Payson for the 4th

We ended up in Payson for the Fourth of July.  We had a very relaxing time with no agenda, cable TV, a swimming pool, book stores, nature and did I mention NO schedule.  I love being able to do whatever we want, whenever we want (love home school). 

Fourth of July

 

 Tonto Natural Bridge

(warning do not do this hike alone with four kids 12 and under)

There was a lot of this.......

 Some of this.....

 Nice of them to post the yellow arrows so we can find our way through the endless rocks.

 I love this pictures!  We had to stop often and when we did we all took advantage of it.  I try not to remember that she promised to carry the book herself but as always I ended up with it (it's tuff being mom).

We were visiting Payson because of MY LB's new job, yep he has a new job.

Reunion

Hello friends!  This has been the longest summer of my life and I can't believe it's not over yet.  I have so much to tell you, but not yet.  First, I will catch up on our summer adventures.

Moab, Utah for a Mecham family reunion.
This place is absolutely beautiful!  We were in an adventure wonderland and just begging for adventure.  Our days were free for us to plan and our evenings were packed full of extended family fun.  Planning is what we did; rafting trip, hiking, a drive through the arches and mountain biking, no lack of adventure here.

Rafting

Our guide was wonderful!  She pushed Matthew in, let the kids take turns rowing

and told us our new favorite joke, "I ate Mop who", tee hee hee.

 Hiking



I am partial to finding hikes that cross the water and offer shade.   This was a hike to a natural bridge, do you know the difference between a natural arch and a natural bridge?  A bridge is over water.  It was a long hike and once again our kids were amazing, I can't believe their hiking abilities.  It was one of those hikes where you hike in and then turn around and hike back out. Once the kids got to the bridge they were not anxious to turn around and go back out.  So we played, them in the water and on the rocks and me with my camera.

 

 

 Mountain Biking

MY KIDS ARE AMAZING!!  This was every ones first trip mountain biking (except mine) and they did awesome.  It was a very hard trail and they each crashed at least once and they all made it to the end yelling, "This is totally awesome".  I have to say Maggie surprised me most of all, she fell twice in the beginning and I was sure we were turning back, by the end she was convinced she was better at it then I was and she was going way to fast for my comfort.  I had to stay in front of her so I couldn't see what she was doing, otherwise I was certain that I would have a panic attack before we were finished.  MY LB is convinced that we all need mountain bikes, he had a blast.  I love it when buying things are his idea.

Evenings

The evenings were full of playing with cousins and catching up with family.  There were kids activities, great food, auctions, get to know you games, a gift exchange and lots of gabbing.  I love the Mecham family!

I should have gotten more pictures of family (what a loser).

We had a wonderful time and I have to say....

VISIT MOAB

P.S.  We Moved Again (leaving you hanging)