Camping Extravaganza

Randy set a goal for our family that we would go camping for 10 nights this year, and we have almost reached it. We have gone 7 nights so far, and have two more camping nights scheduled for this weekend, so by August we will have camped for 9 nights. Whew, that made me tired just thinking about all those nights sleeping in the woods. We have had so much fun. We have been camping in new places this year and with lots of family and friends. Below you will see some highlights from the last three weekends of camping!

Weekend #1: Camping with the Randy's sister Laurie and most of her family at Lodgepole Campground by Strawberry

Mark found a great tree for sitting.

We went on a nature walk, and we found lots of different flowers to smell.

Mark and Dax love to cook hot dogs over the fire.

Nate wore dryer sheets all weekend because they are apparently very attractive! (He said they kept mosquitoes away)

We went on a little hike and Ty came along. We love camping with Ty--he is a great babysitter.

The boys loved their first ride in Aunt Laurie's motorhome.

The gang (Glen, Nate, Laurie, Dax, Randy, Ty, and Mark in front)

Weekend #2: Camping with my old college roommate and her family at Redman Campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon

A moose walked right past our tent.

The kids hanging out in their camping chairs.

Randy tried his hand at chopping wood!

Dax learned about poking the fire from his dad.

The Ockeys at Silver Lake. We hiked around this lake with our friends.

Weekend #3: Camping with Randy's friends from Ephraim at Diamond Campground near Spanish Fork

Mark and Dax loved throwing rocks in the river with Collyn.

Dax decided he wanted to wade into the river.

Parris tried to float down the river.

Dax loved the sparklers--his first time with fireworks.

We all have lots of boys! Collyn, Reddick, Rulon, Dax & Mark

Randy and Natalie--our first picture as a couple since we had Dax! 

We also have a camping trip lined up for Labor Day--so we are definitely reaching our 10 nights goal. It has been a camping year, that's for sure!

Some bears at Yellowstone

Hey, This is Randy.

People who haven't been to Yellowstone in the last 10-15 years always ask us if we see any bears when we go. I remember when it was nearly impossible to see a bear in the park, but those days are over. Each trip we see 15-20 bears, and we don't do anything special. (This 15-20 does count the sow and her 2 cubs we saw 3 days in a row as "9.")

Though we have had a lot of great bear sightings, including seeing cubs inside of 20 feet a few years ago, this video shows my favorite bear sighting of the trip from this year:

Thanks to Natalie for the video and editing

By the way, though we counted 51 different species in the park (including birds), none of them were moose. Don't go to Yellowstone to see moose. We haven't seen any in our last 2 trips. This year the ranger told us there are only 200 left in the park. Go to the Tetons to see moose.

Dax's birthday

I was looking back at my blog and realized I didn't include anything about Dax turning two. I don't want him to feel neglected, since I wrote a huge entry for Mark and his 5th birthday last time. Dax turned two on May 1--May Day! Dax is independent, creative, entertaining, smart, and a sweetheart. One minute he will drive me crazy, but the next minute I am laughing at his adorable smile. Maybe that is a two-year old trait!

We kept Dax's birthday small this year, just a few family members, but I did video him blowing out the candles. We watch this one-minute movie at least once a day. He loves to watch himself, so for his belated birthday blog entry, I am sharing it with you. Enjoy!

Mark's 5th Birthday

The Birthday Boy

Many of you know that Mark was born on the 4th of July. Everyone was heading to the fireworks that year, while I was in the hospital having my first baby at 8:00 at night. But I am so glad he is here. He is such a fun boy. Mark is smart, athletic, a good helper, a kind big brother (most of the time), and a great boy! I am so glad he is in our family.

For his birthday, we invited some of his little cousins to come and play in the water with him. He loves playing in the water in the comfort of our own home. They had a great time.

Playing squirt guns with Grandpa Daniels

Mark with his cousins. They loved the slide!

Thanks Ty for always playing with the kids!

Mark wanted a shark cake for his birthday. I was quite pleased with the result. Randy thought of using white chocolate chips for the teeth after I had stressed over what to use for weeks. Mark loved the cake and that is what matters most!

He got lots of great presents, but there are definitely two stand outs. His Aunt Tiffany & Uncle Jonny spoil him and bought him the light saber that he wanted. He and Dax carry that thing everywhere. I am very impressed that Mark lets Dax play with it as much as he does.

Mark and his new light saber.

Mark also really wanted a space station/rocket that his cousin Daniel has and so his family gave him that. He had a great reaction when he opened it even though I think he knew he was going to get it. After he opened it, Mark asked me if he could take a picture of it--I guess he wanted to capture the moment. He did pretty well.

The 5th birthday was a big success.

Randy in the News

Check out Randy in the Deseret News. They interviewed him regarding male teachers and the lack thereof, but the best part was the boys got to be in the pictures with Randy!

Male Teachers Lacking in the Classroom

Slip 'N' Slide

We bought a slip 'n' slide this year. We thought it would be a fun adventure for Mark and Dax--well we were right. They LOVED it! We have had it out almost every day. They love the summer and anything involving water.

New nephew

Randy's sister, Amy and her husband Brian, welcomed their new baby yesterday. Aiden Brian Schuster is so cute. Since the big event was a scheduled c-section (scheduled at 6am), we watched Samantha, Amy and Brian's oldest child. It was funny to watch Amy and Brian be nervous about leaving her with us--it was Sam's first night away from her mom and dad! I heard that Brian walked into her room 20 times the night before and shed a few tears. I am glad that he loves her so much.

Samantha was an angel. She slept through the night, ate everything I gave her, and had fun playing with my boys. We went to the zoo and wore them out, so all the kids, including the big kids Randy and Natalie, took a nap when we got home. It was fun to watch Samantha love her new baby brother so much when we took her to the hospital last night.

Mark loved holding Aiden, but when we asked Dax if he wanted to hold the baby, he said, "No thank you." I asked, "Are you sure?" Dax replied, "He's too little." That's just how his father feels! Randy didn't hold Aiden either.

Here are a few pictures of our day with 3 kids!

Riding the Zoofari Express!

Loving the carousel.

Being silly!

Love at first sight.

He's TOO little!