Party

The boys and I went to Tristan's friend's birthday party today. It was a pool/pizza backyard party. The boys had a ton of fun swimming, playing, and jumping on the tramp.

Performance

All of the second grade classes had an end of the year singing performance today. There were 3 classes, and they sang about 8 or 9 songs. It was really fun to watch! Tristan did great!

Tristan, on the left in the back

Tristan's class

Stickers

I had some vinyl stickers made for the living room, and got them put up today. I've had them picked out for a few years, and they turned out perfect! I love them!

Las Vegas Zoo

Hunter and I went down to the Zoo this morning. I decided to get there first thing, to avoid the heat as much as possible. It was bigger than I had thought it would be, but still very small- we saw every exhibit, the gift shop and bathroom in an hour. But Hunter had a good time.

Feeding the birds

Not a very good picture, but Hunter loved the otters! He loved watching them swim.

He also loved the peacocks

This cockatoo said hello and hi

Hunter watching the lioness

This rooster followed us the entire time

Hunter was also very impressed with the goats

Dinner

I was just wondering what everyone was planning for dinner tonight?

Raingutter Regatta

Tristan's scout Raingutter Regatta was last night. His boat did really well, taking 2nd place!

Scout Leader

I was called to be a scout leader a few weeks ago, and I am now a leader in the Wolf Den. I have been to 2 den meetings so far, and last night was my first pack meeting. I am excited to be a leader, and I am looking forward to the future!

Summer Adventures

I saw this challenge on a friend's blog, and decided to try it. It is the Summer Road Trip. You pick out five (or more) destinations in your area that you have never been, and go exploring! This is actually a concept that I have been thinking about a lot for the last year, and decided that this is the time to finally do it. Las Vegas has so many amazing sights and things to do, and yet I've only done a very few of them. Which is pretty pathetic since I have lived here for over 4 years. So here is my list, and I plan to start next week.

1. Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort I first read about this historical park during one of my history classes last year. It sounds so interesting, and I have been wanting to go forever.

2. Las Vegas Zoo Yes, Las Vegas has a zoo. And I have never been to it. I have heard that it is pretty ghetto, but I am still very curious to see it myself.

3. Hoover Dam The tour specifically. Driving over it is one thing, going inside it and REALLY looking at it is another.

4. Las Vegas Natural History Museum Pretty much anything with the word "History" in the title sounds like fun to me!

5. Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition I am fairly obsessed with all things Titanic. I love the story and the history behind it.

6. The Library I know what you're thinking- "The library? Really?" Absolutely! I have never been to any library here in Las Vegas, and a new one just opened a few miles from the house. When I was young, I would go to the library every single week. Even when I got older, I loved going. And I want to get back into going again.

Salmon Trip 2009

Friday June 26

We left for our annual trip home to Salmon June 26. We always leave at around 1am, that way the boys sleep for the first half of the trip. It is an 11 hour drive, but when we leave that early, it makes the drive seem faster because we still get to town early in the afternoon and have time to unwind and relax before bedtime. The first stop on our trip was in Rupert Idaho, were my grandma is living. She had a stroke 6 1/2 years ago, and is currently living in a nursing home. This was the first time I had seen her in 6 years, and it was Jasen and Hunter's first time to meet her. My parents drove over to meet us and visit with her. I am so very happy that I was able to go and see her, and I am even more happy that the boys got to as well.

After visiting with her for a bit, we headed up to Salmon. We stopped for gas in a little town about 2 1/2 hours from Salmon, and ran into the most intense storm. We could see it coming as we fueled up, and as soon as we left the gas station it hit. The clouds were so dark and so low. The rain drops were the biggest I think I have ever seen, and they were so loud when the hit the car. It even hailed and snowed some. But it didn't last too long, and we got to Salmon around 5pm.

Snow on the road

After checking into the hotel, we drove up to see Cahl's stepdad and drop off Buddy. Then we headed out to our friend Dewey's house to visit and drop off some stuff that we had brought up for him and his family.

Saturday June 27

Saturday morning we all slept in a bit, which was nice for a change! After breakfast we headed down river to Indian Creek to visit our friend Emmett. Cahl and Emmett were best friends in middle school and through high school, and we hadn't seen him in several years.

Indian Creek

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures with Emmett because I forgot my camera in the car. But we got to meet his fiance, and it was a really nice visit. That evening Cahl went to hang out with his friends and I took the boys to the park and for a drive around town.

Salmon

Sunday June 28

We went out to my bestest friend Gabrielle's house and spent most of the day there on Sunday. It was a really nice, long, relaxing visit. It was especially nice because her boyfriend Jared and his son Cole were there. Tristan and Cole are the same age, and they love to hang out together each summer. This summer Cole got a little motorbike, and the kids took turns riding it around the house.

Tristan

Jasen

Tristan did really good riding the motorbike. He's had a lot of experience riding 4 wheelers since he was 4 or 5. Jasen on the other hand, not so much. He has had very little experience riding since we have gotten rid of all our 4 wheelers. He got on and held the throttle all the way open! He made a wide turn and then drove straight into a fence. The motorbike blew the bottom rail off the fence, and the second rail hit Jasen right in the helmet. He flew straight backwards and landed on his back and his helmet went flying. But amazingly, he only got a small bruise on his arm. And he was was more upset about not wanting to ride again than actually wrecking.

Monday June 29

Monday morning Cahl went golfing with his stepdad and I took the boys to another park for a while.

In the afternoon Cahl took the boys to the pool.

Cahl helping Jasen

Cahl giving Hunter a ride

Tristan doing a cannon ball

After they were all done at the pool, we met up with Gabrielle, Jared and Cole and went up to William's Lake. We took a boat and tube, and the boys all had so much fun riding! Tristan and Cole went together, Gabrielle and I took Jasen, the Gabrielle and I went, and finally Jared and Gabrielle went. I left my camera in the car, but we all had a great time.

Tuesday June 30

Tuesday morning we all piled into the car and drove around in the mountains. We drove up McDivitt Creek, along the ridge line and down into North Basin.

A natural spring

The view from the top of the ridge line

Cahl and I at the top

Looking down into North Basin

We stopped in the basin for a while to check out the BLM cabin and the boys played in the creek for a little bit.

All of us in front of the BLM cabin

Tristan and Jasen "fishing"

On the way back down the ridge, we stopped at an old cabin and looked around.

After we came back down the mountain, we stopped and got Cole to go swimming with us.

Tristan and Cole jumping in

Wednesday July 1

Wednesday morning, Gabrielle, her dad and I went for a ride up in the hills above town. We didn't ride for too long, about 2 hours, but it was so fun. I haven't really been riding for about 8 years, and so it felt really good to be back in the saddle again!

Gabrielle and her dad

A coyote we passed

Thursday July 2

The Thursday night of the 4th of July weekend in Salmon is always the Western Playdays out at the fairgrounds. They start off doing horse races, and then fun games involving horses. The little kids do a stick horse race, a greased pig race, and more. Then the bigger kids (and adults) do games on horseback. The playday is one of the boys' favorite activities each year. they love the stick horse race and they love the pig chase even more! They promise me a new pet pig every year, but so far I haven't gotten one! I didn't get many pictures of all the races, but they had so much fun.

Jasen in the blue shirt stick horse racing

Friday July 3

Friday morning we took the boys to Kid's Creek pond to see the fish. They had fun feeding the ducks and looking at all the little minnows.

The boys on the dock

All my boys on the bridge

After we went to the pond, we headed downtown for the 4th of July parade. My parents and sister and niece all came to town to visit with us for the big weekend. So we watched the parade with them and then went to lunch.

Cahl and Hunter watching the parade

My sister, her daughter and Tristan

Hunter saving all of his candy

Friday night was Cahl's 10 year high school reunion. That night there was a couples only dinner. It was really fun to see so many people that we hadn't seen in years, and I met a lot of new people. It was a little sad to see how many people didn't come. There were a lot of people we both would have liked to have seen that we didn't. But it was still a lot of fun and I am so glad we went. Don't ask me why, but I didn't take a single photo. Boo.

Saturday July 4

The day of the 4th Cahl's class had a big picnic for everyone to bring their families out to. It was neat to see who has how many kids and what they all look like. The boys had a lot of fun playing, and at the end we broke out a big tub of water balloons. Of course that was a big hit! Once again, where was my camera??

That night was the Demolition Derby. This is by far the highlight of every trip home, and our trip is usually planned around the derby. Cahl and I took the boys out to see the cars and the balloon bop, which is the boys' favorite thing! We all had a ton of fun, and afterward us and few of our friends went and hung out for a bit.

Sunday July 5

Sunday I spent the morning with my family, and Cahl spent the morning with his stepdad. Then my family and us all went to the park for lunch and played for a while before they headed home. I am so happy that my family was able to come down a visit with us. I know that the boys had a lot of fun with them, and I did too.

All the kids- Tristan, Jasen, Hunter and Paige

Sunday night we went out to dinner with Cahl's stepdad and his wife. It was really nice, and I am so glad that we were able to spend time with them.

Monday July 6

We headed home around 1am today. We met Cahl's cousins Stacey and Andy in Nephi Utah for breakfast. It was really sweet of them to drive up to meet us, and it was a nice break from driving.

And so we are home once again. It was a wonderful trip, and I can't wait for next year! I miss Salmon so much, but it also feels good to be in my own house, using my own washer and computer!