Perfect night for...smores

Last night was a perfect night for smores! It had cooled off a little due to the impending storm that hit today (another blog post for sure!). Notice that Maddox was absent in the festivities since he now is at the age that he would rather play with his friends than partake in our family festivities. But Parker and Kensley loved the continuous supply of marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers---I have to say that I actually enjoyed "marshing" marshmallows (how I used to say it when I was younger), and had my fair share as well :)!

Living Planet Aquarium

I decided that since this is the last week before school starts (yah!!), I surprised the kids and took them to the Living Planet Aquarium (I told them we were going shoe shopping for mom and they weren't happy about it!). It was a fun way to beat the heat, and help in the summer boredom that has taken place over the last week or so. We haven't been since the early spring, and got to see the penguin exhibit which was Kensley's favorite! She LOVED running around looking at all the exhibits and would scream with delight over all the amazing reptiles and sea life. For some reason, the sting rays were particularly hiper and Maddox loved being able to touch them (it looked like a couple of them were trying to jump out of the water to free themselves---I of course only watch from a distance with an excuse that I 'need to take pictures' instead of petting them). Anyway, it was a fun way to spend the morning---now only 4 more days of summer vacation!!

It's Cabin Time!

Okay, since I've been SO BAD about updating my blog this summer, I decided to combine some posts and show some pictures of all the fun times we've had at our cabin with family and friends over the summer!! This last weekend, we literally ran in to a moose right on the trail that we ride our ATV's. There was a lady there that we happened to luckily run into that has been studying all the moose in the area for about 10 years. She said that there are about 20 resident moose that live in Aspen Acres where our cabin is, but just recently she has stumbled upon more which she attributes to the recent bear sighting RIGHT BY OUR CABIN just a day before we arrived!!! Cool, but a little unnerving at the same time---I don't think I'll be out doing any trail running by myself anymore! Anyway, we've had a great time breaking in our new Ranger, doing some fishing, going 4 wheeling which Maddox LOVES since daddy now allows him to drive by himself (!!!). My favorite thing about the cabin though is just being able to RELAX without feeling guilty that I'm not doing something "productive"! I'm so excited to have many more memories there with the people I love!!!