Bear Lake

In July, my sister-in-law Nikki's mom and dad invited us all up to Bear Lake to celebrate Dan's birthday. Connie rode up with us, Dale's family and Amanda's family went, Dan, Nikki and Wake, and of course her parents. They have a really nice, grassy property there that's really close to the beach. We set up tents on the grass and "camped" if you could even call it that. They even built a nice bathroom there with a running sink, toilet and hot shower. We had fun on the jet skis and playing in the sand during the day and playing games at night. They said they want to make it a yearly tradition, so hopefully we will be able to go again.

As usual this girl loves to get dirty!

She had a lot of fun playing with her little cousin Wakefield

She loves her cousins Tommi and Brilynn too!

We got home from Bear Lake and Connie's birthday was the following Tuesday, July 12th. This is the only picture I got! Happy birthday!! We love you!

Summer Fun

We had lots of fun this summer playing with cousins, swimming, playing at the park and going to the water slide.

Ellie, Kaden, and Brooklyn

All 5 Monsen grandkids: Ellie, Brooklyn, Kenadee, Kaden, and Kaleb

Kenadee

Kaleb

Swimming at Kaden's house

Daddy's work water slide party

Brooklyn with Kenna and Addison Dudley

Mia Maid Class Activity

For our Mia Maid class activity in July we had a BBQ/water party at Aubryn Talbot's home. We had an awesome home made slip n slide and also played water balloon volleyball. We had Jade Timothy, Aubryn Talbot, Audrey Fitchette and Cami Adams there that night. I've said it so many times, but they are all such amazing girls and Brooklyn and I always have so much fun with them!

Planting trees

Ben has been working really hard on our yard and landscaping all summer. In July, we planted our trees. We did a TON of research on trees for months, and finally decided on ornamental pear trees. We planted four of them in the front yard, and I think we'll be really happy with them.

Brooklyn loved being outside this summer and has no problems getting in the mud and getting dirty.

Lee's Birthday

Lee's birthday was on July 21st. We went over to their house to celebrate.

Brooklyn's eyes look psycho in this picture, but this is her with the birthday boy.

Mom and Kenadee

Monica and baby Kaleb

Bunco at Red Canyon Lodge

For Bunco in July, we drove up to Red Canyon Lodge for dinner. I always have a lot of fun with these girls, they all have become such great friends! It was fun to do something a little different for Bunco this time. (I stole these pics from Jessica's blog).

L to R: Alice Dudley, Andrea Newman

L to R: Me, Debra Slaugh, Chelina Samuels (she's not technically in our group, but was so much fun, I hope she comes back)!

L to R: Jada Dudley, Jessica Spafford, Alison Dudley

24th of July

We had a fun 24th of July weekend. My oldest friend, BriAnn and her husband Derek and cute baby Isaac came to visit. They got to Vernal on Friday afternoon and left Sunday morning. Monica and her family were also here that weekend. On Friday we went over to my mom and dad's for a BBQ.

Brookie can NOT sit still long enough for a picture!

MiKell and Kenadee

Monica, Kaleb and Ellie

BriAnn and Isaac with me and Brooklyn.

Brooklyn loved sparklers this year!

Saturday morning BriAnn and I got up and went to the parade while Ben, Derek and Kyler went fishing.

This fish was from a totally different fishing trip, but it was also in July.

After we all got home we took a nap, had lunch and then went up to Dry Fork for a little while. We played in the stream, then played at the park at Remember the Maine.

Isaac is about 8 months old here. BriAnn is pregnant and about a week after they left our house, she had her ultrasound and found out that they were having TWIN boys!! How lucky for Isaac to have two little buddies to play with!

We had to take a picture by this sign, because it's what Ben did for his Eagle project back in 2001.

We finished the weekend off with pizza and S'mores at Ben's mom and dad's house with the whole gang. What a fun weekend with friends and family! I'm so glad that the Christensen's came to visit, and I hope they make it a yearly tradition. BriAnn and I have been friends since we were in grade school and I'm so glad that we've stayed in touch all of these years. I can't wait to meet her new little bundles of joy!

Uintah County Fair

On Friday afternoon my mom, MiKell and I took the kids down to the Uintah County Fair to go check everything out. The thing Brooklyn loved the most (and the only thing I took pictures of) was the "Little Red Barn." Brooklyn was once again in heaven being around all the animals!

The next morning we took Brooklyn down to the Western Park for the Baby show. That's definitely something I will never do again. It really wasn't the best experience.

I promise I'm not a sore loser, but she didn't win ANYTHING! Not even cutest hair, cutest eyelashes, cutest smile, NOTHING! I know every mom there obviously thought that her baby was the cutest thing on the planet, but really?! I left there feeling like the biggest loser ever and I felt guilty for subjecting poor little Brooklyn to it all. I guess I learned the hard way that I don't need a stranger's approval to know that my daughter is the cutest, most adorable baby ever!! :)