We have had a great summer! We took one family vacation to Moab, Ut. What a blast we had!!! I never knew four wheeling could be so challenging, scary, and fun all at the same time!
Unfortunatly we did not get any pictures, just videos. Sami is making a movie that we will post, eventually. On our way to Moab we stopped at Pioneer Village and Airborne
Everything is always funner with friends (Top picture is Kaitlyn Grant with Sami and Amee. Bottom picture is Kenny Grant with Matthew and Nathan Grant in background).
Even the big kids enjoyed the craft room (Kaitly, Whitney, Kenny, Zeke, Talon and Amee)
Zeke getting his first shave
The kids loved Airborne. I spent all of my time with the little kids so I did not get any pictures of the big kids, except one blurry one of Sami. Matthew and Amee were in heaven. Matthew is a little jumping bean, who will jump off and on anything!!!
Leaving Moab we hiked at Arches National Park (at least I think that is what it is called).
Beau, Nathan, Whitney, Matthew and Sami
Zeke is in the pink shirt under the Arch, Talon is sitting on the ground.
Zeke, Matthew, and Talon
Talon, Zeke, Jake and Whitney
Amee, Matthew and Whitney (I think you can also see a little of Jake and Tom)
We have been blessed with lots of visitors this summer and have done hiking and boating. After the Blomstedts it was Dick and Linda, then Rosie, followed by Don and Maurine with Ayden and Parker. Ayden had so much fun that Trey wanted to come for his birthday, so Valisa brought him and Brecklyn. We missed Joe and Ayden (Joe had to work and Ayden had another committment). I think we also had a parade each time someone visited
Jake has participated in 3 or 4 fun runs. His best time for a 5K this summer was under 19 minutes. Zeke ran his fist 5K ever in under 26 minutes and Matthew ran his first 1 mile race, doing and impressive 8:25!!!!!
We soon will have Rosie again!!!!!!!
Rosie has now seen the Billings Montana Temple
The kids were planning to make a video so they were taking pictures. I am not sure what the video is going to be about, but I am pretty sure they had fun taking them.
We have been watching baby Ashlyn twice a week this summer. She is one very loved baby! It has been fun to watch all the kids with her. Jake and Sami are so great and responsible with her. Jake calls her "his baby"!
Kaitlyn, Talon and Sami
Zeke
Amee
Parker
Parker wake boarding for the first time
Rosies first time surfing
Ayden did great, she was such a trooper! She got up for a short time, but I missed it
The two boys on each end are not anyone we know, they just happened to be jumping at the same time.
Amee, Zeke, Matthew and Rosie
We have also been to the shooting range a few times. Tom is doing a great job teaching our kids the importance of proper gun handling. You can never be too careful when handling a gun.
It is fun for the kids to shoot at targets. Ayden is our little Annie Oakley! I think she must get it from her mom and grandma, as they were both also a great shot!
Tom, Parker, Amee, Ayden, Zeke, and Matthew
Little Annie Oakley
Hers was the shot in the head. Tom told her to aim for the head, so she did
This is Kaitlyn Grant, trying not to get crumbs in "Toms Boat"
After he saw this I think he wanted to adopt her
Sami and Kaitlyn
Kenny, Rosie and Talon
Trey shot right through the bottle
When Staci and Jason came to visit we tried to hike to 5 Springs, but after 1 1/2 hours hiking turned back around. We did have a good time and it was a fun hike, we just never made it to the falls.
Well, when Valisa and her kids came we attempted a second time to hike to 5 Springs, which we successfully reached after about a 5 minute hike. We only went to the bottom, but it was still a pretty spot.
I think I enjoyed the hike with Staci and Jason almost as much and would like to do that same hike another time, when we have lots of time because I think we might find a few from above 5 Springs that would be awesome!
Sami and Brecklyn
Zeke was seeing how long he could stand in the water, as I offered him 2 pennies for every second. He earned 5 Dollars
Brecklyn was such a joy. Somewhere along the way she decided Tom was "Grandpa Tom." This kids thought this was so funny and they naturally encouraged it all weekend!
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there!!
Between all the parades combined I think we handed out about 12,000 Otter Pops!!
