Wrapping Up Summer

We had so much fun playing on the water while in Utah that we decided we needed to get some of our own toys. We were lucky to get a kayak from a friend at a screaming deal. Then we found a great deal on some river tubes from Academy.

We tried them out at Lake Murray. Unfortunately, they have a lot of rules and we weren't able to put the kayak and tubes in at the same place. We were able to try out the kayak on one side of the dam. It was a big hit.

Then we packed up the kayak and headed to the other side of the dam to try out the tubes. They were so comfortable!

We made a family visit to the chiropractor. The kids were really nervous about it, but they ended up loving it.

We went with the Alsup girls to a community event at Irmo Community Park. We had to park down the road a bit and then walk. I had no idea it would be so crowded.

There were lots of booths and activities. The bomb squad was really interesting.

The kids liked sitting in the armored vehicle.

They especially enjoyed the mock sword fighting.

The next day we took the tubes to the river. We thought we would have about a 2-hour float down the river.

Everyone was excited and cheerful.

After two hours had come and gone, we started to get a little nervous, thinking we had missed the exit point. We did see a blue heron and a river otter, so that was cool.

But the sun was starting to set and there was no end in sight and even David and I were starting to get a bit nervous. We tried to use my phone to figure out exactly where we were. It turns out that the public exit is twice as far down as the Saluda Shoals exit. It ended up being a 4-hour float! 

We were all very relieved to see the pull out. Once again - I was very glad that the tubes were comfortable. Even after four hours, it was a comfy ride.

We took the tubes out again on the lake on Thursday - this time with the Alsups. We have to keep an eye on them because people kept trying to take them.

We are definitely loving these toys. Next we need to find a place where we can use the tubes and kayaks at the same time. And we also need more kayaks!

Utah - Final Days

On Thursday, my mom and I drove to St. George to meet up with my sister, her girls and Baylie as well as one of my sisters in law and her girls. I was so happy to see Baylie again. I'm pretty sure she didn't miss me. She was having too much fun.

My sister goes to Tuacahn every summer for their musical productions - and they are amazing. I don't think there is a prettier place in the country to watch a play. We got to go to a show that was made up of a medley of Disney numbers. The girls loved it. 

We stayed in a condo that had an amazing pool.

The other girls stayed two more nights, but we had to head back to Provo and get ready to fly home. I felt really sick on the drive back, so we decided to stay one more day. While Jalen and I stayed home, the rest of the family went boating and fishing.

My dad got caught. Ouch and gross!

The kids want to stay, but I think it will be good for us all to get back home. I love being around my family and whenever we visit I wonder if we shouldn't move back, but I love where we live and I'm excited to get back into our own little routine.

Milt's Grave

Today, we went to visit my Uncle Milt's grave. He died in March, only a few weeks before my mom finished her mission. She had taken really good care of him before she left and it was hard for her to have him die before she got home.

I had a special relationship with Milt. He was a man of tall tales and it was hard to know what was true and what was fantasy. I ran into him once in Mazatlan when he was on his way to a gold mine he owned. I also ran into him once at the temple in Houston because he was in Galveston working on a yacht.

He was an artist and did amazing landscapes. He lost his relationship with his family along the way, which is sad. I'm glad he had my mom.

Colorado Reunion

Every July, my dad, his siblings, and their descendants return to the ranch in Mancos, Colorado, where they grew up. There are over 100 of us now. I try to make it back every year. I love that my kids know these people who were so integral to my childhood.

This year, my sister was in Utah for her husband's family reunion so we spent some time together and then caravan-ed to Colorado. Sadly, my dad wasn't able to go because his cardiologist wanted him to stay close to home. His blood pressure was way too high and the doctor was concerned. It was especially hard for him because last year he was on a mission and couldn't go. Plus, our family was in charge this year. It wasn't the same without him.

This is an old school house we passed on the way.

Jalen and my nephew Riley each lost a flip flop to the hay stacks.

There was a time when we'd have 25 tents pitched around my Uncle Mark's house. Now there are only a handful. We stayed in a hotel because sleeping on the floor is getting to be difficult for me.

Bill, Anne, Kathy, and Dianne

Julie & Bill

Kelly's  daughter, Kristie, Brittany, and Justine.

Cameron chilling

Aunt Kay with Molly

Setting up the shade

Ashley and her boys - Simon and Will.

Lauryn and Jonny

Aunt Julie (she really is a happy person)

Aunt Mikki 

Aunt Jean, Anne & Bill

Roping skills! Cody, Clark, Jonny, Austin, Clara

The trading post and raffle were a huge hit.

3-legged races - Cody and Katie, David and Baylie

Wheelbarrow races

Mingle

Team tag 

Human barrel racing - Rex Johnson

Lauryn

The originals - Eric, George, Mikki, Julie, Lyman, Dennis

I doctored in my dad.

Jalen in my Uncle Eric's hat. My Uncle Eric is a true cowboy (in case you couldn't tell).

Eric brought horses for the kids to ride. 

Jalen held on to Tiff for dear life.

Pie eating contest

Trevor will never eat cream pie again - and may never eat chocolate. He didn't eat anything the rest of the day.

We had smaller pies for the children.

Water relays

Stoney and husband, Mikki, Eric

Cameron

Molly & Lily

 Jonny

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Tug of war 

Going to the ranch always fills my soul. It's hard to describe. It reminds me of who I am and what is really important in my life. It centers and ground me in a way  nothing else does. I don't know what will happen once the aunts and uncles pass away, but I am so grateful that my kids know these people. I often feel guilty that we aren't around family more often.

On the way home, I wanted to take David and Jalen to Hovenweep. (Baylie was on her way to Las Vegas with Tiff and the twins.) I hadn't been to Hovenweep since I was a kid. It is an amazing place, but very remote and hot. The ruins there are remarkable.

Archaeologists aren't sure what the towers were used for.

We thought these flowers were pretty.

I remembered picking this plant to make "Brigham Tea" for my Granny. I thought it was gross.

We saw several of these rock monuments, but don't know what they are for. I Googled it and apparently it's a current fad.

I found this mailbox in the middle of nowhere fascinating.

Navajo hogan and corral

Next we went to Bluff, which was settled by my ancestors.  The story of how they got to Bluff is a remarkable one.

This is a replica of my great-great-grandpa's cabin. The genealogy is interesting because my great-grandfather married his stepmother's sister.

Original handcart used on the trip.

Inside a Navajo hogan.

Inside a Ute teepee.

We visited the grave of my great, great grandmother.

Next stop was Blanding, the town where I grew up, which was also settled by my ancestors when they left Bluff. I lived here from the time I was 7 until I was 15. Most of my childhood memories are of this place and it is home to me.

This church was built by my ancestors. At one time, the Church was going to tear it down because it wasn't up to code, but my dad lobbied against it and was able to save it. I'm so proud and grateful for that.

This plaque explains that Blanding was the site of the last Indian uprising in the frontier west. The Ute's were led by a man named Posey. My granny used to tell me about how scared she was of him.

We climbed all over this bell as kids. It seemed a lot bigger then.

The house where I grew up. The wooden gable is new. The original gable was much smaller. 

My dad was the football coach and I spent a lot of time on this field.

I had Jalen reenact a moment from Scotty's childhood where he pouted on this door that led down to my dad's coaching office.

My Granny and Granddad's grave. Someday David and I will be buried close by here.

My dad's sister Mary Helen that died the same day she was born. My granddad was on a mission in Brazil so my Granny went through it without him.

This rock formation is called  Church Rock, but we always called it Aunt Jemima.

Meanwhile, Baylie is having a blast in Vegas, including getting a pedicure.

Jalen spent a night with his cousin, Asher. They went hiking and swimming. He didn't even miss us. I sure missed my kids.

We've had such a wonderful visit. The kids want to stay and it's tempting for me as well. But it will be good to get home and we all miss Tashi.