Hokulia

Andrea has been working at Hokaulia shaved ice shack all summer and every time we see her she tells us to make the trip down to Provo and get a free shaved ice. Of course we ignored her because we lived in Salt Lake and also I don't love shaved ice. Every time I have had a snow cone or a shaved ice cup it is just not very good. The ice is always too thick and the syrup separates from it so quickly. 

Well we moved to Provo and first night there we promised Andrea that we would come visit her at work. Can I just say OH! MY! GOODNESS!!! This was THE Best shaved ice that I have ever had. The ice was so perfectly small that it held the syrup for the whole treat. It also has this macadamia ice cream in the middle that is so die for. It was seriously amazing. It was so good that I am completely upset that we did not make the drive to get a free one sooner. It was a great treat (and HUGE) that the whole family enjoyed. Kelsey enjoyed it more than we thought she would and so the treat went even faster than we anticipated. It was just so good. Thanks Andrea!

I hate that I am not looking in this picture because Kelsey's enjoyment is just so cute

3 Lakes Hike

We finally were able to go on a family hike. We borrowed Katie Robertson's backpack and headed up to the 3 lakes hike that my family did over the 4th.

The weather was perfect, except for a tiny rain storm at "lake" 2. It came out of no where and came hard. The wind really picked up which made the rain cold. We contemplated turning back, but instead decided to wait a little while under a groove of tress. While we were waiting, we let Kelsey out and explore. Luckily the storm passed within 15 minutes and we were able to make it up to the 3rd and final lake.

Kelsey did FANTASTIC!!! The type of backpack you use, really makes a difference. This time she was able to see where we were going and move her arms and legs. She was so so happy!

 

                                           First hike                                        Second hike

She did get a little frustrated because she wanted to get out and walk, but luckily that was right before our stop at the final lake and so we were able to bear her whining until then. She just loves to walk now, especially when we are outside. She LOVES to be outside.

 At the third lake, we stopped put our feet in the freezing water (no one complained except me), ate lunch, and let Kelsey roam free.

I guess she had a lot of fun because on the way down, she put her head on Ethan's shoulders and fell asleep. Overall it was a great hike.

As a side note, we ran into the Tour de Utah on the way down the canyon. That was kinda fun to see too.

Exclusive

I don't know when it happened, but I think I'd call Kelsey an exclusive walker. I haven't seen her crawl in a while so I guess we are there. Sometimes when we are outside and she wants to chase kittys or go really fast she will crawl, but I think even then she is a walker. Its so weird because people kept asking and asking, and then finally I could say yes. She was 50/50 for a while and was able to stand in a room on her own, but now I'd say she is a 100%. When I'm holding her and put her down, we put her on her feet. Weird!

Scooter Ride

Thursday August 8th we were going to go on a double date to Seven Peaks but the weather decided to be too cold to swim. Since we had the babysitter lined up we decided to go for a ride up the canyon instead. It was gorgeous as always but I actually took pictures this time so that we can remember how beautiful Salt Lake is when we move away.

 Oh and I just love Kelsey's little ponytail and gym shorts!

Holladay

Moving is going to be so difficult. I have met some incredible people and will be leaving some of my very best friends. After bawling my way through Sunday, I think I have finally excepted the fact that this is real, this is happening, and it will all be okay. I can even say that sometimes I get excited for the adventures that lay ahead.
That being said, I can not even express how much I am going to miss my friends and my ward.

On Monday a bunch of us went up the canyon and roasted marshmallows kinda of like a going away party. I mean my friends are seriously the coolest. They knew that roasting and a camp fire were on my Salt Lake bucket list and so they had a party for Ethan and I up the canyon. It was beautiful and so much fun. I felt so blessed to know these people and hate to say goodbye.

Pineview

Tuesday, August 6th, we took a break from life and spent the day at Pineview Reservoir. Perfect weather, perfect beach spot, perfect water, and perfect company. It was  very enjoyable day. I will say though going to the beach with a 14 month old is much different and much more difficult than going to the beach with a 3 month old. None the less, still very fun and delightful!

Kelsey kept swipin this chair from Harps and so Harper started standing her ground. 

 Not a fan of the hat, BUT it stayed on so can't complain

 Mannings

 Some enjoyed the water...

 

And some did not :)

(if you didn't notice, you can't even see the water from where the picture was taken. That's how much so tried to avoid it)

Trek

I wish I could say that I was a supportive wife through the whole trek process. When I first found out that we may have to go I was a little bummed. When I first found out that Ethan was going to go and I was not invited (because they didn't have room for more women leaders) I was really really bummed. I put up a real stink about it and felt totally justified. I was not justified but here were my reasons to complain:
1. We still did not have a place to live
2. I thought it was lame that Ethan would used his "summer family vacation time" without the family and not really on a vacation
3. I hate being a single parent and being a single parent for a week left like a really long time.
Those are my reasons. Terrible reason, but there they are.
Luckily I married a wonderful man, who does what he is asked because the Trek experience was so positive for Ethan, for the youth that he worked with, and for Kelsey and I.
4. Ethan's knee was still messed up from the race and so I was worried about him hiking 35 miles in 3 days,.

It started Monday July 29th. He got home from work, ate dinner, packed, and headed to the church where he helped organize and pack everybody's stuff. After about 4 hours, he came home exhausted and ready to go to bed.
Tuesday, everyone had to meet at the church at 4:15 AM because the buses were leaving at 4:30. Ethan was up by 3:30 and out the door by 4:10. I'll tell you what, Ethan is the most positive person in the whole world, EVEN AT 4 AM!!!! He was up smiling, quizzing me about pioneers, making eggs, and whistling. When it came time to leave, he grabbed his travel bag, slung it over his shoulder, and while dressed completely like a pioneer in the pitch dark of morning shouted, "HOORAH FOR ISRAEL!!!" and left whistling some pioneer song. I mean who does that! I was so grumpy and I got to go back to bed.

Kelsey and I stayed very busy with weddings, shopping, cleaning, dinners, play dates, and the like. She was so good for me the whole week. Sometimes she wouldn't go to bed so we just sat up eating popcorn and watching TV, but it was really fun. It was almost like she could tell that something was wrong. She could tell that I was feeling very sorry for myself and needed a friend. She was such a happy girl and for that I am grateful. Thursday got to be a little difficult just because we both wanted Ethan home, but he came home Friday so with the help of naps, packing, and a wedding reception, Thursday flew by.

On Friday August 2nd, Kelsey and I just kinda waited for the call to tell us that they were close and approaching. The call came around 3:30 pm and we hopped in the car and rode over to the church. We live only 1 min driving from the church, but I couldn't have driven fast enough. I was so excited to see Ethan. Just like when he left, Ethan jumped off the bus smiling and happy. He was much dirtier, much more tired, very sun brunt, and smiled like who knows what, but he was so happy. It was great to see him!

 Kelsey was a little nervous at first, but once he took his hat off she started to recognize him. His bread probably threw her off. We gathered his stuff and headed over to where the rest of the youth were unloading and waiting for rides.
The moment I stepped into the youth circles, I heard nothing but "OH My GOSH Cami!!! Ethan is so funny!!" "You should have seen when Ethan..." "I wish you could have heard Ethan..." " Ethan, Ethan, Ethan!! It was hilarious. They had some very funny stories mostly about singing Disney songs, a broken stake on a tent in the pouring rain, and his debate voice. It was great to hear and a great reminder to me why Ethan went. He was such a good influence on the youth.
I can honestly say that I am grateful Ethan went. Despite my nagging and complaining, he was needed, and we were very blessed. I married Ethan because of his devotion and dedication to everything in his life and I am grateful that he didn't change this time just because circumstances were harder and his wife was so naggy!
I was asking Ethan about trek and he said that the best way to describe it would be positive. It was not a vacation, it was not fun, and it was not easy, but it was positive. He got to see all the pioneer famous spots in Wyoming, got great food, had fun games, and had a positive experience with our youth right before we moved. I can even say that I am a little jealous that he got to go and that I didn't. It seemed like a great experience.