Summer 1

After Elise's ballet recital, Joy School graduation, and the Girl Scout field trip, we declared it officially summer!  We took a couple of weeks to just hang around the house, sleep in, swim, attend birthday parties, and go to the beach!
  

Cutting Down the Nectarine Tree

It's okay, he had safety goggles.

Blanket Forts and Watermelon

First (or second?) Breakfast of Summer

Fruit-Stand Papaya

 
On the first of July, the kids, the dog, and I took off for Utah.  We stopped in Mesquite to enjoy our favorite pit-stop park, but the 105 degree heat made it less than refreshing!
  

On Our Way Again

We didn't have as much time as usual this trip, but we had a great time at my mom's house.  We did a lot of rhino rides, and all the kids got to take turns driving (with different levels of assistance.) 
   

One of Many Evening Walks

   
Ryan joined us a few days later via Allegiant Airlines, so we were able to go swimming at the Nephi pool, and spend July 4th up with Kelli and Kyle (sorry, no pictures.)
   

Evan's First Time on the Big Waterslide

Connor went with him.

Proud Evan

Corinne kept holding her breath and ducking under - it scared people.

During our visits to Grandma Cloe's house, we were able to pick cherries from her tree.  Corinne went crazy eating them once she figured out what they were (in addition to the cookies Grandma Cloe gave her.)

  

  

Taking Grandma Cloe to Chuck A Rama

   
On July fifth, we drove up to Salt Lake to attend Fantasy Con.  It was a bit overpriced, but totally fun and family-friendly.  
   

    

 

During the last week we were there, the kids and Ryan were able to bike down from Bridal Veil falls (Evan tried, but it was a bit too much for him, so I picked him up in the van.)  We also hung out with my family a ton, and the older three kids went with Ryan to the Ute Stampede rodeo.  It was hard to leave, but we had an awesome time!
  

  

  

   
On our way home, we took a one-day detour to hang out with our friends in Southern Utah.  The daddies went on a Brian Head mountain bike ride while the moms took the kids to explore petroglyphs and play in an honest-to-goodness creek.  You just don't get experiences like that in Los Angeles!  We spent the night at their cabin, then continued on our way home the next afternoon.
  

Stinky Bones!

  

Summer is just too short anymore!