I put this entry in backwards. Start at the bottom; it will probably make more sense.

Going on the shuttle to the pool.





You don't know how happy Mikaya and Avery were to see their daddy when we got home from our trip. He looks pretty excited too.



Avery took our picture, from her car seat, while we were driving home through Zion's National Park, from Idaho/Utah.




Avery loved seeing Zion's, and I let her take some pictures as we drove. So, we have some really great pictures of Zion's from a whole bunch of different, somewhat crazy angles. She took about a hundred, so we did get some normal ones, too. They fell asleep like this after we left the park. I guess the new scenery wasn't nearly as exciting.



Avery and Mikaya camped in the tent with my mom.



Avery and Mikaya got to take a much safer ride (see the next entry) around the campsite on "Sassy" and "Trouble", who were actually the nicest and calmest horses.



While we were camping for a night with my parents at the KOA, Coral and I decided to ride horses together, but there was a mix up and not enough spaces for us both to go. It ended up being probably a good thing I didn't go, because the route they took was right by a cliff. One of the teenage girls and her horse actually fell right over into a bush. Luckily it wasn't by the cliff. I think that the route they took would have been a little too much for me! Coral was just glad to be alive when she got back, but surprisingly still had a smile on her face.





We had so much fun visiting my parents this summer, while Coral was at EFY for part of the time. We went swimming, shopping, took a trip to the dairy to get some ice cream, played paper dolls, changed out my windshield (very necessary), went to a delicious Chinese restaurant, and went camping. My mom and I even got to go to Education Week at BYU Idaho. I loved having my mom all to myself for the day.




I don't have any pictures, but we got to see more of my cousins. I loved seeing Jared, Jason, Nicole, and Evan, and their awesome families. We had so much fun having/watching a huge water fight, that my mom jumped in on, with her sister, Becky.



My dad with Avery. They love their Grandpa Minton.





I was so excited to see my cousin Callie. We all love her! Her son Jordan is leaving for a mission soon. It was so fun to laugh and joke around with them again.



Swimming at the hotel.




Avery and her favorite toy at my parent's house.




They aren't quite ready but, they ate them anyway. My mom usually makes tons of delicious apple sauce out of the apples when they are fully ripe.



Eating Apples from G & G Minton's apple trees.


Swinging at Grandma & Grandpa Minton's.




We took Coral to EFY at BYU again this summer. We always take a rode trip up to drop her off and then continue up to see my parents. I love it because I get to talk to Coral a lot during the drive. We also love to play music to pass the time and enjoy eating fast food (for a few days). Of course fast food gets old pretty fast and we are ready for real food pretty quick. We went swimming when we got to the hotel and dropped Coral off the next morning at BYU, after eating at the Creamery. She was in the exact dorm I was in, while I was at BYU, for EFY this time.

A few nights ago, Coral and her friends toilet papered another friend's house. When we got home, this is what we found at our front door. I guess this is what an apartment looks like when it gets toilet papered. The note read, "Enjoy cleaning up your own mess! Love, The Candle"




Lego's! Future engineers?






Getting ready to watch the fireworks at the church lawn, with our friends, the Blattman's. We played soccer and games, and ran around on the lawn while we waited. They set them off at Coral's high school.






Doing crafts at the Blattman's on the Fourth (Really we celebrated on the 3rd this year). Thanks Jessica! We had a blast!



I loved to climb trees when I was little, too.








Avery making(sewing) her own creations.







Marge Simpson?










Mikaya couldn't stop smiling and giggling when she found out she could swim all by herself, with her life jacket on. She just kept saying, "I'm swimming. I'm swimming!"








My little sweetie.






Best friends.

I know..I know...preschool graduation seems a little funny, but I actually thought after it was all over, that it probably doesn't hurt to promote "graduation", even at this age. Besides, the ceremony was basically just pictures and then they all got to go to our pool for a pool party! We did a home preschool this year, by switching preschool between three different homes. Mikaya and her friend Dalton got to participate the last month, which they thought was cool. Avery is now off to kindergarten in the Fall, which is somewhat heartbreaking for us. I'm sure she will have fun, though....I had a blast in kindergarten!





Curtis took the girls to learn about rockets at an ASME activity at the park. Avery waiting her turn to set her rocket off into the air. I love the miss-matched outfit that she picked out to wear. It works.


Mikaya learning how to make a rocket, half filled with water, blast up into the air with pressurized air.



Playing a dress-up game for Avery's B-day.



We love our sweet and passionate little Avery! She is so creative with her artwork, imagination, and loves to learn how to do new things every day. We are always amazed at how much personality she has....never a dull moment with her around! We are so happy that Heavenly Father sent her to our family!


I know the picture is blurry, but I loved how it captured how much Avery loved her new "Care Bear" nightgown from G & G Minton.


A thank you note for Grandma & Grandpa Sandi and Paul!



One of Coral's sweet cards. She always out does us on this!



Five little cakes for a five year old. We each had our own, which was quite a bit bigger than a cupcake. So basically, I don't know how, but we pretty much ate the equivalent of a whole cake, minus the part Avery ate before we cooked it!



Yaki Soba, Avery's favorite dinner! Actually, all three kids asked for it for their own birthday dinner.


Helping to make her own birthday cake. How mean of me.....actually at this age she loved it, especially since she got to sample it before we put the egg in it.



Eating Cherries on her b-day.