1st Full Week of July

 Here are some highlights from the first full week of July.

Monday morning, Steve took the boys fishing w/ Dave, Diane and Rob.  They went to Deer Creek.  It was a little slow, but they did catch some and had a good time.

It was a warm day for sure!  Nyles caught a good size Brown Trout!

Good times!

Nyles was really hot and wanted to jump in to cool off!  

Hudson holding up the flag in the boat, then playing in the truck while they cleaned up the boat.

Then next day Hudson playing w/ armor and Nyles.

On the 4th of July, we headed up to Midway to Melanie/Brandon's.  We went swimming after lunch. Hudson let me pull him around for a little bit, then he wanted to try to swim on his own.  

Swimming w/ cousins!

Hudson and Carter at the pool w/ Grandpa.

Jumping and playing in the pool.

Cute Hudson and Carter playing w/ Grandpa McGrath.

Cool Hudson w/ sunglasses on.  Steve was at the pool w/ us for a little while, then came back to the house.  He was pretty warn out (only a week after his surgery), so he took a nap.  After the pool the kids did some crafts.

Hudson had fun going down the slide all by himself.  We also built a marble run.

The marble run.

Hudson decided to make a "new" quote for the board.

All the grandkids (minus Chandler).  Back: Olivia, Lynsie, London Claire, Alexa, Isaac, Ethan, Noah, Cameron.  Front: Nyles, Hudson, Conor and Carter.

Hudson giving mini-golf a shot, then squirting Dave's truck w/ a water balloon.

We went home after dinner.  Nyles and Carter went out to the circle to watch some fireworks.  

Hudson thankfully slept right through them!

The next day Steve let the boys play in the sandbox, making mud.  Hudson especially loved it!

Steve's family gave us a "care package" as we grieve Sage, including some coloring pages for the boys.  They had fun coloring.  It was really kind and thoughtful of them all.  Thank you all!

Hudson likes to get rides from his brothers.

Steve ordered a wedge to help him sleep better.  I had to go into work the whole week of the 4th.  

I go by Temple Square every morning on the train.  They're making progress!

Steve took the boys to a park to play.

They then went to Thanksgiving Point to the Butterfly Museum.

Pretty butterflies.

Saturday we decided to get out of the heat and head up to the Uintas.  It was a beautiful drive up.

We went up to Moosehorn Lake.  There was still snow up there of course.  We met Stacie/Phill up there.

Steve showing Claire how to cast the fishing rod.  Stacie on the kayak.  Getting some lunch.  

Nyles caught a few small fish himself.  Conor and Carter playing.

Everyone getting lunch and getting ready to head out on the lake.

It was a beautiful day!  The weather was about 70 degrees (instead of almost 100 down in the valley).  We had clouds go over us, but thankfully no rain!

We kayaked on the lake.  There were pretty wild flowers around the shore.

Carter fishing from the shore.  Some snow on top of Mt. Baldy.  

Stacie pretending to be Big Foot going over the snow.

Hudson getting a snack.  Nyles fished from his kayak almost the whole time!  Carter and Conor ended up playing in the snow banks most of the time.  Claire tried fishing from the kayaks as well.

So pretty!  Hudson wanted to smash the rock w/ the hammer.  Pretty flower!

Carter giving Hudson a ride in the hammock.  Phill caught a fish.

Steve isn't allowed in the water and he can't lift anything over 30 lbs, so he stayed by the shore w/ Hudson.  More pretty flowers.  We checked out the campsites by the lake.  There were a few tress that had fallen down from the large amounts of snow we got this winter.

I went out one more time w/ Stacie to row to the other side of the lake.  I decided to put my line down and a little later I saw my pole moving.  I caught a fish!  I was so surprised!  I called Nyles over to help me get it off.  We ended up switching poles so he could just take the fish :)

Nyles, Carter and I wore waders so we could get into our kayaks w/out getting muddy feet and we didn't have to worry about getting our lower half wet.  It was really nice actually!

Nyles fishing.  I then put Nyles line down as I was coming back in before going home, and I caught another one!  This one was smaller though so we put it back.  It was my first 2 fish I caught all by myself, and while trolling in the kayak, yeah!  It was pretty exciting! :)

Hudson didn't have a nap so he fell asleep on the way home.  Beautiful views.  

Steve cooked up the Tiger Trout I caught on the BBQ.  Nyles and Hudson ate it all up!

On Sunday we went over to wish LuDean a Happy Birthday.  She turned 97 on July 8th!  She's 90 years older than Carter, who just turned 7 on June 8th.  Dave and Joann were apparently tired :)

Hudson got a hold of the markers and wanted to try them on his legs; silly kid!  Great quote.

We are so thankful to live in this beautiful land we do and for the freedoms we enjoy. 

We give thanks to all who have served our country, past and present.

Last Week in June

We've had quite the week.  Lots going on.  Here are some highlights from the last week of June.

On Monday, June 26th, Steve went in for surgery.  I took off work to be home w/ the boys while Dave took him to the hospital. He had the Duodenal switch done to his stomach and intestine.  Definition: Duodenal switch surgery is a weight-loss procedure that combines the principles of restriction and malabsorption by making the stomach smaller and rerouting the intestines. This combination of treatments is a proven, effective way to lose weight and improve weight-related health issues.

Steve ready to go to surgery.  Just coming out of anesthesia, then taking a walk later that evening.

We went over to the park to play, then to Bahama Bucks for a snow cone!

We later played w/ water balloons on the trampoline and I threw the ball w/ Piper.

That night we order pizza from Pizza Hut.  Nyles and Carter earned a free personal pan pizza from readying all month.  I ordered one for Hudson too and he ended up eating the whole thing!!  Later playing in the sand box, laying in a hole the boys dug.  Steve stayed overnight at the hospital.

On Tuesday, we met up w/ Nyles' friend Lincoln and went to a splash pad.

They had a lot of fun playing!

Beautiful Lilies in bloom, Daisies and Tickseed.

Our neighbors Ron and Becky got 2 bunnies.  They keep getting out though.  Nyles and Carter helped many times try to round them up.  Great quote.  Steve got back Tuesday evening at 6pm.  The next day he laid down after putting Hudson down for a nap and Piper came and snuggled up next to him.  She knew he wasn't feeling well.

Nyles and Carter went w/ our neighbors to do Geocaching.  They had a lot of fun!

Steve was feeling a little better on Thursday and took the boys to Thanksgiving Point farm.  

Carter loves the goat!  They also rode horses, so fun!

They then went over to the Butterfly Museum.  

They had fun, but Steve overdid it and was pretty tired the rest of the day.

Friday night, Stacie came and picked up Nyles and Carter to have a sleep over at their place w/ Conor.  They had a Free Frazil on Friday, then went to a movie in the park that night.  Carter loves to snuggle w/ Mesa.  They built a fort too!

Saturday was the 1st day of July.  That morning we took Hudson to the Draper Splash Pad.

He had a lot of fun playing in the cooler water.  It was July and all of a sudden it was HOT!

More pretty Lilies!

Saturday they went to some fun activities in Centerville celebrating the 4th of July.

That afternoon we met up to get the boys back, and decided to go swimming at the Cottonwood Rec Center.  Hudson figured out the slide pretty quickly and went down MANY times!

Hudson later figured out he could float w/ his life jacket and wanted to do it all by himself!  After swimming we went back to Dave/Joann's for dinner.  Hudson putting lotion on Claire's friend Maddie.

On Sunday, Nyles former primary teacher came over and gave Nyles a .22 rifle.  He said he really appreciated Nyles in his class.  That afternoon we went up Little Cottonwood Canyon to Snowbird to get some cooler air.  We did the little nature walk and saw a deer!

Quick family picture.

It was a beautiful day up there w/ beautiful scenery.

Saturday morning we also learned that Dexter's little girl Sage got kicked in the head by a horse.  They life flighted her to St. Luke's in Boise and did surgery.  Her head was too swollen though so they couldn't get in and relieve the pressure.  They did several tests to check for brain activity, but couldn't find any.  They ended up calling it on Sunday after no activity.  Dexter and Michelle decided to selflessly donate her organs though.  They did surgery to donate what organs they could to others on Tuesday, July 4th.  She was such a precious little girl, so full of energy and spunk. She had such a cute smiling face and fun personality.  We were so blessed to have her in our lives. Until we meet again..

Here is what Dexter said about her:

My little cowgirl went to heaven yesterday.

It’s difficult to describe a person like Sage. She touched so many people and made a lot of friends, but I will try

She was a “daddy’s girl.” Sage was always right there on my hip and had to do everything I did. She loved all animals, especially her horses and dogs.

Sage was super positive and very energetic. She could always entertain herself if her dad was busy. She would sit on a tied up horse for hours while working cattle and be happy as a clam. Or sort a bucket of bolts while I was working on a project in the shop.

It’s not easy to admit but she was “the boss” and had me wrapped around her finger.

I have a whole in my heart that can never be filled. But she would want us all to carry on.

I know that she is looking down on us from above.

You will always be loved and remembered Sage,

Love you always

This was our family picture we took in April over Easter.  Sage is sitting on Barb's lap.

Great quotes.  Ironically our Sunday School lesson this week was on the Resurrection.  I am so thankful for the knowledge that we can see our family members (and others) again after this life.  I know Christ lives and we can have eternal families through Him!