A Beautiful Morning..

At the lake.  Everyone was eager to play and enjoy the sunshine.  The sun was shining and not a lot of boats were on the water yet.

First up was Ryder on the knee boardl

He quickly popped up.
He was soon trying to do little tricks.

Is the water warmer than Granby?
Ryder jumped in to prove it's not to cold.

Rylee's turn next
She also popped right up.

Their arms were tired and were ready for the new tube Dad brought today.  Let's give it a try.

Falling off provides a bit of a problem.
How do you get back on?

My turn.
Not as bad as the single tube.
Hate this life jacket. I can't raise my head
any further that this.

Beautiful!!!

All 3 having fun and
not fighting.

It was a great morning.  The the fresh air and exercise even though we all felt it the next morning.

Time to head home, clean up, and have our family lunch.  The kids begged for Olive Garden.  We soon filled up on salad & breadsticks before our food even arrived.  We have lunch for later as well.  Movie time "Rampage" with all the large animals.  It turned out to be pretty good and full of craziness.  We were full of popcorn, pasta, and bread sticks.  I think more exercise this week will be in order.  This is exactly what we all needed after our last crazy weekend.

Beardsley Family Reunion 2018

It's hard to believe that it has been one year since we met this amazing family.  We were excited to be meeting up with them in Granby, Colorado.  We just had to decide exactly how to get there.  The flights looked wide open all week and started looking a little shaky by Friday morning.  We had an hour delay due to Crew Rest Period requirements.  We managed to make it to Salt Lake but ran into another snag only 4 seats remaining.  Everyone boarded and what do you know.  One passenger didn't show up.  We all made the flight and arrived all together in Denver.

Quick lunch at Pizza Hut

Time to hit the road for a 2 1/2 hour drive up to the mountain.  A crazy drive the wound through little resort towns boasting of great rafting, panning for gold, great skiing during the winter.

View from the balcony

All the delays in our trip we still arrived before check in time.  We had a nice room but a little small.  I need to remember that our family is growing up and we all need a little more space.  

Once again we were greeted with bear hugs, smiles, and eagerness to catch up.  Mike once again made the most amazing meal for everyone.  I took a lot of notes bacon wrapped baked potatoes and fresh spinach salad with pumpkin seeds.

Conversation + Food = Good Times

Father & Daughters Bonding

Happy early birthday celebration
And a surprise as well.

The kids played in the hot tub, swam in the pool, and ate a lot of cake.  It was going to be an early night so we can hit the lake bright and early.

The "small" lake was amazing with breathe taking beauty.  The one shocker was the water.  It was freezing.  

We are off to explore.

It's freezing!!!
Jude found a warmer spot on the boat.
Ryder soon followed him.

Trying to keep his hat in place.
The views were amazing.

The boys were brave or crazy.
I do believe the water is direct from the snow pack.

Dave playing with Jonah.
They were looking for his treasure a rock.

Who can get in the furthest? 

The girls let Dad win.
They aren't stupid.

Look who is trying the tube.

Riding the waves.
Love watching the sailboats

Everyone was worn out from
riding and playing on the boat.

We had another great night visiting, swimming, yummy food, and even more visiting.  Their leftovers were better the second day.  It was going to be an early night since we were flying out at 11.  This required us to leave at 7.  Everyone else was leaving a little later but each had a long drive home.  Many hugs and good byes or see you soon we called it a night.

Early morning in the mountains.
Require  jacket and a fire.

We made it to the airport with plenty of time to make our flight.  However, flying as standby can be nerve racking.  One seat available on the first flight we sent Dave home and we waited.  Each flight after that had the same results.

Getting along 

It had been a long day with many flights going out with us not being on them.  The terminal was getting packed with passengers that had either missed their flights due to bad weather or other reasons all done on purpose.  The airlines were deliberately causing them grief.  Angry people were all around.  Thanks to a friend from work we soon found a possibility.

Yeah!!!
We were headed to Salt Lake.

We made it to Salt Lake City by Midnight.  We found a hotel room and settled in for the night.  Dave was really understanding and hopped into the van to come to our rescue.  We headed home after a hotel breakfast and a quick stop to visit Grandma JeanAnn.

It was a great weekend full of family fun, bonding, and learning more about each other.  The 15 hours in the airport were also a learning experience.  Never let one person go on the first flight.  Wait until 2 or more seats open up then split up.  If we would have done this everyone would have been home by 3:00.

I wonder how soon before we can take another adventure.

Impromptu Family Get Together

July is going to be a slower month.  Time for relaxing and enjoying family time.  This year no concert or fireworks at the stadium.  Instead a movie, late lunch, and watching more movies together at home.  Thanks to our great neighborhood they were soon blowing up the skies with multiple show going at the same time  The best part was no traffic and driving home.

Then BAM!! the craziness began again.  This time with a medical scare from Grandma.  She has is battling another back problem on the other side and higher up.  She got to take her first ambulance ride and didn't remember it.  After many phone calls we made the trip up North.  Grandma was doing a lot better by the time we arrived.

Cousins coming to check
that everything is ok.

Check out the digital window.
Way to much family.  Grandma needs a break.

We headed off to lunch and sent the kids with the Dads to the movie.  We headed back to the hospital.

Reganne & Morgan
with their electronics.

Teaching Grandpa Chris
the fine art of selfies and
adding pictures to his new phone.

Cousins & Friends

Aunt LaRae visiting
from Maryland for Callie's Wedding
I am finally taller than her & my mom.

An important note... I need take care of myself so that I don't shrink as well in the future.

Guess who is feeling much better?
The thumbs up and tongue out!!!

Grandma has amazing support.

It was great to see everyone and spend the day together.  I just wish that it was under healthier circumstances.  Thank goodness for modern medicine and technology we are all able to stay in touch and also give unlimited support to each other.

It was time for us to head home but not without a quick stop at Callie Poyfair's reception and saying hi quickly to we could make it home by midnight.

Yummy!!

Everyone was starving.  That meant dinner was a must and how about Denny's in Nephi?  We could eat and get gas at the same place.  This sandwich sounded so yummy on the menu last week that I decided it was a must tonight.  What a combo cheese, eggs, ham, bacon on a potato roll with maple butter.  All I could taste was the yucky American Cheese!!! There was a hint of sweet from the maple butter but not much else.  I would not recommend this to anyone.

We made it home by midnight and with the comforting feeling that all would okay. We got to see family if only for a short time.  Impromptu gatherings are the best.

June Wrap Up

I was definitely crazy or brain dead when I thought that June would bring slowing down and more relaxing.  I think just the opposite has actually happened.  I am still running crazy and still smiling all the way.

Ryder's new sport...Pickleball

He has been attending the weekly camps to start learning the basics.  Over the month he slowly learned the new skills of this new game  He can be found with a racket practicing ball skills every night after swim.  He still lacks the confidence in his game but asked to attend July's camp.

Home grown tomatoes

Learned what is wrong with the bottom half.  Blossom Rot!!! Dave & Ryder have been working to resolve the problem and slowly they are looking better.

Date with Mom
Yummy Yogurtland

The girls when summer clothes shopping.  Now it was Ryder's turn and instead of new clothes he wanted a treat.

2 birthday parties
in one day.

Who could pass up LaserMania and swimming parties on the same day.  Thank goodness the times were spaced far enough apart.  He made it to both and was definitely exhausted by bed time. 

Lint ball
from an iPhone.

Public service announcement or reminder!!! If you are having problems getting your iPhone to charge or it seems really hard to plug in the cable.  Take a straight pin and gently clean out the charging port.  This is what I dug out of an iPhone 6s that refused charge at all.  Remember that the charging port is the iPhone's belly button and it collects all sorts of dust, dirt, and even pant lint if you carry it in your pockets.

July is pounding on the door not waiting patiently to start.  Here goes another month full of adventures and new experiences.

The Wheeler & Waters Family Campout

This years campout was 2 weeks earlier than usual due to family reunions, sports, and sold out camp grounds.  We are also trading monsoon season for fire season.  We were up for new adventures. Everything was right on schedule until a stupid person left their campfire unattended while camping in an area not approved for camping or fires.  That unattended fire sparked and started the West Valley Fire.  We waited anxiously for the Forest Service to give the updates that the camp grounds to still be open.  

The camp grounds are open and ready for people.  Blake & Julie headed up earlier due to Dave's work schedule.  They also gave the thumbs up and the all good.  We headed out and make it to camp by 10:00.  We saw the flames in the distance glowing bright orange.  They were still far enough away that you couldn't smell any smoke.  Time to get our part of camp setup.

Ryder's one man tent

He and Dacoda went to work and had is smaller tent setup and ready to be occupied.  We all had bets on how long he would last.  30 minutes to and hour.  We all lost on that one.  He made it all night and even survived the visits from our visitors... SKUNKS!!!

Saturday morning arrives a little chilly but beautiful.  Ryder was up early and letting everyone know that the skunks game for a visit to our garbage.  No one got hurt or sprayed.

It was time play with his car that he remembered to bring this year.

Doing Doughnuts in the pine needles

Man on a mission or in charge!!

Salt Gun killing bugs!!!

Hammick Setup

Julie & Dacoda
Relaxing together

Love this view

Hiking to smelly pines
Butterscotch again this year.

New entertainment!!!
Helicopters with water buckets

The fire fighters started really really slow but as the day progressed the trips became more frequent.  It was fascinating to watch them scoop up the water and fly away towards the fire.

Games
This is always a must during the heat of the day.

Skipping over the rock path.

The fire crews were relocating to another water source to the trails were opened for the boys to explore.  If only they don't get to crazy and hurt themselves.

The camp host delivered some great news.  The fire restrictions were being lifted to small fires in the fire pits only.  YEAH!! We can have our fire and enjoy our peeps.

Who gave this man a hatchet??

He did a great job with the wood.
Our Eagle Scout helped build a great fire.
Team work brings amazing results.

Yummy & Gooey Peeps
Love this tradition.

Night fell and the stars were out in full force.  It was time to dowse the fire and head to bed.  Ryder was back in his tent zipped up and settled in for the night.  

Sunday morning arrived to the smell of campfire and a very smokey valley.  It was time to pack up and head home.

Smokey valley

Another camp out is history.  It was great to relax, eat junk food, play games, and just have with each other.  We need to plan another trip before summer ends.