A week at home and then a week away

 After getting back from our trip I had a lot of yardwork to do. The other kids went off to play with friends so it was just James and I at home and he was bored. Summer rule of no TV until 2pm was feeling extra rough that day. And then I reminded him of his new pocket knife he got in Alaska. He whittled away while I sprayed the lawn for weeds.

That night Justin wanted to test the replacement tent poles so they set it up. The kids minus Sarah slept in the tent.

Swimming lessons started the day after we got back from Alaska so we jumped right into summer. I took mostly videos so these are the only photos I have. Erica and James both did great and passed their classes. Erica is taking the next class in July because the breast stroke is difficult and wanted to keep going while she remembered what she learned this week.

 

Justin had his work party at Lagoon this year and we were excited to go. It had been a couple of years since we had been. 

It was pretty hot and pretty crowded but not the worst we've experienced.

Flying Aces is one of my favorite rides. It's so simple and I think that's why I like it. A couple of my kids are big fans now too.

Even after going on Cannibal and The Rocket, James had great fun on the kiddie rides. I'm sad that I don't have a kid small enough for the baby boats though.

They were all exaggerating at the fun of this ride.

We had a late lunch with his coworkers and their family and then we went back to the rides.

We stopped to let the littles ride on this new ride. There was no line so they rode it like 3 times before we noticed. I had to intercept them coming out so that we could move on.

Puff is always a good time. I didn't ride as many rides as I used to. Our kids are big enough to not need us and I actually felt sick on the teacups and did not enjoy some of the jerky rides like I used to. I'm getting old!

Puff was James's last ride for the day. He didn't feel like riding Wicked so I stayed with him while the others rode it. They were gone for like an hour. He felt worse and worse as time went on. He went into the restroom because he felt better where there was ac blowing. I couldn't get him to drink anything. Once the rest of the family came back, we walked to the carousel and he puked 2 times along the way.

So kind of a sad way to end the day. He slept on the bench and Justin sat with him while we rode the rollercoaster and then the biggles rode Cannibal again and Erica and I rode Bombora again and the Dino Drop. And just before we left we saw that Colossus had reopened so I got to ride it after all. It's my favorite ride.

By the time we got to Chick-fil-a for a late dinner, James was feeling much better and was back to his bouncy chatty self for the ride home.

Monday morning Sarah left for girls camp up at Wasatch Mountain State Park.

Justin and I and the rest of the bishopric got to go up Tuesday night for dinner and devotional. This is my third year going up for that night and I enjoy it more each year as I've gotten to know the girls.

Wednesday morning we left for St. George (without Sarah who was coming down Thursday). We stopped at Hermie's in Cedar City. Henry wore his new Hermie's shirt and ordered the Hermie burger. Hermie shirt, Hermie burger at Hermie's.

 

Justin's dad booked a couple of condos for the whole fam for the week. We were the last to arrive. The kids wanted to swim first, of course. The temperature was 100 each day we were there so we had to do stuff in water if we were outside.

That night we went to Riggatti's for pizza and cousin time.

And then ice cream at Neilsen's for dessert.

Corey bought tickets for the Little Mermaid so my family went that night along with Cassandra and her girls and Corey and Nadine. (Sarah went to Wizard of Oz the next day with Molly and Braden and Nadine)

My boys were not excited about the play but they enjoyed it more than they let on. I thought it was great. The story followed the plot of the new movie which I didn't like and included the new songs which I didn't know and didn't like the most of. But the special effects were cool and the costumes and singing were great.

The next morning we went boating at Quail Creek.

My kids are big enough for crazy rides on the tube, not gentle rides so there goes my insurance when Corey is driving the boat and I'm riding with them on the tube.

That afternoon we were pretty wiped out so we hung around in the condo. It had a foosball table and ninja turtle video game so they were pretty entertained. Justin and I picked up Sarah at the shuttle stop that evening and ate dinner with the whole family at the other condo.

Friday morning we went for a hike up Red Cliffs, just our little family. Everyone else went to the children's museum in St. George. This is one of Justin's favorite hikes from his childhood.

After a sunny and hot hike (I was not feeling well and slowed us all down but we made it) we arrived at the pools. 

 

We had to wait for a large group to make it's way down but then we had the place to ourselves. Well, if you don't count the nest of bats squeaking in the cliffside. Gross.

After lunch we drove up to Kolob Reservoir. It was 71 degrees! My favorite! I loved watching the temperature drop as we climbed like 7,000 feet. 

The kids played in the mud, watched a mama duck and her ducklings, skipped rocks, and ate snacks.

 

 

 

A view on our way back down. The road skirts Zion National Park so you can assume the views were pretty amazing.

Saturday morning we packed up and headed out. I think everyone else headed straight home but we took a scenic route through Veyo because Veyo Pies.

Chocolate, key lime, peach pie and cinnamon rolls. Oh man.

From there we drove to Pine Valley because we had never been there. It was nice and cool and shady. We found a trailhead parking lot but ventured over to creek instead.

 

It was actually a pretty magical place. It didn't look or feel like any forest in Utah I'd been to.

 

 

There's something about nature that turns my kids into free-spirit explorers. It's fun to see.

A butterfly landed on Erica's sleeve and made her day.

 

Where are the biggles? In the car like the teenagers they are.

 

We drove through every single campground to pick the best one in case we ever decided to drive 4 hours to go camping there. And then we stopped at the reservoir. We were disappointed to see that there's no swimming or boats allowed. It's pretty much just for fishing.

And then we tried to speed home to make it to Costco before they closed at 6 but gave up when someone had to take a bathroom break.