Us Esau's have a family camping trip each year in July. In the past, we have gone to Bear Lake (which I LOVE), but in recent years the water has been too high to enjoy it. Last year my family tried a new location, Lava Hot Springs. We were in Illinois for the trip last year, so we didn't experience all the crazy fun they had.
This year, we didn't miss it, and had a great time! Emma loves her cousins and was beside herself when she realized she could play with ALL of them ALL day.
Both girls did surprisingly well sleeping at night in the tent. I did catch Emma sleepwalking one night, which was so crazy. She was crouching on the side of the pack n' play just staring at it. Then I saw her get up, and jump into her sleeping bag and pull the covers over her. Then she was out. That girl, she is too funny.
We went to the pool on Saturday, where they had an amazing splash area for toddlers. Emma would have stayed there all day. It was so much fun. Poor Matt had to stay out of the water because he couldn't get his incisions submerged, but he was a great sport and played with Charlotte in the shade.
Sunday we packed up and headed to the river where we rented tubes and had a BBQ. Some of us were lucky enough to ride the river once before a heavy thunderstorm blew in and ended our river fun. We were going to wait it out, but the girls were so sleepy and after an hour of rain, it hadn't let up at all. Kind of a bummer, but it was still a good time with family.
I got some great pictures this year, and I am so glad we were able to spend time with family. My girls have the BEST Aunts and Uncles in the world, and I feel so lucky that they will be able to bond with them as they grow up.
Great time family! Love you!!
Soda Springs Geyser, waiting.
Emma LOVED the river. She keeps asking me if we can ride the bumpy river with waterfalls again!
waiting for the storm to pass...
Jessica is such a good mommy cousin :D
These two. They hung out a lot!
Making us some breakfast!!!
Twins... I mean mother/daughter
Mitch got cornered by Zurie!
Emma wanted me to go down the slide with her for the first time; after that she instructed me to, "stay here Mommy, stay." She happily went down all by herself after that!
Apparently these two like to feed each other, it seems to happen every time they are together!
Smiley Ben
Matty and me <3
Such a poser this girl!!
Can't wait until next year! Yay for successful camping trips!!
We've had a fun summer so far. AND compared to last year, we've had a GREAT summer because I'm not pregnant, HOLLA!! Gosh, I can't stress enough how much I despised my existence last summer. I did nothing, because it was too hot and I was too miserable to try. Yep. I'm that girl. The one who doesn't LOVE being pregnant! The best thing we did last summer was visit Matt's family in Illinois, and while it was bloody hot and I was 7 1/2 months pregnant, it was so great to see everyone and let Emma play with Gramma and Papa. Anyways, back to THIS summer. The one where I'm not pregnant... We've played at the park lots, almost daily. We've swam in the swimming pool, ran through the sprinklers, and played with water balloons. We've fed animals at Wheeler Farm. We've had lots of friends over and cousin family time. We went camping! (Next post) It's been so fun, and summer isn't over yet! I love our little family. I love our daily laughs. I love us. I'm a bit obsessed, but I'm entitled to since they are mine, right? Here's some pictures of our summer fun so far:
My little socialite daughter. She definitely has Matt's genes running through her, because she loves going up to random kids and making friends. She calls out to them, "hey kids!" or, "hey boy!" to get their attention. In this picture, there was a little boy that was driving a remote control car around, and she followed him around like a shadow.
Miss Charly chillin' in the shade.
Her face when we ask her to smile. It's to die for!
smile part 2
Sister Shenanigans. I am in love with these pictures. Charlotte picking her nose and Emma flashing her smile makes me so happy to be a Mom! This is what life is like most days!
We went to Wheeler Farm to feed the animals. It's a free family trip, and the duck food only costs 50 cents per bag. Emma loves it everytime we go!
I wish one day you will all be able to witness Charlotte's "looks". I'm telling you, she's trying to communicate through each look she gives. I will take a series of pictures right in a row, and get a different look with every shot. It makes me smile! She is my sweet Charly girl.
Watching some cartoons in their Sunday best :)
It's always a good day when we go to Hot Dog on A Stick
I cannot get enough of their lemonade!! Delish!!
My beautiful girls!
Emma loves it when Kami and Kadan come over for the day!
AKA coolest new find ever AKA Black Ridge Reservoir AKA AWESOME. While Matt was recovering from gallbladder surgery, my friend Anne invited me to go with her to this new lake type thing in Herriman. A lake? In Herriman? WHAAAA??? Yep. A lake in Herriman, a man-made lake, BUT a lake nonetheless. I was nervous to go alone, because water and Emma usually gives me Mommy anxiety. She doesn't quite understand the danger of it, and will go charging into water without a care. Luckily, she has accepted the use of a life-jacket apparatus that helps her float. She thinks it's pretty cool. I must say, it was an unexpected success when everything went well and no one drowned OR had a melt down. I felt like screaming, "I Did It!" like Emma does when she does something new on her own for the first time. The prayers I said before leaving were the real reason everything went so smooth. I love when tender mercies like that happen in life! Anyways, we plan to go back in a few weeks with family and friends. I love free fun, and free, CLOSE fun is even better.
Emma and her Kami
Charlotte was a happy little girl the whole time!
Sister Love
Laughing at Emma
Our view from the beach, it's all sand and the water isn't that cold!
People. I don't know them, but they seem to be enjoying themselves!
One of her new pastimes, balancing one leg in the air as she plays with toys. Multi-tasker!
Emma's "safe" floaty, she loves it!
floating on her tummy. She loves the floaty because of this!
Herriman Beach was a complete success and I am so glad we went! It was a fun time, I highly recommend going before the summer is over! xoxo The Twistles
