Cousin Camping

 

This summer we had a wonderful visit from my sister, her husband, and their daughter Evelyn. Evie is Kaylee’s one and only cousin, and they live 16 hours apart so they only see each other once or twice a year. My sister and her family came down for the 4th of July, and we decided to go on a very short camping trip.

 

The girls had a wonderful time! They mostly played with ponies and explored in the trees, even adding in a bit of pretend “hiding from someone”.

 

We only had one scary incident where Kaylee led Evie down to the lake unsupervised, and scared the daylights out of everyone!

The lake was FREEZING, but we swam anyways….and I realized that I can not swim in cold water.

I loved our little trip together, and cant wait for more little cousins so we can expand these trips into sibling/cousin “reunions”.

Sister Visit - Days 13-15

I don't know how two weeks turned into 15 days, but I am too sick to try to figure it out.

Yep, I am still sick. I caught whatever Robert had, and now Kaylee is acting like she is getting sick too. I am hoping it is just teething that is making her nose run. That is her only symptom so far.

Day 13:

Mom and Jenetta are still down in Mona at my parents house. They are coming up tomorrow afternoon.

Day 14:

I am getting sicker by the day, and hopefully will not stay sick too long. Mom and Jenetta came over later this after noon and are staying the night to go to the airport in the morning. We cleaned the house today, and finally got all the books put away in the library/front room. It is nice to have that room looking nice. I let Kaylee play in her new pool, which she loved, but I hope that being in the not-so-warm water doesn't get her sick. I didn't really think through that one :(

Day 15:

I was sad to say goodbye to Jenetta and my mom today. It has been great having them around, and getting to know my niece a little more. I wish they lived closer so we could spend more time together. I get to see them at the cabin in August (hopefully) which will be fun. I am still really sick, and don't feel like writing up a great post about the past few days.

Sister Visit - Days 8-12

Day 8:

I headed down to my parents house a while after Kaylee's morning nap, and we basically just relaxed the whole day, letting the girls play. It is always nice to be at my parents house because it feels so much like home. A weird thing happened though, Kaylee absolutely refused to take her second nap! She screamed bloody murder for half an hour while I tried to convince her to go to sleep. Finally I gave up, and she was happy for the rest of the day! She went to bed an hour early, but that was it!

Day 9:

After only taking one nap last night, I expected Kaylee to have a really bad night. But she slept, and slept, and slept, until finally I had to wake her up at 8:15. Normally, I start praying around 6:30 that she stays asleep at least until 7, and she hasn't slept in until 8 for over a month. Maybe going to one nap wont be that bad!

That morning we took the girls outside to play and visit with the animals. Kaylee has been a little hesitant around the horses since one sneezed on her last time we were there. I took it slow, and by the end of the morning I got her to pat one of them on the neck. She really liked the chickens and of course the cats.

The plan for the day started out that we were going to go up to canoe on the lake, but it changed into just going up the canyon for a cookout. To do that we needed the girls to take only one nap again that day. Evie ended up needing two, and Kaylee could have used two but made it through just fine with one. I was shocked!

The cookout site

Kaylee in the playpen - which she thought was really great for a while

Dad and Mom

The girls just got to hang out together in the pack n play. They pretty much kept to themselves until Kaylee stood up and started walking OVER Evie to see things.

Kaylee dumping snacks all over the floor

Evie

It was really beautiful up the canyon, and it made me miss going camping. I can't wait to go to Mirror Lake next month!

Kaylee REALLY didn't want to be on this little log by the stream. Even when I put her on it, she was trying to get away.

Grandma Smith and Evie

Grandma Smith and Kaylee

Evie on the log - I really like this picture for some reason

After playing in the stream we went for a "Hike" down the road. Really we just walked with the girls about 20 feet down the road and then came back. They loved it though!

Wiping the mud off her toes before putting her back in the pack and play.

Finally the coals were ready for us to cook on, so we got out the huge hot dogs and everything that goes with them. Kaylee wasn't a huge fan of the whole hot dog + bun + fixings, but she liked little pieces of just the hot dog.

Jenetta roasting her hot dog

and me.....

We roasted a few marshmallows afterward, and shared a taste with both the girls.

Kaylee seemed to like everything about it except the stickiness.

Evie enjoyed her bite too

Day 10:

It was pretty rainy the rest of the weekend, so we spent a lot of time in the house playing with the girls. Kaylee had another LONG night's sleep after her one nap, but needed the two naps this day.

The girls sitting together amongst the toys

Kaylee love the little pink ball on top of the coffee table, and she kept it with her most of the day

Our living situation for the day

That morning my dad helped out by feeding the girls their cereal. Evie was originally going to get fed by him, but Kaylee was so interested that I let him feed her too.

It was really cute because he would give her a bite,

scoop up some more,

and give Evelyn a bite

My mom gave Kaylee "horsie rides" on her knee

basically bouncing her wildly around on her knee while making horse sounds

Kaylee was giggling like crazy during these

and then would lay back against her Grandma with her mouth open wide. It was adorable!

Robert got there late that night, and was planning to stay for the weekend. It was great to have him there.

Day 11:

This was the day for SHOPPING!! Since Robert was there to take care of Kaylee, and my dad was there for Evie, Mom, Jenetta, and I decided to go shopping. We spent the morning playing with the babies, and then meant to leave as soon as both went down for their naps. Kaylee decided she wasn't tired yet though so we left her still awake. Luckily she went to sleep shortly after we left, and slept for a LONG time. She ended up only taking one nap again that day.

Kaylee enjoying attention from her Daddy

We went to a bunch of stores together, and spent WAY too much time in "The Quilted Bear" looking at more crafty stuff than we would ever be able to fit in our houses. We bought some really cute bath toys for each girl, and a set for Grandma's house. Then we all got new colorful purses! I am so glad that my friend Sandy made me buy a bright colored purse earlier this year. I don't think I will ever go back to having a black or brown one again. It was nice to "convert" my mom and sister to colorful purses too.

When we got back, we were all tired, and took a nap. Then we played with the girls some more, and let them have their new toys.

I think I have mentioned before that Jenetta uses cloth diapers on Evie, but if I haven't here is a picture of her cute fluffy bum!

This is just a big cat toy! Kaylee loves the little tiny jingly ball we have for Turtle, so we got these bigger ones for both girls. As you can see, Kaylee is in LOVE!

The pig bath toy we bought for Grandma's house.....I think Kaylee's face says it all

You can see the giraffe bath toys we bought for our house at the bottom of the picture.

Unfortunately, Robert had to leave to go to work that evening, and wasn't able to stay for the next day. I love him and appreciate that he works to hard to support us. I feel bad though that he doesn't get many weekends off anymore.

Day 12:

I had been feeling sick since Wednesday, and it came to a head on Sunday morning. I wasn't feeling like getting out of bed, let alone going to church, so Kaylee and I stayed home. She didn't sleep nearly as well that night after her 1 nap, and then didn't take a good first nap. I think she was starting to get sick too. Also her top tooth was coming through making her gums painfully swollen. I blocked off the stairs and laid on the couch while she played on the floor. I am SO grateful that she is happy to play beside me more often than not. It makes being so sick a little easier.

I left for home after dinner than evening, and got home just in time to get more sick, and feel like crap. Robert got to come home just in time to see Kaylee off to bed, and try to help me feel better. He was sick too, but with something different than me. Boo to being sick!

Sister Visit - Days 5-6

Day 5:

Robert ended up working on Sunday so we went to church alone. Kaylee had a REALLY rough time from about half way through the first hour until we gave up about 30 minutes before the last meeting ended. I don't know what was bugging her, but she ate a TON when she got home, so I think hunger had something to do with it. I don't usually need to feed her a bottle at church so I hadn't even brought one with me. Evelyn, on the other hand, was really good and quiet for most of the 3 hours!

Day 6:

Bright and Early Monday morning we got ready for yet another big adventure. We planned to go to the Treehouse Museum in Ogden, and my mom came up for the trip.

Kaylee and her Aunt Jenetta - I gave her this whole banana and she loved it! She didn't eat a whole lot, but really liked copying what she has seen me doing.

We put the girls down for short early naps to help them get through the morning, and then left. The drive up was a little rough, with crying and fussing.

The museum is a great place for kids! I had taken Kaylee once before and was really excited to go back.

Kaylee on the horse....which she was pretty nervous about.

The little girls on the horse together.

Evie

Kaylee looking a little more comfortable on the horse

They have a special day and time for toddlers where they sing, read little stories, and basically entertain the little ones. I think it is still a little over Kaylee's head, but she enjoyed clapping with everyone.

The girls with Grandma during singing time

Clapping cuz their happy

Kaylee really liked this glow table

After an hour or so both girls were ready for naps, so we headed home. The ride home wasn't bad at all, even with two sleep deprived little girls. Keeping them awake so they wouldn't ruin their naps was the problem!

I thought it was a great day, and think everyone had a good time. I know it was a little much for Evie, and even Kaylee couldn't enjoy everything yet. I think I am going to wait to go back until later this winter...oh, maybe not (some big news to come once it is finalized), but probably next year for sure we will be going back.

I loved spending so much time just me and Jenetta and our babies. It is fun being moms together and especially fun to have little girls who are so close in age!

The girls were so cute together the whole time they were here, but I think Kaylee has some manners to learn about grabbing other peoples' faces and stepping on them when they are in her way. Mostly she was a good girl, but sometimes she would muscle her way around....or over.

Jenetta went home with my mom after Evie's nap, and I am heading down there Wednesday morning I think.