How we spent our Summer vacation...

For our Family/Summer vacation we went to Northern Utah. I say Northern Utah, because there are sooooo many towns up there I can't keep track of all the one's we went to! I had a Designer Blogs Conference and we thought we could kill two birds with one stone and make it a family trip too.

I think I should've titled this post, the post of many pictures... but I digress...
Enjoy!

Driving 6+ hours with the kids wasn't too big of a headache. The kids had movies, candy and quiet books to keep them busy.



Plus we stopped in Cedar at the park with the river running through it! Not sure the real name but that one works for us.


The kids had a blast. They stretched, got wet, ate and then were ready to hit the road again.

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Friday, was a our first full day in Utah.

Our agenda for the day was Thanksgiving Point.
First we hit the Museum of Ancient Life.


"Look Mom, its the dinosaur from Night at the Museum!"


The first part of the museum was called Notion of Motion. It had lots of crazy, cool hands on learning thingers...




Then it was on to the Ancient Life..

























Next stop, the Thanksgiving point Farm.
What? Why would we traveled 6+ hours to go to a farm, when we live on one?
Yes we did, but it came with the all day pass. And it was fun.









Last stop, the gardens!

Saturday, I went to DBC and played on the computer all day with these girls.

While the rest of my family visited Temple Square and Cabela's.









That night, we all got back together.. tried to find a pizza place for dinner, ended up going to KFC and then swam and swam and swam!!

It was a great trip.. but Allie's face says it all!

Luke at 6 months

How has six months already gone by since Luke joined our family?
My baby is getting so big so fast.

At six months Luke is

-- army crawling, occasionally he'll get up on his knees.
He'll be all over the place before I know it.

-- eats solids like a champ. Loves everything but green beans and peas

-- doesn't sit up unsupported quite yet. But its all good. Let's keep him tiny for just a little bit longer!

-- still gets up at least once in the night.
Time to let him cry it out? I hate doing that.

Love you Luker man!

DBC and HPDH2

Friday July 15th was an epic day. It was the day of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows premiere and it was the day before the annual Designer Blogs Conference.

Lauren, Emily, Amy, Erin, Taylor, and Lara

Because I love working with these girls, I graciously waited an entire weekend before watching HPDH2. ;)
But I sported my Gryffendor shirt so all was well with the world again.

DBC was great. I got to meet Taylor and Emily. Lara and I didn't have to sleep on Erin's son's bunk beds like last year (because my family came along too -- post on that adventure coming soon), and last but not least, Amy taught us all Wordpress!!

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Then on Monday night I saw The Deathly Hallows part 2.
It was really, really good. Lots of great effects, plenty of fabulous one liners AND Ron and finally Hermione kiss!

If the Icee machine at the theater would've been working, it would've been the perfect way to end the series.

Here are some of my favorite lines and stills from the movie. In no particular order.

Harry Potter: We have to go there, now.
Hermione Granger: What? We can't do that! We've got to plan! We've got to figure it out...
Harry Potter: Hermione! When have any of our plans ever actually worked? We plan, we get there, all hell breaks loose!



Ollivander: He's after you, Mr. Potter. You really don't stand a chance.
Harry Potter: I suppose I'll have to kill him before he finds me.


Minerva McGonagall: I've always wanted to use that spell.



Professor Severus Snape: [to Dumbledore about Harry] You've kept him alive so that he can die at the proper moment.

Professor Severus Snape: Always

Molly Weasley: Not my daughter, you b****!

Lord Voldemort: [to Snape] Only I can live forever.

Neville Longbottom: You were right, never better. I feel like I can spit fire.

Hermione Granger: [Disguised as Belltrix Lestrange, addressing a Death Eater] Good morning!
Griphook: Good morning? You're Bellatrix Lestrange, not some dewey-eyed schoolgirl!



Professor Severus Snape: [to the Hogwart's students] If anyone here knows any knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening, I invite them to step forward... now.
Harry Potter: [Stepping out of the crowd] It seems despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster.



Ginny Weasley: [Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville have entered the Room of Requirement] Harry!
Ron Weasley: Hey.
[pauses waiting for a response from Ginny, then addresses Hermione]
Ron Weasley: She hasn't seen me for six months, and she acts like I'm Frankie First Year. I'm only her brother...
Seamus Finnigan: She's got lots of them, but there's only one Harry.



Hermione Granger: We can't just stand here. Who's got an idea?
Ron Weasley: Don't ask us. You're the brilliant one!



Neville Longbottom: [to the Snatchers] Ya, you and whose army?



Remus Lupin: It is the quality of ones convictions that determines success, not the number of followers.
Kingsley Shacklebolt: Who said that?
Remus Lupin: Me.




Gregory Goyle: [aiming at Hermione] Avada Kedavra!
Ron Weasley: [chasing them off] Aaarrrgh! That's my girlfriend you numpty!



(I know, I know.. this still in NOT from DH2. The internet seems to be hiding all the good photos of Dumbledore from me.)
Professor Albus Dumbledore: Of course, it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it's not real?



Professor Albus Dumbledore: Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.

The End
(you wish..tee hee)

I love this so much! I had to include it in this post. The Potter series may be over but I can still ride my broom and pretend with sparklers.

Expelliarmus!