Its time again for another update. Summer is just flying by. We went with my family for a little camping trip up Fairview canyon. It was so nice to go and relax. It seems like we used to take quick trips all the time when I was little but they happen less often as we've gotten busier. Easton thoroughly enjoyed it. Especially his mini sprites. He refers to everything bubbly as "toke". Hmm. Weird.
Sweeping the dirt is always an enjoyable activity.
The cooler boss.
Helping Boppa with the dutch oven breakfast that I'm pretty sure almost stopped my heart from beating but was sooooooo good.
After that I was able to attend girls camp. It was a blast! We were able to go to the Heber Valley Girls camp that was gorgeous. So fun. I have no pictures. Sad. The day I got home from camp, we headed out to Lava Hot Springs to spend time with Randon's family. We went to the water park which was pretty fun. Easton liked playing in the pool but there wasn't really anywhere to get out of the sun, so we bailed early to try to get him to take a nap. (Unsuccessful.) When everyone got back, they were talking of floating down the river. Sooo.... um.... have you ever been there? Well none of his family had so we had no idea what to expect besides what we saw from the road which looked like a nice lazy river. So, Randon and I think, hey, they have little lifejackets, we can just get a double tube and sit Easton between us. People! Ah. If only I had gone with Jenny and Traci and Emily and known before. Turns out...its pretty much a river full of death rapids. And no one told us it might not be a good idea to take your BABY! (okay almost two year old.) Well we went and took Easton and hit the inevitable rapids. I hopped off to try and get us to the side and well, it was head over heels down the river for me. It was actually really scary, only because I didn't want Easton to get hurt or drown or get upset, but I look up and Randon's trying to keep his footing and keep Easton above water. Ah! We find our way to the side...our tube is gone, our shoes are gone, Easton is okay, but we are pretty scraped up. Randon's back was hamburger (pretty much how I imagine Traci's was when I heard that story so long ago...I don't know why it didn't click that this was the same event that caused it!) We climbed over some barbed wire into a field and luckily two of my sister in laws were there who had had enough and seen my flip flop floating along so they though it might be a good idea to see if we were okay. After walking through a prickly field with no shoes, we made it to safety. I felt like mother of the year, just sick to my stomach I had taken my child on that river, though Easton seemed just fine and happy to tell the story, "Fa! Wa Wa!!" over and over again. And he would see a tube and shout, "Big O!" So I was really grateful he was okay. Seriously though, no warning signs or anything? Really? That same day we saw a girl with a bloody head and one headed into an ambulance. You'd think someone might tell you of the possible risk... Anyway, of course I don't have any pictures of this either. But fortunately I'm a great artist. So....here you go.
Looks like we had a pretty rough go of it, huh? Anyway, it was great to spend time with the Russell fam and the rest of the trip was fun. Then, after some recoup, we headed off to Idaho for the Powell reunion. Randon had to work, so I was mean and left him behind. It was nice, I love it up there. So many of my memories of my Grandma and Grandpa are when we were at the reunion, so it was a little hard to be there without either of them. It was good to see my Grandma's siblings though. (We missed you Mel!!) Easton had fun and had no trouble finding the dirt. By the night before we were ready to leave he was filthy!
I love this pic, this is what Easton does when he sees a flower. Gotta smell it! Haha.
I guess that sums it up for the last little while. I can't believe summer will be over soon!
Is there anything better than a good cup of hot chocolate? Well, probably, but on a cozy, snowy day, hot chocolate makes it perfect. My mom first showed me this little way of preparing it, and I love it. 
I mentioned going to the zoo, and he was so excited. By the time we got around to leaving, it was his naptime and he was so tired from the exciting morning, but he just kept saying he wanted to go to the zoo. So off we went. He loved seeing all the animals, and it was so fun to see all the babies. The baby elephant was so cute! We heard about the baby giraffe and the baby tiger all day. 
When we got home, Great Grandma and Grandpa Rass were there to celebrate and even gave him some money! Easton took a little snooze and then it was time for pizza and birthday cake. Grandma and Grandpa Russell also came up and brought him a cool little step stool that they had made. Grandma and Grandpa Rass got him a little block train and a book. Aunt Chantel even brought him some trucks that he loves to play with. So spoiled! I tried my best to make and blue, orange and green cake, and tried to use marshmallow fondant. It turned out looking more like a cake from Dr. Seuss land or something but thats okay.
Finally getting to blow out his candles!
I made eclair cake for everyone else to eat and thats what he preferred to eat too!
It was a fun day, I loved watching him having so much fun.
The verdict was...it was awesome!!! Here is the gang. We actually got a little lost and there was even a short little spook alley after to go through, that was, dare I say, WAY better than Castle of Chaos. Terrifying! It was so fun, and all for a better deal. It was so fun to hang out....we don't get out near enough. And Traci (left) and Jenny (2nd left) are BOTH expecting little babies and I'm so excited for them!! They came out to brave the fright, pregnant and all! 
"Yes. We might very well die."
