Parker's 12th Birthday

Parker hanging at the drive-in with his friends

Blowing out the candles

Parker's cool hockey cake

Just what I wanted!  A hockey net!

Parker had a fun 12th birthday this year.  I made his favorite maple bars for breakfast and he was able to open presents and enjoy a relaxing day.  In the evening we had his friends over for homemade pizza, cake and ice cream.  After cake, we headed to the Drive-in to see Despicable Me 2.  We were under strict orders to keep the little kids away, so Brian drove his truck separately with all the boys, and I parked two rows back with the van and all the rest of the kids.  Sunday, Brian ordained him to the priesthood.  It will be so awesome to watch him start passing the sacrament.  We are so proud of him.  He is such a smart, funny, drum and hockey playing boy!!

New Deacon ready to pass sacrament for the first time!

We love to Swim!!

Cute water bugs!

Fun in the pool

Aqua boy

Colton and his swim teacher

Dad and Laynee

Parent-tot class

This girl loves to swim

Swimming like a fish!

Our kids LOVE to swim in the summer.  It's so hot outside, that's about the only thing we can do without frying in the heat!  If we are lucky, someone with a pool will invite us over.  We also love to do swimming lessons at the recreation center.

Idaho or Bust

Swimming in the creek

Four Wheeling with Cousins

Camping fun

Laynee tests out the water

Brotherly love

Swimming in "Grandpa's Creek"

Megan...always the poser

Bowling fun

Will it be a strike?

Love that smile!

Laynee's first time bowling!!

All the Levanger Cousins

Chilling in our tie dyed shirts

Horse riding

Driving Tractors 

Water Balloon Volleyball

Laynee loved the doggies

We had a lot of fun in Idaho this summer!  We started out the trip by camping at Cabin Creek.  We had a blast four wheeling, swimming, making s'mores, hanging out with cousins and going on walks.  There was also a ton of yummy dutch oven food.  Once we were back on the farm, we couldn't get Parker away from driving the tractors with Grandpa and the other kids loved riding horses, swimming in the irrigation ditch, playing with the dogs, playing water games and jumping on the trampoline.  We also had fun bowling, watching movies and having fun family dinners.  On the way home we were lucky to have a picnic in the canyon with the Bird side of the family.  My grandparents, Dad and all the cousins were there.  It was fun to see everyone and visit.  We look forward to this trip every year.

'Tis the season for Independence Day!!

Colton love sparklers

Megan writing her name

Parker joking around with the poppers

Laynee is not too sure about this....

Fun Family

Cute Laynee in her Patriotic Outfit

Megan's fourth of July finery

Chilling at grandma's with popsicles

The whole fam

Megan and Laynee at the Stadium of Fire

Does Laynee like Carlee Rae Jeppson

Hanging out at the Stadium of Fire

The Fourth of July was really fun this year.  We took a road trip to Utah to see family on our way to Idaho.  I made the girls cute shirts and pants and the rest of us wore our usually Old Navy flag shirts.  Once we got to Utah, we hung out at Grandma Bird's house and had popsicles until it was time for the annual BBQ.  The food was awesome and it was so much fun to be with family.  After dinner we all headed out to BYU stadium to the Stadium of Fire celebration.  My niece, Kennedy, was dancing in the show.  They also had Carlee Rae Jeppson, Cirque du Soleil and Kelly Clarkson.  The show was fun and the fireworks were amazing!  We had a great time but got home very late!!!!

Waiting for Mary Poppins to start at Tuachan

Brian and his little traveler

Ready for the hike in Zion's National Park

All the cousins 

Colton takes a water break

Two cute and silly girls

Are we there yet?

On the way back

Playing in the sand at Sand Hollow

A very dirty Laynee

Swimming in the Washington Acquatic Center

Laynee loved the lazy river...Brian too!

Colton swimming around

Parker caught a large mouth bass!!

Grandma Bird with all the Grandkids

The Levangers

Two cute girl cousins

The boys

Hiking through "the crack" at Pioneer Park

Parker in the crack

Everyone at the top

Brian and Colton with the St George Temple in the background

Megan with the temple

Boys on the arch

Parker and Megan at the St. George Temple

The Christus Statue

Cute boys!

We had a really fun "Bird Family" trip to St. George, Utah this year with my brother Jon and his family and my mom.  We were able to rent an amazing house in Hurricane and hang out together and see the sights.  The first day was a travel day, with time to get settled, have a yummy BBQ and see Mary Poppins at Tuachan outdoor theater.   Thursday we went hiking to the Emerald Pools in Zion's National Park.  It was gorgeous and a little scary (when we lost a couple of the cousins for an hour) but all were eventually found safe and sound.  Thursday night we had a "Trash" card tournament, went out for pizza and sub zero ice cream and had lots of laughs.  Friday we went to Sand Hollow Reservoir to fish and swim.  Unfortunately there was swimmer's itch in the water so we had our picnic under some trees and played in the sand for awhile.  Once everyone was good and dirty, we headed to the Washington City Acquatic Center to swim and cool off (sans swimmer's itch).  Colton and Laynee loved the lazy river and the old kids loved the water slide and the dumping bucket.  After showers and naps we headed out for Mexican food and enjoyed watching a movie together.  Saturday we headed to Pioneer park to hike through "the crack" and take in some amazing views.   After lunch we went to the St. George temple grounds and visitors center.  It was awesome to feel the spirit there.  We were sad to say goodbye to everyone and head home, but glad to have such an amazing time together.