Birthday Boy

We celebrated Isaac's tenth birthday with a family party the night before we drove home. Again, it was pretty low-key since we were still fighting off illness. Grammie made a fun lemon cake and we had Moose Tracks ice cream to go with it (interesting combo, but we let the birthday boy choose!)

Ready for cake!!Lincoln wrapped one of these presents just for his big brother. Take a wild guess which one he wrapped...

And then he was so excited to watch him open it!
Isaac got lots of books, a new Wii game, a Swiss Army Knife, a world map and a real telescope. Happy Birthday!

More from our trip

We had a relatively low-key second week in Park City. The kids kept passing around this random high fever illness that Isaac had, so we had to tag team it a lot of the time. We were able to all get out a few times--to Ikea, Thanksgiving Point, This is the Place Park and Wallaby's. Unfortunately we had to cancel a lot of our plans due to sick kids, but I guess there is always next year!!
Lots of hiking in the mountains behind Grammie's house.

Lots of popsicles on the patio with cousins.Scary shark at the Dinosaur Museum.

Wagon ride at the farm at Thanksgiving Point.
Yeah, pretty much.Fun playhouse at the farm.
Pony rides!


Feeding the animals.This is the Place. Chloe had to miss this one because she had the mysterious illness.

Panning for gold.
Stick horse races
Waiting for the candy cannon. (Notice how tall my nephew is. He is only 6 weeks older than Linky!!)
Kirby and Nolan loved each other!

Family Reunion

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday (late June--I'm still catching up) we met up with Ryan's side of the family for a family reunion. We spent some time hiking, going paddleboating on a beautiful lake and doing some high flying on the ropes course!! Unfortunately Isaac started getting sick on Saturday morning, so he had to miss out on quite a bit. He and I spent about six hours on Saturday just watching the Discovery Channel in the hotel room. I learned all about myths and monsters in Alaska. Poor guy--Isaac was really looking forward to the ropes course but had a high fever and felt so horrible that he had to miss out. He also couldn't even eat his ice cream from the BYU creamery. I know everyone else had fun at the reunion!

Linky and Ryan showing off their muscles.

Hiking with mommy.
The girls loved the paddleboats!

Lincoln was the first one up the high ropes course. I was so proud of him!! Even though he opted out of the balance beam and zip line, he was very brave and did a great job.The girls blew me away. I couldn't believe how brave they were! Here is Audrey getting ready for the climb. It was HIGH!!

When she got over the balance beam and to the zip line, she decided she didn't want to continue. But by then they had already clipped her in so she didn't really have a choice. It took her a while to get up the nerve, but she finally stepped off the ledge and went for it. Wow!!
Here is Chloe taking her turn...

Up, up...
and away!!
And of course we had to take our turns, too!! I have always wanted to try this!!

Me on the balance beam.

Ryan on the zip line.

Last day of this leg...

We loaded up on Thursday morning, took some pictures of friends and said goodbye until next year. Here are some of the boys....

Some of the girls...(what an awful picture of me! Day 3 of no bathing and little sleep...yuck!!)The other girls.
On our way to Park City we got a picture of the sign! (We had to wait in line to get this shot.)

GTNP--Day 3?? I've lost track...

On Wednesday we got an early start and went on a fun hike to Hidden Falls where we had a picnic. The kids did great on the five mile round trip jaunt around Jenny Lake--it was one of my favorite family hikes we have ever taken. The girls just wanted me to tell them stories the entire time, so I was telling them about their ancestors and novels I've read and anything I could think of.

Chloe gave Lincoln her old Camelbak and he was thrilled!
We found the Hidden Falls!!
As we were hiking along with all eight of the kids in our combined families, one passerby remarked, "Are you some sort of camp or Mormons?" Yes.
After the hike we drove into Jackson to sight-see and partake of some local goodies in the town square.
I was relieved to discover this year that the Elk shed those antlers every year. I always thought the hunters had killed them to get those antlers they used to make the arches. I'm really glad to be enlightened now!!
While the family finished their ice cream, I just laid in the grass and soaked up the sun. This was my view...
That night the girls kept busy helping shuck the corn for dinner and made corn husk dolls.