George family adventures: Camping and the pool!

We have had a splendid little June so far. The weather has been gorgeous, not the typical June gloom. We have already heated the pool and are having so much fun with playdates.

In the meantime, Aspen turned 7 months old. I am so sad that she is so big! She loves to sit and play with her toys and is not interested in tummy time. I guess that means she won't be crawling for awhile yet. Today was the first time she ever pushed up on all fours and rocked, so we'll see where it goes from there. She is still the most mellow, easy baby. She had her first swim lesson today and did great. The teacher actually commented on what an happy, easy baby she is. She loves to eat, especially bread products. She much prefers real food to processed baby food and I don't blame her one little bit. She sleeps in her crib and won't sleep anywhere else. She is definitely my biggest busy body; even when she's exhausted she won't sleep unless I put her in her crib.

She is so loved and special.

We went camping in Malibu with our friends, the McPhies. I don't think my kids would be as happy as they are if we didn't have the McPhies. We spend about 3 afternoons a week with them, and Megan is my sanity break (we run 3 days a week and do a workout video 2 days a week).

Anyhow, we went camping. We borrowed all of the gear because I wasn't sure how everyone would do with it. As it turns out, the boys just loved it. Brian tolerated it. Aspen is happy anywhere. The funny part about our campground was that it was SO overrun with poison oak that there is a permanent sign (in the center of a clump of poison oak) saying what it looks like. Amazingly, none of the 7 kids or 4 adults got poison oak. It was a miracle.

My job was to find the perfect marshmallow roasting sticks. It's a talent of mine that I've had since I was very small.

When in nature.....pee in poison oak!

Brian had to move the car slightly and Landon went for a ride with him. He thought this was the coolest/scariest experience of his life.

Tent time! Daddy and his helpers.

Robert (otherwise known as Wobewt) and Brian set up the tents. The kids "helped" of course.

William is one of my heroes. He always watches out for Landon and is such a great big brother to his 3 little siblings. He is only 8 but he is definitely our big boy when we're all together. He caught a lizard and was also the kids' hero as a result.

Landon and Kate. I imagine that one day they will take their family camping. They have an arranged marriage.

And sweet little Aspen entertained herself by finding some long grass. Cute girl.

Megan put together the fire. I was in charge of photos/making sure children didn't disappear.

Little Kate. Sweet little girl. We love one another.

Aspen is ready for bed! Or is she?

Landon had little interest in roasting marshmallows - but he ate about 15 of them.

Roasting marshmallows.

Andrew is Hunter's best little buddy. They had so much fun playing all day and night.

Landon was so enjoying being held. You don't believe me?

The boys all snuggled together for heat.

Sweet princess - she slept between our sleeping bags.

Wobewt made us pancakes in the morning. My kids have never loved pancakes so much and ask for them daily now.

William, James and Kate (Landon is on the right stripping - love my nudists.)

Oh the pool. We had an impromptu pool date. I hadn't even heated the pool but they couldn't wait to give it a go. Hunter is doing awesome - getting more and more brave in the water. Landon can swim the width of the pool but will only do it if I'm in the water. I'm so proud of these little swimmers.

Buddies

WIlliams, Benjamin and Charlie came over to play too! It was so much fun to play with them.

The only girl at the party.

And ready to swim. She loves splashing around in the water and is content in her float for about 20-30 mins at a time!

Saturday June 9th was the day my family was sealed in the Temple. In our religion it is the equivalent of a marriage except that you are sealed for time and eternity. Basically, we believe that families are reunited in heaven. In a normal Mormon marriage, you are sealed together and the children are born into the covenant. When you convert, you get to go to the Temple with your kids and have them sealed to you. Our sealing will be a separate blog entry when we get photos (I only have one right now and it's posted on FB.) Anyhow, Nate Hill, our missionary came into town to watch our sealing and stayed with us for 4 days. The boys just adore him and we had so much fun hanging out with him. He is a very special person.

He took the boys swimming

Landon LOOOOVES backpack dives

The McPhies came over, along with Tyler McCulloch (former missionary and friend) and his parents. I dubbed it our "rehearsal dinner' and we went swimming and had a yummy dinner. Kate enjoyed the Pirate Booty. Sweet little face.

The boys eating brownie sundaes. Delish!

The rest of the crowd!

Brian installed an outdoor movie theater at our house so we can watch movies from the hot tub (or stairs or whatever.) We were watching Cars.

The day of the Sealing, Megan, Tami and I had lunch at Cafe Rio. This may not seem as amazing as it is, but between us we have 9 kids (1 on the way) and we never get girl time to just talk! Then Tami came home with me and did my hair and make up while Megan steamed my wedding dress. Amazing girlfriends. Amazing.