Fun Times in Wyoming

This year we spent the 4th of July in Afton Wyoming.  My good friend Becky Platt grew up in Wyoming and she was there visiting her parents for a few weeks before moving to Hawaii.  We really enjoyed hanging out in this cute little town for the 4th and hanging out with our good friends:)

We got to see Cael march in the 4th of July parade with some other scouts.

The boys catching candy during the parade

Look at all those kids!  My boys sure love their friend Cael.

Having fun at the 4th of July pool party after the parade.  Free snow cones makes everyone happy!

My boys loved that our hotel had a pool and hot tub.  We invited some of the Platt boys to stay the night with us in our hotel room so the boys could have more time with their friends.

Becky's Dad has some horses and all my boys got to ride them and feed them.  It was the first time on a horse for all my boys.

I even got a chance to ride a bit:)

The fireworks went on sale after the 4th and I bought these boys some fun roman candles that they had lots of fun shooting at each other!

These kids had so much fun shooting off fireworks all on their own.  Luckily we had no casualties:)

Even Julian was getting in on the fun!

We hiked up to Intermittent Springs

The trail got a little steep right at the end but we all made it up safely

Becky and I at the end of the hike, right where the spring comes gushing out of the mountain.  We filled our water bottles and I have to tell you, that was some yummy, fresh water!

Brecon celebrated his 9th birthday while we were there.  When I knew Becky in Germany she only had 3 kids...now she has 5!  I guess if my kids were as cute and well behaved as hers I would have had a few more:)

Looking tough with the wild Wyoming skies

The little cuties hanging out on the covered wagon.  We had so much fun with our Platt family friends and wish them luck in Hawaii!

On our drive back to Oregon we made a quick stop in Driggs Idaho to see Opa

I decided to stop for a few nights in Boise Idaho to break up the long drive.  The boys had fun at Roaring Springs water park.  We had a fantastic trip but were happy to be back home after almost 2 weeks on the road.

Fun Times in Utah

After our Lake Powell trip we got to spend a few days in Utah with Oma doing some fun things.

We went for a hike up Provo Canyon to Big Springs

The clouds made it a great day for a hike...not too hot!

The boys got to play at their favorite indoor trampoline gym

We got to eat yummy shave ice

We went and saw the famous "Liger" at the BYU Bean Museum

We went to a National Parks concert in Provo with Andrea.  It was a pretty fun concert.  Live music is always so much fun when you are in a crowd with so much energy

I made Hyrum kiss me under this sign...he really didn't want to:)

Lake Powell, Utah

June 24-29:

WOW!  Another fantastic vacation on the house boat at Lake Powell.  This is the 3rd time Hyrum's sister Andrea and her husband Craig have invited our family down to their houseboat for a vacation.  It is super fun and relaxing to spend time on the lake.  My boys love being out on the water and I love relaxing on the boat, reading:)  We were there with the Doxey family, Andrea and Craig as well as Jason and Oma.  It was great to spend time together as little family reunion.

Our house boat all set up and nestled in a safe bay

Emerson and Julian getting ready to go for a ride on the raft

Hyrum and Townsend on the jet ski, getting ready to pull the raft

Uncle Jason doing yoga on the rocks:)

Townsend and Emerson on the big "molecule" pulled by Uncle Craig's big boat.  Probably the boys #1 activity while at Lake Powell

We spent plenty of time escaping the heat of the day around this table playing card games

Hyrum, Oma, Andrea and Katrina...just floating around

We took the boat out one morning to go explore some of the beautiful canyons on the lake.

Some of the lovely canyon views we got to see

Hyrum, Julian and Jason take a bit of a dip in a cave that looks like a Hershey's kiss:)

Uncle Craig let Julian drive the boat for a bit:)

Hiking up the giant sand dune.  Yes, those are people, not just little dots on the sand:)

I love this photo of my crazy boys jumping off cliffs.  This is probably their 2nd favorite thing to do at Lake Powell...crazy!

Hyrum estimated this drop to be about 40 feet!  These boys were in heaven they were having so much fun!

Even Julian took part in the rock jumping!  I was so proud of him:)

The whole group posing for a photo on our last day.  Thank you so much for the fun trip Andrea and Craig...we are happy to come back anytime you invite us!

Last Day of School and 6th Grade Graduation

June 16th:

Another school year flew by and my twins found themselves on their last day of Elementary School.  The 6th grade teachers went all out on a fantastic 6th grade farewell breakfast and awards ceremony.  It's hard to believe I will have 2 boys in Middle School next year!

Julian on his last day of 1st Grade with his teacher, Mrs. Giard

Emerson with his teacher Mr. Holmen.  Last day of 6th Grade!

Townsend with Ms. McClain

The 6th Grade end of year celebration was Star Wars themed this year!

Townsend having breakfast with his friends Aiden Duncan and Owen Groener

Emerson with his friend Landon Child.

Aren't these 6th Grade teachers amazing!  Their costumes were just perfect.  

Well done Julian on a wonderful 1st Grade year.  And I'm super proud of you guys, Townsend and Emerson.  On to Middle School and bigger and better experiences!

Piano Recitals

This year Julian had his very first piano recital!  He has really done well with piano this year and I'm super proud of him.  My twins have also continued with piano...even though they complain, scream and kick every time I ask them to practice.  I feel like I don't ask them to do much so they can suffer through this ONE thing I require them to do.  I keep hoping that one day they will love playing but that might be just a dream.  Anyway, they did fantastic on their recital pieces and I couldn't be happier.

The boys with their piano teacher, Becky Baker.  She does a fantastic job and really seems to understand my boys.

Julian

Townsend

Emerson