So, my last blog post was done hours before I found out I was pregnant. If you hadn't heard, surprise!! I'm starting to feel a bit better, so here's to sum up the rest of our summer and give a clean slate for the school year which starts next Tuesday.
Dan took the boys backpacking with their good buddy Vince and his Dad, Grandpa Stapleton and cousins Sophia and Maya to Fehr Lake in the Uintas.
Taking pictures is way more fun for them than fishing.
We watched our neighbors one day, and this was one of their favorite days of the summer. They had an intense game of Hide and Seek in the house.
The boys did a week long soccer camp through REAL.
We got a summer pass to the water park Cowabunga Bay. After the second trip they wouldn't ride the slides anymore, so we've made lots of trips around the Lazy River.
The boys have started a new tradition of reading to each other while they brush their teeth.
I got so tired of being asked to read "The Boxcar Children" that I finally told them to read themselves, and they did.
Uncle Jim came for a vacation. We went to The Leonardo and lunch at Cheesecake Factory. He also babysat for us and had a huge water fight, Jim against five little boys. Brad and Seth are still talking about it. It was one of their favorite things this summer. Uncle Mark also came for a visit, but it was a shorter stay and I forgot to take a picture, sorry Mark.
I checked on the boys and they told me they were too hot in their shirts.
The boys are lucky to have such a cool Macha. She took them rock climbing. She has all the gear, including a kids harness and shoes.
For six year olds they did some pretty good moves. I also had a try, and didn't make it a whole lot higher.
Fourth of July BBQ with the Jensens, their best bud Carter is on the right. They jumped in the pool and then we had fireworks.
There were lots of snaps and sparklers. I've decided that a blow torch immediately makes fireworks better.
Dan took the boys backpacking a second time to Ruth Lake in the Uintahs with his parents. (I've done a lot of laundry this summer)
More soccer fun. REAL Salt Lake put on a two hour clinic and they got to meet a player.
Earlier in the summer Tami and I took our boys to a REAL game, complete with shuttle bus from the parking lot.
Vince's Dad coach T-ball, so we can now check baseball off the list. The boys had fun, and Dan even sub coached.
It's T-Ball, so not a lot of great action shots, but here's Brad showing his "ready position"
I've been surprised how happy it makes Brad and Seth to stay in their pajamas until lunch time. Any chance they get, they stay in PJs. I do draw the line and feeding them lunch in pajamas. This was them being silly, they insisted I take a picture.
I got this cool tourist pass for Salt Lake and we've been able to see a lot of sites, like the Leonardo. We rode the tram at Snowbird and hiked to the top of Bald Mountain to have a picnic. (this picture was taken before Brad puked up all his lunch :) )
The flowers were nearing the end, but still beautiful.
A little friend joined us for lunch.
My dad retired. I was given the official job of Open House photographer. It was a nice party. They eulogized my dad, which I was slightly jealous of, because that only happens at funerals, but he got to be present at his. :)
This is how the boys stayed occupied for two hours- thank you iPhone
Our infamous Attorney General came and said a few words. This is really just a poor picture of my dad, but I love how uncomfortable he looks standing next to John Swallow.
We spent a day at This is the Place Heritage State Park. It's a pioneer village.
Let's hope Brad doesn't forget his homework at school and actually have to wear this.
Panning for gold and buying 10 cent candy were their favorite parts.
Our last hoorah of the summer was a camping trip to Dinosaur National Monument. I've been bugging Dan to go for years, because I've never been and have always wanted to. As Dan promised, the actual monument wasn't that great, but the State Musuem pictured above was fun and so was the scenery.
We had an awesome camping site at Echo Park in Colorado. It was an intense 15 mile dirt road to get there, but a cool alcove right next to Steamboat rock and the confluence of the Yampa and Green rivers.
Eating dinner
Steamboat rock, Green river
Hiking to the confluence of the two rivers. The next day we did a nice desert hike in the Utah part of the park.
The actual monument. There are dinosaur bones sticking out the rock, which is cool, but I really needed a guided tour to appreciate it.
