The Rushtons are coming! The Rushtons are coming!

 As if Hawaii and Georgia weren't fun enough we fit a family reunion in too!  :)

On the first day of the reunion we met at the Uinta National Forest (just minutes away from our house) for hikes, crafts, and outdoor play time.  The kids seemed to have a lot of fun.  The 'older' kids got into an intense game of monopoly while the younger ones enjoyed the crafts and exploring the forest. 

I love that my boys will all have cousins right around the same age to play with on both sides of the family.

 Hyrum really LOVES going on hikes, so he kept stealing Grandma to take him on hikes on the trails around our site. He even brought his magnifying glass to investigate the rocks.

We had a delicious lunch with the traditional Rushton sandwich (bread, peanut butter, chocolate chips) and afterward roasting marshmallows over the fire. Hyrum never wanted to eat the marshmallows, but he LOVED burning them to a crisp and then watching them bubble up and melt over the fire. 

That afternoon everyone went to the Lindon Aquatics Center and had a blast, however my boys decided to sleep until after 4.  The naps were much needed and made the evening with everyone much more enjoyable.  Everyone came to our place afterward for a yummy BBQ and visiting.  

Georgia, Georgia! (part2)

 We visited Acworth Beach and I was in 'southern heaven'.  It just looked exactly like I imagined Georgia to look like, fully equipped with a white gazebo, hanging trees, and swampy looking area.  We had fun playing in the water.

 

Even though I was assured that alligators wouldn't be there, I couldn't help but feel eyes watching me from the murky water.

Georgia was BEAUTIFUL!  Everyplace just looked like a movie, with porch swings and rocking chairs everywhere.  I highly recommend it.  I'm also so excited to make a book or album of all the pictures I took of the historic sights for my boys to use someday in a report.  

Thanks Lee and Jaclyn for a great vacation and memorable experience!  Let's do it again:)

Georgia, Georgia! (part1)

     We were so happy to go visit our good friends Lee and Jaclyn in Georgia last week!  It was our first time in Georgia and such a fun experience.  First observation:  Humidity is a beast!!!! Second observation:  Georgia is GREEN!!!  Everything was so lush and beautiful, it was hard to believe that cities could exist anywhere with so much dense forest everywhere. Our preferred rental car upon arriving was not available so we got the next best thing.  Brett was excited and in love. . . I, on the other hand, don't see the appeal in squished cars:). 

I had no idea that so much of our Civil War history occurred so close to their home in Georgia.  We could have stayed for weeks to see all the sights.  Being pregnant, and having four kids (ages 1,2,3, and 4 -perfect spacing) along with us, we decided to pick one activity each day.  On one of the days we visited the Marietta Fire Department.  It has a fun little museum with old historic fire trucks, helmets, and other cool things.  I think the best part of it was when one of the firefighters decided to make the kid's day.  He let them see a bunch of their cool tools, get into a rescue truck, push some of the buttons, play on the pole, etc.  The boys are still talking about it:)  I had Hyrum go potty before we left and he kept saying, "I went potty in a firemans toilet. I washed my hands with special fireman soap.  I . . . ".  The simplicity of joys in a 4 year olds mind:)

Lee and Jaclyn's house was incredibly beautiful, with crown molding all throughout, a finished garage, and southern quaintness that made us feel like we were staying in a fancy cabin the whole time.  We did, however, spend  a good amount of time outside too.  The kids had a lot of fun together playing.  They were cute little 'cousins' and got along really well.  I LOVED all the yummy grilled food they cooked up for us. . . mmmmm.  I just might post some of their recipes as we try them out here. 

I was amazed at how many historic sights were so close to their home.  We visited a really cool confederate cemetery.  I learned a lot about the civil war.  Some things just don't translate fully in a text book, but standing in the places they occurred and walking on grounds where battles were fought really changed my outlook.  It was so interesting to be surrounded in the Confederate 'culture' and how they see it not as a war of race, but of loosing their way of privileged life handed down to them for generations.  It was just very interesting how so many confederate flags still adorn polls, graves, and monuments everywhere.  It was a bit of a surprise to see right after celebrating the 4th.

Here one of the final battles were fought before we gained control of Atlanta.

Happy 4th

 I wish I had more pictures to show what a fun night we had, but here are a couple of perks:

Jimkeepers gathering!  We were excited to find out that our long-time friends DJ and Libby were in town so we got to gather with some of the 'local' gang.  It's always so fun getting together and watching families grow.

The boys had a blast with sparklers and some other fireworks Dad bought.  I have to admit we also have the most amazing view of of the fireworks going off over the valley from our deck.  I loved hanging out on our deck from about 9:30-10:30 and seeing all the lights and amazing displays of patriotism.  

FOUR!!!

 I can't believe that our Little Man has turned four!  

In four short years he has managed to grow into a little boy that loves to play, build, race, tell jokes, and ask a LOT of questions.  He makes us laugh with his questions of curiosity and innocent foibles in conversations.  

This year we threw his first ever 'friend' birthday.  There were 13 kids total so we decided to make it a pretty low-key party with presents and cake/ice cream first followed by water fun in the backyard.  It was a summer birthday with umbrella straws, watermelon cake (with big plastic ants crawling on it, of course), and lots of pop-juice (as Hyrum calls it).  

The kids had so much fun splashing down the little slide into the kiddie pool.  

Hawaii- Aloha

We decided to take the boys to go see the Nakalele Blowhole just 20 minutes from our Condo.  Noah fell asleep in the car so Hyrum and I got to go on an 'adventure hike'.  We had so much fun.  Hyrum LOVES hikes and following trails; noticing every rock on the path.  The actual blowhole really wasn't interesting to him, but he was so excited to climb over rocks and slide down the slippery parts of the dirt.  The views were amazing and I loved having the little alone time with him and his curious, adventurous, almost-4 year old self.

     When we got back up to the van Noah had woken up and enjoyed climbing around on the rocks.

I love the pure wild nature that is found all over in Hawaii.  It seems untouched and so free from reality.  

This may seem strange but I LOVED seeing all the little stands on the side of the streets of pineapple and coconut.  I think Pineapple are so beautiful.

I had mentioned before that Cheeseburgers in Paradise was right on the ocean, it really is the perfect location.  When we finished dinner we walked onto the beach just outside and I was in awe at the beauty of the sun-setting.  I attempted to catch a crab for the boys and failed.  I have so many memories catching crabs and creating crab wars in sand-made cages on the Puget Sound.  Hawaii crabs seem to be a little more shy and much harder to catch.  Someday I'll teach my boys the fun of crab catching. 

  

I am so grateful to have been able to go to Hawaii.  It is so easy to be overwhelmed with gratitude for a Father in Heaven who cares enough for us to see to every detail and make things so beautiful for us to enjoy.  Hawaii, Aloha!

Hawaii - The Ocean

   I LOVE the ocean.  I love the smell, the sounds, the salty after-taste on my lips.  I love the sand sinking between my toes and the whole world unseen beneath it's waters.  Spending any amount of time in or near an ocean just makes the whole trip worth it for me.  I hope so badly that my kids will love the ocean as much as me.  

Hyrum loved the beach and playing in the sand, but never warmed up to being in the water that much.  We were glad that we decided to cancel his surfing lessons, because that would have just ended (or began) in tears. . . hopefully he will feel up to it when he's older.  He really liked building things with his sand toys.  He built houses and castles and towers of all kinds.  He's quite the engineer!

Noah was kind of funny about the water.  Sometimes he was scared of it and other times he LOVED riding on the body board.  Brett would push him into the waves and hang on.  He laughed hysterically and loved talking about 'surfing'.  Of course the time I brought my camera out to watch him was when he was scared.  He often loved being in his own little world on the sand.  He would play for hours with his buckets and shovels and sometimes just run around in circles.  

Brett takes the attack approach on the ocean and loves just jumping right into the waves.  He was so glad that he also had the opportunity to go Scuba diving while there too (pictures to come later).

Despite my love of the ocean, I really don't like getting in too deep, but I LOVE snorkeling.  I was so glad that we found some time to get out there with some of my nephews and brother-in-laws.  I saw some awesome tropical fish and amazing coral reefs.