Summer of Fun!!

We've had plenty of fun this summer … unfortunately it looks like we've turned into once-a-month bloggers so our updates are few and far between. Nonetheless, let me bring you up to speed on what's been going on this past month. As Kelli mentioned, we were getting ready for 4^th of July festivities with the family. My brother and his family (Jacob, Robyn, Anna, Mia, Rya) came up and spent the weekend. We had tons of fun with water fights and the like. We spent the 4^th of July morning down in Kaysville where we watched a parade with the Jones family. The kids thoroughly enjoyed … the candy and free handouts … and it wasn't just laffy taffy either! Don't know what the world is coming to, but they were getting stuffed animals, necklaces … and Hunter even came away with a full-size basketball (granted WNBA, but who is complaining?) Then it was home to our house where we did a BBQ, set off some fireworks of our own and then watched the local fireworks from the backyard. It was a grand time and good opportunity to reflect on our freedoms and how much we have to be grateful for in this country of ours. It doesn't get much better than hamburgers, hot dogs, family and fireworks.

Going back a bit, we also had a party for Collin's soccer team. The local soccer league doesn't give out trophies, so we had the parents pitch in to get them some. After all, you can't have little boys going without trophies. Their faces say just how important it for them.

The kids also went to the Christmas Carol train (waited in line for 3 hours, but apparently it was worth it.) Savannah ran into her little friend from back in Albuquerque (Emma – who now lives in Morgan, about ½ hour away.)

 

We did a camping trip with the Whetstone family up at Monte Christo campground. Awesome area and very nice. The only downer occurred after we got back – we found out a couple weeks later that they are having bear problems around that same campground. Kelli is now determined to not go tent camping --- only if we get some sort of hard-wall trailer!

We also did the 1^st annual Jones family reunion at a campground resort near East Canyon reservoir. Robyn's family hooked us up and we had a good time doing dutch oven dinners, playing miniature golf, shuffleboard, tennis, and swimming. We also sneaked a little fishing and had some fun boating on the reservoir.

I spent a week up at scout camp with the scouts. We hiked them in about 7 miles up into the Wind Rivers. We had 11 boys and 4 leaders and it was a blast. The fishing was awesome (ever seen River Runs Through It – it was just about that.) We caught fish in about every way possible – of course fly fishing was the best.

Savannah can't wait for school to start again – she's very excited for her birthday in less than a week and can't wait to get baptized (which won't happen until October because of scheduling conflicts.) She's also excited to get her ears pierced which Mom said she could do once she turned 8. We'll see how that goes.

Collin plays as much as he can with Carson, his little neighborhood friend. Sports and Wii … 'nuff said. We've spent a couple summer nights at the local minor league ballpark. Pretty nice setting with the temple and mountains sitting just behind the centerfield fence.

Hunter is having a lot of fun just being Hunter. He is my little helper out in the yard pulling weeds, picking up worms to feed the frog and loves to ride in the play jeep and ride his bike. He likes it when Mom is his nursery teacher, but as soon as someone else comes in to teach --- watch out because it's not going to be pretty.

Trey is into everything and starting to teeth. He has skipped the entire mushy baby food phase and moved straight to steak and potatoes. Oh, and did I mention he loves ice cream (can blame Mom on that one.)

Kelli is keeping busy with the kids and teaching her 2 nights at the local community college. She's getting ready for a 5K race the middle of this month. I am busy with work, scouts and the kids. Excited to start coaching Savannah's soccer team this fall (Collin is playing with Carson's team and Carson's dad is going to coach them while I get neighborhood 8-year old girls …) Nathan (my brother) and I did our own triathlon at Pineview reservoir and he beat me by 30 seconds or so … that darn 4-minute lead on the swim was too much! There's also the 100-mile bike ride the beginning of September to look forward to.

So that wraps us up for the month of July. Hope everyone out there is doing well!