July 4th

Our long time friend Rafaela (Raffy) Petracco was in town this weekend! She came to Grantsville as a foreign exchange student from Brazil during high school. We got to be such good friends while she was here. It has been 11 years since I had seen her and it was so great to get to see her and visit with her today. She looks exactly the same and is just as sweet as ever. She is such an amazing person. She is now an OB/GYN and has been practicing for a few years in Brazil. Recently she started doing a research program at Yale, so she'll be in the US for a few more months. For the 4th she decided to come visit G-ville. I was so happy to see her! I missed her!

Love you Raff!

July 3rd

For the 4th of July (actually the 3rd of July) we went up to Evanston, Wyoming for the Haider Family reunion.

We took family photos, both individual families and the whole big group. (I'll post the real pics later, but for now you just get pics of us getting pics taken.)

Stocky and Anellina, cutie little cousins.

Uncle Jordan can always manage to get smiles and giggles out of Stockton.

Playing on the playground after the BBQ.

Then the seagulls decided they wanted to join in on the fun. All the kids loved it! But, I took cover.

It was a super fun day with the Haiders. It was fun, the weather was just right and it was great to catch up.

July 2nd

Once again here we go with Summer Traditions! 4th of July is one of my favorites. The night before the 4th (well, in this case it was the night before the 3rd) we always get together in Grantsville to roast hot dogs and marshmallows in my parents' backyard.

Ashley and Rebecca, who had just signed up for the Ray Barrus run. Ashley signed up to run the mile, and she was excited to sport her the shirt she got for the run. I promised Rebecca I would run the 5k with her for several years now. But, somehow I keep avoiding it... the first year, I just didn't know she was planning to run, and I was unprepared. The next year I had a new baby and wasn't about to run. Then this year I was not there for the actual run, and even if I were, I injured my back and I've been walking like an old grandma all weekend. (I injured my back reaching for a toy... just tell me how one does that?) I wonder what awesome excuse I can come up with next year so I don't have to run!!!


All the pyros in training. Dustin was letting off fireworks with his little clan of pyro followers. Some of the parachutes kept getting blown into the neighbor's trees. Blasted wind!


Grandpa Orgill acting silly to make Stockton laugh. These two love each other so much and it's so cute!




We rented a bounce house, which was a hit with all the kids.


Especially the biggest kid of all... Brady.


Stockton was slightly terrified being inside. That poor little look of panic on his face!

Too cool for school.

Brad, Nikki, Devon and his friend Brock jumping on the tramp.

Bec and Brock bouncing on the bounce house.

Stratton and Stockton. Notice the hand near Stockton's face. That was Stratton's attempt of getting Stockton to look at the camera... just push his face forward... But, hey it worked!

Emily and Ashley going down the slide. I love the "scared" look.

Mommy and Stockton playing on the lawn chair. See how I'm hunched over? I was not just trying to get down in the pic to be by Stockton, I literally couldn't straighten up more than this because of my darn back. But, it was so fun to be with the family, I love this tradition!

Summer Traditions

I love traditions, especially summer traditions. Because I love being out in the warm weather, I love spending time with family, and did I mention I love the warm weather?!


This year it looks like we started our own new family tradition: attending the Country Fest parade in South Jordan. Stockton didn't know what was going on, but he just loves being outside, just like his Mom. So he was completely content just waiting for the parade to start.


Watching the highway patrolmen do fancy tricks on their motorcycles. I think this was Stockton's favorite part. (Even though his face looks less than enthused, he really was into it.)


Loved this float with the giant fish!

And we loved this float showing that we live in the only city in the world with TWO temples!

After the parade we went up to Snowbird, where my family always stays each year to celebrate Father's Day/my dad's birthday. This was Stockton's first time in a swimming pool and he loved it! He kept kicking and bouncing trying to make his little floaty "go". So cute!

Finally it got a little too breezy down at the pool, so we got in the hot tub on the deck of our condo for a while.

Stockton dancing with Grandpa Orgill to "Why Don't We Just Dance?!" by Josh Turner. (For the record, I am not a country music fan, but that is a FUN song! All of us got up and danced to it!)

The next weekend we met up with our friends, the Doxeys, for the Taylorsville Dayzz fireworks. Here is Brady with hi good friend Jess and their baby boys. This starting to be a tradition, too! Brady and I have gone to the fireworks every year (except last year because Stockton was so little) since we've been dating. This was one of our first dates.

At first Stockton was enthralled by the fireworks. But, soon he got bored of them and just started running around like crazy. He was running in and out of the crowd, trying to lay on other people's blankets, trying to drink other people's drinks. It was like the fireworks brought out a little mad man in him! It was kinda funny, but so fun!