Utah Trip- Week One

I guess it's time...we have been home for over 2 weeks now, so I need to finally post about our amazing summer trip.  I guess I've been putting it off because if I post about it, then it is really over...and summer is nearly over, too which seems so hard to believe.  And kind of sad....but, we did have such a great time and I need to record some of the memories before they are gone!
We left Iowa early on July 3 (2:30 AM).  Everyone was so excited.  Our trek was relatively uneventful which is always nice!  We arrived in Provo just in time to get in on the Fourth of July Festivities...such a blast from the past...no better place to be on the Fourth.
Parade Time:

Love to see cousins meeting for the first time- Luke (3 months) and Haven (7 Months):

Then it was time for water games, baseball and a barbecue in the "shadow of the mountains":

After dinner, the girl cousins put on an amazing play about Thomas Jefferson.  It was "directed" by Jaden and even featured period clothing and memorized lines.  Pretty neat!

That evening, we had a perfect view of the fireworks from up on the mountain.  What a fabulous way to celebrate our country!
The rest of the weekend was kind of "recovery" from our cross country travels.  This little guy was SO good, although he didn't want to get near his car seat!  And of course, we couldn't get enough of him!

It was so nice to just relax and enjoy being together- we took a trip to the BYU campus and bookstore, picnicked at the park, and loved spending time with Mel and her girls.  Gram Patsy took Ashton, Jordan and Maya on a date, and I got to go shopping with my Dad.  We snapped a few pictures before church on Sunday.  What a treat to go to church with grandparents and sit together as a family!

The next day it was Regan's turn for her Grandma date.  She was so excited and had such a good time all by herself.

While she was gone, we headed off to see our dear Grandma Mary.  How we love her!  It was wonderful to spend some time with her.  We also stopped by the cemetery.  It is so important to me that we always take some time to stop by this place.

 I don't have any pictures but that night Pat took us to the outdoor play  "The Sound of Music" at the Scera.  It was absolutely wonderful and the girls just loved it!
During our last several trips to Utah, we have wanted to go up to Logan but it just hasn't happened.  This time, we made sure to make it a priority!  So on Tuesday, we got up early for our trek up north.  It was such a great day...to show our children where we used to live, and to think about many happy memories.  We were so young then and just starting off.  We could never have imagined the adventures we would experience and the 5 children we would have!  I'm sure we will be saying that same thing in another 10 years (minus the 5 more children part)!  It was especially neat for Ashton to get to see for the first time where she was born and spent her first year of life.
Our first Logan apartment:

Here we are at one of the schools where I taught 3rd grade:

We loved spending time on the Utah State campus.  Tod loved his time there as a student and even though I never attended school there, I love Logan and Utah State.  We are hopeful that someone in our family will be an Aggie!

Aggie ice cream is a must!

I think Logan is one of the most beautiful places in the world.  We have always said we would move back there if we ever had the opportunity.  It seems unlikely, but you never know!  On the way back to Provo, we stopped in Bountiful at my favorite restaurant, Robintino's and we met 2 of our favorite families for dinner- the Castillions and the Lorenc family.  They both lived in Iowa for several years as students and we grew to love them like our own family.  We have missed them so much.  It was so great to see each other again.  Iowa just hasn't been the same since they left!

And that is a look back at week one of the Snarr Family Vacation 2013!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game.....Every night!

We ended up with three kids playing some form of baseball/softball this season...wow, it was really something.  And we did spend at least 3-4 nights each week at some kind of ball park!  It was a little crazy.

Cole completed his first year of t-ball, and he loved it!  He was fired up and ready for his turn at something...he loved that his best neighbor friend was on his team.  He was also convinced that he needed to wear his shirt tied up like the girls.  Whatever, right?

Regan participated in her first year of coach pitch.  It was hard to tell how much she really liked it, but she just seemed happy to be there with her friends.  She was all about the fashion and says that next year, she wants to play in Jordan's league because they "have better uniforms."  True.

And of course, Jordan played little league softball.  Tod was her coach, and they really enjoyed doing something together that they both love.  I love how they would come home from the games and re-hash everything again.  I really didn't get many pictures of Jordan because I always had a baby in my arms....plus the games were super intense...and when she was pitching, it was all I could do to just sit there and get through it.  So much pressure on a 9 year old.  Ashton and I could barely contain our own nerves.  Good thing Jordan was calm and collected.  I'm not sure I can take the many more years of her pitching!  (Love her uniform this year!)

There are some things I really love about softball...I love that there are always other parents to visit with on the side-lines.  It is so great to just have time to sit and talk!  I like that since the game is slower paced, the kids can enjoy hanging out with teammates.  I love at the end of the night how everyone is tired and dirty from playing at the ball park....yes, I will miss you softball season...until next year.

(Probably my favorite picture of the whole season.  My neighbor took it at Cole's game...I think I need to frame this one.)

Random Summer Catch-Up

Just some random things I have been wanting to post:
-Spring soccer ended in early June...this is what spring soccer in Iowa always looks like...every year...gotta love it!

-We got so much rain during April, May and into June.  This is what Jordan's softball fields looked like: (love the ducks!)

-It did make for some beautiful, green grass and flowers which I have really enjoyed.

-I did snap a few soccer pics during the break in the rain.

-Jordan and Ashton have been teaching their summer preschool on Tuesday mornings.  It's a good opportunity for them to take care of kids and see how much work it can be!

-Cole has finally started going to bed in his own bed and staying there all night!!!  He's only 4, you know.  What it finally took?  Being bribed with trips to the Dollar Store.  One week he picked out some dress up stuff.

-Jordan and Ashton got to be ball girls at a soccer game for a semi-pro women's team.

-We've all been trying to do some extra summer chores and goals....like having your four year old put away the knives.

-Jordan has been putting a ton of practice in on her pitching.  We have a TON of these pictures- she and her dad are a little obsessed.

-She also had a piece of art work on display at the school district office.  The likeness was incredible!

 -And finally, whenever I upload my pictures, I am always surprised by some of them.  It seems Regan and Cole like to take my camera and have their own fun!  I always like to see what I end up with!!

(Love this last one!  Love the expression on Cole's face)