JULY

AN EXCITING DAY
What an adventure we had traveling up to the Gateway. We were riding on the TRAX with Grandma and cousins when suddenly there was a slamming of brakes and T flew right out of his seat into my lap. A van pulled out right in front of the train and... well you know. Luckily no one was seriously injured. We were locked in the train car for about 10 minutes. The kids thought it was quite exciting to see all of the people and the Channel 2 news guy running down the city street as well as all of the emergency vehicles that were surrounding the area. They finally let us out of the train and we had to walk to our destination, about 6 blocks. The ride home wasn't nearly as exciting but it was a fun day!


Riding TRAX to Salt Lake.



Boys on the splash pad at the Gateway.



The ROCKIES
Z's team finished 6th place in the city tournament. Z played 2nd base and outfield. He had some great plays and hits, too. Now baseball is over, just in time for soccer to start back up again.





YOUTH CONFERENCE
J invited me to come with him and the youth on their youth conference this year. We traveled to Green River where we did some work for the community center there. It was inspiring to see the youth serving so willingly. During the afternoon we went rafting on the Green River. The day was hot and the mosquitos were out in full force, but we just put on sun screen and bug spray and had a great time.


This cool tree was at the spot where we put the rafts into the river.


J and I on the raft. We had just come out of one of the more rough parts of the river. J swallowed a mouth full of water. He thought it was great and wanted to go again.

SWIMMING
All of the cousins like to play in Grandma's pool, although some like it more than others. T won't get in the pool very often because it is "too cold". S is a little bit nervous because it is deep, he will only get in if he can hold my hand. The older kids love it though.


Nice goggles!


These guys would hardly even hold still for a picture.

The Veterans Memorial pool in Provo is one of our favorites!


Waiting so patiently for the 20 minute pool check to be finished.


Has to plug his nose.


These boys went on the slides a bunch and had a great time together!

PETE'S HOLE
Some pictures of our camping trip with friends.


Collecting firewood.



Fishing- no luck though.





Friends.




Sammy-pants pond.


Mini motor bike.

CELEBRATING PIONEER DAY
Celebrating the 24th of July with the Childrens Parade, the big parade, and fireworks on the night of the 24th.



The kids love the children's parade. This year Z rode his bike and T rode a scooter. S rode in the trailer with his friends.




Sparklers.


Z and friends watching the fireworks.

ZOO
My wonderful friend Tina invited us to the zoo and it was so much fun. We saw the monkeys playing and teasing each other. We saw the baby elephant. We saw a tiger going for a swim. We saw giraffes and alligators, and snakes and penguins and so much more. We rode on the train and the carousel, but the best part of the day was the bird show. It scared me every time they flew over our heads. Sometimes they were so close that we could feel the wind from their wings. There were all kinds of birds. T couldn't believe he actually got to see a bald eagle.


Z and T with some giraffes.


S on the carousel. He was riding a seal. So fun.


A bunch of apes.


Love the train.

JUNE

REAL SALT LAKE
Z's soccer team got to march in the parade and hold the flag at the Real game on June 9. Our whole family went and we had a great time. We had a 30 minute delay because of rain and lightning. They told us to 'seek cover' as quickly as possible- ya right, thousands of people trying to seek cover, fun! It passed pretty quickly though. The game was so fun to watch and Real won the game against the LA Galaxy. The score was 1-0.


Z with other Shooters holding the flag before the game.


We had so much fun! S loved the orange soda (hence the orange mustache) and all of the boys wanted the KFC bucket to wear on their head. Go figure.

HIKING
One of the great things about living in Utah is enjoying the outdoors. With the mountains so close, it is easy to take an impromptu hike. One Friday evening we decided to take the kids up to Rock Canyon. We hadn't ever hiked that trail, and we didn't make it to the end, it was too long. S had to get in the river at every opportunity- I thought for sure he was going to fall in. T worried about seeing a rattle snake almost the entire time (there was a sign at the beginning with a list of wild life that you might see- rattle snakes were one of the listed animals). We vowed to try it again another day. Maybe we'll make it a little further next time.


Z ran across this log bridge that went over the river, so of course, S had to follow. I was very nervous but he wasn't, he just crawled right over.


Playing the air guitar. Not sure why, but whatever.


T finally decided that snakes weren't out to get him. He started having fun.

For the last 3 years we have hiked the Grotto Trail with friends. It is such a fun and easy hike and the kids all love the waterfall at the end.


Z went under the waterfall.


S didn't get very close to the waterfall but he liked playing in the water.


T wasn't about to get in that cold water, but he enjoyed climbing up the rocks.


WARD CAMPOUT
In June we always have the ward campout. We always go to Bennion Creek, and the kids always have a great time. We had great food and great campfire entertainment.


Roasting marshmallows and starbursts.

All of the kids love to climb on this dock at the pond. They love to swing on the rope swing, and some of them even let go and land in the water. Several kids and one mom fell in by accident. Here is Z getting ready to drop in. He loved it and dropped in several times.


T just about ready to drop. I love that smile because I know he's having fun, even if he does whine because the water is SO cold.



It took a lot of courage for him to drop in that cold water, but he did it!


Just taking a break.

THE METS
T's team, the Mets, finished out their season this month. T learned so much. He had some great hits and even got a few outs in the field. He played all of the positions but his favorites were catcher and right by the pitcher (because that is where most of the balls were hit).






T's coach was so nice and got all of the boys a trophy.

MAY

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER
The end of another school year has come. Every May I look forward to the end of school. I'm tired of waking up early. I'm tired of making sack lunches and getting everyone out the door. I'm tired of homework, and I'm tired of early bedtime. I know when fall comes I'll be ready for them to go back to school, but for now I look forward to the lazy days of summer!

Z's school program was combined with a bunch of other schools of 5th graders. The program is called Hope of America. Z's favorite song is "We can be a light".


Can't see Z? We couldn't really either. If you look to the top right of the flag he is in the first white stripe.

T's school program was a review of a bunch of different songs that they'd learned throughout the year. They sang Halloween songs and Christmas songs and a bunch more. T's favorite was "I Love America".


T singing "Won't you be my V-A-L-E-N-T-I-N-E".

S's school program, and preschool graduation. He looked so cute, and so serious. His favorite song was "a-too-tee-tah-a-too-tee-tah-a-too-tee-tah-tah".



T was taking a bunch of pictures and S smiled patiently, then he mouthed the words "no more pictures".


S playing the triangle in the 'Rock-N-Roll Rhythm Band'. This was one of the few times he actually looked like he was having fun.

SPORTS
May is a busy month when it comes to sports. Soccer and baseball keep us on the go. Some nights I don't know when we'll eat dinner, or even IF we'll eat dinner. We have a great time though. I love watching the boys play and have fun. I like it even more when they support each other. It can be busy, but it's great, too!

Soccer games this spring were more often cold and rainy than warm and sunny. This was one game where at least the sun was trying to shine. It was still very cold though! Z is #3 on the Shooters.


Getting ready for the ball to be thrown in.

Z did great in some races this spring. In the school fun-run he placed 2nd out of the 5th grade boys. At the 5th grade Hershey track meet he ran the 100 and 200. He was 1st place in his heat in the 100 and went to the semifinals. Great running Z!


(Z in lane 4 in the white shirt.)

S got to run in the Lollipop race at the Hershey track meet. He had a slow start, but he made it across the finish line.


(S in lane 3 in the white shirt.)

T is on the Mets this year. He plays 'machine pitch' (actually it's coach pitch most of the time because the machines never work). He is doing great and has got some awesome hits this year. He's also been known to play more than one position at a time (which does not make his teammates happy). We are encouraging him to remember that baseball is a team sport.



Z is #2 on the Rockies. He plays 2nd base and outfield. His favorite part of playing baseball is spitting sunflower seeds and that the coach bribes them with candy bars if they get a hit, or a dollar if they catch a pop fly.



PINEWOOD DERBY
The cubscouts did the pinewood derby this month and invited the 11 year old scouts to join them, so we made 2 cars. Actually...Grandpa made 2 cars-I take no credit. Both boys had fun and their cars were great. T was so excited to actually be able to have a car and race, and then, to top it off, he took 3rd place. Great job T!


T with his car. He won 3rd place and also his car was awarded 'Most Colorful'.


Z with his car (tank). He was awarded 'Most Lethal'.