"Camping" Trip, Day 3

Sarah's family left early right from the campsite on the final morning, but Mom, Dad, and Steph came up to our place to shower and play with the kids one more time before driving back to Utah. Since Atticus was already over a month old and we didn't have any pictures of the four of us, we decided to take advantage of the extra hands and have a photo shoot.

The kids, Netty in particular, were less than cooperative.

***

We were, however, able to get a couple fairly good ones: this one and the one at the top of the blog.

Netty mostly wanted to play.

When it was time for everyone to leave, Netty was excited because she thought she was going with them. But once we walked them to the car and she wasn't allowed to get in the car, she threw a fit that lasted for almost an hour before she fell asleep. She always misses HoneyGram, Papa, and Stephie when they leave.

"Camping" Trip, Day 2

On the second day of our "camping" trip, we spent the entire day on the beach side of the lake. The water felt so good in the blazing heat. Sophie spent most of the time enjoying the sand.

Sophie also spent some time holding Atticus.

Braylin also held Atticus at the beach, and kept saying. "He's so toot (cute)!"

When nap time came, Netty wouldn't lay down and sleep until HoneyGram got down with her.

Braylin eventually curled up on the blanket and fell asleep. When Netty woke up she didn't want to leave Braylin alone.

Braylin woke up pretty crabby, but with so many happy people around him...

... he perked right up.

Atticus slept pretty much the whole day.

Netty started feeding chips to Papa...

...and it became a game.

And she started feeding chips to Stephie too.

Netty loved having all of the room to run around and play, and she spent a lot of time in the water with HoneyGram as well.

Netty warmed up a lot quicker to Sierra on the second day.

After spending all day at the beach, everyone followed us back to Rexburg, and we had a KFC picnic at Porter Park. The kids were all getting crabby at this point, and wanted to play on the toys instead of eat.

I am glad that my children have such loving cousins, and I hope that as they grow they will be great friends.

"Camping" Trip, Day 1

At the beginning of August my sister's family made their annual summer vacation trip to visit my parents in Utah. I have always made a point to be in Utah during at least part of their visit, but with a new baby and still no job, a second summer trip to Utah was out of the question. So instead, they came to us, staying two nights at the campground at Rigby Lake. We didn't stay with them, but both days we went to spend some time with them.

Sophie was so excited to hold baby Atticus for the first time, and asked to hold him several more times in those two days. 

Braylin was also excited to hold "Bibi Ah-tiss"

Netty was a little wary of Sierra at first, until she realized that Sierra could help her collect rocks. 

Netty was mostly excited to see her HoneyGram. We see them fairly often, but each reunion is super sweet.

The campsite was right on the lake, so HoneyGram took Netty down to the water to play before dinner.

It had been years since I sat around a real fire pit in a campground. 

We roasted hot dogs for dinner. Steph was a little less than excited to be camping. That nice trailer in the back...yeah, that belonged to the people in the next site over. My family camped in tents. And Steph is not a huge fan of camping. 

Sierra enjoyed the hot dogs, despite the grit that the wind blew into them. 

Jon was much happier than Steph to be there, but then he knew he was going to get to sleep in his own bed that night.

Netty's favorite part of dinner was the chips. 

And the water. This little girl loves water. 

HoneyGram couldn't wait to hold Atticus after a three-week absence. 

We made s'mores and sang campfire songs. 

Netty was mostly interested in the dirt and rocks, and spent most of the evening running around and collecting "treasures." 

And sometimes eating them. 

By the end of the night Netty liked Sierra enough to sit on her lap. 

 Even though she's still HoneyGram's girl.

Hair

Netty has hair now! Who knew? She's almost 17 months, and she FINALLY has enough to see!

One day I was putting gel in my own hair when Netty came in and wanted some as well.

 Front view of the gel 'do. Please ignore the two-stained-T-shirt look.

Netty was helping me organize the cupboard in the bathroom when she found a baby clip. I don't now where it came from or why we have it, but I put it in Netty's hair, and it actually stayed!

Netty woke up with wild hair one morning, so I decided to do something about it....

...We went to Walmart and bought some little rubber bands for a ponytail!

We often still put "Karo syrup bows" on her head, though, because her hair is still so light and short. One day Netty took it off, and I said, "No, Netty, put your bow back on your head." So that obedient little child did exactly what she was told. She put it back on her head. Right on top of her head.