Bear Lake With My Girls!

An overnighter with my best girls...it was just what the doctor ordered! Nicole called me to report that her cabin (a.k.a beautiful and enormous vacation home) was available for us to use. We managed to pull it together by getting babysitters (thank you Mom and Tucker!) and work off and were on the road within a couple of days. Woo woo!
Our first stop- La Beaus of course! Yes it was 10:00pm, a bit late for food, but I managed to down some onion rings and the best ever raspberry shake. Mmmmm...
Just FYI on who's who if you haven't been reading my blog in the past-pictured below is Julie, Nicole, me, Jessica and her sweet little boy Charlie whom we all love and adore:As if we didn't have enough time to catch up on the ride to Bear Lake, we stayed up until 3 in the morning talking, laughing, and talking some more. I can't remember the last time I was awake at that hour and I don't plan on doing it again anytime soon, but it was well worth the girl time I don't normally get.The next morning, we woke up to the realization of how much we ate the night before so we decided some exercise was in order. Just a nice long and brisk walk into town...and more talking ensued. As we walked past this home, I was in shock of the thousands of gorgeous flowers surrounding it. What was more surprising, however, was the fact that this little old lady was out working and had accomplished this all on her own!I challenge you to find a more pristine and beautiful lake than Bear Lake. I also challenge you to find a colder one! We couldn't let the cold keep us from enjoying the scenery and what the lake had to offer, so we screamed all the way in until we made it safe and sound onto the raft. Once we were there and had started to dry off, life was good:

What I wouldn't give to have time to just lay out in the sun with my girlfriends-that never happens with kids anymore and there I was!Then we had to run back to the beach and there was even more screaming and running with our arms up!Mexican food in Bear Lake? What? And it's fabulous? Folks, this is Cafe Sabor and it is delicioso!Nicole was sweet enough to want to celebrate me and Jessica's birthday so she made a yummy treat (did we eat the entire time? yes, we did, and I have no regrets!) and they even sang happy birthday. Thank you!A moment out on the porch before we have to depart. As cute as we are, what is even better is the reflection of the lake and mountains you see in the windows. Wow that place is pretty!

Thank you girls for a fabulous time away and thank you Nicole for allowing us to use this incredible place. I had such a great time simply spending time with all of you and I am so excited to add this trip to the many fun memories I have of Bear Lake.

24th of July 10k

Some of the Curtis family decided to run the 24th of July 10k together. None of us are big runners by any means, but with the help of each other and some serious glucosamine for our 80 year-old knees, we did it! It was actually a lot of fun and I can finally understand why so many people enjoy racing-it really makes running exciting. I loved all the people camped out along the parade route cheering us on, some even handing out hot dogs (not really what you're in the mood for, however, while running at 7:00am), and just the overall spirit of the runners was awesome. Tucker, Cody and Richard ran ahead, while Cheri, my Dad and I kept to a leisurely pace (like a fat 10 minute mile pace) behind and that was just fine by me. What topped the race day was a trip to Kneaders for their delicious cinnamon rolls-we had totally earned it!
Before the race...nice and fresh at 6:00AM:Tucker, Alysha, Cheri, Cody, Dad and RichardWe are done and still feeling good!!!

Mulligans Miniature Golfing

The idea of putting a long metal stick in your 2 year-old's hands may seem hazardous...and it was at times...but they were so focused on hitting that little ball vs. everything else, we all survived. Roman was pretty intense about it actually, and I had to laugh when I saw his little lips pursed together. Even Capri got into it! Austin and Sophie were such good sports. It was hard to sink that putt when you had the twins and Luke running around, picking up everyone's balls, getting in front of the hole, and simply getting in the way, but they kept at it with smiles on their faces. Good times for all!
Capri getting excited!Lining up for the shot...Austin and Lukie as happy as ever!I have never seen this look of Roman's before, but I am loving it!Capri with club and ball in hand...she carried both everywhere:Tiffany, Grammy and the kiddos:

Oquirrh Lake Park

We have a new park in Daybreak that is absolutely fabulous. It includes an awesome playground, basketball courts, tons of lawn, and a beach. The only problem is that everyone else thinks it is the best new park too-so it gets packed! We decided to brave the crowds and take the Ludwigs out for a Sunday evening activity and it did not disappoint...
Luke loves his big brother Austin and Austin loves his little brother Luke:I had to throw this one in too because seriously, how cute is he!Can I say model in training?!Capri playing in the sand...finally. I don't know if you remember, but our little Cali girl has never been a fan of this stuff. She finally gave in and loved it!

A Boating Family

Tucker's family loves to get out on the lake so when the Ludwigs were in town, we made a few trips on the boat. My kids absolutely loved it and did surprisingly well. They both wanted to drive the boat just like Daddy and Grampy and were even allowed to honk the horn-seriously a highlight for them! I could see them get so excited about this new adventure, whether it was watching the wakeboarders behind the boat or taking a ride up front in the bow. Roman even got in the water when we started to experience that July heat we all know and love...or at least are ok with when on the boat! The heat wasn't anything we had to worry about on our second trip out-we had lots of cloud cover, cool breezes and even a bit of rain. Still, a great trip and the only one I had my camera so enjoy...
Capri trying on Grammy's visor-again with the accessories!Tucker's sister Tiffany and her sweet Sophie-we miss these girls!Lukie! We were so excited to see Roman and Capri have the perfect little buddy to play with:

Roman totally enthralled with something other than taking a picture with his mom...surprise, surprise.Capri's favorite spot on the boat was wherever Grammy was:

Talk about extreme tubing! I couldn't even watch as these two, Austin and Dave, were behind the boat. Even when we were stopped, they just kept going:

I think this pretty much sums up our boating trips...

Silver Lake

What is wrong with me?! I have totally lost my motivation to keep up with my blog this summer. We have been so busy doing lots of fun things and I guess I get overwhelmed to think of what I have to post...or maybe because it is summer and I am just not in the mood! Either way, I am going to try and redeem myself and am starting with an easy and small post.

About a month ago, my nephew Spencer told his mom that he wanted all of us to go on a hike. Considering Tucker wasn't able to join us, Silver Lake seemed all the "hike" I could take, but it worked out perfectly. We ate Wendy's (I know, just what you'd think of when going up the canyon) and then started on our little trek. My kids loved being with their cousins and I loved being up in such a beautiful place so all in all, it was a great trip!

Robert and Spencer heading out:Jesse and Eli on the bike-extreme, I know:

Roman and Kaleb decided to take a ride for a bit:My mom showing Capri the little fishies:

Roman out on the dock to check things out:

Me and my girl:

Ava and Lily Come To Play!

We were so excited to have Tucker's brother Tyler, his wife Mindy, and their kids here last month. We had so much fun going to Heritage Park, swimming in Grammy and Grampy's hot tub, playing at the park, and playing dress-ups. Everything is more fun when you have cousins like Ava and Lily around!
At the park:
This is Roman copying one of the older boys as he touches his toes the entire way down. He wants to be big so badly! Capri hijacked someone's shovel but I was totally ok with that considering the was willing to get in the sand because of it (oh yeah, although she has spent most of her life in California, she absolutely hates the sand).This girl is such a daredevil! I loved that Ava was the only girl climbing this thing to the top and loving every minute of it!A sweetie on the swings. I guess Lily is also a daredevil because I was not pushing her high enough-he dad had to step in and give her a real ride on the swings!

Ava is not only daring, but she is also strong. She hung on while Tucker and Tyler spun her around:

And then the boys decided they wanted to have a try:

Grammy was happy to push her darling Ava:

HOT TUBBING:

Capri is 110% girl and shows it by accessorizing whenever she can...even if it's with goggles and swim floaties:

Tyler and Ava hanging out in the tub:

Grampy helping Capri get used to the idea of the hot tub:

HERITAGE PARK:

We went again! We seriously can't get enough of that place!

Here is Tucker, Keith and Tyler:

Two cute girls!

Having fun with the player piano which brings back such great memories for me because we had one just like it!

Riding the choo-choo train:
DRESS-UPS:

Ok, so Roman isn't into dressing up in princess dresses but he was still having fun watching the girls do their thing:
Presenting Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella...
and let's not leave Tinkerbell out!
Ok, that is the end of a long post with lots of pictures. Thanks for hanging in there!