8 YEARS

 After 8 years, Jared can still surprise me. Who knew?!?!

Our Anniversary was on Tuesday August 6th. I knew he had something planned, but I didn't realize how big it was. Jared had told me that his sister Rebecca offered to watch our kids while we went to lunch in SLC. So we dropped them off and headed out. Next thing I know we are heading up I-80 to Park City. We pull up to the beautiful Hotel Park City for an unexpected night away.

I was worried about my stuff and the kids, but he had it all taken care of. Rebecca actually planned on keeping the kids overnight! Jared got their overnight bag up to her a few days earlier! Sneaky, sneaky! 

He opened the back and there was our suitcase! 

We checked into this beauty! The Cottage Luxury Suites at Hotel Park City!

 Cleaver guy, he went and bought travel sized everything so I wouldn't notice that my essentials were missing!

 Kitchen and living room

 We had our own private hot tub, right next to the golf course's pond.

 Then we headed into Park City Resort for a little fun.

 On the chairlift

 to ride the Ziprider down! You are 110 feet above the ski runs at speeds up to 45 mph. 

It was a lot smoother than I thought it would be.

 Then we stopped at Cafe Rio (yummy), and brought our dinner home to our lovely cottage. After, we headed to the hotel's pool for a little fun, and then came back for a relaxing evening in the hot tub!

 It was an amazing getaway. I really was SO surprised! We kept saying how much the kids would enjoy it, but then we realized how much we needed "us" time!!

My Little Runner

 My little lady loves to run. She is always wanting me to ride the bike around with her so she can run. I wish my knees were better that I could run with her, but they hurt so bad when I try.  She had been running around 2 1/2 miles each time without stopping. There was a free 5K on Pioneer Day, July 24th, and I decided that she should try it. The theme of the run was "Temple to Temple". It would start at the Provo Temple and end across the street from where the new Downtown Provo Temple is being built. The route was either downhill or pretty flat so it was a good trial run for her.

 When we registered for the race we didn't know if Jared would be working so my mom offered to run with her.

 Luckily Jared had it off and was able to run. This is the whole group. Right to left: Kiara and Darwin's neighbor, Kiara, Savannah, EvaLynn, Mitch, R, Grandma Trease, Jared, the front Rori, Darwin and P. 

 I was the lucky one who got to hang with Savannah while everyone ran.

 I couldn't believe how many people were in this race.

 P was VERY sad when Jared and R headed to the starting line which was a block away up the hill from where I was. I told him to take P with him, then when he got to me I would take him and Jared could catch up with R. Well, this is who I saw first. P had climbed into the stroller with Rori. They said that he was doing fine and could ride with them.

 Then this beautiful looking group ran by.

R had her whole onterage.

 I then packed the baby in my car and headed a little more than half way, and got out and waited. Again, the Demings and P were the first to go by. They said he was doing great and could ride the rest of the way with them. 

 Ev really was there, she was just on the other side of the road and didn't make it in the shot! We thought they would have water stations along the route, so we didn't have water ready. If I would have known that I would have had water at this point for the group.

 I then raced to the finish line and tried to call my mom to see where they were, and I missed the picture of them running across the finish line. If you look closely behind the man in the black shirt on the far left you can see R and the finish line sign!

 SHE DID IT!!!!!

 VERY thirsty, but she did it WITHOUT stopping!!!

 All the runners! GREAT JOB EVERYONE!!!

This was Mitch and Ev's first 5K too!

It was a free 5K, but if you wanted a shirt and a racing chip you could pay $8. R had a racing chip which ended up being pretty cool. It told us all her stats!

Chip Time: 44:12

Pace: 14:15

Overall Place: 924

Gender Place: 538

Division Place: 63

Not to shabby for a 6 year old. To talk her up a little more the division was 1-14 year olds. That is like R running against Kaden's age kids. Then there were a lot of kids on scooters, and in strollers. I think that she did amazing! I asked her if she would want to do another one, and she said YES!!!!

Bridal Veil Falls

 The Demings invited us to tag along with them for a picnic dinner then the walk to Bridal Veil Falls. It was perfect weather, and the kids were excited.

When we got to the falls we noticed a part the water was sectioned off and they had added fish and food that you could buy.

 My kids LOVED feeding the fish.

 Aurora enjoyed it just as much. Jared gave her a quarter to buy more food. So what does Aurora do? Throws the quarter in the water for the fish! Funny girl!

 After fish time, we ventured onto the bottom of the falls where P does what he does best.... throw rocks into the water!

 My beautiful little lady!

 Bridal Veil Falls

 Cute pic, but then some guy not realizing we were meaning to do a selfie offered to take our picture. 

So this was the only one we got!

 STILL throwing rocks!

We LOVE "hiking" this waterfall every year!

 So simple, and it always has water!

4th of July

 Grandma Diane is yet again the hero/crazy person who stayed over night along the parade route so we all could join her for perfect viewing of the Provo Parade!! She did have some help this year. Alex, Sarah, and Angelica helped out too!

I tried to be crafty this year and made their festive shirts.

 I made her bow, her shirt, and helped her make her shoes. 

VERY cute in my opinion!

 Checking out how close the parade is!

 Cute picture with Grandma Diane!

 This picture makes me laugh. 

The little kids and Grandma! :)

 Alex was REALLY into the parade!

 EVERYONE who appreciated Diane sleeping out!

 P and Damion got a little bored of the parade and decided to play cars.

 Me and my best friends!

After the parade everyone met down at the McSweeney's house in Santaquin for a BBQ! 

Then that night some went to the Stadium of Fire, others didn't want to fight the crowds after the fireworks, but we decided to try a new viewing spot(where the Demings usually go)

and had the Jaynes and Demings join us to watch the fireworks. Both of our kids liked the first 5 minutes of the fireworks, but would rather play with their cousins instead. It kind-of made Jared a little mad! :)

 These two are so funny together! 

It makes me really happy that they get along so well!

I really am married to a wonderful guy!

 Our only family picture the whole day! I LOVE my kids! 

And on side note, I made my cute patriotic headband too!

 I have such a little cheeser!

 I love the traditions we have for the 4th of July.  I feel so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends to spend it with!