Other Summer Fun

This might not look like fun but I am pretty sure they had a good time. Cody had a wrestling camp Friday and Saturday and Matt really enjoys helping with the boys. They had a coach come from California so some of the high school boys came to the camp. This is where Matt got his shiner. He got him some wrestling shoes and got serious. I guess the high school kid he was wrestling some how came up with his head and got him in the eye. Jabin was pretty wore out but we didn't notice until Saturday night while we were getting some groceries that Jabin had a black eye too with various raspberries on his head and chin....rough sport!

While the boys were at wrestling camp me and the girls did some more hiking. I really wanted to go to bed early because I was running the 10K at 10,000 ft in the morning so I wasn't real supportive of the sleeping on the tramp idea but decided it would be fun for the kids and their cute little friend, Karlie Strickland.

I thought they would feel safer if I put up the little tent on the tramp. I got them all tucked in and went in the house. I think they lasted about five minutes.. Lol. We put the tent in the house and they still had fun.

I did my race and ended up getting first in my age group which I was really excited about, especially since I didn't feel like I did so well, even with the bionic band Heather let me borrow. I was a minute slower then last year. It is a tough race but feels really good when it is over.

Hiking Maple Canyon

For Pioneer Day this year we had a quite weekend at home. I have been promising the kids a hike up the canyon so we ventured out. We had so much fun and can't believe we don't go up the canyon more often. I guess we just finally had the time to go and get too busy in our daily lives to enjoy our surroundings. This hike is literally five minutes from our house. Maple Canyon is world reknown for great rock climbing. We were mesmerized by the rock climbers and Matt and I have decided to give it a try some time, especially where we live so close to prime rock climbing.

There were several little caves and the cobblestones were so fun to climb on. We all realized it is so much easier to climb up them then down though.

They even had ropes already in place to help get over some of the boulders. There were also spots that you have to crawl under boulders. Climbing and hiking with suckers isn't the safest thing to do. I should have passed out the trail treats after these "hairy" spots.

We are lucky we didn't end up with a sucker lodged down someone throat..

THE ADVENTURE....

Well, we were having such a great time and I was all excited to keep hiking so when came to this slight obstacle. I decided to try it first. Matt said we better not and I remember reading online that this isn't suggested unless you have the proper gear (meaning harness and rock climbing atire). I got up it pretty easy and Jabin decided to try it. He got almost to the top and Matt was telling him to look back for a picture which scared him, hence, "never look down." I helped him at the top and agreed with Matt that this is not something we do with the kids. It was about 30 feet and slippery. Jabin and I went a little further and I really wanted to go all the way to the top but I could tell Jabin was very nervous and thinking about how he was going to get down. Luckily Matt came up knowing that Jabin would need help.

Going up...

Coming down monkey style hooked to dad..Our Hero.

I had to bring Jabin's hat and glasses down and the girls said I looked like a gangster. I can appreciate how hard rock climbing is because by the time I got to the bottom my hands were burned and giving out. I definatly need to calous up my hands and get some arm strength before I can rock climb.

Cute Haddy

Setting the timer and running...

You can see the small little rock climber in the back. It looked so fun.

Can't wait to come back!

The Ute Stampede

We went to the rodeo with our good friends, Joe and Ricci and their family. This is Me, Ricci, and Madelaina at the horse parade before the rodeo.

Kash, Jabes, and P.J.

The star of the parade! Dusty's wagon. He has worked so hard on this beautiful wagon and it was definatley the classiest wagon there.

Dusty pulled right over by us and offered to let us get on. I was so honored that he had my family brand on his wagon. Pretty Awesome! Great work Dusty.

This is the parachuter that floats right over our heads and into the arena as they play God Bless the USA.

Joe got us seats right behind the bucking chutes. This is a great rodeo. I wasn't really impressed with the rough stock though, especially compared to the great stock they had at Tabby's rodeo. Pretty good when Tabby's rough stock is better then the PRCA.

Jabin and P.J. glued to the entertainment; The Wild Child and Motorcycle stunts.

The nice lady that sat next to the girls gave them cotton candy. They had a great time watching the rodeo.

Carnival rides after the rodeo.

I can't believe Jabin is getting on this ride. He is still quite pale from three rides on the zipper or whatever it was called. The kids love the rides but unfortuantely they take after me and have motion sickness.

Haddy and P.J. off road...

July 4th

On our way to Tabiona to help Uncle Judd with his cows...Big 4th of July Weedend Plans

Weekend Rewind...

Haddy and her blow up flip flops. "Uncle" Jeff Syddell took the girls to the park after the parade. They came back with face paint, gold fish, and blow up flip flops. The park is always a crowded mess so Matt and I really appreciated Jeff taking our girls with his.

We ended our weekend back in Moroni where we watched the fireworks with our neighbors. Moroni has amazing fireworks! Grandpa John had given us a whole box of fireworks to light off but we had to save them for another night because as soon as the grand finale was over it started to down poor.

Family fun...and exhaustion setting in.

Oh Haddy Po!

Destinee and Dallas

Linda and Paula, our sweet neighbors.

It is tradition to have a barbecue at Grandma Marianne's house after the horse races. Jon decided to blow up a watermelon. I think Wag had to end up shooting it with a gun because the firework kept going out.

Grandpa and Wag at the grill

Jabin's bike moves

Cute Cousins

Horse Races! Checking out the horses and placin' bets. Matt usually does really well picking the winning horse but this was not his lucky year. I don't think he won a race, including the one he lost to me on the last race. I was one dollar richer!

The announcer always does fun games with the kids. This is a foot race on the track. Dallas likes to hang out by the announcer and answer his questions for a prize. She won quite a few free pops answering correctly. Some of the questions were: How many frogs does a horse have? What do we measure horses in? She knew they have four frogs and they are measured in hands.

Grandpa Marcus and the grandkids at the horse races.

Caught some candy, went to the park for face paint, now off to the races...

Parade..Jabin, Yates, Hayzen, Haddy, Makel, Dallas, and Hayley

My mom was so nice to give me a ride down from Current Creek so I could run the Tabiona 5K. We started just above my house on the old road. I was feeling like I was doing pretty good until we got into town and two of the girls I used to babysit ended up passing me. I was able to stay ahead of one but it was a race to the finish line with me and Kambi. I won by a nose. It is always fun when you have a challenge it helps push me to go harder. It feels like I am going to die but that is what the "runner's high" is all about. It was so fun to have my mom and dad there to see me run too. My mom gave me a ride back up to the cows and we ended up pushing them the rest of the day but did get done in time to get back to Tabby for the rodeo.

Dallas had my camera while I was riding so I didn't get many pictures. The kids were a big help and I was so proud of them for working so hard. Jabin even jumped on Bell and did so well for not riding a horse very much. He had a great time. The kids agreed with me that herding cows and keeping them out of the willows is very hard work but a lot of fun. This is having lunch and watermelon on the tailgate after a hard days work.

One big hat for little Maile. Mom and dad brought the twins up so they could help with the cows on Saturday and I rode home with them to Tabby. It was so nice to visit with my mom. She is such an amazing person and example.

I had to take a picture of what Riley came up with this year. He actually built a septic tank, Ben brought a real toilet from his work, and Riley used the 50 gallon water barrel and siphoned the water rigging it up so it actually flushed...Camping with Riley is camping in luxury.