Dance camp...

Eliza participated in two princess themed dance mini camps this summer and was in love!

 Princess crafts, music, and routines...doesn't get much better than that.  Oh, wait...it does.  She couldn't get enough of wall to wall mirrors!  Seeing herself dance was too much fun!

She's our dancing princess!

Final good-bye

Last week we went and said our final good-bye to our old house before signing all the official papers the next morning.

 The girls had one last swing.

 Talia on the "horse."

 Daddy and Eliza checked out their garden one last time.

 A garden that grew back after we thought we had taken it all out!

 Picked a few last flowers...

 ...and took pictures on the porch.

Eliza took this picture of us.  We loved this house and the memories we made there.  It was our first home and where we started our family.  But we are loving our new house (I will post pictures someday) and know that new memories will be made there.

More time at Cocolalla...

We were able to spend a week at Cocolalla (with the dads going back and forth from work).

 Relaxing in the hammock!

 And posing in the water with a giant leaf...I have no idea where she comes up with these things.

 Everyone enjoying the water...we had absolutely perfect weather the whole week!

 Elayna and Mitch joined us too!  One last hurrah before they headed East.

 Eliza just gets more brave with each ride on the water.  Now she's up to full speed and bumping whoever is on the tube next to her.

 It's always nice to read a good book on vacation!

 Eliza, Darran, Julie, and Mitch got in quite a bit of fishing.

 Even though she's using Darran's pole in this picture it's still a wonder how her princess pole seems to catch the most fish!

 Andy gives Brayden and Talia a ride on the 4 wheeler.

 Brayden especially could not get enough rides!  They all just loved riding back and forth from the house!

 Some of their catches...that were thrown back.

Mitch, Darran, and Eliza on the tubes.  When she starts rivaling my brothers on the tubes then I'll be nervous!

Tubing girls!

We headed to Cocolalla the weekend after the 4th for some much needed boating time!

 Getting in some water skiing!

 These two girls love to tube!

 It was Talia's first time...she's not even 2!  But she loved it and had so much fun.  As soon as big sister jumps on Talia is right behind her!

 A weekend at Cocolalla requires a fire and smores.

 Talia loves her chocolate.

Three cousins ready for church!

Happy 4th of July!

Our 4th of July evening started with a bbq at our house.

 We ate outside...

 and played a little basketball.

 Brayden showed the girls how to play the game!

 After dinner we threw around some pop its.

 And then daddy put on a little fireworks show.  Even in the light it was pretty exciting!

 Grandpa and Grandma, Nana and Papa, and Andy, Julie, Brayden were all with us to enjoy the festivities.

 It was a little more difficult for some to throw those pop its hard enough!

 Andy and Brayden setting off some fireworks.

 Later that night we went down to the river to watch the fireworks with Grandpa and Grandma.  They put on a great show and we sat in the perfect spot.

 And the day after...we soaked up some sun.

And ate popsicles.  Life is good.

Happy Independence Day!

Weekend in Portland

When Dallin and Cassie headed back to Portland for the summer we decided to go visit them and the zoo for a weekend.  We picked some berries too but we didn't take pictures of that since we were doing it in the pouring rain!  Thank you Darcee for coming with us just so we could see you for a few minutes!

We started out the weekend doing a little shopping.

The girls played on the toys at Washington Square Mall for a little while.

 We spent Saturday afternoon at the zoo.  Talia loves when she has pockets to rest her hands in (notice the empty stroller behind her).

 This baby elephant put on quite a show for us.  He kept getting in and out of the water and finding sticks that the bigger elephant kept taking from him.

 Checking out the crocodiles.

The tiger and the lion put on a show for us too!  They both were walking and playing around.

 The girls always enjoy the petting area of the zoo.  They pet a rabbit...

 and goats.  Talia was petting them all over...

 while Eliza was a little more hesitant but still enjoyed petting them.

 Watching the penguins up close.

 These two always love being with their Grandpa and Grandma.

We had a fun weekend in Portland.  The next time we head that way we'll get to see our new baby cousin!