Summer Fun

WE ARE LOVING SUMMER!! I usually am a total Winter fan, but this year, I could not wait for summer.  We are so glad that it is finally here.  We have had so much fun so far.  We are so thankful for a nice big backyard that the kids can run around and have so much fun in.  My kids could spend all day playing around in the water in our backyard.  So much fun!  My Dad and step Mom Zuly gave us this fun little splash pad, and the kids love it!

My friend Stephanie has a pool at her apartment complex and invited us over to play one day.  Porter was ecstatic.  He could live in a pool all day if I let him.  Kaden on the other hand, wasn’t quite so sure.  He had more fun just wandering around the pool.  Silly baby.  At least he was happy.

This day we spent most of the day playing in the backyard in the water.  Porter wanted us to set up the ‘water slide’ where we hook the hose to the top of the slide and he slides down into our little pool.  He thinks it is the greatest thing ever and doesn’t ever get bored with it.  And Kaden had a blast playing in the little pool and with the hose.  He thought the hose was pretty neat, but didn’t always know how to control it and would end up getting himself completely soaked.

We just let Kaden run wild in his swim diaper..haha and he loved it.  I know I am biased, but my little babies are SO BEAUTIFUL!!  I was looking at these pictures and I can’t get over how handsome they are!  I love these little cuties so much!!  Look at Kaden’s beautiful hair and eyelashes.. so adorable!  I also think that he looks a lot like Paul did as a baby in the first 3 pictures. 

And seriously, can you get over how handsome and grown up little Porter is?  What a beautiful boy he is!!

I have had so much fun spending time with my cute little boys so far this summer.  I am looking forward to lots more summer fun!!

Syttende Mai (17th of May)

Norwegian Independence Day is observed on May 17 each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as syttende mai (meaning May Seventeenth).  Each year, on the Saturday following May 17, Norwegians and friends of Norway gather at the International Peace Gardens in Salt Lake City to celebrate the Norwegian Constitution Day.  This year was special to me, because I got to wear my Grandma’s bunad (Norwegian traditional costume).   I have so many memories of her wearing her bunad.  It was really nice to have a little piece of her with me this day.

It was really fun to see the Norwegian folk dancers perform.  I keep trying to get Paul to take a class with me to learn, but he refuses.  I will keep working on him!

Here are my beautiful boys getting ready for the parade.  What handsome sweethearts I have.  They are so adorable with their Norwegian flags. 

During the parade it started to completely downpour.  We were all completely soaked at the end of the parade.  (this is why my hair is a mess in all of the pictures..haha).

Cute little cousins waving their flags in the parade.

Here is my brother Erik and his family.

Here are all of us girls!! I love these ladies so much

And of course we had to enjoy Norwegian pølser med lompe (Norwegian hotdogs wrapped in a potato tortilla.  They are so delicious!!!  Here are our little boys enjoying theirs.

And last, but not least, we enjoyed the most delicious chocolate in the world.  Nothing beats Norwegian chocolate and these 2 kinds are my favorite.  MmmmMmmM

We had such  wonderful afternoon.  I am so grateful for my Norwegian heritage.  It is crazy to think that just 8 years ago I celebrated Syttende Mai right in downtown Oslo, Norway.  I miss all of my family in Norway so much.  I really hope that we can celebrate Syttende Mai in Norway soon again. 

Lisa Falls and Rocky Mouth Trail

As the weather continues to warm up, the mountains have been calling our names more and more. We are so lucky to be surrounded by such beautiful mountains.  We really need to enjoy them more.  The last couple of weeks, we went exploring in the mountains and found 2 little hikes ending with beautiful waterfalls.  The first hike that we went on was up Little Cottonwood Canyon.  We packed water bottles and Porter wanted some pancakes for a trail treat..haha and we headed on our way.  Porter made sure to pack his binoculars with him so he could spot a moose (that is his dream).  Here’s our cute little hikers with their pancakes doing such a great job hiking. 

All little boys really need to be happy are sticks.  So easily entertained!

Here we are by the Falls.  They were beautiful!  It was a short hike but perfect for our little kids.

Porter could have played in the water all day.  We will have to make sure that we come back again when it is warmer so him and Kaden can play and not get so cold.

Rocky Mouth Trail

The next hike that we went on was in Sandy and it was called the Rocky Mouth Trail.  This was a very family friendly hike up Rocky Mouth Canyon in Sandy.  The trail was a little bit steep in some places, but a lot of fun to hike.  Porter is an excellent hiker.  I couldn’t believe it when I watched him basically run up the mountain.  The first part of the trail are tons of  little wooden steps that you hike up.  Porter didn’t complain once and just climbed and climbed.  He didn’t stop once or complain he was tired.  What a little trooper. 

On the way up we passed this little cave that Porter was so excited to see.  He was for sure that it was a bear cave and that if we stayed their long enough, we might just see a bear.  It was also covered in bat poop which Porter found fascinating as well..haha. 

We made it to the top and were greeted by an amazing waterfall.  It really was beautiful. 

Kaden sat on this little spot on a rock for a long time playing in the water with his little stick.  He was in heaven. 

We had so much fun hiking together as a family.  We had never been on these hikes before.  It is amazing how many beautiful places are right around the corner from where we live.  So excited to explore many more places this summer with my family.