First Day of School!

Even with our long 6 week summer it seemed to just fly by and here we are at the beginning of another school year. Zach is in 5th grade, Ryan in 4th and Owen in his second year of preschool. I tried to get Zach and Ryan to wear "normal" clothes and NOT sports clothes, but to no avail. They know what they think is cool...and on the first day image is everything, right?

Notice that Owen is wearing different clothes than he was in the morning. He has school in the afternoon and he'd gotten so dirty that he had to change.

Millcreek Cookout

For our last activity before summer ends and school begins we went up Millcreek Canyon for a open fire cookout with our family. Since we weren't able to go camping this summer we had to get all our camping activities into one day. The kids loved roasting hot dogs and smore's over an open fire, chopping wood, shooting the BB gun, exploring the mountains and just getting dirty. It is amazing how dirty a kid can get in a matter of a few hours.

Looks like someone is having fun!

Grandma and Liam

Jared and Patricia

What a cute boy Luke is and only minimally dirty.

Silver Lake

We live in a wonderful place...a 30 minute drive up the canyon and we're surrounded by the beautiful mountains and a stocked lake to fish in. We weren't able to go on our annual camping trip to Christmas Meadows this year and therefore hadn't been fishing and the kids were protesting. We got a canoe, packed a lunch and spent the day at the lake. We had a great time and caught quite a few fish.

Only 4 people could fit in the canoe so while the boys were out fishing I sat on the shore and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings. It was a hot spot for the ducks and they were not shy.

Just minutes after I took this picture of Owen he stepped back into the hole behind him. Much to our surprise the water was chest deep, but he survived and loved just floating out in the canoe while the older boys fished.

Timpanogos Cave

One of our activities this summer was a trip to Timpanogos Cave. Zach and Ryan hadn't been there for quite a few years and Owen had never been so we decided it was time to go. Aunt Jamie was in town, so she and Mason decided to come with us. The boys did great on the 1 1/2 mile climb to the cave. It really is amazing how high up on the mountain the cave is and how amazing the cave actually is inside. We had a great time.

The "heart" of Timp cave. The stalagtites and stalagmites in the cave are amazing.