Canyon Picnic

When we're in Utah we enjoy going up a canyon and having a picnic.  I wish we could do it more often, but with 4 kids in tow it's a much bigger project than one would think.  This time Grandpa took us to the perfect place: Big Springs Park at the top of the South Fork of Provo Canyon.

As expected, the boys were drawn like moths to a flame to the little creek that ran through the park.

They quickly learned that the water was icy cold, but that didn't stop them!

Spencer got pretty brave, tromping around to find big rocks to throw.

Cole LOVED throwing rocks into the water.  As expected of a three year old, he didn't pay too much attention to how close he was to actually falling in the water as he threw the rocks.  Fortunately, Grandma Susie was always in the background to keep him safe!

Grandpa ElRay decided to wade the waters in one of his infamous pairs of "mudders". (Mudders are shoe that have no laces, no tongues, and are work while doing dirty work.  Or wading in mountain streams.)

We all decided to get in.  Except the water was a bit too cold for Mr. Cole.

This isn't have great of a picture, I just think Cole looks funny the way I'm holding him.

More throwing of rocks.

By this point, Tess was still not too keen about anyone other than Momma and Daddy.  She was so mean!  Every time Grandma Susie picked her up she would fuss and cry big alligator tears!  (Because, you know, Grandma is totally scary.)

Tess escaped Grandma's clutches and decided to sample some of the local flora.

Apparently, some of the local flora was gross.

The boys played some football and frisbee.  Isn't it scenic?

Handsome husband.

Aaaannnddd... more rock throwing.

Instead of heading strait home I thought it would be fun to stop by the Squaw Peak outlook, just to see if the boys really understood how high up we were.  (I still don't know that they did.)

Tess was just a tad sleepy by this point.

Lucky for us, there were a bunch of paragliders taking off while we were up there.  It was really cool to see them just jump off the side of the mountain and fly away.  When we asked where they were going, they said basically wherever the wind took them - but they could go as far as Salt Lake if they wanted.  (That's far!)

Here's a short clip of one of them taking off.  It was pretty impressive, although I think I'll stick to earth for now.

Pioneers! Freedom! 'Merica!

Pioneer Day is a pretty big deal in Utah - parades, parties, barbecues, and, best of all, fireworks.  Spencer and Josh were all set to move to Utah just to have two chances in July to have fireworks.  We could have gone to a big fireworks show, but given the fact that we didn't get to have our own fireworks for the 4th, and that we didn't want the kids to stay up super late because they were already super-grouches, we opted for our own driveway of fire. 

But before the show we had to eat.  Grandpa and Grandma (and great-Grandma, too!) put on a pretty good spread, with hamburgers and hotdogs, fruit, baked beans, etc.  Most of us really enjoyed eating out on the patio.

Others did not.

Actually, Tess was only grouchy because the heat made her little fat legs break out in a rash, we think from the plastic of the high chair.  Josh was grouchy because he wanted the fireworks RIGHT THEN, and we weren't obliging.

Tess sweetened up later on when Grandpa shared some of his homemade rootbeer float ice cream with her.

Finally, it was time to start!  Although grandpa was the founder of the proverbial fireworks feast, Lance was the designated lighter.  Because, you know, having the guy with the wife and four small children to support be the one to light the potentially dangerous explosives seems like a pretty good idea.

The boys had fun with the poppers - all over grandpa's freshly asphalted driveway.  (Shoulda waited a couple of weeks on that project, Grandpa!)

Don't try this at home, kids.  No, really.  Don't.

Cole wasn't scared of the fireworks this year.  No, this year he had to be held precisely because he was not scared enough!

As you can see, Josh and Spencer were SUPER EXCITED!!!

Some of the bigger fireworks were pretty loud.

Apparently too loud - Josh kinda hid further back on the lawn.

Great Grandma Roper having a little chat with Cole.

It's hard to take pictures that are in focus with a three year old around!

Not only did we have sparklers - we had GIANT sparklers!

Wait - who gave COLE the stick of fire?!?

It was around this point that Kevin started yelling such cheers as "Pioneers!", "Freedom!", and, of course, "'Merica!"  (This is a little ironic, as the pioneers came to Utah precisely to get away from 'Merica and have their freedom of religion.)  You're awesome, Kevin.

The show was well received all around.
 

Once our show was over we realized that the neighbors across the street were having their own show.  So we moved our chairs to the top of the driveway and enjoyed act two.

For whatever reason, Josh decided to wear his clothes inside out that day.  Nice look, Josh.

 Part of the grand finale.

Pioneers!  Freedom!  'Merica!

Random Images From Today

 

 

 

 

 

Provo Pool

Okay, so I'm finally back.  We got in late last night and it's been a whirlwind day, just trying to get back into the swing of things.  Coming back from vacation is hard, especially when school starts in less than a week.  (I know, right?...)

You know what else is hard?  Reading about someone else's awesome vacation.  But that's too bad, because I have a bajillion pictures and they all have to get onto this blog somehow.

Before that, however, a caveat: I forget stuff.  So if I forget some activity or put the wrong dates or whatever, please forgive me. I may or may not go in chronological order; we'll see. Like I said, whirlwind and such.

Let's start with some swimming.

The boys LOVE to swim.  Grandpa and Grandma were nice enough to take us to the Provo community pool on our first day in Utah.  It was really fun, especially because Spencer and Josh were both big and brave enough to go down the big water slides.  (I think we have some water slide converts now.) 

My dad has a new and nifty water-proof camera that he used while we were there.  Since he never gave me all the pics he took while we were there I had to swipe them from his blog.  Sorry, dad.

Aren't my kiddos so cute?!

At this point, Tess was not too crazy about Grandpa or Grandma.  In fact, she wanted nothing to do with them.  She would scowl at grandma and howl and fuss.  You know, typical Tess stuff.  She was in an especially fine mood that afternoon because I think she got sunscreen in her eyes.  (Poor kid!)

Don't you love the little floaty-boat Tess is in?  It's so dang cute - and functional.  My friend Kanien is letting us borrow it this summer, and it's been a lifesaver.  I'm kicking myself for not getting something like this for all my other babies.  (Wait - that sounds weird.  Like I have three or four other babies hanging around.  No, I mean I wish I had one of those boats for when my boys were babies.)

Tess scooted all over that pool and had a great time - as long as no one but momma or daddy picked her up!

When it was time to leave we were all drying off and putting on our shoes when we suddenly realized that Cole was missing.  He, of course, had no intention of leaving and had gone back into the pool.  Kevin volunteered to go get him, but for some reason kept his towel with him.  This became a hindrance when Cole decided to go down fighting rather than come out of the pool willingly.  It was pretty awesome to see my bachelor (and single, ladies!) brother trying to wrangle Cole out of the pool!
 

On a random note, my dad and Susie took the boys back to the Provo pool later during our trip.  (Lance and I opted to stay home with a sleeping Tess.)  While there my dad ran into my old blast-from-the-past Brian Bradford, who had just moved to Provo because his wife got a job teaching at BYU. (And is teaching in the same college as Susie, no less!) It is, indeed, a very small world.  I was then kinda bummed that I hadn't gone with them, but consoled myself with the fact that one of the worst places to see an old boyfriend would be at a public swimming pool.  Perhaps the next time I'm in Provo we'll run into him somewhere else, preferably where everyone is fully clothed.