Mallie turns 3

 We've been calling Mallie a 3 year old for months now. She is just so darn self sufficient that we never really felt like she was a 2 year old. She has dressed herself for at least the last 7 months. She will push a chair anywhere to get what she needs to feed herself and she is always finding trouble. She is spunky, crazy and a "free spirit". Just last week at the park Ashton poured water down the slide and not two seconds later Mallie was buck naked ready to slide down because she knows it's faster naked. I mean this girl has some serious street smarts. David and I watch her in awe.

We celebrated her birthday Sunday while David's family was here. She got lots of fun toys and her favorite thing ever. Puzzles.

 The kids associate birthdays with party hats. I think it's the cutest thing ever.

Ashton helping her unwrap.

Eating cake with the fam.

She melts my heart. Mostly because I know something very mischievous is lurking right behind that darling smile. Happy Birthday Mal!! 

Clifty Creek and the Inlaws

David's family came to visit on their way to Branson last weekend. On Saturday miraculously the high was 75 so we decided it was perfect hiking weather. We found a perfect 2 mile loop to an arch called Clifty Creek. David had a sore throat so he volunteered to stay home with Lucy and his Dad stayed home with him.

The rest of us set out. Along the trail we saw a snake and tons of little frogs that Cody and Chanelle caught.

Super scenic spots with great Missouri foliage.

 Stopped for lunch a little early when we thought we may not find the arch after all.

And then we found it! It was awesome and huge!

So we hung out for another hour.

And Cody climbed to the top of the arch which we thought was so impressive.

Let me start out by saying when I chose this hike I knew we would need sufficient backs to carry the girls. They could never do the whole 2 miles of hilly terrain. Well, as soon as we started hiking back to the car Mallie immediately said she was done. So David's Mom kept Mallie (who fell asleep) on her back for at least 30 minutes up hill as she was trying to stay hunched enough over because Mallie stopped holding on her back. As I was walking behind her, begging her to let me take a turn, I kept having visions of how I would tell David that I killed his Mom on a hike all in the name of Mallie's nap. It was so impressive. Only a grandmother would do that for a sleeping child.

This is Chanelle taking her turn with Hannah. Nothing better than awesome Aunts and Uncles!

Here's the after church shot. Can I tell you how amazing it was to have 4 adults sit with me. I didn't see Lucy or Hannah the whole sacrament meeting. Proof that David's Mom lived to tale the tell of the hike. Thank goodness. Thank you for coming Jacobsons you took the title of easiest house guests ever!

Midway

I feel like I should write an Ode to Midway poem. We spent almost 3 weeks up there and are so sad to say goodbye. Midway has been "home" for the Ashtons  for as long as David and I have been married. Which is ironic because my parents have lived in that house for almost 6 years and it's the longest they've lived in a house ever. Talk about ADD. Anyway...all my pictures are from my phone. I'm going to start taking out the real camera as soon as I see these published but hey.. it's what I have.

We had a VERY long travel day on July 3rd. Left our house in Missouri at 12:30pm and arrived in Midway about 8pm. Add an hour for the time change. It took forever but the kids were champs. They are amazing travelers. It never fails that at the end of the flight they get complimented for how well they travel and I smile proudly because they are awesome.
Then we spent the 4th of July with all the Ashton cousins.

We got the yearly picture...this one was my very favorite of the bunch.

We jammied the kids and let them stay up for fireworks.

They all sang Happy Birthday to America and waved their flags.

And then we spent lots of time enjoying the weather and family.

And we spent lots of time swinging in the hammock and eating Ice Cream.

Lots and lots of ice cream.

And then Nana and Papa brought out the water slide. And that was a big hit.

One brave day Cally, Mandy and I decided to brave Café Rio during the lunch rush with Jason being the only husband present. That's 13 kids 5 and under. We realized we were insane but totally proud of ourselves that no one was lost or run over by a car.

We of course went to the duck pond one last time.

I love Midway. I love the Utah grass and the bare feet and the mountain air. Someday when we're dropping kids off at BYU we'll make them take a nostalgic drive with us and show them these pictures. I wont mention that for the latter half of our 20 day trip there was a lot of sickness. I'll just end it and say we were so happy for another perfect Midway summer at Nana and Papa's.