Summer Days in July

Our summer days were filled with all sorts of activities and we had so much fun! We were still trying to cross off as many things from our bucket list and help Warren earn his Summer Badges, which we never ended up printing -the book is printed the badges just didn't get completely finished. We spent countless hours playing at lots of different parks, spending time playing in splash pads, visiting our local zoo, playing with cousins,  visiting family, and experiencing lots of firsts. It is a summer for the books and one that we will never forget. I am so grateful to have summers off to get to play with my boys.

Boat Making with Dad

My boys worked together to build a small raft/boat to float down the river. Zack and Warren worked hard to build this and after it was finished and all dry we had to test it out. It floated well and the river was a perfect way to cool off and have some fun. This is our favorite park, it has everything we love; lots of grass, a river, a playground, basketball and tennis courts, and lots of shade.

 Next summer I think these two are going to be making a life size raft and Zack wants to float it Huck Finn style down the Green River.

Demolition Derby

Zack and I enjoy a good demolition derby and on our bucket list was going to another one. This was Warren's first derby and his face shows exactly what he thought about it. It was a nice night and an okay derby,  but the best part was spending time with family.  

 Hiking

There is a perfect trail just about 10-15 minutes from our house and just a short distance up the canyon. We usually hike up past Second Dam and enjoy ourselves. The week before our vacation we went hiking on this trail several times. We would wake up have breakfast and hit the trail. I loved these mornings and how they could transform my attitude. There is something about being in nature that helps me. 

 Cousins and the Willow Park Zoo

Logan has a small zoo here that is home to a variety of animals and right by a park. One day we met some cousins here to play around and enjoy the animals and each others company. That same day Warren and I actually went back a second time after his cousins left because we ran into some friends that were heading there and Warren wanted to tag along.

The kids and Amy and myself thought this albino racoon was really stuck in his cage. But, he tricked us, I guess he hangs out there and looks stuck. These three took off running to find him some help. Such sweeties.

The zoo also had a baby caribou born in May. It was so cute and sad all at the same time. He/She was pacing back and forth while we were there the first time. The sign said the baby was born in May and only about two months old. 

 Family Reunions

July was spent with lots and lots of family. We had family reunions with both the Ludlow and Wiberg families, and even had a McQuivey Family reunion but we were not able to go to that one. Warren had kids his age to play with during each of these reunions and had a great time. It was nice seeing family and got to see aunts, uncles, and cousins that we have not see in nine years. 

Wiberg Family Reunion

For the Wiberg Reunion we had pioneer games, churned butter, the kids played, had a pinata, and went on a scavenger hunt, there were lots of good conversations, some Family Feud, and  precious memories. It was a nice evening spent rekindling friendships and laughing. Warren enjoyed making new friends and breaking open the pinata. 

Zack and his cousin Alan even had a little arm wrestling contest where Zack won with an "Over the Top" move. 

 

Ludlow Family Reunion

For the Ludlow Family Reunion all of Zack's Dad's siblings were in town. This is the first time they were all  together since their father passed away nine years ago. Most of Zack's cousins were there and many of them brought their kids. It was nice meeting some of the Ludlow family that I had never met. While all  his family was here they celebrated  Grandma Ludlow's 80th birthday which is in August. We went to the Natural Museum of History of Utah, the Hill Air Force Base Aerospace Museum, and had a huge birthday party for Grandma Ludlow including games, snow cones and lots of Pokemon Go. 

The Natural History Museum of Utah was so much fun! Warren loved this section where we learned about earthquakes and seismographs. You could jump here and it would measure the waves like it would an earthquake.

Learning about wind and how it changes the land.

Our reflection out on the terrace. 

The Native American exhibits were amazing. These two pieces were placed back to back and made such an amazing picture.

Cousins and free Slurpees on 7-11

Warren playing with his cousin and second cousins one hot July afternoon.

At the museum they were measuring an seismic movement in three locations; Brigham City, Wyoming, and the LDS Vaults in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The most movement that day was recorded in Brigham City.

Most of Zack's extended family at Grandma Ludlow's 80th birthday celebration.

The Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren of Chuck and Colleen Ludlow who were able to come to the reunion.

Spring Break Mini Vacation

With Zack going to school his spring break and my spring break have never fallen at the same time, except when we were both students and I worked at the bank, but then he was working for the school district and we both had to take time off work to hang out anyway. But I digress.....  Our spring breaks once again did not line up but we each took the Friday of the other person's spring break off to hang out together and have family time. For the last weekend of my spring break which was the first weekend in April, which  also happens to be General Conference for my church and this year happened to include my birthday, we rented a cabin with Zack's parents and a few siblings in Star Valley Wyoming. The setting was gorgeous and we had a nice time relaxing and doing whatever we wanted. We left after Zack got out of class Friday and took our time making our way to Star Valley, Wyoming. The drive is so relaxing and beautiful. We were the first to get to the cabin and explored the area, set up our stuff and then played some card games on the wrap around porch while Warren played with a cat that was outside.

Friday evening was spent talking, playing games and just hanging out. Saturday we drove into Jackson Hole and wandered around  window shopping, shopping, more window shopping and then had lunch at a pizza place. We then decided we were going to go check out a park I had seen online while everyone else drove into Teton National Park. Warren loved the climbing park we went to, Phil Baux Park. He had a blast climbing, playing, and running around. Zack and I loved watching him climb and watching other people climb as well. Saturday night the adults went out and we celebrated by birthday which was the next day. We went to Dad's Bar and Steakhouse, it has awesome reviews online, and it was yummy. A hole in the wall place but so good. If we go back we will know that there is a separate entrance for the restaurant. I had a steak marinated in hot sauce, for someone who loves spice, it was a good marinade. After dinner Zack had his mom try and find somewhere that was still open that had ice cream, we forget stores close early in small towns,  but she found some ice cream at the gas station and we came back and had ice cream with the kids. Sunday morning we packed up said goodbye and all went our separate ways. We choose to drive though Soda Springs and show Warren some geysers, the carbonated water, and park I played at when I was young. My dad would often drive to or  home from Yellowstone through Soda Springs and we would stop and take a break, play on the playground, watch the geyser and maybe drink carbonated water. It was fun to pass on some of my memories from my childhood to my own child.

My boys at the antler arch in Jackson Hole.

My little family at the arch.

These cousins are so cute together and they are so good to Warren. He loves them and so do we.

Mommy and Warren having lunch at the pizza place. 

Rocking climbing at Phil Baux Park

Almost to the top.

Climbing with Daddy.  Oh and the lady in the back was there with her husband who was practicing. He would climb along the bottom, all around the base without touching the ground.

We made it to the top!

This was the view from the cabin we rented. GORGEOUS! The sunsets were amazing. We took a few walks in the evenings to soak in all the beauty. I even went running on my birthday and thought I could run if this was my view. It  was exhilarating to run in the crisp mountain air with no one around and to run on dirt roads was awesome.

Me and my eternal sweetheart enjoying the sunset. The view of the stars was describable. With little or no light pollution you could see so many stars! AHHH to live there!

 Soda Spings

We couldn't have timed arriving to see the geyser any better. We arrived started walking up and it started to go off. The information about the geyser is very fascinating. From what Zack read this geyser was messing up Old Faithful somehow so now it is regulated to only go off once every hour. There is much more to the history but too much to write here. I love seeing Warren so intrigued!

The geyser was actually really impressive and you aren't that far from it and can walk all the way around it.

Hooper Springs, it has carbonated water. We had Warren try some without telling him what it was, he did not like it. I tried it again because I had forgotten how much I disliked it (the last time I drank it I was a kid) and quickly remembered why Warren was spitting it out. There is a video I just can't upload it.