Another Museum

The boys and I were able to meet the Davies for a morning at the Discovery Museum at the Gateway. The kids LOVED it. We could have stayed all day if we didn't have so many things planned. I sure miss my friend Kathy!!! (Even though she doesn't read my blog.) It was great to see you guys.

Train Riders

Em and I had a great outing with our kids and Grandpa Arch.  We met at the Farmington station and rode the Frontrunner up to Ogden.  Then we walked over to the old station and went through their three museums.  We didn't have a ton of time but it worked out perfectly because no one else was there and so our kids could walk around and see everything so easily.  They loved the model train displays and the cars they could climb in.  They whizzed through the antique car museum because they were excited to get to the gun museum.  Then they played on the steam engine outside.  They have a great time playing together.  We walked up the street to find a place to eat.  They stopped at all the painted horses and the fountain.  We ate at a cute place called Karen's Cafe that served extremely large portions, and then we caught the train back.  Thanks so much Grandpa Arch for the fun time!

Job Pots

When we got home from Utah we launched a new summer chore thing.  I borrowed the idea from Stephanie at book club (thank you!) because I thought it was cute and fun.  So far the boys like it!

Gateway Fountain

One afternoon we went to play in the fountain at the Gateway mall with Karston, Olivia, Jaxson, River, Andrea, Andrea, Heather,  & Nana.  The kids loved it, well, most of the kids.  Cameron cried every time I tried to push him out there.  The kids were crazy.  I don't know why they like to put their bums right over the water shooting up-very strange but they laughed their heads off.  Nana was so nice and bought us all an ice cream afterwards!

Swimming in Utah

The boys love to go swimming with cousins at the different pools in Utah.  We always have a great time.

sisters

on the pirate ship slide

jumpers

Only got to see Annette for a few minutes but it made me happy to see her and her cute kids.

Tom giving Cam and Addy a ride

Nate flipping off the board

Ben's very first jump

(Do you think he is enjoying it?)

Having shakes and rainbows at Pace's 

Shootin' Good Time

I'm being really slow in posting about our vacation. so here is our 4th of July celebration. We all stayed up at Mom and Ennis' country house and had a great time! They had so many fun things for kids to do. The first night we had dinner and then Ennis read some cowboy poetry (Nate loved it) and he taught us how to dance the Virginia Reel. Then around the campfire each family did a skit or a song.

Early the morning of the fourth we had a flag ceremony. The oldest boy in each family got to carry a flag, Em, Hill, and I sang the Star-spangled Banner, we said the pledge of allegiance, and then to top it off Spencer helped Ennis light a CANON which exploded very loudly! It was exciting. Granny and Grandpa joined us for the day, most of which was spent at the shooting range. Matt couldn't get Nate and Spencer to quit, although I don't think he minded because he got to stay and shoot that loud handgun. We each competed in a turkey shoot and Zac was the biggest turkey, but Em looked the best in her Annie Oakley costume. I was surprised at how much fun it was and I didn't do half bad.

We had a great time at the Oakley Rodeo and the cousins looked so cute in their cowboy hats and bandanas. Saturday we adventured down the "lazy" river. Mom told us it was a nice slow float, but it was a little more tense than that with a bunch of little kids and the water was FREEZING. I would do it again though. I thought it was the funniest when we ended up on a bridge in someone's pasture with their horses in the river and their geese honking wildly at us.

So, thanks Mom and Ennis for a great holiday.

The cursed family picture.

How cute is Bridger following Zac around watching him shoot grasshoppers!

Mom and Granny

The shooters

The non-shooters under the tree.

The awesome range that Ennis had built.

Aren't they so cute?

The AIRPLANE-there is no end to the cool stuff at this house.

Buddies Spence and Amanda on the 4-wheeler

Cowboy Sam gettin' a drink from the fountain.

Vince and Landon playin' horseshoes.

Tom and Addy hangin' out.

Em and Haley.

Amanda

Ben and Sam and a portion of Matt's awful mustache he thought was so funny.

Indiana Nate

The favorite pastime-falling out of the hammock.

Carson eating dirt.

Campfire skits.

Flag ceremony.

The canon.

Our family at the rodeo.  Sam is there, if you look close you can see his knee.