to take time to update the blog. We have been going to parades, swimming, playing with cousins, hanging out with Grandma's, celebrating holidays, flying across the country, relaxing in Mexico and enjoying a wedding. I will be posting (mostly pictures since that is what I like best) about all the fun things that we have been doing this summer with family and friends. Hope you are all having a great summer also!