Campfire in the Canyon

An evening in the mountains was the perfect way to end a busy week's activities. We enjoyed a quick hike up to a grove, where the kids found a tree that had grown sideways. They discovered that it was the perfect teeter totter. I discovered a small clearing filled with these beautiful, white Columbine.



After a delicious dinner, which Grandpa prepared (stuffed pizza pockets for the kids and sweet and sour dutch oven chicken for the adults); we sat around the campfire singing songs and roasting marshmallows for smores. Adam impressed us with his skills on the guitar and Grandma surprised everyone with her dancing moves.


Isn't he cute! I couldn't resist posting this picture of Steve. I was glad that I actually had a picture of him in the canyon, because I wasn't sure if he was going to make it. He was the last to arrive, because he worked late that night. But, we were happy to see him and the kids were quick to pull him up the hill to their favorite tree.

David vs Goliath

For the 24th of July we celebrated with a soccer tournament. It was interesting to see how much height difference there was between some of the boys in this age group. (as you can see from the photos) Nate plays center mid-fielder and he was going up against other center mids who were a foot taller than him. Luckily he doesn't back down, and he attacked with the same ferocity he uses on his brother when they play Playstation's NCAA Football. It was a few days of intense heat on and off the field (100+ degrees), but it was also a lot of fun.

Running a 5K

Nate ran a 5K today, as part of the Fourth of July celebrations. He's caught the running bug, as he has been getting up at 6:15 most mornings this summer to run a few miles, and has a few more races lined up. He was very excited when he returned from his run on Wednesday, waving a pile of papers at us. The High School running coach stopped Nate during his run that morning and talked to him about joining the cross country running team.

Running a family affair: (back row)Uncle Adam, Nate, Aunt Janet, Aunt Tricia, Uncle Steven, Aunt Kristy, (middle row) Parker, McKelle, Hannah, (front row) Kurt, Aubrey, Callie

There was a small competition this morning between Nate and Steven. A few days ago, when Steven learned that Nate was running in the same race, Steven bet Nate $100 that he would cross the finish line first. Steven started to get a little nervous leading up to the race, worrying that he might actually have to make good on his bet...but in the end Nate came in a few minutes after a much relieved Steven.

Duck Creek

We spent the last weekend of June at Duck Creek for a family reunion. It was so much fun to spend time with everyone. Even though we only spent a couple days together, they were quite memorable. Here are a few highlights:

1. Grandpa cutting down a 70' dead pine tree, and watching it crash into the shed.

2. Gunny sac races in Panguitch. We stopped there to wait for Steven who planned to bike from Duck Creek to Bryce Canyon-what would have been a 54 mile bike ride if we hadn't decided to cut it short (he completed 32 miles).

3. Hiking trails in Bryce Canyon. This trail had amazing switchbacks down between the canyon walls. It was a hot and dusty climb, but the views were spectatucular!

This chipmunk was so fat, feeding off of scraps from hikers. My nephew Spencer kept calling, "here chipmunk, come on chipmunk," trying to get the critter to follow him up the trail.

Lauren Hits Double Digits!

On Sunday Lauren turned 10. Monday night we celebrated her birthday with dinner at Taco Bell and the movie, Kung Fu Panda. (Taco Bell was what she wanted, her idea of Mexican food. Steve and I haven't been there since college as that was all we could afford when "eating out.")

Lauren is going through a huge growth spurt right now. She is nearly as tall as Nate and weighs almost as much as he does. She has also discovered all the shoes in my closet, now that she has the same foot size. She is so much like me, when I was her age. She loves to read books, play soccer & volleyball, do gymnastics, baby-sit, and hang out with her friends. She is good at drawing and I have high hopes that she continues on so that I can have her do some oil paintings for me to hang on my bare walls. She is just becoming interested in sewing and will start lessons this summer. I really do believe that my mother must have once said, "I hope you have a child just like you," because I do. Thanks Mom!

Scout Camp

Nate & Caleb with swamped canoe

A week of Scout Camp netted the boys a combined 11 merit badges, 9 mosquito bites, 8 sleepless nights, and one fractured clavicle. On the first day of camp, Caleb was swinging on a rope swing, when the knot came undone and he fell on his arm and shoulder. He toughed it out the rest of the week with only a quick visit to the camp medic, and a daily dose of Ibuprofen. A week after his accident it was finally confirmed by x-rays that he had broken his collarbone. I was surprised that Caleb stayed the whole week with his hurt shoulder. Steve reminded me how high a pain tolerance Caleb has-as evidence of his last injury, when he skewered his foot without any crying.

On Thursday, Steve and Grandpa were able to go up to spend the day with the boys. Grandpa probably showed them a few tricks he's picked up in his many years of scouting. The boys came home dirty and tired, and according to them, "are still recuperating from their week at scout camp." And I'm just recovering from the pile of dirty laundry they left me at the door of the laundry room.

Getting Old

Ashlyn with her Kindergarten teacher

Ashlyn graduated from Kindergarten on Thursday. After the graduation she requested a celebratory lunch at Wendys. At lunch when Steve and I were discussing how old she was getting, Ashlyn said, "I'm getting old, but not as OLD as you." (She bolded the "old"with her tone.)

She gave me a book for Mother's Day, that let me know how old she thought I was. The title of the card was "Guess Who." It said, "She is 33 years old. She is 40 inches tall. She weighs 40 lbs. and looks like this...

Picture of me saying, "Hi Honee"

She likes to red bx (read books). She doesn't like to hav babes. (Have babies-I think she believes that because everytime she asks me about having another baby I tell her, "NO WAY!" But I always had good pregnancies and loved being pregnant up until the 38th week.)

She likes to eat desrt (dessert). She does not like to eat selre (celery). She likes to wear her make up. She does not like to wear her klos with awt slevs (clothes without sleeves).

While I'm at school she gos shoping. While I'm at home she klens (cleans). I like it when we go shopping at the goshre stor (grocery store). Good guess Mom, it's you! I love you Mom! Hape Muthrs Da!"

So I'm getting old, but I'm loved.