We hadn't really had any plans for the 24th of July but we couldn't waste a day off, so we quickly threw some things together.  We decided to go on a hike and our friends the Mikesells came along

   We went up Smithfield Canyon.  First we hiked up to the meadow to see the swing.

   Then we continued up the canyon trail.  I hadn't ever been on this one, and it was fun.  It was lightly raining, which actually was nice and made everything so green.  Con had to work so we didn't make it quite as far as we would have liked.

                                                           Here's part of our group.

                  Mike is constantly using his new camera, which is great, but Con found it annoying.

                                                     Kenna had her best bud Gracie along.

                               After the hike and the rain, Mike and Chase hit the golf course.

 We ended the night with a barbeque.  We had Ulrichs, Thompsons and Mikesells over.  The kids swam for a long time.  I was surprised how long they stayed in, until after dark.

                                                This cutie is one of my friends granddaughters

                                                              The women

                                                                         The men

                                                               and the lovebirds.

                                                                 Happy 24th of July

Floating Oneida Narrows

Last year, Connor requested to float Oneida and we didn't make it, so we wanted to be sure and get it in this summer.  This is the Bear River, outside of Preston.  

                                                          Kate is ready to go

                                              Chase supervising the blowing up of the tubes

                                          All my kids, plus Con's bud, Calvin

                                                    Away they go

                                                           Calvin

                                                                   Chase

                                                                 Mike and the girls

 The second time down, I got to go.  One of us had to drive the car back and forth.  The girls and I took the tubes and the boys the raft.

 We had a fun day.  The river isn't super rough, but it was hot, so fun to be in the water.  Glad we got to do it and will go again.

High Adventure Hiking

Mike took his teacher quorum backpacking for their scouting activity this summer.  They went just after our Vaden reunion back up into the Sawtooths.  This is called the Toxaway Lake loop (I think).  Mike doesn't or maybe I should say didn't, like camping, so I expected him to come home a little grouchy.  Nope.  Loved it and wants to go backpacking again.  Maybe the gear will give me some ideas for Christmas.

                                               Clint, John, and Jaxon

                                        John, Calvin, Mario, Damon, Jaxon, Billy

    This first day, they left here at 6 and got to the trailhead about 1.  They had their hardest hike of the trip, 8 miles, all uphill.  The second day, some of the boys, like Clint, rested, and the others did a day hike.

                                         Snow at the top of the pass

                                                            Twin Lakes

                                                       Mike's tent

          This is the last morning at Alice lake.  These picts are for my Dad, who loves reflection picts.  Mike took some in order to be a panorama and I think these last 3 are the right ones, but not sure.

Enter the Bunny Rat and other July fun

Mike called the other day and said Keep an open mind.  Right then I already know 1.I've already lost the battle and 2 it's mostly likely about a pet or something some salesman pitched to him.  I don't know which is worse.  However, this time we got the bunny rat (a.k.a chinchilla)

Amy, he says, this client has a chinchilla and it needs a good home.  Her daughter, the owner, is at college.  She'll give us everything for FREE and the kids will love it.  My kids (and probably Mike, too) think I am the meanest mom in the world because I really don't like pets.  No, I said.  They stink.

 As you can see, I did lose the battle.  I did however, lay out some ground rules.  I will not clean the cage, or feed the beast, because I did not want it. Also, the cage must be cleaned at least weekly to keep down the smell.  We got him the day Kenna was baptized and I have to hand it to Mike and the girls, they have done a fabulous job of caring for Nico.

 Connor nicknamed him the bunny rat after we looked up chinchillas on line, and he kind-of does look like a cross of bunny, rat, and squirrel tail.  His cage is chinchilla Ritz, as you can see.  He is super soft.

 Did you know chinchilla's can't get wet?  They need to take a dirt bath twice a week.  They also don't like heat, so Nico lives in the basement.  They don't eat much, and they poop A LOT!  He is pretty tame, Kenna has pushed him around in a baby stroller.  The girls LOVE him and so does Mike, so Welcome the bunny rat.

Here's a little project I did.  I think it's cool.  Frame D.I.$3, Frame spray paint $3, branches free, black paint already on hand.  $6 art.  yay.

 Chase has taken up working on models this summer.  I think it's great for him.  This plane and the army men were his first two projects.

 Happy Birthday to my Fabulous husband.  We partied and took him to dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

 Chase made sure he sat on the saddle while they sang to him. (found the picts after Miste commented) Kim and Mary took us to dinner.  They are responsible for this man I love.  Thank you!