June 2012

So bummed that the first month of summer is already over!  But, we are having a blast and enjoying the break from school schedules and having more time to play and be together as a family.  Here’s a look at our month:

We spent the first week of June in sunny southern California.  To celebrate Megan’s graduation, we surprised the kids by staying in the Disneyland Hotel while we were in Anaheim and we all loved it!  We had a great time at the parks and got to ride all of our favorite rides several times.  We also had fun eating lunch at The Blue Bayou (the restaurant that is inside “The Pirates of the Caribbean”) – so yummy!, enjoying “World of Color” from the very front row – soaked and spectacular!, playing in the brand new pools and waterslides at the hotel, and having breakfast at “Goofy’s Kitchen”.  It was a fun filled 3 1/2 days for sure! 

After Anaheim, we drove out to Newport Beach and spent 4 of the most gorgeous days we have ever seen at the California coast.  The weather was spectacular, the ocean was warm enough to play in and the beach was just a few steps from our rented beach house.  The house itself was a bit of a dive in a rather interesting area – we were surrounded by groups of college students who pretty much partied all day every day, but they were friendly. :)  While we were in Newport Beach, we also went to the Pacific Coast Aquarium, played at Balboa pier and went kayaking, too.  It was a really fun week!

Autumn is back in swim team for the summer and is enjoying that.  The boys elected to swim laps on their own while Autumn is in practice and are enjoying spending time at the pool each day.  Seth set a goal this summer to run a 10k, bike 50 miles and swim the mile at scout camp in July.  He is so diligent about doing at least 2 of his 3 forms of exercise each day to be prepared to reach his goals.  He will run the 10k and attempt the mile swim in July and then the 50 mile bike ride is scheduled for August – we’ll keep you posted.

Autumn is also excited to be back to dancing after having 2 weeks off.  She took a 2 day hip hop boot camp and loved everything she learned and her fun instructors.  She continues to take all of her regular classes (ballet, jazz, hip hop, tumbling, and technique) each week and never seems to tire of it.  She is definitely our energizer bunny!

The kids decorated our room with hearts of love for Bryce for Father’s Day – they are still hanging in our room – not sure if that is because he loves them so much or because we are too lazy to take them down, but they are fun to look at anyway!  Megan also gave Bryce his first piece of Utah State apparel for Father’s Day and even got him to wear it by flashing her gorgeous smile.  He did wear it to church on Father’s Day (slightly grudgingly) and promised her he would wear it to church on the weekends she comes home. :)

Megan celebrated her 18th birthday by attending the Singles Ward for the first time (which she is loving) and then later in the week, voted in her first election (the Republican Primary) and had a BBQ party with some of her friends. Happy Birthday Megan!!