Natalie is 8!

The big news of today is that it is Natalie's Birthday! 

And she turned 8 years old! And that means she can get baptized! She's a lucky girl, because not many 8 year olds get to be baptized on their birthday! But Natalie's 8th birthday fell on the Saturday, so yippe! 

Yesterday when we left Lake Tahoe, we prayed that the cars would work and that we'd make it back in time for our baptism deadline. Ready to check out:

Wesley drove Corey's car and they didn't crash and die, so good. Wesley was happy to get in some hours behind the wheel.

We arrived last night at 8, with time to unload the bikes, clear out the cars and unpack. Today we were up and ready to go for her baptism. 

I told Natalie to get a picture with Corey. Peter joined them, he's so cute.

One of Corey and our birthday girl.

Ethan was able to phone in for just a minute to say hi, and Joseph, Mel, and Hyrum were able to watch the baptism service over messenger video. They are so proud of you, Natalie!

We've been teaching Natalie that baptism is a covenant and promise between her and God. When I was in the changing room with her afterward, she said "I forgot to say my promise when I went in the water!!!" I tried to say "It's ok, you don't have to say it, God knows... it's not your words, it's the act of being baptized that is the promise..." but before I got to any of that, she said "But it's ok, cause I just said a prayer and told God my promise." I thought that was cute. She is a very special little girl and we love her.

A rare photo of both sets of grandparents together!

Back at home, we had cake and ice cream. Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you!"

Natalie shook her head as she blew out her candles, in an effort to blow the flames out faster, but it didn't work.

Opening gifts from grandparents. 

It was a special day. We spent the rest of the day just letting kids relax and play, and we unpacked and tried to clean up a bit. Abi and Wes are leaving for EFY on Monday, so we ran a few errands for them. Abi went to a friend's house and accidentally dropped her phone in their pool. She was picking up her towel but it was in her towel and it flipped into the water, so sad. That is too bad for her. We put a low heat hair dryer to that, we'll see tomorrow if it survived. It's in a bag of rice right now. Wes is still working on homework, although he didn't get much done during Lake Tahoe. I hope he finishes.

Biking and Emerald Bay

We went biking again and at the Corral Trail again. This time is was Corey and Me, our kids, and cousin Seth. 

We all drove up to the top, unloaded the bikes, left the van up there, and I drove Corey's car back down  with OD&P and waited. Peter was asleep, Daniel refuses to bike unless it's on shotgun, and Owen said he didn't want to ride ...until he saw Natalie on his bike, and then they left and he started crying that he wanted to go. Wes was the first one down. He biffed it on one of the jumps and his arm was bleeding. 

So that threw out any chance of him wanting to take another ride down. And since we were biking at like NOON it was hot and that was another reason why I was betting that all the kids would be like "yeah we're done" but we had to go get the van at the top, so I left Wes at the car right when Abi and Seth showed up and I started to bike up the trail to get in a workout. I didn't get very far before they had come up behind me, but I had gone far enough that I was done and out of breath. There was no room for me in the car, so I held onto the rack with Wes. Corey wasn't going fast, cause it was a skinny little mountain trail that needs to be repaired, but it was still scary cause of how much the car and rack would shake as it went over potholes. I guess I don't trust the hitch to hold the weight of us, the rack, and the bikes. So then I got in and said we could make us all fit if we just got on each other's laps. When I came in the car, all the kids really wanted to go on the rack, so then we let Lily and Sophi get on and ride with Seth supervising. When we were almost at the top we had them get off and let Natalie and Owen hold on. We were going to head home, but Owen regretted that he didn't go with Corey, so I said I'd go down with him. Sophi didn't want me to be alone, so she came too. She is very sensitive and aware of how other people might be feeling. 

We were very very slow. I felt bad that everyone was waiting for us to finish since we were not going to be quick. Seth drove the van down to the bottom, but we didn't get there very quickly. When we did we headed back to the Marriott so we could eat and so Wes could nurse his wound. Corey's car has a lot of bikes. The Velocirax is a really good bike rack. Corey is very happy with it. 

Back at the room, the kids played some cute travel games that Grandma brought.

We wanted to do one last touristy thing before we head back tomorrow, so we drove over to Emrald Bay. 

The kids liked climbing up the big granite rock! 

Thanks to the nice stranger who took our group photo. Ok everyone! Look into the sun and try to keep your eyes open! (Cute Daniel!)

Corey told the kids that after they came with us to Emrald Bay, that would be the last thing he made them do on this trip. I wanted us to all go on a walk, but Corey said he couldn't ask them to do more. So true to his word, they headed home. Peter and I took a walk down a trail cause I wanted to go down and touch the water. It was a 1.5 walk. I carried Peter for some of it. We made it to the water! 

Had I not had Peter with me, I seriously would have swam over to the little island. The water was so cool and I just wanted to jump in. When we were almost at the bottom, Lily showed up! She had followed after us. She wanted to touch the water too!

There were a lot of tourist down there and we overheard talk about a bear. We looked over where people were looking, and sure enough, there was a bear! It was not very close, but it kept walking our direction, I'd be nervous, so we started to walk back up the trail. There were little streams tricking down to the bay, and little flowers along the path. I'll post those pictures on my nature blog. Lily took this one of the trees.

Back in the car, we headed back to the Marriott. We stopped by another viewpoint. I took a picture of another family that was there, and then the mom took a picture of us.

And while we were up here reading the info signs, I learned that there was an old 1929 mansion down there at the bottom where we walked to! We totally could have gone and seen it! Tours closed at 4, but we still could have seen it, darn! Of course, that was where the bear was, so maybe that was for the best that we didn't venture closer looking for the mansion. We headed back to the room. Everyone went swimming for one last time. Corey held Peter in the water~

Alix taught Owen and Daniel how to do backflips!

And we'd go warm up in the hot tub every now and then. I loved hearing Peter say "That water super hot!"

Peter and Daniel back in the cool pool.

Everyone had fun. 

Back at the room we learned that the older kids had all be discussing lgbtq issues in the pool, so we stayed up and talked with them about that. I let the little boys watch a movie on my phone while Corey, Abi, Wes and I talked, it was cute to and the boys tuckered out when we were finished. 

ALSN all slept in the lock off room in Corey's parent's unit. We had WODP here. And that's as small as our numbers are! Only 8 kids! 4 boys 4 girls makes it easy to keep track of them. 

(Oh, also today there was a slight earthquake that I felt - I noticed it shaking the lights in the room!)

We had wanted to go to bed a little earlier to get a little more sleep before the long drive tomorrow, but it's ok. Check out is at 10, so sleep up!

Pope Beach

Today we spent most of the day at Pope Beach. It is a very nice beach! Mark went there early to reserve us a spot and we all came around 10. I didn't follow the google map directions and took Corey and my car full of passengers us a nice sight seeing detour through the neighborhoods and almost took a right turn into a wood fence, ha. I had the right turn light on and Corey was like "Are you sure you want to do that?" and then I saw the fence, funny. There was a long line to get in at the beach entrance and I was worried my scenic route had made it so we wouldn't find a place to park, but hooray, there was plenty of space. I think later googled it and there's like 3 miles of beach here. It was great. We set up Peter with a bucket in the shade and we were good to sit. 

I think the beach is a perfect family place. Kids get to play, and we can see them and keep an eye on them, but we also get to sit in peace (mostly). I was even able to read a little bit today!

I am always very optimistic when I pack for trips, and this time proved no different (I brought 5 books to read aaaand my violin... yeah, I was a little too optimistic, ha. Abi and the boys playing in the sand. 

My favorite part was sitting in the hammock with Peter. 

Very peaceful~

And a pretty easy place to hide. A few of us took naps and read books in the hammocks.

We had a simple lunch of sandwiches, chips, and fruit. The teenagers chilled out in the shade and listened to music. 

My pic of them above, one of their many selfies below. 

Corey headed back to the Marriott around 4:00 with Mark, Isaac, and Sophi. Mark came back and we started to kinda pack up a little bit. Peter and I played in the sand and made a pretty good line up of sand molds. 

The bigger kids came and helped us. 

It was great having the older kids and cousins around to help. Daniel with Seth.

After we got back to the hotel, we had dinner (salad and shrimp fried rice with extra eggs from my breakfast leftovers) and then both Corey and I went swimming with the kids. Our kids and the teenage girl cousins totally attacked Corey. They were all over his back with their arms around his neck choking him, I was trying to warn them "Kids! This might make dad not want to come swimming with you again! Cause this isn't very fun for him!!" You don't want to attack the source of your fun - that's what made the Darth Vader suit get donated. Corey found a way to fight back though with a new move. He would turn on his attackers and come at them with his hands held high in the air as he pushed himself up out of the water and right on top of them. The kids have dubbed it "The Corey Flop" and it was hilarious to watch. I didn't get any pictures of swimming tonight since we were both in the pool, but later tonight Corey commented, after the kids had ice cream and brownies at 10:30 pm, that his new move just felt like an appropriate offense because he's been feeling a bit gluttonous lately. So it was a fun day. 

A few other things - I was able to blog a little bit yesterday after we got back from the bike ride and the kids were allowed to take a break. Today I finally sent in info for Natalie's baptism which is going to be on Saturday. I felt like a bit of a slacker that it took me so long to get back to them (like 6 weeks). And I don't update on any of the older kids much, but I have a few things about them today - Hyrum's left big toe is finally doing a little better, yay. He sent me three toe pictures. I have not been uploading those to the blog, sorry Hyrum to not include photos of you. I'd post it if it had your face in it, but no one needs to see your toe. And if you do want to see it, it just looks like a swollen toe. In more exciting news, Ethan is heading out very early tomorrow morning to Miami and then to the Dominican Republic! We are so excited for him to finally be going to his original assignment, he's a lucky boy. Check his mission blog for updates! Eventhough that is not currently updated... I will try to catch up as soon as I get a chance and updates from him. And lastly, Joseph went up to Bear Lake last week with Emily and her family and was there for almost a whole week. Near the end of the week, they had a talk and kinda broke up and are giving each other some space to figure things out. My kids are a little sad about it cause they love Emily, but Joseph is ok, and trusts that if it is supposed to work out it will. Corey and I had a long courtship and had plenty of time and space to figure things out. It's a good thing to do, cause this is not a decision that you want mess up. Don't keep going forward with if you aren't sure. Take time to think and feel it out, cause you want to get this one right. You don't want to have to make the marriage decision more than once. Take the time that you need to get it right. 

Hike and Bike

Nancy and I went on a nice walk this morning at Van Sickle Bi-State Park. It was a short walk, but we got up high enough to get a nice view of the lake. 

It was very nice, and it smells gorgeous here in South Lake Tahoe with all the pine aroma in the air. I might attempt to bring the kids up here for a sunset hike, maybe, pending on if we have big kids to help with the little kids so they don't fall to their deaths as they climb the rocks - because I am positive they will climb, and they have no fear about it. I fear on their behalf, so yeah, we'll see if my worry can handle it. No selfies of our hike, but we took a shoes and shadow pic -

Back at the room, we had a bit of Sponge Bob tv watching this morning, and then Corey told us we had to bike or we're not doing stuff like this again. Upon that mandatory ruling, even our reluctant bikers  we all went on a bike outing (although Lily didn't ride). The valet parking here is a bit of a hassle. We tried to gather kids and they waited in the lobby until we figured out seating in the cars - 

We headed to  the Corral Trail and we think everyone liked it. It wasn't crowded, but we had a large group and only 8 bikes, so it was a slight wait for the people who were not having their turn. Hopefully it was still good for everyone. 

For the first round, we all drove up,  The bikers in group 1 were: Jeremy, Seth, Wes, Jordyn, Abi, Alix, Rhyan, and Natalie. We were glad when they started to arrive safely back at the bottom, yay! No one got lost on the mountain! Natalie won the pink face award.

We also found out that Wesley led the group onto the black diamond trail rather than the easy green trail. That resulted in a bit of walking. On the second trip we avoided that and so there was more riding. It was kinda funny, cause when the trail splits into the black or green trails, the easier trail had like 10 feet of rock to climb but then it was easy. The easier looking trail was actually the harder one, so remember that looks can be deceiving! And that sometimes a little bit of perceived work is worth it for a more enjoyable ride for beginners. We loaded up the bikes again and headed up the road to the trail head again. Group 2 was: Corey with Peter, Me, Wes, Jordyn, Abi, Alix, Sophi, Natalie, and Owen. Wes headed down first with most of the girls, Jordyn rode with Owen (thanks Jordyn!)...

And I went back and forth watching them and checking in on Corey, who took Peter. 

Corey also had Sophi in front of him.

PETER IS THE CUTEST!!!!

Another cute picture of Peter.

We still got off and walked a few times. 

It was a lot of fun. Peter is so sweet on the bike.

Corey said that he really loved the rolling hills and jumps and kept saying "Again! Again!"

One comment about the trail: There was a lot of gravel and sand, so it was a bit slippery and we did a fair share of sliding. It made me appreciate the Corner canyon trails more, they are so fun with the hard packed dirt! I told my nieces that they'll need to come with me on the Rush downhill trail sometime, cause this was fun and nice, but that Rush Trail is a blast! So it's been a nice day here. Corey went jeeping with his brother, I stayed in the room with Peter, the older cousins took Owen and Daniel to the pool, and yeah, it's been a nice day here in South Lake Tahoe.