My last fling of the summer...

We got home from our Island Park/Yellowstone adventures on June 27. Becca and I flew back to Utah on July 1 to spend a week with Katie, Julie, and their amazing and adorable children. First thing we did was go to gymnastics with Luka and Cooper.

Luka is going to take the plunge into the foam blocks.

Cooper is jumping into the bin.

Cooper got star stamps on his hands a feet for doing such a great job.

I have always loved his sweet hands and his "Flintstone" feet.

I was able to attend Savannah's end of the school program. This was performed by the First Grade classes. It was a great program with songs and poems. Savannah had a couple of speaking parts and did a great job. Luka was very glad when the program was over... It was hot in there! I don't think they had on the air conditioning.

Savannah's teacher made a book and a CD for all the children in her class, which she presented to each student after the program.

We did one of my favorite activities! We went on a hike. This is at the trail head to Donut Falls up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The wild flowers were so beautiful! The mountains were majestic against the blue of the sky, and I have always loved the clouds in the Utah sky. Savannah and Cooper are anxious to get on the trail.

My tree shot of Cooper.

I have always felt such a special connection to this little guy.

He starts kindergarten this year. I can't believe it!

Princess Savannah - she has always been a good poser for the camera. This is Luka's tree shot. He got stuck when we tried to put him up there.

Katie's friend, Rachael, and her boys and cute baby girl joined us on this hike. It was great for the kids. Only about a mile and a half round trip.

There were so many blue bells! I showed them to Cooper and he said, "oh, they are so cute." He walked over and gently flipped one to see if it would ring. :o)

Here is the gang crossing the bridge over the river that comes from the falls. I thought this tree stump looked just like a dragon's head. Cooper was brave and touched the dragon.

This is the actual falls. At the top is the part that goes down a big hole in the rock - thus the donut. Then it comes out an cascades over the rocks. You can climb all the way to the top.

Ryan is helping Savannah and the other kids over a scary, slippery part of the journey.

So Beautiful! I could not believe how green everything was!

We were too tired to make dinner after our hike, so we ate at Rhumbi. Savanna and Luka are sharing a soda. She is a kind a loving big sister, and is very helpful.

We went to some fireworks that night, too! Here I am with Savannah. I guess I better put up one picture of myself...

Here are my three beautiful girls.

They are my favorite people... Next day we went swimming. Luka is very independent in the water and doesn't want anyone to touch him. I tried to take him in the wading pool, and he just cried for his "Daddy!"

Ryan got brave and pulled Julie in to pool with her clothes on. Because of that he had to take her challenge for a race. He wanted to do the short length of the pool (c'mon!). They are getting ready for the gun...

You can see by this photo finish who the winner was!

She is totally laughing that she won with all her clothes on!

Still pretty happy and smug about her victory...

We had our own fireworks at home on the 4th. Katie and Julie made so much fun of me because I did not know how to use a lighter. Sorry, I have never owed a "lighter." I use matches for my birthday candles.

Luka was quite fascinated with all of the fireworks and sparklers.

When we went outside to start the sparklers, the kids noticed all these little tiny frogs in the grass. I caught one for them. See how tiny?

Coop liked his sparklers.

Next adventure was our annual trip to Cherry Hill. We had a blast! It was a perfect day with sunshine, but not too hot. Brittany and her kids joined in the fun, and Ava was back from California for this day, too.

Cooper was my water slide buddy.

We had a blast going down the big slide together.

The kids all loved going on the Lazy River with aunt Becca.

I love this one of Ava going down the little slide.

Luka enjoyed all of the fountains.

He loved the water slide, too. He would get so mad and cry when he had to wait in line to go down. He just wanted to cut in and slide!

We always have a good picnic. Mmmmmm! Oreos!

Savannah and A'me. They are such cute friends!

Last day there, we went to the zoo, another of my favorite traditions.

The kids enjoyed their merry-go-round ride.

Being goofy with a snack of crackers and cheese.

Grammy, take our picture on the gorilla!

How blessed I am to have such a beautiful family, and to have the gift of time to spend with them. Katie and Julie are really good mothers. They are doing all kinds of things to create beautiful memories for their children. This takes much work and sacrifice. Thanks for being such great women, you two! I am so proud of you. Thanks for my beautiful grandchildren! This was a great week.

The S'More Experience

Julie insisted that we build a fire and make S'Mores. She brought all the stuff, including very fancy skewers for marshmallow cooking. C'mon Julie, "you know there's no way 'round it." Smoke follows beauty... Ava is carefully toasting a coconut covered marshmallow.

YUM!

Julie, you are the queen. Delicious!

OK, Ava. That is funny!

Now you're talking...

Even Nick could not resist coming out to make one treat.

I'd say we have some happy campers here!

Does this make you want to join us? You are welcome at our campfire anytime!

The only thing that was bad about being outside the whole week long was the blasted mosquitoes. They loved Becca, and would not leave her alone! We had to use tons insect repellent to keep the pesky, buzzing mosquitoes in check.

The hike

A trail that we love to hike is located near the top of Sawtelle Peak. It takes us through meadows of flowers and through pine trees, and there are even supposed to be bears up there! We filled our camelbacks, packed a lunch and headed for the trail head. As we got higher and higher up the peak I mentioned there was a lot of snow. When we found the trail head we discovered that the trail was completely covered with snow and we couldn't do the hike we had planned for so long. :o( So we went to plan B and drove to Warm Springs. It is about 6 miles down a winding dirt road off the paved road that takes us to Mesa Falls. The road was so badly rutted that we decided to park the car and walk to the trail head. This is the view of the Grand Tetons from where we parked the car. Warm Springs is another source for a river that comes from the huge caldera area of Yellowstone and Island Park. This water comes from the mountainside and is always 50 degrees in temperature. Just as we crossed the bridge to the trail head I noticed all of these butterfiles on the ground near a little puddle of water. They were so beautiful!

The wild flowers were incredible and colorful.

Here is my favorite hiking buddy going down the trail. This was a gorgeous place to enjoy the summer day. We were glad for the mild cloud cover. It kept us from getting too hot!

Yellowstone in all it's splendor...

Since the cabin at Island Park is only about 45 miles south of Yellowstone, OF COURSE we drive to the park! It is so beautiful and everytime I go, I am so intrigued by the geyers, mud pots, hot springs, wildlife, and the beautiful trees and mountains. This trip we were lucky that the eagle was home! Becca, Julie and Ava have a small herd of elk behind them. These elk never leave this area as there is always food for them, even during the winter.

Just beyond this bend in the river are the magnificent Yellowstone Falls.

There is always a rainbow where the water lands and the spray is bountiful.

We were lucky enought to see this sweet mamma and her baby!

I just love walking through the geyer areas. It was pretty windy...

Ava enjoyed the paint pots, the steaming water, and the geyers. She did notice the smell of the sulfer in the air.

This is a good sister-shot of Julie and Becca, right by the bacteria mats.

Can't go to Yellowstone without getting ice cream at the lodge. Ave enjoyed hers immensely. (In fact, she kept asking when we were going to get ice cream about 3 times per minute!)

Waiting with the rest of the tourists for....

...the big gusher...Old Faithful! It is so fun to see this amazing feat of nature. The sky was so blue and it was a gorgeous day!

I always love going to Yellowstone. I even take the same pictures over and over!