Utah Trip and Lake Powell

Our family was able to head down to Utah for a few weeks.  I drove down with Emerson and Julian and then Hyrum and Townsend flew down a few days later.  It was fun to meet up with some friends and see our family but the highlight was definitely Lake Powell.  My boys love Lake Powell and wish we could go every summer!  We are super lucky that Hyrum's sister Andrea owns a house boat on the lake and we are invited down every few years.  I love it because it is relaxing and I can just sit and read all day.  The boys love the water, the boat, the jet skis, jumping off rocks, swimming and playing all day.

Our first stop was to meet up with our good friends (the Platt's) at Lagoon Amusement Park.  Emerson went with the "big kid" group to ride all the scary rides.  Julian and I hung out with the younger group but then left to go hang out at the water park on our own.  It was a beautiful day at the park!

Most of our group after we rode the "rapids"...a bit wet but super fun.

I rode my bike from Oma's house in Orem to the Jordan River trail, it was about a 40 mile ride.  Still training for Cycle Oregon in September.

Dinner with some friends from my time in Germany!  So much fun to get together with these ladies.  We had dinner at Cafe Rio and then watched Mama Mia Here We Go Again at the theater.  So much fun, laughing and chatting with my buddies!

Took another opportunity to hang out with the Platts at an indoor trampoline park.  We live in Oregon and they live in Hawaii but it just worked out we were in the same area at the same time!

Took a quick little hike up to Bridal Veil Falls with Oma.

They both finished their shave ice! (Emerson did say his stomach hurt after he was done...that thing was huge!)

Lake Powell!

Having fun playing games

Emerson tried out the paddle board

Sleeping on the top deck.  It was beautiful weather and the stars at night were so amazing.  It was nice to just lay outside and look up to see shooting stars and planets.

A few of us hiked over to some arches.  I only had flip flops...not the best walking shoes in a desert full of prickers.

I found somebody to love on the walls of the cave:)

Walking back to our boat.  It's amazing how hot and thirsty I got  just on a 1/2 mile hike!  Glad we had water to jump into after our hike.  It was so perfect to jump in the lake and cool down.

Boys having fun jumping from the rocks.  I was happy to stay on the jet ski and watch:)

We explored some really cool canyons out on Craig's boat.

My kids talked me into trying out the "molecule"  It was terrible.  I was hanging on for dear life and screaming the whole time!  I don't know why my kids love this thing so much?

A shot of the whole group that came to Powell.  Our family and the Doxey's came from Oregon.  Emmett and Rachel and their girls came all the way from Wisconsin.  Craig and Andrea live in Utah but it's still a 6 hour drive for them.  It was really wonderful to hang out with the Durtschi family clan for a few days.  Making memories...love it!

Car trouble on the drive back from Lake Powell...luckily it was just a leaky valve on one of the tires and only took about 10 minutes to fix!

We got to spend a few more days in Utah after Lake Powell.  We took the boys and Oma up to Salt Lake for the day.  We enjoyed a show at the planetarium and went to Temple Square to walk around.

Went for a fun hike with Oma and Emmett and Rachel and their girls, Avonlea and Anya.  We started in Albion Basin and hiked through Catherine's Pass to Sunset Peak.  Lots of beautiful views of the lakes and mountains.

Townsend hoisted himself up on this ski lift.  That kid has some amazing upper body strength!

Hyrum had his heart set on doing a 100 mile bike loop around Utah Lake.  We brought our bikes with us from Oregon so we could do this ride.  I was very nervous because the farthest I had ever gone on my bike was 75 miles.  We left from Oma's house before it was even light outside.  We wanted to get done before the day got too hot.  This is me on the West side of Utah lake.  It was very dry and flat...not much scenery to look at as the miles clicked away.

Had a lunch break at the 50 mile mark...Goshen, Utah.  I was not sure I would make it another 50 miles but really, what choice was there but to get back on my bike?

Back at Oma's house.  7 hours and 20 minutes of biking time!  That's not really a smile on my face...more like a grimace!

Proof of our mileage.  We actually were close to Oma's house at mile 96 but Hyrum made me go an extra 4 miles just to say we went 100.  I was thinking 96 was close enough!!!

A map showing where we went on our bike ride...yep, that's all the way around Utah Lake!

Hyrum drove the van home with Townsend and Julian while Emerson and I got to fly home the next day.  That left me with a free day so I took my fabulous niece, Mara Porter, out for lunch.  It was so fun catching up with her and hearing all about her time at BYU.  It brought back memories of when I was at BYU and would visit her mom and hang out with my nieces and nephews in their house in Orem.

Trips to Utah are always about catching up with family and this years trip was definitely family time!

July Summary

Hyrum and I rode our bikes up to Skyline.  Lots of biking in July trying to get ready for Cycle Oregon in September.

No more braces!!!

Emerson's teeth are also free!

Julian with a group of friends at Cub Scout Day camp.  He was super mad at first that I "made" him go to camp but by the end of the week he was having lots of fun.  Sometimes these boys just don't know what will make them happy:)

Julian takes aim at the archery range

Fun with friends at Day Camp

Another bike ride.  This was the longest ride I have ever done...

...75 MILES.  And at mile 73 or so I crashed my bike in a ditch and got all banged up and then I cried on my bike the remaining miles home and told Hyrum I never want to ride my bike ever again!

Julian and Daddy worked together to make this awesome fort:)

Boys with their friends at Sauvie Island.  They love it here!

Julian with his "rock friend" Jerry.  Playing in the water at Jones Creek.

The boys had fun at Jones Creek jumping from the bridge in the back ground...crazy kids!

Family bike ride to Vernonia 

Taking a break from the bike ride in Vernonia 

I took the boys to Wunderland Nickel Arcade and Julian hit the jackpot and was able to get enough tickets to take home this awesome dragon...which he named "Dragdon"

The twins with their friend Owen Groener before starting the obstacle course race.

Having fun during the race...more like a walk I guess:)

Emerson launching from an obstacle

Townsend crawling through the mud pit!

The same 3 boys at the end of the race...looks like they had fun!

Johnson Family Reunion

This year our family headed to Michigan to participate in my family reunion.  My sister, Eryn, was hosting this year and lives in Michigan so we all traveled to her house to get together.  It was so much fun to see my family.  It's a bummer that we live so far away from each other that we rarely get together, but when we do get together it's lots of fun.  I spent the week laughing and hanging out with my sisters and brother.  My kids didn't really warm up to cousins as much as I would have liked but it's hard to form a relationship when you only see each other every 3 years!  I think by the end of the week they were enjoying themselves.  I love my family and I'm so glad we got together.  Also, we celebrated my parents 50th wedding anniversary...so that was pretty cool.

On the flight to Detroit.  It was a night time flight so we were pretty exhausted by the time we landed.  I flew out early with the boys and Hyrum joined us a few days later.

First stop was Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.  The plan was to meet cousins here and have a fun day getting to know them while at the amusement park but things fell through and in the end it was just me and the boys.

Julian and I got a "bit" wet on the rapids ride:)

Taking a break to cool down.  It was very hot and humid...something our Oregon bodies just aren't used to!

At the top of the Ferris Wheel.  We had a fun day at the park but it would have been a blast if more cousins could have made it work to join us!

With my family at the cider mill.  They make fresh pressed cider and super yummy home made donuts!

Swimming at the lake.  My sister had some kayaks that we could use and the water was so wonderful and warm, it was just fun to swim around.

Sisters!  Me with Eryn and Tanya:)

Water balloon fun in Eryn's back yard.  She had such a great piece of property where kids could run around and have fun.

50 years of being married.  I'm sure it hasn't always been a walk in the park and I know they have had some really hard times but they are a good example of sticking together and always sharing love with their family.

The kids swimming in the lake near the house we stayed at on Lake Orion, Michigan.

Working on the quilt for my parents 50th wedding anniversary gift.  I'm glad I could add a few stitches to this memory quilt.

Paige could't make it to the reunion because her baby twins were just a few weeks old.  We were able to chat and keep her connected with a few FaceTime videos but we all missed Paige and Zach and their cute family!!!

Campfire fun at Eryn's house!

Me with my big brother Del...love this guy!

I'm so glad I could make it out to the the family reunion.  I wish we all lived a bit closer but I'll take what I can get.  Love to you all!!!