Party at Javiers

We celebrated my birthday with my family in Utah at Javiers. Yummy! I feel really lucky to have my birthday around a time I always get to see my family. Otherwise I might be a little sad I don't get to see them around my birthday. Anna colored this picture for me at the restaurant.

A trip to the Country wouldn't be complete without...

Hanging out with cousins! Meeting new cousins!
Brad and Shelby. They are exactly two months apart.

Walking around without your pants on and getting extra dirty!

Making smores over the grill.

Playing in the irrigation water - a highlight of the trip! It is like a water park in your own front yard that is free! It doesn't get any better than that.

Dancing and playing ring around the rosies in irrigation water.

Hanging out on the patio.

A little hay haulin'.

Helping Grandpa work in the garden.

We had a fantastic time in Utah! We miss seeing everyone and hanging out. We feel lucky we got to stay for a little longer than usual. Next trip: sleding and shoveling the snow! Can't wait!

Gone Fishing

My kids have been asking to go fishing for a long time. So in order to guarantee some success we decided to go to the fish farm! If you can't catch a fish at the fish farm then you have some serious problems! Mac was having a blast. He didn't want to stop fishing. Our biggest concern was making sure he didn't fall in!

Grandpa gave some lessons before we started (like don't fling the rod around with the hook on it!)

Brad had to sit this one out - literally. One of us was helping with the fishing and taking pictures and the other one was in charge of Mac.

After everyone caught a fish we got to feed them. They were some hungry fish. Carly caught on quick and just dumped her entire cup in and got the fish jumping.

Travis helping Carly. It only took about five seconds for the fish to bite. Very efficient fish at this fish farm!

Travis helping Anna.

Brad's Blessing

Since all of our families were going to be in Utah we decided to bless Brad at my parent's ward on June 28. It was such a special day for our family. We were reminded how lucky we are to both come from such awesome families who are active in the gospel.

A picture of all of the men who participated in Brad's blessing.

Family picture before the blessing.

Everyone always tells me how much Brad looks like his dad. I can definitely see the resemblance too!

Such a cutie pie! He didn't even cry during the blessing. Mac fell asleep on the way to church and slept through most of Sacrament Meeting so I was able to listen and enjoy the meeting as well (tender mercy!) It was a great day!

Grandma Clayton's 90th Birthday

On Saturday we had a party for Grandma at her church in West Jordan. It was great to see everyone together and McKay had a great time catching up with cousins he hadn't seen in a long time. Of course there was lots of picture taking too! Grandma with all the Barlows.

Grandma and all her grandchildren.

Grandma and all her great-grandchildren.

Grandma and her whole family! It believe it was 98 total.

Grandma and all her grandsons.

Grandma and Brad - the oldest and youngest at the party.

Playing at the Park

For day two of the Barlow/Jex reunion we met at a park in West Jordan and ate and played games. The kids had fun playing on the playground and playing with cousins. McKay had fun playing in a softball game and I had fun watching (and eating.)

Melinda meeting Brad for the first time.

Mac had just woken up from a nap when we got there and needed a little TLC.

Sleepover at Melinda's

After Seven Peaks the girls got to have a sleepover at Melinda's. I am sure they were exhausted but they managed to find time to play with Melinda's iphone. They have such fun aunts!

Seven Peaks

McKay took the girls to Seven Peaks for the Barlow/Jex family reunion while me and the boys headed to Ogden. I decided that nursing a 2-month-old and running after a one-year-old would be easier at my parents than at a water park. I don't have many details but I heard it was fun! McKay left the girls with Rachel to brave some rides with the guys.

Cute little girls!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I Love You Tomorrow

On our way up to Utah we stopped in St. George to see the play Annie. Michelle and her kids stopped with us and we had a great time. Mac and Bryn gave us a huge workout trying to keep them entertained through the whole show. Sometimes I wonder if things like this are worth doing since our kids are so little. But then I remind myself that we are trying to create experiences for our kids so they remember positive happy times when they were younger. Even Mac loves belting out "TOMORROW, TOMORROW, I LOVE YOU TOMORROW!" They are already excited for next year: Tarzan! (p.s. Carly converted her capris into shorts due to the sweaty weather in St. George.)

Playing on the fire engine outside the St. George pizza factory.

Santa Monica Pier

My birthday this year fell on a Saturday so I thought it would be fun to go down to the Santa Monica pier and spend the day. We got lucky and there happened to be a kids festival there at the same time! We had a great time. The best part was eating at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Company. Sadly, yet happily, we were way to busy eating a ton of shrimp to take any pictures. Anna, Carly and I rode the big Ferris Wheel. It was fun looking out over the ocean. It was pretty overcast that day so the weather kept us cool.

Carly walking with one of the circus performers.

A hip-hop dance crew was there performing. It was super fun watching them. They could do some pretty awesome moves.

As we were walking along we ran into Garrett and Leanne. We didn't even know they were going to be there! Crazy!

Anna showing her skills as a great hoola hooper.

We joined some drummers for a while and had a fun time rockin' out.