{Las Vegas!}

Our summer vacation began in Las Vegas this year.  We started at my BFF Tara's house, then headed to the Wagner's house!  Unfortunately, I was HORRIBLE about taking pictures while we were there.  I totally forgot to take the camera out at Tara's and only took pictures of the kids swimming at Aunt Kelly's.

I am going to have to break out some scrapbooks of the good old days of me and Tara.  We became neighbors in about 1991 and best friends from then on.  Even though we've lived apart for many years now, I know that when I go to see her, it's like no time has passed. We've just gotten older and had a few kids!  It's hard for me to believe that between Tara and I, there are 5 kids! {Insane!} I love that they can now play together and be friends.  I guess we just need to be next door neighbors again!

Taken on Tara's Camera Phone

Our next stop was The Wagners!  The girls were super excited about playing with "the kids," playing with the dog and swimming! I was excited to sit and visit with my Aunt Kelly {and the rest of the family!}!  We had a great time.  You will never be short on laughter and insane stories at their house. They are just a fun, AWESOME family!

Unfortunately, we ended up leaving Vegas sooner than originally planned.  Since the kids asked us 8 million times if we were "there yet" during the 5 hour trip to Vegas, we decided to drive through the night to Idaho.  That way, we spent most of the 12 hour drive with the kids {and me} asleep.  It was tiring, but made the trip a lot more bearable!!

{Christmas Village}

Two of my friends were singing at the Christmas Village this year and my mom got us free tickets, so we took the kids. My friends did a great job and it was fun to listen to the Christmas songs. Then we sat in line forever so the kids could ride the train.





Waiting patiently for the train!


Finally riding the train! {Can you tell Dean whistles a lot??}


My crazy singing friends!:


By the time they rode the train, we were done for the night and headed home. We missed a lot of other fun things they had there, but I guess we will just have to check those out next year!

{2nd Annual FFFBC}

We had our 2nd Annual Farar Family and Friends Bonfire and Campout a few weeks ago {say that 5 times fast---we should have had shirts made...hmmm next year!}. Everyone we could convince to join us, met up in the desert near the crevices for a bonfire complete with tin foil dinners, hot chocolate, s'mores and Christmas carols. Then those that were tough enough stuck around and camped through the night. We all had a really good time {even me, which is surprising since I hate dirt}.

Setting up the tent:


Miss Lauren:


Aunt B and Uncle B:


Happy little K with her gigantic smore!:


K and Family came all the way from Utah to join in on the fun:


Kylee can't possibly be my child...she likes dirt. A lot.:


Handsome R:


Me and Dean with his nerd lamp!:


The evening got pretty cool, but we stayed warm by the fire and everyone slept well. Saturday morning the boys made a delicious breakfast of breakfast burritos. The dads then took the kids on a treasure hunt and actually came across a geocache which was fun for them.







Aunt Johanna and Kylee:


L & Lauren bright and cheerful Saturday morning:




All the kids eating breakfast!:


One of the greatest parts was there was a bathroom. I thought up the idea and set it up with the help of Heather and Cheryl. It consisted of a tarp for privacy, a toilet seat lid that attached to a bucket, a garbage bag and a hole in the ground. To spare the details, it is basically a make shift port-a-potty. No hauling you know what home with us!




It definitely made the camping experience a whole lot more tolerable! The toilet seat lid has become one of the best $8.95 investments I ever made!

I never thought I would be a camper, but it is starting to grow on me! We have gone twice now in the 7 years we have been a family. That's pretty good right??? I know we are already looking forward to our 2011 campout and hope more families decide to join in!

{Best For Last}

The final stop on our summer vacation was Las Vegas. We stayed with my Aunt K and Uncle W. It was a relief to finally be out of the car and we were happy to be there for more than a stop and go visit.

While at the W's, Lauren had a blast playing with the "big kids", we ate yummy food and talked into the wee hours of the morning! Next time I will have to remember to get my camera out more!





Kylee LOVED the water! She was fearless and had a constant smile on her face!


Lauren was still a little timid but liked the goggles and life jacket.


One evening we went to visit my friend Tara and her family. We have been friends for about 19 years! It is so strange to think that we used to play together and now our kids do! {man we are old!} The kids were so cute together. L and Kylee are just a few months apart. And then she just had a baby boy who is adorable! It was fun to visit and let the kids play. Now Lauren talks about L all the time and wants to go play at her house! {I guess we will need to go back soon!}





Can't put down those sippy cups! Not even for a picture!


Aren't they so cute!


The next day we headed home and back to life. It was a long vacation, but we loved every minute of it {except maybe The Detour!}

{Dirt & Fire}

Boys love dirt.
Boys love fire.
Even though I only have daughters, I still know this.
How you might ask?
Because I have a husband.
And he has a friend.
And they love dirt and fire!


Dean and Paul instigated another trip to the desert.

Lauren:But we already live in the desert?!?!
{It is so confusing for her when we say we are going to the desert!}


While the men were off uprooting trees for firewood, the women got the fire started. Honestly, it was all Ericka, but I moved my hands around a lot so it looked like I knew what I was doing.


Hunter was certainly happy to be there.


The girls loved it all: juices, playing in the dirt, chips, looking for treasure, the bugs, etc.






Proof I was in the desert.

{Dean thinks I am a party pooper when it comes to outdoor activities. But I was there with a smile on my face!}

Kylee insisted on drinking everyone's drinks and ended up with most of it down the front of her. Dean finally just cut a slit in the lid of a water bottle and let her have at it!


And whats a trip to the dessert without a little friendly competition?

No we didn't play pictionary on our dinnerware! We took turns trash talking and shooting the pellet gun. 3 of 4 adults hit the plate. I won't name names and embarrass the one individual who couldn't shoot straight if her life depended on it!

The boys even made time for a friendly game of football:


Dirt+Food+Little Girl=


Then came the marshmallows!


Ericka showing off her fire again: {Ericka: "I'm HOT!"}


The kids had a great time with the glow stick necklaces.


We had a lot of fun. Ericka and I really think it is just too bad that summer is coming and we won't be able to do it again until next year!!!