Freedom Festival and Stadium of Fire

July 2

This will have minimal commentary

I've been going to the Provo Freedom Festival for years and year. I love it. Sadly, it has gotten more commerical over the years. Anyway, this fire department trailer has been there every year and I've never been able to catch the tour. But this year we did! The boys had a good time.

There is a simulation of a little house. And the firefighter talks about fire safety.

With fake smoke and smoke detector too

The kids then climb down the latter on the balcony off the upstairs "bedroom"

Since we missed Strawberry Days this year...(Jon had strep and we moved some stuff to the new house) We made sure the boys got to do a couple things.

The swings

They loved it!

 And a few runs on a bounce house

Then we met up with Jon's whole family, minus Dave, the missionary. We had an early dinner at Brick Oven-sooo good. Then we headed to their hotel to play in the pool...well, half of us did anyway. Then we walked to the stadium for the big show.

I loved that they had parachuters drop into the stadium it was so cool and it really brought the feeling of patriotism. They had 4 jumpers. Each one had different colors, red, white and blue.

Then the last one was red, white AND blue with the American Flag.

Cute Max, having fun clapping to, David Archuleta, I think.

The Fam

I think Cory was getting some food. I didn't want to miss the photo op. But I should have waited-sorry

Brad Paisley performing. Lexie was somewhere in the stadium in dreamland :) Paisley was pretty good. Im not a country music fan, but I really did enjoy the performance.

I actually remembered to bring the glow sticks this year! Half of them didn't work, unfortunately. But there was a enough to go around and have fun with.

 

One of Zac's broke and spilled on his shirt. He was pretty stressed about it.  Silly boy.

The fireworks show was phenomenal. It was choreographed and was the most enjoyable show I've ever seen. I love the finale with all the booms!

Then we headed home. We only hit about a mile of traffic that took us about 10 mins to get through. And it was timed perfectly because Max had to pee and it was a more rural road so I just ran him to a shadow with some bushes. I really know how to get around Provo during high traffic! ;) Mostly the key is where you park and where you need to go. We got home around 12:15a. But it was a fun day! I sure love the Fourth of July!

Attempted Hike to Clyde Lake

July 2

Jon and his Dad wanted to do a guys hike. They chose a hike in the Uintas, up off the Mirror Lake Scenic byway.

There was so much snow, they weren't able to get to the trail head. Maybe if they had taken the Pilot, it would have worked better? They ended up hike about a mile in to get to the trail head.

This is a stop sign a less than a mile from the trail head.

Snow drifts were 3-4 ft high

A couple large ponds that were frozen over

 

It was a fun little adventure for them. Due to snow and time, they only ended up going a few miles in and it wasn't following the trail. A couple weeks later we went camping in the Unitas and headed over that way and almost all the snow was melted.

Campfire at Whiskey Springs

June 30

We were going to go camping, but it just seemed like too much work. So we decided to just go roast hot dogs over the campfire. First, we headed over to the farmers market on Main street in Heber and listened to some interesting music... then we headed up to Whiskey Springs. It was nice to be outside and enjoy nature.

Since Utah got soooo much snow and rain this year, the river was rushing by pretty fast. Jon found this long branch in the river and pulled it out and had fun balancing on it.

We played hide n' seek (when I say we, I mean them.  I observe and offer support to the kids as needed :)

The right way to eat a s'more is with melted chocolate!

Story telling is quickly becoming one of Zac's favorite things to do around a campfire. My creativity doesn't lie in that realm. So it tends to be a challenge for me. I pretty much tell a really dumb story, and then I don't have to worry how dumb it was because I didn't put any effort in! haha


Poppa was telling the story of "One-eyed Willy". Zac was pretty stressed out.

During the part where scouts one by one were loosing their eyes, Jon got a grape from dinner and took the skin off of it....and then put it in Zac's hand....Zac freaked out. He had thought it was Jon's eye! But when he realized it was just a trick, he was glad that he helped make the story more scary and real by his emotion. :)

The "eye"

At the end of the story, Zac telling us about his reaction

Heber Creeper

June 30

Jon's parents were in town for a bit and Jon took a few days off of work so we could spend time with them.  On Thursday, the 30th, we got tickets to ride the Heber Creeper. This is something I had wanted to do for years! Especially, since we moved to the area. It was a stormy morning, but luckily things cleared up by the afternoon. We did the 3 hr ride to Vivian Park and back.

Its funny...pretty much anytime I try to take a picture of Max he's either not looking at the camera or he's holding something in front of his face.

Close quarters. I had no idea how tight it would be. This is the car we rode on riding down to Vivian Park.

There was very pretty scenery through the whole ride. This is Charleston, the small town between Midway and Deer Creek, North of Heber. Our landlord moved there from the house we currently live in.

Typically, Jon and I have different tastes on many things. But this white house in the pic....we both really like-win! Hopefully, when the time comes, it won't be so hard to agree on what kind of house to buy.

Looking out toward Daniel

I just love these pics of Max

When we got up by Soldier's Hollow, we were boarded by bandits!! Hands up!

They were looking for a money box, which turned out to be empty. So they took some hostages and threatened to kill this duck. Haha, it was pretty fun. The boys were nervous at first. And there was another toddler who was hysterical.

This is what I get when I say "smile"

Deer creek

I love this!

This was the conductor

When we stopped at Vivian Park there was this creepy bug outside the window. What is it?! And check out that long stinger looking thing. I've never seen these before. And there was one in our tent when we went camping last week.

Luckily, on the way back, I decided to check out the other passenger train car. It was soooo much nicer! The windows worked, so it was nice to get fresh air and not very many people were in that one so there was more room.

It was a fun, long ride. I'm glad we got to see the canyon this way.

Random

June 30

The boys after new haircuts

Jon reading to the boys on a Sunday afternoon

Max doing the bungee swing at gymnastics--he was pretty nervous at first, but then had a fun time

The boys jumping from napkin to napkin. Trying to wear the boys out on a Sunday evening, the week before we moved. As much as we like to get Sunday naps...it means if the boys nap too, they won't be ready for bed til after 9:30p maybe even later.

Gymnastics and T-Ball

June 15

During the month of June Zac played T-ball with the city. He was on the Phillies team. He LOVED the red and he got a shirt and hat.

To be honest, it was pretty boring to watch. But it was really nice to be outside in the sunshine! One team hit the ball, while the other ran to get it and then threw it to first base. In my (and many others') opinions...it wasn't very organized. Zac never played a base and half the time he didn't get to throw the ball to first since he was in the back of the outfielders line and the other team ran out of players to hit. I much prefer Provo's City teams where they did drills and exercises.  But it was something to do and I think it was good for Zac to be involved. I heard there is a private neighborhood type organization doing a t-ball and I hope to get him on that next season. 

Zac on first base. He was a champ at running the bases. It was fun to be the last batter because then he got to run all the bases in a row, like a homerun.

I also, signed Max up for the summer gymnastics program here in the area.  I am hoping he can get stronger and more coordinated. He is pretty floppy with his low muscle tone. He loves it! Its once a week for the summer. Do to the gym's insurance, I can't go on to the mats or anything so these pics are from the top of the stairs at the far end of the gym.

Here he's doing a back roll on a cheese wedge mat.

There is a little course that they get to do and use different exercises. He loves it!

Here he is being helped to do a flip off the trampoline-soooo funny!

He loves, loves, loves it! I'm so excited for him to be learning this stuff. Its his first time being involved in a sport and he is so happy about it. Although Zac is a little jealous he is still a good sport and supportive to his brother :)

Here we go-a-blog postin' .... among the leaves so green...yeah I feel a little loopy. And as weird as it is, I'm kinda looking forward to fall and Christmas already-what is wrong with me?! And what's with all the thunderstorms around here, isn't it the middle of summer????

Anyway, I should be getting ready for the cub committee meeting I have in a half hour-blah...but I would rather name and upload photos.... Standby for just major back posting... I have about 10 files of pictures to go through.