Cousins or Camping?

We had a pretty boring summer, as far as summers go, up until the end of July. Then all of a sudden, our schedule turned crazy-busy, and on-the-go for about two weeks. Here's the basic rundown: 

July 26-28: visited Grandpa P in Spokane and went to Silverwood north of Coeur d'Alene

July 31-Aug 2: Kala went to Boise to visit Krissy

Aug 3-5: went camping at Stanley Lake with the Stephensons

Aug 7: floated the Salmon River with the Tolman family

Aug 7-8: ward campout

Aug 12: Kala's Praxis test in Rexburg

Aug 13-15: Josh and the twins went backpacking and camping in the Bighorn Crags

It was a super fun, but also very tiring, two weeks! It definitely felt like summer during that time, and I liked that we had so many exciting things going on. But because we were so busy, we found ourselves making choices to do some things which meant we wouldn't be able to do others. There were things that Josh and I both missed as a result of our schedule: Josh missed going to the Elder's Quorum party and wasn't here for my birthday because of his backpacking trip, and I missed out on the Shakespeare in the Parks annual show because I was gone to Rexburg all day for my Praxis test. And the kids missed out on the ward campout, which has never happened before, because they were having such a good time with their cousins after the family float trip that they didn't want to go camping. Josh and I drove up and went to the dinner at the campground, but we didn't stay overnight either since the kids weren't with us. I'm glad that they value family time! 

The night before the float trip, Kanyon told us he didn't want to go camping the next day because he wanted to stay home and play with cousins. We weren't sure how we felt about him being home alone overnight, but then during the float trip, Ammon said he'd also rather stay home, and then on the way home from floating, Jonah and Micah expressed the same opinion. So even though our camping trailer was all ready to go (cleaned out and hooked up to the truck), we decided that it just wasn't going to work out for us. I took a few pictures the following day as they were playing in the yard with Uncle Malachi and the Entrikins and the Beesleys. I only have a few memories of playing yard games and night games with my cousins in the summers of my youth, so I'm glad my boys have LOTS of opportunities to make those same memories, and in a super fun yard, too!

Malachi pulling Kanyon around on the giant stride

Malachi giving the rules and boundaries for Hide-and-Seek tag

Looking for the hiders in the game Sardines

Standing along the fence during the game No Bears Are Out Tonight

Playing Sharks and Minnows (it's like Freeze Tag)

They also kept riding all the scooters/trikes available down the narrow cement path between grandpa's shed and the front door of grandma's house. The path has an incline, and the kids would line up at the top, all ride in a line, and then turn around at the bottom, go back to the top, and do it all over again. It was fun to watch them work together as a team, and create their own little activity! It kept them occupied for quite a while!

When I think of summertime, I think of the big vacations and the camping trips and staying up late and sleeping in. But really the essence of summer comes in the smaller, basic things, like: playing in the yard, being with friends and family, feeling the warmth of the sun, splashing in the water, and making lasting memories. And that's exactly what these pictures represent--some of those unplanned, magical moments of summer!