July 2020

The 4th of July this year, was certainly not like any other:-( I did pull out this swimming pool that I've been saving for a special occasion. It worked great...for two days. It was a fun, refreshing two days!

Thomas cannot get Ezra out of his bed. So he sometimes just joins the fun in the bed. All of Ezra's brothers are good at making Ezra's bed a party bed.

The boys were really into science experiments at the beginning of the summer. So I saved this one for the fourth of July. Just vinegar and baking soda = excited kids!

With our cookie cutter set, we had stars and flags...so we just had to use them.

And the main event! These boys were so excited to light their very own fireworks. They put all of their dollars together and bought five fireworks. They loved every minute of the three minute show!

For better or for worse, Thomas got pretty good with the lighter.

I've been playing volleyball on Monday mornings with a bunch of moms. They boys have been really good sports about coming along and playing in the sand while I play.

Another state park! We actually remembered to take a picture by the sign. The boys had so much fun on this trip. It was a really rocky beach, but they found their own special rocks and even talked me into bringing a boulder home with us!

I liked the picnic in the shade!

Kyle's family came over for a day. It was fun for everyone!

For our anniversary this year, we realized we probably shouldn't find a babysitter, so we took the babies with us. I found a first come campsite up the Mt. Nebo Loop near Maple Lake. I'd never heard of it, but it was awesome! It was a little hike to the lake, but Thomas helped with all of the life jackets. 

Lincoln swam across the entire lake, and everyone took a turn on the kayaks.

We drove into town for dinner Friday night, and found a giant grassy area to picnic...and play! 

Saturday we got to enjoy the lake some more! Ezra is such a water boy!

I went on a little hike on Saturday morning while I was waiting for everyone to wake up.  It was different to hike through a forest that had been burned, but it looked cool as the moon was setting!

After a lot of tries, Lincoln caught a fish! This lake was fully stocked and everyone around the shore was doing a lot of catching. I was so glad Dean was there to help when the bite finally came!

These nice people also let Oliver help get this fish in!

On the way home, we drove around looking for another lake to try fishing. We found one that we had to off road in the minivan for a couple of miles, but the lake wasn't stocked with fish. It was so hot, and there was no shade, but we picnicked in the shade of the van and there were thousands of grasshoppers to chase.

Another week, another state park. Holly and her kids joined us this time!

These rocks were too far away to throw into the lake, so Oliver and Ezra built with them instead.

There was the perfect hammock tree.

Holly shared her paddle board and I got to take all of the boys on that.

One of the highlights of my summer...The boys surprised me with a mom appreciation day. Lincoln set everything up and the boys followed right along! I got back from my workout, and they had breakfast all ready for me. Decorations and gifts too! It was pretty adorable! My boys sure know how to be thoughtful.

We didn't let a little thing like COVID-19 stop us from having some Bear Lake fun with the Poll's! Getting these cousins together is simply amazing!

My mom rented a pontoon boat on Monday and the kids all got on and were able to picnic and jump off and have so much fun. Then she got a speed boat for skiers, wake boarders and the kids went tubing too on Tuesday!

The fun really didn't stop. The whole time! The weather was perfect and we found this beach to ourselves on the second day.

Carson led all of the boys in a bird hunt.

Dean and Shane must have been celebrating that they survived a Poll family vacation.

We did a perfect sized nature hike on our way home Wednesday. Carson and Ezra were little buds and hiked the whole thing together! It was adorable! 

We stopped at a little lake in Logan on the way home and pulled out the kayaks one last time. This was the first time Ezra dared to get on one. He had a great time!

We hiked Hidden Falls with Julie and her kids...if you can call it a hike. It's always fun to get out with friends!

Thomas LOVES games! All kinds of games! This one he played by himself, and he was so proud!

Movie night! Finding a movie that will please all five of these boys is no small job. But it looks like a winner!

Ezra got his finger slammed in the car door in May. It finally fell off, and he was so proud!

We attempted a hike up by Red Butte Garden for FHE one night. It started to pour rain as we drove up. The boys did a great job enjoying the rain instead!

Skate parks have been our new thing. We try to go first thing in the morning before the heat and the crowds come. All of the boys are improving! This skate park was a little too slippery for us. All of the boys fell in this bowl.

We got to visit our newest cousin! Kyle and Emily had a baby while we were playing in Bear Lake. They have been living in Provo for the summer, so we went to pay them a visit. Once again. Cousin time = AWESOME TIME!

Lincoln and Baby Nixon

Oliver loves babies! He was so excited to meet this guy!

This skate park was in Kearns. Lincoln got a lot better as the morning went on.

Jodi and Shane and kids met us at Sugarhouse pPrk for a fun adventure. These two girls wandered off by themselves...but we found them. We had a picnic and went ice blocking and I gave these two a ride back to my house in the trailer. They were thrilled!