We made it just on time for our hike of Ensign Peak with a few families of those women Mom served her mission with on Temple Square many years ago. The younger girls weren't super excited about another "hike" after the more challenging one a few days earlier. Elizabeth still brought up the rear but this one was much easier than the previous one and the girls were proud of themselves for making it to the top. It also had a gorgeous view of the Salt Lake Valley.
This was Elizabeth's "I made it to the top!" pose. She is such a little trooper and we sure love her.
It was a great group to hike with. The girls met some new friends and Mom saw some old friends she hasn't seen in a long time. Although it was super hot, we still enjoyed the evening hike.
We opted out of the family tour of Temple Square as the girls have been there a few times before. Instead Mom decided to take them to the Humanitarian Centre and Welfare Square, which were also added as part of her mission while she was serving. Mom wanted the girls to see these other aspects of the work the church does. The girls were so impressed to see these bundles of clothes and learn that they are sent around the world to help those in need. There were many eye opening things the girls learned on their tour and things they learned about other parts of the world. We are so blessed with all that we have and that we have the opportunity to help others.
They enjoyed learning about the welfare program of the church but also loved getting to try the bread, peanut butter, jam, cheese and chocolate milk they make.
We were a little early for the tour at the Humanitarian Center so we had gone to the church distribution center across the street. The girls each ended up picking out 2 CTR (Choose the Right) rings in different languages. Elizabeth and Cera were wearing one of theirs on our tours. It happened that sisters giving us the tour at Welfare Square were from Korea and that is the ring Cera was wearing. She asked them how to say choose the right in Korean and it sounded pretty cool. Elizabeth was wearing her Finnish ring and there happened to be a family on the tour from Finland. Elizabeth was too shy to ask them how to say it, so brave Cera took her over and did all the talking. Cera said it sounded really long. It was a neat experience for the girls.
We also enjoyed our fair share of sonic drinks while in Utah! The girls loved picking their flavors each time. It was also the hottest week this summer in Lehi/Salt Lake so they were great to help us cool down!
We were excited for our visit to Thanksgiving Point again. Great Aunt Wendy helped us get in and do all the things we wanted to do. Our first stop was another visit to the canopy walk. Cera and Emilee have been waiting to do this again since our last visit. Elizabeth was tall enough this time but Mom wasn't sure she'd do it. She has surprised us this summer with being brave but walking on a beam and rope course suspended over 40 feet in the air is another thing. So Mom joined in the fun just in case Elizabeth needed a little extra help (although Mom is a little afraid of heights so this was also a challenge for her!)
Luckily we were the only ones on the course at this scheduled time so it made it easier to take our time but also Elizabeth got some one on one help from this amazing employee!! She was so great with Elizabeth - letting her take her time and encouraging her all the way. Elizabeth did many of the beams and ropes and went all the way to the top! She was so proud of herself (as were all of us) and happy with the new friend she made.
We were so excited to have Great Aunt Wendy and Addi come with us for the day at the museum of natural curiosity. The girls had just as much fun exploring as last time we went. The tornado exhibit was new to us and the girls were very interested to watch how tornadoes form and how quickly they can dissipate when interrupted just a little.
They still loved the wind/hurricane machine!
It did wonders to Emilee's hair!!
The changing exhibit was now a geometry playground instead of optical illusions from last time. Emilee had fun creating patterns using basic shapes.
The climbing play structure in the area was also very popular. Can you spot any of the girls hiding inside?
The girls figured they'd be able to squeeze closer to the same as a python this year as they are all older and stronger. It still appears they have a ways to go!
Last time we visited Thanksgiving Point Mom had to practically carry Elizabeth across this bridge - check her out now! Time and maybe walking in the rafters gave her a confidence boost. Way to go Elizabeth! We had such a great day at the museum and not shocking, the girls weren't ready to leave when it was time. Not sure if they will ever grow tired of this museum.
The girls also enjoyed a visit to Brad and Cait's to see their rabbits and baby bunnies. They loved every minute of it - not sure the bunnies felt the same way. The girls also had some fun with their dogs. It was a good night for them!
The girls enjoyed playing at Mom's mission reunion. They found some other girls their age and setup a school in one of the classrooms in the church. It was cute to peak in on them and see them happily playing together.
There were a few girls they made a good connection with. In fact, they even traded addresses with a few so they can become pen pals. It was a fun night!
These are some of the sisters that Mom served with while on a mission on Temple Square years ago. It was fun to get together to see how things have changed (and some things stayed the same) over the many years. It was great to see old friends and listen to the mission president and his wife speak. It was a fun, uplifting and enjoyable night.
We really enjoyed our visit and really appreciated Great Aunt Wendy and Great Uncle Mark letting us stay with them. They are always so wonderful to us when we are there! They feed us well and put up with our crazy, running around schedule. They even let the girls climb their trees and teach them all about walnuts and other fruits that we aren't use to growing in our backyard. We are so grateful for the love they show us! Thanks for helping make yet another visit great!!
After we left Montana, we were headed to Utah. We are so grateful for our friends, the South's, who let us crash at their house in Idaho for a night as Utah was a long way for Mom to drive alone in one trip. We were also glad we could spend part of the day with them learning and enjoying Idaho. Check out this great looking group! Ready to go exploring!
The South's live on a butte so we were able to enjoy the beauty of it and the differences this area has from where we live. It's a little hard to see in the picture but this is a huge zip line they have in the crater of the butte. Emilee and Cera had fun climbing up the hill and riding it down. The South kids even pushed Emilee part way back up the hill so the ground was closer for her to get off and Cera helped lift her down as she was nervous to just jump. Kids are so great!!
We headed into the crater of the butte and the girls were able to learn and give dirt biking a try. Emilee decided she was happy to just ride behind someone and didn't want to try it on her own. Cera on the other hand really enjoyed driving by herself. They were riding on a very soft surface and didn't go too fast which helped Mom not freak out too much!
They also have a zip line in their garage! The girls loved playing around in the garage and riding the zip line. Can you guess what they want at our house now? Too bad our garage is way smaller.
Even Elizabeth gave this zip line a try. After once with Mom holding her, she was off on her own riding it again and again.
The girls also loved having kids younger than them that they could be "Mom" with. (We are grateful the South's were so patient with them!) It really was great to watch older kids helping younger kids with everything throughout the day though. That gave us Mom's some more time to visit and catch up on everything since we saw them last summer.
The South's also pulled out their industrial snow cone maker. The girls were in heaven!! Who doesn't love an afternoon exploring, playing with friends, eating snow cones and basically having a party!! We stayed until the absolute last minute that we could in order to make it to our hike in Utah. The girls were so sad to leave their friends and look forward to seeing them again - hopefully sooner than later! Thank you so much South Family!!
We had our first (planning to be annual) Richards family reunion. Ryan and Jenn invited everyone down to their cabin in Montana for a few days of fun, Grandma and Grandpa provided the food to keep us all healthy and happy and we all chipped in to keep gas in the boat.
Dad and the girls headed down Thursday morning in his truck with the trailer. Mom waited to see if Anna and Cooper needed a ride as Clare still wasn't doing 100%. Luckily Jadi was able to make it for the weekend and brought the kids with her. Mom picked up Tori and they had a trip full of visiting on the way down.
Dad was able to show off some of his water skiing skills from when he was a teenager with the girls. They were pretty impressed with their old dad!!
Cera was also able to give water skiing a try for the first time. She was pretty excited and did great on the trainer skis.
You could tell by her half smiles that she was having fun and proud of herself for doing it. Way to try something new Cera!
Emilee also gave water skiing a try and did great! We think she surprised herself when she came up out of the water. Unfortunately on the second try she ended up with a face/nose full of water and wasn't up for another try. She said she still had fun and will try again another time. Way to go Em!
We weren't sure Elizabeth would get in the boat - let alone on the tube! She is a very cautious girl but she surprised us this weekend! She jumped right on that tube with her sisters and loved it from the first minute. Way to go Elizabeth!
The boat went for hours with kids (and adults) riding behind it. Some wanted to go faster and some liked things a little slower but they all loved it! It was fun for those in the boat to watch the kids laugh and bounce around on the tube. We love Cera and Em's hair in this picture!
Emilee spent a lot of time jumping on the water trampoline also. She thought it was fun to bounce but also tip around in the water. Also play time with cousins is pretty great!
That is one full boat of Richards' cousins!
After full days of playing, we moved to the fire for long nights of visiting.
On the last night before families started to leave, Aunt Jenn planned a dance party. She enlisted the help of the kids to blow up balloons and place little lights inside of them. Then the music was turned on loud and the kids danced the night away!!
Sunday morning before we had to head out, we went on a hike. It wasn't a very long hike but it was a steep hike and the hottest day of our reunion to boot. Cera powered ahead with the group but Emilee and Elizabeth took it a little slower. Grandpa stayed back with us and we definitely brought up the rear! But we made it to the top and that's all that matters! What a great looking group! (Some families already had to leave and others stayed behind with little ones or to pack up and there were some that didn't want to hike also.)
We made it!! It was a beautiful view of the lake from on top of the hill.
Original Richards that went on the hike. We are all so grown up!
The kids had fun jumping on the tramp, playing volleyball and running around outside all weekend! It was great to see cousins having a blast together!
The kids also enjoyed the "make your own hot dog roasting stick" activity. It was fun to see the creativity of each of the kids. There were so many great, unique ideas.
Cousin cuddle time in the hammock! It might be at it max capacity!
Mom and Dad were also able to sneak away for dinner in town to celebrate their 12th anniversary. Thanks to family who fed and kept an eye on our kids.
We had an enjoyable few days away, spending time with family and strengthening family bonds. Family really is such a blessing!
After being home for a few days, we decided to head back out to the lake with Grandma and Uncle Mike. While we were getting ready to go we found out that Clare would be going in for another surgery to reconnect the hooks for the rods in her back. While we were sad for Clare, we were happy that Anna and Cooper could come along camping with us. We also had Aunt Tori and Uncle Tyler coming too! (And Grandpa was able to join us for a few days after Tori, Tyler, Anna and Cooper had to head for home.) Our camping trip turned into quite the party!!
Elizabeth loved going for daily walks around the lake. Some days it took longer as she had to stop at every little opening in the trees to throw a rock or two in the water. It was a good time for Mom and Elizabeth chats though!
We enjoyed lots of time hanging out around the fire. The kids especially love hot dog night!
Who would image running into Uncle Bob and Aunt Viv in the middle of the lake in another province? But it happened! And they had a "floating island" that the kids fell in love with! They were nice enough to let our crew take it out for a bit and play. (Which in turn sold Grandma on it so she called Grandpa to go to the store and buy one! They love to spoil their kids and grandkids!)
We had brought a few crafts for cooler days. They kids enjoyed painting bird houses and pictures. Some were left at the trailer to add to the outdoor decorations.
And no camping/lake trip with Uncle Mike is complete without a water fight! He is always up for a water fight with anyone that will join in. He's even happy to get the adults that are sitting in the chairs on the beach.
The girls love to wear their goggles so they can look at things under the water. There is just something about a cute kid in goggles that you can't pass up taking a picture. We sure do love you, Elizabeth!
Emilee couldn't wait to show Mom the baby crayfish they caught. It was so small!
Mom felt like she was taking a walk down memory lane as Grandpa shared some stories from his childhood with the girls around the campfire. These are some of Mom's favorite childhood memories - Grandpa telling crazy stories while driving to and from Great Grandma and Grandpa's houses. Maybe it's Mom's memory but some of the stories seemed even bigger and crazier than when she heard them as a kid! *smile*
The girls really enjoyed some game time with Grandma and Grandpa while Mom enjoyed watching and reading a good book.
We also got Mike to go in the kayak while we were camping. He was super tippy and we figured he'd be in the water pretty quick but he kept himself up better than we thought.
Another camping/lake trip requirement is a canoe ride with Grandpa. He always has lots of helpers when it comes to paddling! The girls have so many wonderful memories (and maybe a few expectations) of the lake and the great people we get to spend time with there.
