The Maher's: Camping

We've managed to stay busy well into the summer. As most of you know I am more of a homebody preferring to just stay at home and do nothing, but the kids have really enjoyed getting out. We went camping for nine days. First, we went to Manti were we stayed for a couple of days in the HEAT, we watched most of the Manti pageant and celebrated Tiago's 4th Birthday (more to come on that).

Tiago turned 4 the day we left to go camping, he opened some of his presents at home before we left. He really wanted a "huge firetruck" so I searched and searched until I found just the right one...payed too much money for it, had it shipped in special and he has played with it a hand-full of times since he got it! Keyan on the other hand loves it. I guess what's important is he got what he asked for and was so happy about it that day.

He wanted Captain America cupcakes so I did white frosting with blue and red sparkles and then found some Avengers party bags and used what I could to put on the cupcakes. These were whistles...not a good idea for 8 kids at a small enclosed camping area! Tiago loved them and a month later still carries it around in his pocket.

Tiago shares his birthday with Grandpa Gary, I won't say how old he is, but I will say it took two cupcakes to fit just the numbers. It was windy and pretty tricky to keep those candles lit for a few seconds.

Next, we were off to south-central Utah for the Covington reunion (Josh's Mom's family) The campground was 20 degrees cooler and high in the pine trees. The kids LOVED it this year, last year they still weren't quite big enough to enjoy the freedom, but this year the trick was keeping them within eye sight. They had lots of cousins they don't get to see very often there to play with for a full week. They got dirty all day and then each night got to take a bath in a deep tub and they thought that was the best thing ever. We recently purchased a tent-trailer knowing I would be 7 months pregnant we felt justified in making the purchase prior to this reunion. With Josh doing most of the work, we all really enjoyed it and of course the boys thought it was so awesome to sleep in their new camper.

The adults sit around and talk a lot and eat a lot too, although Josh and I did pretty good refraining from major weight gain this year.

Meanwhile, the kids run around and conspire and get really really dirty...and eat a lot of junk too.

Once in a while they get clean!

Swimming at the lake...I don't care what anyone says, it is COLD, there's a reason most people only go in up to their knees as Tiago learned it's much more enjoyable that way.