Many of you know Tanner has been playing baseball on a traveling team for quite awhile. He was playing with the Rebels. However the Rebels had been together for 2 years as a team when Tanner joined, thus being the case he was the low man on the totem pole, he always was the one sitting on the bench, playing in the outfield, last on the batting order, that kind of thing. He liked it but we were ready to move on. During little league the league commissioner decided he was going to create his own traveling team, and he really wanted Tanner to be on it. We debated but finally decided to have him switch over to the new team. So he is now a St. George Gator. He isn't the last man any longer. He pitches or plays third most of the time, sometimes he is shortstop. He isn't last on the batting order, and he doesn't sit on the bench very much.
The team had their first tournament as a team this weekend. Though they didn't win any of there games (nobody really expects a new team to), they improved so much every game and did some really awesome stuff. Tanner pitched the first game, and in the last game he had back to back outs throwing from third to first. Grandpa and Grandma Ellison were able to come down to his game on Thursday-which was very nice of them. Tanner likes the new team because he has friends on it and gets to do more, but he is also a little frustrated because it is hard coming from a winning established team to one that is just starting up. We are pretty sure that with some hard work and dedication this team will soon be able to compete with the best of them, but we have to remind Tanner that it will take time and patience, and in the end it will be for the best.
St. George City just put in a carousel at the city center right by the library and splash pad. It opened over the 4th of July. I promised the kids a ride, so we went down there on the 4th to let them do so. They were all pretty excited about it and thought it was great fun. It is only .50 per ride per kid or $1.00 for adult. If your kids are under a certain height and you ride with them it's free so it's pretty affordable. I think it will be a great addition to the City Center. I actually took my kids on it again a few days later when we went to the library. Now hopefully Chloe doesn't think that every time we go to the library we get to ride the carousel.
My kids were so excited last week when I told them that their cousins were coming for a visit. The day they were supposed to arrive the woke up and the first thing they wanted to know is when they were going to be here. They didn't stop asking until the showed up. Then is was none stop fun for the next 4 days. They played on the slip n slide, played baseball, went swimming, and stayed up late every night watching a movie. Oh yes and how can I forget a sleep over in the tent in the front yard complete with the roasting of smores over the barbecue grill. (probably because I didn't get any pictures-sad) The adults enjoyed barbecuing, talking, catching up, and celebrating the 4th of July. It was a great few days and we were super glad that they could come down for a visit. Now Chloe keeps asking me when she can see Makele again. 
Yesterday my nephew Braxton was blessed. We love him so very much. My kids could just sit and look at him all day long, and I'll admit I don't mind holding him one little bit. We had a great day with the family :)
My kids love, love, love the City Pool. On Thursday I took them their and they each brought a friend along. They had a blast!
Chloe and Brydee are the best of friends they even have matching swimming-suits. They wanted to do everything together even make sure they went off the diving boards at the same time, even though this at times held up the line just a little bit as one would wait for the other to get up. LOL
Tanner and Conner are pretty good buds. I decided the main difference about the boys and the girls is that the boys spent half of their time out of the pool snacking. To the the treats and food are just as important as the swimming. Tanner is constantly worried about his stomach and forever hungry it seems.
The kids heard an advertisement for a new place in town called anti-gravity. They had been begging to go ever since. I was pretty expensive so I was hesitant to take them,. but I found an early bird special deal, so we went on Monday with a few of the neighbors. The kids had a blast I mean what kid wouldn't with a giant trampoline that even covered the walls. There was also a bungee run, some bounce houses, and obstacles, and a dodge ball arena. The kids had a blast and they were really worn out when the fun was over. Now they can't wait to go again.
(The kids favorite thing is when Uncle Brandon makes a wave pool with giant waves-they think it is the greatest.)