CONQUER the MONSTER...

Last year Mike and several of my cousins biked around the lake. Well that got us going to train for this year. We made it, the 51 miles, well sort of - kind of!! We took off early in the morning and made it to the idaho border when I got a flat tire. Must have hit a thorn or something, it was crazy because I was in the same path as everyone else. Mike was prepared with an extra tube, as he was pumping it up, the stem broke so I was out of luck. I would not be able to finish the ride around the lake and was totally bummed. I then batted my eyes at Mike and asked him how much he loved me? Enough that he took the tube out of his tire and put in in mine, he was done. (NOW that is true love) So we called our awesome support person Uncle Wayne (thank you) and he came and picked up Mike. I took off trying to catch the pack and got about a block down the road and the new tube was flat again. I called Uncle Wayne again and he came and got me. The KOA over there rents bikes so we decided to try and see if they had any road bike tubes, but had to wait until they opened. They opened at 8 and it was a mircle they had road bike tubes and we bought them out. Mike got our bikes back together and ready to go. We ran into Cole my brother who was getting a late start (since he got in from Denver at 3 in the morning) at the KOA and we had our awesome support take us to the north beach turn and drop us off(so we road 42 miles instead of 51. We took off from there to catch the pack and we did. None the less, we all made it around the lake and were pretty proud of ourselves. We are going to add this to our many fun things we do at our reunion. When we made it around the lake we had the best fan club ever cheering us on, if made it so worth the ride to see our family there cheering. My mom was the biggest fan ever; she made the awesome sign that says "conquer the monster M Team". the M team is for my mom and her sisters that all start with the letter "m".

The awesome support and our fans!

My cousin Kenzie and I finishing the ride...

My sister Erica and cousin Tiff finishing the ride!

My brother Cole finishing the ride!

Mike and I before we took off!

Me and my too great Sisters!

There were alot more family that finished the race, but I didn't get everyone's picture!! There was 15 of us, way to go everybody.

a very special birthday...

I have been blessed with TWO wonderful sisters and THREE awesome sister in laws. But there is one SISTER in particular that just had a very special 40th birthday. We celebrated at the Olive Garden and then someone hung a sign (see picture below) at her home to let everyone know it was her 40th... We just want to say your the best SISTER and we love you tons!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

OH the funniest week in the world!!! My mom's side of the family gets together everyyear at Bear Lake for a whole week. This is my mom and her four sisters and all their families. It is such a fun week and one that I look forward to everyyear. My mom remembers going over as a little girl, so for sure we have been doing this week at the lake for over 50 years. That is pretty impressive. Here is an overview of the week..... We spend as much time as we can at the lake and on the beach, you would not believe how fast a week go by when you are relaxing on the beach. We are lucky to have boats that take us on crazy tube ride which was first for Rylie and Bode's first boat ride. After spending the day at the lake and playing hard, we clean up and enjoy some serious yummy food. We each take a night and make dinner, we eat very well. We stay up late at night playing apples to apples and enjoying each other company. I love this week!! I am so sad that 9 days are over and look forward to it next year. I hope we can continue to keep this tradition alive and that my kids will have as much fun at Bear lake like as we do. Just some random pictures of the week... We did bike around the lake, well almost for me, but that is another blog post.
This is the great big floatie that Mike brought to the beach. It was a huge hit to hang out on for everyone. I was a big nervous about it considering we have two little kids to take care of, but it turned out way fun and a great place to relax and hang out on. It did hold 15 smith grandkids!! Everyone in my family made to the lake, it was great!!

Uncle Spenny getting dog piled by Rylie, Karden, Lincoln and Payton.

We got new Meyer family shirts, here is my family (even if it is not the best).

Let me just say that this double stroller and getting them both to nap at the beach was a life saver. This is the only way we survived the week.

Bode's first corn on the cob and he LOVED it...

MORE BEAR LAKE to be continued.... I am all blogged out at the moment!

4th of July...

picture overload... I loved the fact that we had FOUR days to celebrate the 4th of July this year. We had a way fun, packed, festive, exciting, and long weekend. Here are the little ones ready for a cookout with the Becksteads and for the fireworks. Grandma Beak and Bode

Grandpa Beak and Rylie...

Best of Cousins! Rylie and Holly!

Sparklers, they are seriously my FAVORITE! I love them and I hope my kids will always do them with me.

On Saturday, I got a wild hair to go for a ride and have a picnic somewhere. So we loaded up in the truck and took off to Old Ephraims Grave up Logan Canyon. We were not really prepared for the long ride it is on a dirt road, we thought it was just a ways up there. But we made it and had our picnic. Rylie had fun with the squirrels at the momument. If you haven't ever been there, here is a picture of the momument that is a big as old ephraim was.

Sunday was a fun filled day too - we ended up getting out our fire pit and cooking hotdogs and smores. It was nice to just hang out.

AND finally celebrating with the Lewiston Parade and Lewiston Fireworks...! ME and Rylie...

watching the parade with cousins

Oh Sweet.

4th of July outfits.... we love this holiday, seriously.

What do you do...

at 8:30 on a Saturday night, when Mike and Rylie are "camping" in the backyard and Bode is asleep.... and I have the house to my self. It took Rylie forever to settle into the tent and go to sleep. But once she did, they slept in until this morning. Whata good dad to go "camping" in the backyard.

swim lessons!

This was Rylie's first swim lessons. She did great and we already knew she is part fish. She loves to swim and play in the water. I have the hardest time getting her out. She learned so much and did great. She loves jumping off the side into the deep end with her life jacket on.
Her new friend Kenna who she rocked and rolled with each day after her lesson.

Bode loves the water too, he splashed and splashed in the pool. He was a good sport waiting for Rylie's lesson to be done so he could go play.

smores!

My sister and her girls went camping one weekend. We decided to join them for smores each night and then head home to our beds. We had a fun time and hope they invite us to go "camping" again. Plus they make a very good smore!