out with a bang

Summer is over!

I am not ready for this.

Tonight is not really a school night.

I do not have to wake up and go to class and take notes.

I AM NOT READY FOR SCHOOL TO START.

At least the weekend was fun and summer went out with a bang! It all started Thursday night (sisters night) at the twilight concert dancing to Chromeo and Big Boi.

best concert of the season!!

Erin. Whitney. me. Brynn. Emily

It was Erin's 20th Birthday on Friday, the 20th, and the Barton's celebrated in style.

Dinner at the Olive Garden then skating at Classic Skating.

We dressed up, and it looked good.

Saturday morning Brynn and I helped out at a lemonade stand for the MS Society.

just like when we were little!

That night was Jason Sorensons wedding and  I was so mad I left my camera in the car! grr! They had the reception at Log Haven in Millcreek canyon. So beautiful and fun. Only 3 of the fellas I spent my childhood with are left, the rest are married. SO WEIRD!!

Happy back to school everyone!
( I just cried a little inside saying that)

must see

If you get a chance to see this while it is here in Utah you MUST!

I got to see it tonight and it was

AMAZING!

amazing

amazing!

The costumes are so detailed and colorful. The only word I can say is amazing. All the colors, the music, a giant elephant walking past you down the aisle. oh my..... amazing!

click here for ticket information

Burrrrr Lake

This weekend I went to Bear Lake with the Barton Family. It has been so long since I have been up there and I loved it so much. I want to go again!

Erin and her bf Zach, Jeffery and his friend Jackson and Brynn and I drove up Thursday night and had a blast camping at the KOA.

Setting up the tent. Everyone was realllly helpful!

We rented a surrey with the fringe on top to pedal to dinner. Brynn was loving it.

So much work but well worth it.

after a wild game of mini golf (yes it was free at the campsite) we made smore's

we also had a lot of fun with Brynn's magical flash light and my camera.

Not our proudest moment but yes, yes we did attempt a blue dart. Also I was stepping on her stomach to get something out! haha so wrong but soooo funny.

Jeff and Debbie came up the next day and the brought Hunter and Noah with them to play! They are the cutest little boys. And we finally got to go boating!! The water was freezing and the air was not a whole lot warmer. But it was still so great.

we had a minor accident involving Jeff's finger getting crushed/punchered while launching the boat. RN Brynn got to bandage him up. It was scary I felt so bad. He had to get a few stitches and the numbed it up pretty good for him at the medical station up there.

This pic is magical for many reasons (Erin having sunflower seeds as front teeth for one.... ) But I just LOVE how beautiful it is up there. Look at the water!!!

I had to cut the trip short and come home early for the

Swan Family Reunion.

(I sware my family had more reunions then anyone else. How is it possible we have one every summer?!)

My aunts family has a cabin up Spanish Fork canyon on a massive chunk of land.

I got up there a little late because I drove straight from Bear Lake to there so I missed out on all the "fun" crafts. But...I made it in time for dinner. Yummy!

Some of the little ones (3-4 year old) decided to make mud and start a little fight with my cousin Chase who is the same age as me. He had to help hose them off after!

Is she not the cutest thing you have ever seen? I have never seen such a TAN baby in my life but you cant help but love her and those cheeks!

Since so few of the family made it to my mothers 50th surprise party Whit and I had, my aunts decided to redo the roast they prepared and changed around some of the jokes. I couldn't stop laughing at my aunt Kris (right) and her boobs! They really do hang low!

It was the second night of the meteor shower so Chase, Sean & Lauren, and myself slept out on the deck so we could watch it. We didn't really see much but it was a little chilly! I had 2 sleeping bags and slept like a dream!

The next morning everyone looking so happy!

I got to shoot some big guns for the first time!

bad idea..... it was really fun and I was Terrible. Couldn't hit a thing. But I still loved it.

Greg got in on the action shooting...

and "pulling" the pigeons (?? is that right??)

Sean and Lauren with the shotguns.

Lauren got one on the first try. Sean was sooo jealous! It took him forever to get one.

Something Good...

Today was a little fundraiser that Peerless Beauty Supply did to rise a little money for the

Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

They have been gathering donations in all the stores and from all the sales reps since the beginning of June.

There was a 5K walk/run at the Jordan Parkway, a delightful lunch from Sugar House BBQ. A raffle for prizes like $100 worth of hair products, A gift card for a free massage from Massage Envy, and a $50 cut and color from my amazing/talented sister Whitney. The little ones could even get their faces painted!

...so did Whitney and I

It was so much fun to come out and show a little love and support for my Uncle who we did this all for!

Greg Fowler.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 15 years ago.

We were able to raise $6,000 to donate to help research!!

If anyone is interested in learning more about Parkinson's or wants to donate go to link above!

A grand time...

July has been so much fun!! on the 2nd I went to Raging Waters with Brynn, Emily & Brandon, Chase & Kasey. Have not been there for ages and it was so fun!

Celebrated Independence day at hobble creek with the provo boys.

And lastly off to Lake Powell for my 3rd trip this summer!

For Christmas my dad gave us a trip to LP for the fam and I was soo excited! We finally got our Christmas present last weekend. Bullfrog is cool, it has to many canyons and I love to look at them! Brynn was supposed to be my date on the trip but her and Jelissa missed their connecting flight home from Canada so I ended up driving down on my own because everyone else had left Friday afternoon. A 4 hour drive all alone is sooooo not fun! I was a little hyper when I finally got to the house boat.

here are a few of the beauty shots that me and Whitney took. Sorry... there might be alot!

Whitney and I

Mike spear hunting

Rick really caught this fish. It was impressive!

It was poring on Saturday morning when we were leaving the marina.

Whit and Mike

Our first camping spot.

were all loving the sweet rental boat.

Mike, Rick, Lance, Catherine, Me

whit rocking the wake board

Rick hurt his back, so I "tortured" him to help make him be able to move.

He cried like a little girl!

tube war = mike and I killing each other to win.

Not even a joke- someone drove their nice boat right onto this rock in the middle of the channel! We couldn't believe it.

Enjoying a bumpy boat ride to Rainbow Bridge

Mike

Rainbow Bridge

classic jumping photo because they are the best to look at!!

This trip was so much fun! Thank you Dad and MC for taking us. Sean and Lauren we missed you!

Weekend fun...

So I know that I am musically challenged. But I'm SOOOO excited for the

Twilight Summer Concert Series to begin!!

click here to see all the great bands that will be playing.

So much fun to relax on warm summer nights listening to music with hundreds of your new best friends!

(looks like its time for a little music education on my part so I can sing along....)

Smore's

Marshmallow's are the greatest. Especially when they are GIANT marshmallow's smashed between some melted chocolate and a full gram cracker. mmmmmm!

I went up to Millcreek canyon with Whitney, Mike, Emilee, Brandon and Headmen.

We roasted hot dogs for dinner, wrapped them in dough and made Pigs in a Blanket

(so tasty)

Then we got to the good part....... the SMORES!!

My mom found these mallows at Harmon's that are about the size of a softball. we had to use an entire gram so we didn't lose half the mallow when it squished. But they are messy! I had it all over my hands and face.

I was in heaven.

The next night we went to Taylorsville Dayzz and enjoyed the fireworks! They do a great show complete with Neil Diamond jamming in the background. It really was so much fun.