Sunsplash

My mom flew in on Friday and my dad few in on Saturday for a quick trip.  We decided it would be fun to go to a local water park...since the summer is really not a good time to visit Arizona...it's a little on the warm side. We had coupons for Sunsplash in Mesa so we ended up going there. We had a BLAST!!! The boys loved the kids play areas and Ethan even went down some tube water slides. Having my parents there was wonderful, as usual. We will absolutely be going again! What a great way to beat the heat. :)

Happy 4th of July!!

Happy Fourth of July!!!! Our fourth of July was quiet this year. It was just the four of us and we stayed at home a good portion of the day. It was actually quite relaxing and enjoyable but I did miss seeing extended family.

My favorite part of any holiday is cute-ifying everything...I found a bunch of 4th of July stuff at the dollar store and came up with a cute little bag to give to Ethan and Cameron. Everything was from the dollar store except the scrap book paper. I LOVE the dollar store!

Then I HAD to make some cute and  festive 4th of July food...

Then it was Jared's turn to have fun... playing with fire.

We started with the sparklers. Sparklers are like rough housing...fun until someone gets hurt :). Cameron grabbed the end of a sparkler after it was extinguished before anyone could stop him and he ended up with a mild burn on his finger. Then Jared burned his tumb lighting a sparkler. Other than that, we didn't sustain any further enjuries, thankfully.

Fireworks!!!!!!!!!!

Summer Fun

We have been home a good deal of the summer and it has been really nice to not have to worry about traveling...although we have really missed seeing our families. The kids and I go swimming 2-3 times a week. It has been a great way to survive the summer heat. I must say that the VERY BEST part of the summer is having Jared home!!! We sure love spending time with DAD!!! 

Playing at the splash pad

Our niece Austyn showing us some of her gymnastic skills

Austyn, Cameron and Ethan are apparently getting ready for the 4th of July...

Ethan and Cameron love painting with water colors. While Ethan was painting he kept saying, "Ugh, seriously!" when he got frustrated. I must say that when I get frustrated...whooops. :)

We have also been putting our ice cream maker to good use this summer. 

Ethan loves to help with projects like this. 

Cameron loves to eat the product of projects like this...

We went to San Tan Flat while Jared's little sister, Jenna, was in town last week.
We did our FHE lesson and roasted marshmallows. Our family loves San Tan Flat!

Jenna, Jared and Jessica...dancing...

On Friday we made a waterslide and it was a huge hit! Ethan has been asking for it every day since.
We will be doing this one again for sure. 

HAPPY SUMMER!

Girls Camp 2012

This year I was able to go to Girls Camp with my ward. I haven't been since I was 17...almost 9 years ago. The theme for camp was S.T.A.N.D. (Stand Tall and Never Doubt). Camp was short and sweet...we left on June 14th and were back on June 16th. It was Stake camp this year and we went up to Camp Lo Mia in Northeastern Arizona.  Girls Camp was a very spiritual, uplifiting and fun experience for me. I grew to love my young women so very much. I felt closer to the Lord, closer my fellow leaders and closer to my sweet beehives. What a blessing it was to be there. I LOVE GIRLS CAMP!!!!! The stake did an amazing job planning camp this year. It was incredible! 

The YCL's - Welcome to Camp Lo Mia

Practicing our camp skit

Ward Time - Working on a cheer for our bishop

The Sierra Vista Ward YW redheads :)

 The whole Young Women's group

Bishop's Night - 

Arizona has a no fire restriction this year so we had our fireside in one of the cabins. 

 Bishop's Competition

 Waiting with our girls for closing ceremonies 

6th Anniversary Trip - Sedona, AZ

Jared and I celebrated our 6th Anniversary by taking a trip to Sedona, AZ. Our anniversary is actually May 5th but we went to Sedona after Jared got out of school, June 5th-7th. I was in charge of planning the trip this year. Jared had no idea where we were going or what we were doing until we got in the car and started driving to Sedona.  We had so much fun!!! We highly recommend Sedona. We had a wonderful time.

Here was our itenerary for the trip:

Tuesday, June 5th

8:00AM Leave for Sedona

11:00AM Arrive in Sedona

11:30AM Lunch 

12:00-3:00PM Hike Cathedral Rock 

3:00-5:00PM Check into the hotle and freshen up

5:00-8:00PM Got to Sunset Park for a picnic, play tennis, etc. 

8:00PM Hot tub at the hotel and rent a movie

Wednesday, June 6th

8:00AM Eat breakfast and pack for Slide Rock State Park
9:00AM Arrive at Slide Rock State Park
10:00AM-1:00PM Play at Slide Rock State Park and eat a picnic lunch there
1:00-3:00PM Drive back to hotel and freshen up for an evening in Sedona
3:00-6:00PM Explore downtown Sedona
6:00PM Eat dinner at a resturaunt
7:30PM Go see a movie

Thrusday, June 7th

9:30AM Eat breakfast and pack up the car
10:30AM check out of the hotel
11:00AM Drive to the Adveture Tour site

11:30AM Check into Sedona Adveture Tours

12:00-4:30PM PM Kayak down the Verde River

5:00-7:00PM Drive back to Phoenix

7:00PM Eat dinner at Chili's on the way home

8:30PM Arrive home