{summer surprises!}

This Summer, I knew I didn't want to have waste away, especially since our oldest child is starting kindergarten in August (tear).

We decided it would be fun for the kids, plus me and Jon, to have surprise getaways for the day where we tell the kids before we go or have them guess where were going and we just have some fun family time together. This is a little something we like to call...

Summer Surprises.

So far, we've been to Lagoon ,which Jon's work amazingly paid for, and believe me, we would never pay to have 3 young children go- even if we do live 2 minutes away.

We bought a new pool at the local Harmon's and the kids started swim lessons at the local pool.

We went to the Living Planet Aquarium (which if you use a Tracy Aviary pass, you can get in for half the price).

This place was so much fun. Jaina l.o.v.e.d. the sea horses, and now loves drawing them all the time (they have a human head and something that resembles a tail?...slightly freaky, but cute!)

The kids also loved touching the sting rays.

I was amazed at all the different creatures that live in the ocean, and it's also fun to see that God had a sense of humor when he created the Earth:)

We went to Brigham to see the Angel Moroni placed on the temple- except if you were there, you'd know they actually didn't get it placed on because of difficulties with the weather, or something like that. But it was still an amazing experience! And after visiting friends and family back in my old neighborhood, it had finally been placed on. It is beautiful!

Growing up in Brigham, I would have never guessed that they would have a temple, and now- there it is, smack dab in the heart of Brigham. I love it and it makes me wish even more that I lived back there!

Afterwards, we went with my sis, parents and our "well behaved children" (right Nae?) to the Golden Spike Grill in lonely ole' Corrine for some yummy burgers and corn dogs! It was fun!!!

We've also managed to visit a lot of family and just relax. Here is my hubby, my sister and her husband, Justin, and his sister, Jen and, her new baby. My sister and her family were staying with Jen while they found a new house, and now they have "hopefully" found one and I am soooooooo excited to have her living close again!!!

These are Jon's parents and they are some of the most amazing, kindest, most giving people I know. We always feel so welcome when we go visit! And my kids pretty much love going to there house to play Grandma's ipad, watch more movies than they could dream of, have Grandpa hold them everywhere they go, and eat Grandma's yummy candy from her plethora of candy jars.

And my kids pretty much also love visiting my parents, especially when other family is there to visit. (I think a big part of it is because then cousin Abby can teach Jaina some ballet steps!)

My kids love Grandmas endless stash of Creamies, looking at Grandpa's new wooden creations (my dad was pretty much just like one of Santa's elves while growing up- Christmases were almost always filled with wooden toys- they were the best!!!)

And deep down, I know they really do like Grandpa's teasing:)

What's still in store for the rest of the Summer?

a trip to the zoo

Sweet's candy factory

maybe a camping trip... maybe

a hike to Donut falls where we eat donuts when we get there (kind of counteracts the point of hiking)

and hopefully a few more surprises!

What are some of your Summer surpises?

lucky seven

*the number on our house

*about how big we want our family to be one day

*the number of times I have to tell the kids to do something before they do it.

*the time my water broke when I was expecting our first baby (7pm)

*about how many minutes it took Jon to decide he wanted to marry me on our first date... but thankfully didn't tell me right then:)

*the month we were married in (July)

*and how many years I've been married to my best friend.

Marrying Jon was the easiest and the best decision I have ever made!

I remember months before our wedding, we were deciding which temple to marry in. I really wanted the SL temple, but it was closed until a month after our planned wedding date. I just knew I couldn't wait an extra month to get married, so we both agreed on the Bountiful temple.

And now we can see it lit up each night out of Hunter and Grey's bedroom window.

I feel pretty grateful that we can be a family forever if I keep those covenants I made 7 years ago. Every day when I look at my children, I feel so very blessed to have them be ours and that we get to experience life together. I've learned that my life is not my own anymore, but is so much more joyful than it was before I met Jon. I feel pretty lucky that we can share our memories together, some that are sad, but mostly happy!

Our honeymoon 7 years ago was so fun and relaxing at Johnson's Mill in Heber valley. I was so excited to begin the rest of my life with Jon! Little did we know that our family would more than double in only 5 years:)

We spent this year at the Anniversary Inn in Logan. It was so fun as long as I didn't think of the dozens of other couples that had been there. eeewww!

Our room was the only cheap room left, the Arctic. It was actually a pretty "cool" room:)

The one thing that is fun about Jon is that he likes to shop at antique stores, and he has "a good eye for a straight guy" interior design sense (he would die if he knew I was sharing this on here:))

so we checked out a lot of the antique malls in Logan, which are a.w.e.s.o.m.e!

We then ate out at our fav restaurant, Juniper Takeout and even saw a beautiful rainbow driving into Cache valley. It was so much fun to spend some time together, since we don't get out without the kids very often.

Which speaking of the kids... they had so much fun with Grandma and Papa Pearson who kindly watched them over night! I think that was the highlight of our kids Summer!

Love you sweetie!!!