summer 2010

After our tour of the east coast we were headed for Utah, but the lovely stand by ticket gods were not working in our favor this time. We wanted to fly out of Philly or Richmond or somewhere so we didn't have to drive all the way home. So instead we went home for 2 days and played with friends. Our friends invited us to a lake to swim.


I have not swam in a lake since we moved here because the water is so gross. The warned us to just keep swimming because if you don't you will get bit by fish. And if you step on something hard it is not a rock but a turtle. While we were there a muskrat jumped in the lake. And surprisingly even after that I still got in. It was so hot and couldn't help myself. And Kali did get bit 2 times one of those were on her belly button.
Here are the kids finding bait to fish with they filled up a water bottle with hundreds of little fish

Now on to our journey west. After waiting for 7 hours plus in the Chicago airport we headed to a hotel to get a good nights rest so we could try again tomorrow.
At the airport there was these two shops right next to each other. It funny because I have an Aunt Ann who is Married to Nathan Clark whom we call "Nut"
Our view from the hotel of down town Chicago.
We made it the next day after a stop in Las Vegas. Thanks dad and Papa. Almost everyone met us at the airport, I got to meet my niece for the first time. We wasted on time and got to see Little E play baseball.
Cutest little Arie
Kali couldn't get enough of this girl.
Mylie was my little buddy, I love this little girl.

Our first outing as a group we went to Liberty Park to play in the water, unfortunately they were closed due to a oil spill. We still had fun at the park

Uncle Wes bought all the kids tickets to go on rides, they had so much fun. Thanks Wes
We were invited by the Bells to go to a Real Salt Lake game. Kali got to go walk out on the field with the players. She thought that was so cool.

The free t-shirt she scored
Tanner and Kaden had never been to a pro soccer game, and thought that was really neat
Then on to running a 5K. Me, Amy, Mom, Chelsea, Jeff and Tanner all ran. It was mine and Tanners first race. Tanner did it in 26 minutes and I did it in 34 I think. It was fun (kind of) Kaden ran 1 mile and Kali ran 1/2 mile. Way to go kids.
Then we went to the Centerville parade. And got lots of candy
Amy had a BBQ at her house with the Clarks and the Fraziers, to celebrate Jeff's graduation. Even my sweet Grandma and Grandpa were able to come.
They played soccer for ever.

Kali and her boys for that matter would fight who got to go on the motorcycle with Grandpa all summer, Kali won this time. Heading up to Eaglewood for fireworks.

We bought these glasses a few months before our trip and had to haul them all the way to Utah for this night.



Tanner had to pick on Grandma all summer. They would get in wrestling matches, who has a grandma who will wrestle with you, lucky boy.


The sunset at Eaglewood never dissapoints.
I love this picture. The kids play this game if you look at their hand when they do this sign you have to get on the floor and moo. Ethan thought it was the coolest thing and played it all summer with my boys.
Bear Lake, love this place.
Amy and kids were able to stay the first week of the vacation.
We love to walk to the beach in the evening, nobody is down there.
And you can't go to Bear Lake and not have smore's every night.

We made it to the beach during the day and it was so cold. We sat wrapped up in towels most of the time.

Chelsea joined us the second half of the week.
Tan and Kade were so cute, they played together in the sand for hours.
We brought down some stale crackers to feed the birds. Mylie and Davis thought they were the best snacks. Yummy


The grand kids

Kaden turned 12 while we were staying at Bear Lake. We spent the day doing so much. We went swimming at Sweatwater.

Then mini golf
Then a four wheeler ride to see the horses.
Then of course cake. Happy Birthday my big boy. You are so sweet, such a pleasure to be around. You are so thoughtful and kind to everyone. You are such a big helper, I love you so much.
Me, Mom and Chelsea wanted to go to Paris to take some pictures. The kids didn't want to go, so I was brave and let them go around town, to the library, the gas station to get a treat and to see the horses.
Paris is a quaint little town.

The kids love to go on four wheeler rides. They always want to go see and feed the horses, we never got to feed them, they were always up in the mountains. I think it is just a good excuse to go for a ride.
Grandpa sold his tractor so we took some last minute pictures on it.
Here is Farmer Tan. Not to be confussed with a farmer's tan
Back at the beach, this day was warmer

They think they are hot stuff on the four wheeler by themselves
Dad was nice enough to take the boat out.
We got to dog sit Lacy, while her dad was in Kansas.

This kid will never give me a good smile for pictures
Jason took his friends out wake skating behind the four wheeler, my kids thought it was awesome

My amazing dad skiing in his whimp suit.
My dad put the kids to work, chopping wood for the winter.

They loved it, and chopped for hours
Tanner has kept in touch with his friend Nick and they have to hang out all summer.
We went to the park with my friends Jill, Brittney and their kids. And headed to Amy's after for haircuts.
Kaden lost 4 teeth the first couple of weeks we were there.
Amy invited us for dinner and smore's. And after a movie outside. It was great seeing old friends. Dan Litster and family
My grandma celebrated her 85th birthday this summer, we had a big party in her honor. It was so good seeing my extended family.
Kali loved to hang out with Tayler and Davis this summer and fell in love with "cycles" thats all she would talk about. Jason took her and the boys up to the V on his birthday to show her how to ride.
Kali loves her Uncle Jase so much, thanks for being so patient with her Jase.

My dad ran and ran to keep up with her.
Kaden took a try, he crashed once and almost hit a tree. But he servived

Tan and Jase racing, who do you think won? I think Tanner needs a bigger bike

One day it rained so hard, the river in my parents yard got so warm, and dirty but the kids loved it they made popcicle stick boats and played for a while.
Kali refused to put a shirt on. She is just one of the boys. It doesn't help that my mom always tells stories that she ran around shirtless, playing football with the boys untill she was 13


Foxboro annual 24th of July parade. Thanks for the fun evening Amy and Jeff

We also took our yearly trip to park city with me, Wes, Amy, Chelsea, and Mom. We were lucky enough to visit my cousins Jenny and Casey who live in Park City. They have the cutest little ones. This is Seth. His sister Shey would not let me get a picture.
Coco
And Rogan the bravest, strongest kid I know. She gave us 3 costume changes in the short time we were there, non of which included a shirt.
Kali loves her Kai. She spend lots of time in this position.
Me and my friends ditched the kids and had a great lunch at good old Robintino's. Thanks Girls
Alright on to Lake Powell.

Tanner has never dared to touch fish until this year. He is getting so brave.
It rained one morning at 5:45, late enough that it was hardly worth going back to sleep. The rain gods were at least nice enough to give us a rainbow when it was all said and done
I love this face
my crazy kids cliff jumping


Jason and the kids built this drip castle
and then lit it on fire
Cutest little My, she wore these goggle most of the time. She was also sporting Kali's old dress, so I had to get a picture to compare.
We had the pleasure of having Nut's family there.
Tanner was very daring this year, he slolemed, knee boarded, double skied, and wake boarded
The girls in the make shift play pin
Tan, Jase and Kaden did this for hours. Trying different tricks


Jake picking on Tan
The pet lizard for the week

Kaden is getting better at wake boarding. He is so awesome

Thanks for the great trip dad

Tanner tried so hard to clear the wake
ya I still got it:)
Me and Kaden boogie batteling
We got to take a tour to Rainbow Bridge. It has been 8 years since we have been there so my kids didn't remember it very well.
Jason but these picture together. he is so cute and handsome


notice the reflection in her glasses
The fam minus Kevin. But we did get Kali's wonderful attitude.
My fam minus Wes and Amy

After Rainbow Bridge we were so hot so we drove down a canyon to have lunch and a swim break. And found a great hiking spot.
There were lots of little frogs


It was such a neat hike
I don't even want to know what is under that water
I love my boys, they are such good buddies
if Kali wasn't playing or holding Arie she was with Deeter.
Kaden took me and Chelsea on a hike to show us some cool things.
The second half of the week Kali had some good buddies to hang out with.
Cute boys, they remind me of my boys when they were little.


Kali even got in on the wake board action
Tanner was so nice to hang out in the water and help his little sister
Sticking out the tonge makes it eaiser
battleing
On the way back to the marenia it rained so hard and so long there were waterfall everywhere.
It was a great ending to a great trip.
Utah sunsets always amaze me
Weston and Brandon have been working so hard on there house to get it ready for the little one, they did such a good job.
Xander's room
While we were in Salt Lake we decided to take Trax to the new condo projects. so fun, again Kali is having such a good time
Kai and her new baby

My cousin Missy had a beautiful baby girl Tessa. Again Kali loving the babies
Ann and Nut were so nice to invite us for dinner and homemade ice cream. The boys catching up on good times
Kali reverting back to her childhood
One more trip to Bear Lake before we head home to good old NC


The raspberries were so yummy



We took out the boat again. Kali was upset because she had to wear a life jacket
Nick was able to celebrate Berry Days with us





Kali was begging Jason to make a motorcycle movie of her so he was able to do it in the mountains of Garden City



The beach was cold all summer, but that didn't stop the boys from having fun


On Friday there it was so windy, we heard a siren, turns out there was a tornado warning.
It made for a great sunset
Flying kites




We stopped at Ricks Springs on the way home.


Do you think Kali might be feeding the dogs.
Our last day in Utah, we spent with the cousins. They had such a great time playing.
We had to get cute girly pictures.






This one was Kali's idea
Arie did not like the grass on her feet.

We went up to a school after dinner to continue the fun.
We had a great summer again, you are all the best to let us invade your lives. Miss you already
And this is what I came home to.
He refused to pay for a haircut while I was gone, I told him he looked like Teen Wolf. Kevin thanks for working so hard so we can play all summer. I love you