Moments

Learning To Ride

So, this really should have came first before anything this Summer.

Right at the end of the school year we finally decided to put Brandon's bike to good use and teach him to actually ride it instead of just sitting in the garage collecting dust.

I feel bad that it took this long to teach him.

I always had excuses in Missouri which were pretty well validated but I could have just tried a little harder. The biggest one was all of the big hills on all of the roads.

There were not many flat places.

When we moved back to Utah, our house was on a hill.

I just said lets do it and after a few days in a flat dead end street he did it!

It also helped that his buddy the same age was learning that week to so it kind of pushed him harder. It felt good for both of us for him to learn.

Since Hayden was getting Brandon's old bike, we decided to just teach him too.

He did so good once he got it!

All I had to teach him was how to pedal and balance and he did the rest... He turned and stood up and put his foot down.

There were a few crashes, but that was to be expected because he was immediately a speed demon on his little bike.

He started telling the older boys "watch out slow poke coming through".

He's all about the speed and pop a wheelies and jumping off the curb.

It has made Summer a lot of fun with the boys being able to ride bikes together.

Dinosaurs

One of the last days we went to the

Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point.

The girls checking out shadows in the NASA room

concentrating...

So excited over this "discovery". sitting on the wall where he shouldn't be, but posed until I took a picture.

This was cute, almost all of the dinosaurs had birthday hats on for the 10Th birthday bash.

they also had free face painting and other activities.

A little more extra than usual.

Dino's in a cave.

And.... I believe this is the end of my pictures.

it was a very fun week.

I enjoyed every moment of everyone together.

I am glad Dan was closer and stayed longer and the kids all loved him

and that Liz made here safely

even after hitting a deer and taking an extra 12 plus hours getting here.

Then Becca, Matt and girls made the very long drive to see us.

It was all wonderful.

I wish we could do it more often actually.

Good memories.

I miss everyone already.

Family Visit Temple Square

Just to remember...

the happiness when they are all together.

Celebrating the 4th on the 3rd

The morning of the 3rd we

met up with Aunt Kesia to ride her Sil-V.

Then, helped to brush and clean her

and make her more beautiful again after being in all that dust.

She's such a good girl to handle all the kids.

Thanks for sharing her!

Later on we met up at G&G Hastings home for some fun hanging out, doing some fireworks and sparklers, watching Dan do skateboard tricks and teaching the kids how to ride and then having a BBQ.

That night we went to the trail by our place to play, eat the yummy

homemade ice cream, more sparklers & glow sticks

And of course... fireworks.

The fireworks were not good.

But at least all the company was. It was good to just be together and it was an absolute gorgeous night.

More Family Time cont...

Later, after our fun day up in the Mountain the whole family met up at a park.

By this time, everyone made it to town.

Dan & Liz & Matt and family met us all there.

We had a little family party for baby K's upcoming 2nd birthday.

All of the cousins on the Hastings side together all at once for the first time ever.

And... All of us Hastings kids together at once.

It's been a few years.

Uncle Dan teaching the boys how to ride his skateboard.

He even brought extra so they could each keep one.

He was quite the hit.

Good times together.

It was so good to have us all there.

Secor's Come To Visit Part 1

Becca, Matt and the girls (& boy in tummy)

made the long haul trip to Utah.

And we were ever so happy!

We had to make them a sign to show them how excited we were!

(I stole this picture from her because I did not take a single picture that night.)

The next morning...

We went up the canyon and had a nice picnic.

Then we headed up to the lake to play and hike.

It was so good just to be together again and have the cousins play.

It was definitely a long, but fun day.

Just Playing & Movin Along

disclaimer:(low quality photos from cell phone sorry)

This Summer is definitely flying by fast. After school got out we have spent most of our days doing what we love best. As usual it's outside enjoying the beautiful weather, hiking, going for walks, playing at parks and riding bikes or just playing with friends. Very low key but fun.

In June, there were some big changes.

We once again packed up the house for another move.

I know, I know, We move a lot.

We are planning on staying here for awhile now because I sure do not enjoy packing.

... Plus, it costs a lot.

It's definitely a change.

We miss all of the tons of neighborhood kids and the mountains out our back door.

But, it has some bonuses.

We have a swimming pool, a great paved trail behind us and we are closer to many of the things/ people we have to drive to on a regular basis.

So, in the long run... it will be good.

After all, our focus is to get Justin through school and move on to bigger better

things in the future.

Happiness

What makes you happy?

Well, for me?

All of this.....

makes me feel happy.

My kids, being outdoors, with animals, and beautiful places.

Worry free, fun, and being together.

There's nothing much better, for me.

Just Me & You

One of Justin's favorite bands is Angels And Airwaves.

You might know Tom DeLonge from Blink 182.

Justin has talked about wanting to go to a concert for a few years.

When we heard they were coming to SLC we said we would go.

Well, time went by and it was forgotten.... By me at least.

The weekend came (it was on a Mon.)

Justin was a little sad that he couldn't go but never said anything.

I was driving around getting some errands done on Saturday when I heard an ad for the concert.

I went right that moment to buy tickets.

I got home, put the tickets on Justin's dresser.

Awhile later I heard him in the room calling me, he could not believe it.

So excited.

I can't tell you how good it felt, for me (not him) to actually be able to buy him something he did not have and he wanted so much.

This just does not happen very often.

Anyway, the kids were taken care of and we had the night to ourselves, and had so much fun!

It is so fun to mix things up a bit and do something we normally don't.

Me & You

aka: Lisa & Justin-sporting his cool new AVA hoodie

(sorry I chopped your hair off)