Part two

 of our trip.  This is probably going to be in sections since I am trying to play catch up.  We had a lot of fun this summer and I can't believe school has already started.  I think the kids are ready and looking forward to going back.  This year we have a junior, freshman and a sixth grader and a pre K.  No, we are not doing an actual preschool (they are quite expensive here) we will be working with him at home.  Enough of that, lets get back to our trip to Utah.

One thing the younger two like to do is go to the Splash pad.  We met two of my sisters and my mom there and let the kids play in the water (well those kids that actually like the water spraying them).  They had a blast. 

 

 

Camping (trip two)
If you know me I love to camp, camping is one of the things I miss most about moving to the south.  So while we are in Utah we take every opportunity to go to the mountains and camp.  We sold our trailer last year while were back there so this was our home away from home this year.  Carrsons sister let us use her trailer while we were there and of course the kids had to put up the tents.  Which is great since there really isn't enough room in the trailer for all of us to sleep.

Hanging out with Papa.

Andrew and Charlie were constantly picking up sticks.  We had to ban them from the trailers. Andrew had a stash by most of the doors by the time we left.

Clark And Ryan helped grandpa fix one of the hydrants at one of the trailer pads.  Clark had to climb in the hole and attach the new hydrant.  Try doing that while you are balancing on a couple of boards because there was water in the hole.  The boys had to work together since it took team work to get it done. 

Checking out the view.  Last year there was a fire that came within  mile of Cedar Ridge.  Since we had already returned home we went to check it out.  There was still a lot of burned trees and sage brush, but there was a lot of new growth too.  It is funny how one tree/bush could be burnt and two feet over nothing trees still green and untouched in some of the areas.  It was sad to see where the fire was but as we weren't able to get to close since the road we usually take was closed, this is as close as we got (I don't know the other ways to get around).  This was enough for me.

Saw the fence and had to take the opportunity to get a picture of the kids.

I know I am extremely slow at getting these up, but I am working on it.  It takes a while to get pictures uploaded so I am going to stop here and upload more. 

Andrew is finally 4!

I am playing catch up.  I still have a lot to blog about from this past summer but I figured this was more important than our trip.  

Andrew was so excited to turn four.  It is all he talked about for the longest time.  If you asked him how old he was he would answer with "four in Duly (July).  Now he is already counting down till he is five.  We were still on vacation over his birthday so we were able to celebrate with our extended families.  We were also hoping to celebrate outside in the nice, cooler air, but as we approached grandmas and grandpas house it started to rain, and it didn't want to stop.  That is okay he still had a great time blowing out his candles and opening his presents. 

We are so glad Andrew decided to join our family.  He is such a great kid.  He keeps up on our toes.  I have made the comment "now I understand why we have kids when we are younger, he keeps me busy" once or twice before.  I wouldn't change it for the world, though. 

Happy Birthday Andrew!!

We love you!

Ryan's now 14

I am really lat at putting this here, but as we were on vacation I didn't get it done.  First we didn't do to much for his actual birthday since dad wasn't with us.  We spent the day getting ready to go camping and the night we went to Heidi's and Rob's to go swimming.  We had pizza, cake and lots of fun! 

 

Happy Birthday Ryan!!

First camping trip

We went on our first camping trip this last week and had some fun.  We went on a 4 wheeler ride down to the spring that feeds the stream that crosses the road.  We also helped grandma and grandpa put up their awning/canopy and the swing that parks in front of the motor home for the summer, and we even had time to just relax.  I love going to the mountains and camping, that is one thing I really miss living in Alabama.  

 Emma and Reagan acting silly when the camera came out.

They were both being good girls and reading their scriptures before bed.  That didn't last long the next three nights we had power in the trailer so they had to watch movies.  Which was good it got us in the trailer a little earlier then usual.  Since we sold our fifth wheel last year my sister in law lets us stay in her trailer while we are there.  She is a wonderful and giving person and I am grateful to her for everything she has done to help us!

The first week of being in Utah the weather dipped and I froze, I am sure glad I packed my sweatshirts.  We waited a day before we went camping. since the night temps were supposed to drop into the low thirties.  I still froze the first few days camping but it was nice by the afternoon when it did warm up and I could shed the sweatshirt and my flannel shirt.

One of the days I took Emma, Andrew and Reagan on a four wheeler well it really was a Mule, a four seater.  We went down the county road to check out the spring that runs across the road.  The kids, well me too, we like to check it out every year to see how big it is.  This year it was still pretty big and cold.  I also love to ride around the mountains and see the beautiful wild flowers this time of year.

 

 Sitting on the outside of the stream on the road

 Monkey

 See

 Monkey

 Do.

Andrew had to do what Emma was doing all the time.  He did good crossing the log and rocks, he didn't fall in the stream, except right at the end there.  He was so excited that he did it, I couldn't get him to get back in the Mule.  He wanted to do it again.

 The three hooligans posing, What Hams!!

I think it was Sunday afternoon that we finally put up the awning so we had a shady place to sit and cook outside.  Here is the crew that helped.  Yes, I was under there on my back trying to hook the tarp onto the poles killing my fingers.  No, it really wasn't that bad, I did come out with a few cuts from the bungees flipping back and getting the fingers.  It is all good now!

 

 

 

 Helping put the swing together.

 Grandma, Andrew and Charlie.

Charlie is grandma's new puppy and Andrew has loved having a puppy to play with again.  He is constantly trying to play with him, even when Charlie doesn't want to.

Sunday (June 2, 2013) nights sunset.

Little did I know we had a cold front come through that night.  The sunset was so gorgeous with the purple and pinks.  Oh how I miss my mountain sunsets!!

 

Andrew wanted his picture too.