Family "Stay-cation" at the Cabin!

We decided it would be fun to have a family trip to the cabin this year... we LOVE that it's only 12 miles from our drive way, but still offers the quiet and peace that one needs to 'get away'... We went up Wednesday night-through Sunday night. (July 15-19th!) and we had a blast!

Will eating his breakfast... (yea, that's a twinkie...)

Caitlin building a village...

View from the cabin!

We took several hikes...

Nature at it's finest...

Justin's Aunt has a cabin close to his family's cabin too... we stopped by a few times to swing on their porch swing, and play in the sand box and relax in the hammocks...

No camping trip is complete without a tent! We brought ours and set it up so the kids could play in it... Caitlin and Justin slept there one night!

Will and Caitlin's favorite cabin past time...

Will doing the dishes...

Justin and Brinley watch Back to the Future...

Saturday we took a break from our little cabin to tour a cabin that Justin's brother, Jon has been working on for a client. This has been Jon's work for about a year! They completely knocked down the old cabin and rebuilt this (i think he said...) 2 million dollar cabin! The pictures don't show squat, there is SO much detail that went into it... and it's breathtakingly GORGEOUS!! Complete with air condition/heating, kitchen, laundry room, bathrooms, game room, and sweet built in bunk beds... this is one amazing cabin.

Kitchen: ( i forgot to get a picture of the ceiling... you can barley see it in this picture... wood ceiling. It was SO PRETTY!

Loft: These are built-in bunk beds... this side of he room had four beds...

and this side of the room also had four beds! Awesome huh?

One of the private rooms...

These are the stairs to the lower level... (there were three.) This had a game room, bar and a smaller room i think it also had a bathroom... or that could have been a walk in closet. don't remember. I love the different wood colors... in person it was SO beautiful

Bar.
Pool table

After our tour, Uncle Jonny gave Caitlin and Will a little ride on this tractor, they even scooped up some dirt... boy was that a treat!

Thanks for the tour Jonny and Great job!

Back at our little Cabin for the remainder of our 'stay-cation'... Will pretending he's a human tractor in a 'test spot' for what may become an outdoor working bathroom... hours of fun in the dirt for Will. At least it kept him away from the creek. :)

Pepper was in heaven the whole time... we kept her off leash and she did well staying close... and came when we called her. she was chasing grass hoppers in this picture :)

Beautiful and refreshing views

Justin gathering wood after using the chain saw on some dead trees...

Nice wood pile!

Brinley enjoying tummy time... special thanks to Will for sharing his toys...

Caitlin is so silly! Will holding his lunch.

Mountain Man Justin...plays some tunes along with his number one fan, Caitles.

Caitlin and mommy watching for Humming birds... isn't she pretty?

While on our little 'stay-cation' I brought my sewing machine and made some curtains... they turned out pretty cute, i think!

More Zzz...

I found Will in Brinley's crib last week... Totally asleep! He even turned the 'noise maker' on to chirping birds...Cute!

This post is for the Grandmas...

Best buddies...

Baby Brinners...
Sweet purple outfit from Great Uncle Bart and Aunt Judy...

Will and Caitlin playing games on pbskids.org... they love the Curious George games! "Off to Grandma's" outfit from Nans...

Pretty Green 'bee' dress from mommy's buddy, Dani

Little Bee Butt!

Kisses, Bumbo time and Hot Babe onesie from Grammy! (i was trying to get Will to kiss the other side of B's head... but he's too fast for my camera.

I love how Will LOVES his blankie... he wraps himself up in it and bites it! I can't believe how old Caitlin looks here. and Brinley is So cute... even with little red eyes.

Home Improvements: Part One

We got new doors back in April, but we just got around to painting them this weekend... (3 months?) That's actually pretty good time frame considering my husband just finished his masters and is serving in the Bishopric... Life is crazy, esp on the weekends... but this weekend (and the past) were real solid work days around the house... it's nice to finally get some things done!

Prepare yourself to be amazed...

Front Door BEFORE:

Front Door AFTER:
Back Door BEFORE: (scary...) Oo, and Love that Dogie door hack job!
Back Door AFTER:
Notice the Key pad! Punch in the code and it unlocks the door... We are so glad we spent the extra money to get this. LOVE IT!

Garage Door Before:

I love the look of this old door ...but the wood door and frame warped in the hot and cold weather...leaving it hard to open and close.

Garage Door AFTER: (I don't have a picture of it, because it's not painted yet... but looks just like back door minus the dogie door! it even has a cool key pad too!)

Front of the House: 2007

(aww. look how little Caitlin and Will were!)

Front of the House: 2009

We were thrilled when we pulled off the the old facia (white trim/border right below the roof of the house...) to find the original facia with a cute little grove in it... it was green and needed some serious love... So, we (Justin) sanded, fixed a few spots and painted it white!! Dolls up the house real cute... I think!

We still have a lot more up our sleeves... like replacing the white mettle thing on the porch (holding up the roof) with a round or square beam thing... and more plants. And some new rain gutters... and perhaps painting the brick... like a 'cape cod gray color'... but all this would come after we put on a new roof! It needs it badly!

PANTRY BEFORE:

Yikes, these random drawers in this closet were really hard to open and were taking up TOO much space to be functional... So, out they came!

It doesn't look much better... but it's function has improved greatly.

SAND BOX:

Justin made some stilts for the sand box cover... we also got more sand! We planted some grass seed on the dirt patch in front of the sand box this week too! :) Will and Caitlin enjoy watching the 'baby grass' grow!

Healthcare Petition - Bob Bennett for Senate

Having lived in a country with socialized medicine for a couple of years (and visiting with numerous folks during that time who were or had be hospitalized), I firmly believe that the plan being advocated by the current presidential administration is misleading and a bad road for our country to be led down. Please check out this link and add your support if you agree: Healthcare Petition - Bob Bennett for Senate

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It's Potty Time!

Monday's the big day! Armed and ready with...

...Thomas Potty seat...

...Thomas Underwear...

...and The Reward...

With Will... Candy and Thomas are the only ways I'll ever get through to him!

...Bring it!

Homemade Granola!

¾ cup brown sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup 100% pure maple syrup

Boil until sugars melt, stir occasionally

In 13 x 9 Pyrex put:

7 cups oatmeal (Rolled Oats, often called 'old fashioned'.)
1/3 cup dry milk (comes in a box on baking isle)
½ cup sunflower seeds
½ cup coconut
Dried fruit (optional)

1. Pour sugar over and mix.
2. Bake at 325 for 15 minutes. Stir.

3. Repeat step 2 as many times as you like for desired chewy/crunchiness texture. (I prefer to bake 15 min, stir, and then bake for 5-8 min.) This is really good warm with milk! Store in air tight container or zip lock bag. (This also makes great neighbor gifts around the holidays, is a great snack and is a delicious breakfast!

Happy Birthday...

...NANS!

Thank you for your unconditional love and support... we think you are the greatest!
We hope your day is wonderful!

Love,

Justin, Amanda, Caitlin, Will and Brinley

I unroll it a head of time, helps when you're in a rush!

Precious!

Happy 24th of July...

Yippy for a Utah Holiday! :)

Happy Birthday...

GRAMMY!!

We hope your day is wonderful. Sending Hugs and kisses and birthday wishes... We LOVE you!

Justin, Amanda, Caitlin, Will and Brinley

Thanks Nans...

Wonderful Nans spend the day with little Brinners while I played with my two oldest today!
We had a blast!

We love you Nans!

In My Opinion...

...the party hasn't started until a parent has to jump in the pool

- fully dressed-

in order to save their child, who should have been listening in the first place when she had explained the part about staying in the one foot deep shallow end...

Well, check that one off the list!