New School Year

When August arrives everyone knows that the new school year is just days away.   This year is no exception school started on the 11th and we are definitely ready.  The last couple of weeks have been really rough fighting off boredom and of course fighting with each other.  I was ready for everyone to get busy, make new friends, and have fun.

Early Thursday morning dawned and we are ready to start this year off right.  Scones for breakfast and of course pictures. 

3rd Grade with Mrs Guynn
He is so excited to get back to his friends and to
see Mrs. Guynn again.  She was his Kindergarten Teacher.

His class is in one for the portables and it is just inches away
from the playground.  It also has it's own water cooler with icy water.
He is all set for the new year.

6th Grade @ SRIS
She was really nervous dealing with new school, 6 teachers,
and 6 different rooms,.

Thank goodness for back to school night beforehand.  She was able to meet
all her teachers and find their classrooms.

She likes her teachers but isn't too sure of the whole PE thing.
She even aced the early start time of 7:45 AM.

9th Grade @ DHMS
She is officially a Freshman!!!  We aren't sure how this happened
but we will roll with it.

Actually, she has 2 first days since they have only 4 classes a day.
Not sure if the nerves were worse the first or second days.

We survived the first couple of days of school.  Know there are only 178 more days to get through.  I look forward to watching the kids learn new things, have new experiences, and meet new people.

There was a little sadness that summer ended way to fast.  I had to remind them that summer vacation was ending but summer is far from over.  There is a lot of fun still left to enjoy before it cools off.

Saying Goodbye

To a generation happened this past weekend.  Wilma Clarice Olsen Christensen Stitt Wilde passed away on July 29, 2016 from a stroke she suffered from earlier in the week.  I was proud to call this wonderful lady my Aunt.  She is actually my mom's aunt and my great aunt but she never went by any other title except for Aunt Wilma.  

She was the last surviving member of her family of 5 brothers and 2 sisters.  At 92 years of age she was still going strong.  Recently attending our family reunion over the 4th of July.  She kept up with everyone even the kids playing games and teasing everyone.

We didn't make it to the reunion and feel so bad missing all the fun and games.  Traveling to her funeral became a must.  

The service was a great tribute to her with her 3 sons speaking.  Everyone testified that she was a woman of service and made everyone feel special.

Visiting with cousins
The best thing about cousins is
You never have to start over you just pick up where you left off.

More cousins
The younger one were pretty tired of sitting so long.

Look how he has grown in the last month.
We did see smiles...later

Aunt Judy & Uncle Murell Johnson
We were glad to they flew back to Utah.
and we were able to visit with them.

Love this crazy couple.

Eating with Uncle Dave.
Until he saw my funeral potatoes.
Then no distance was to great to get those potatoes in his mouth.
Dave had to hold on extra tight.

Heading Home
Dave was the chauffeur for our group.
The youngest passenger was ready to hit the road.

He was a pretty good sport tagging along with Dave & I.  He did have a few melt downs and thank goodness everyone cut him some slack.  I am so thankful for Dave for his willingness to come, drive, and wait around as everyone visited.

I am so thankful for family history and the stories that have been written down.  I heard new stories about this amazing lady that I will remember forever.  They also shared stories about great grandparents that I have never met but felt closer to today.

Another Try at Culture

Everyone was ready for another night out at Tuacahn.  This time we were going to be seeing Tarzan. We were sitting in on the opposite side of the theater.  The kids weren't sure of our seats since Mom forgot to get an aisle seat.  You would think that would be number one on my list.  Since I did forget we were going to be at the mercy of the people in front of us whether we can see or not.

After a couple of seat shuffles everyone was ready for the show to start.  The weather was going to cooperate and be nice without rain.  Instead the wind blew most of the time.

When the lights went down and the stage started to flood it did look like a jungle (sort of).  We all enjoyed this one.  The singing was amazing and the action kept you entertained.

Thanks Mom!!!
Your seat is perfect.

 

Does this look like a jungle?

The lights went down and the water started flooding the stage.  It drew you into believing that you were in the jungle.  The cast was pretty amazing with their singing and dancing.  My favorite was Kala the ape mother.  She really made you fall in love with her character.  The whole cast was amazing performing on the zip lines and vines/pulleys.  They did some amazing tricks on those.

The wind stopped for awhile and the heat set in.  Just when you thought you couldn't take it any longer the wind started up again.  Dave saw lightening and kept an eye to the sky for the rest of the night.

The show ended and we were ready to head home.  It was a great show but again still on the long side.  Getting home at 11:30 is really rough if you have to get up early the next day.

I guess there must be a little discomfort when are getting a little culture in your lives.

We have until October before we see the next one.

One Last Swim

This week has been a long one.  Summer swim team ended last week and bowling ended on Tuesday.  Ryder earned a bowling ball without any holes.  Those need to be added later at the local pro shop.  What is an 8 year old boy to do to keep himself busy and out of trouble?

Tuesday, he worked around the house to earn extra money and he did a great job folding towels, cleaning up dog poop, and sweep the front walk.

Wednesday, he was bored to tears and pestered the sisters all day.  Lucky for us we received the invite to the End of Summer Swim Team Ice Cream Social.  He was ready for one more swim with his friends.

It was HOT!!!! and cloudy but there was swimming, ice cream, and friends.  Time to party.

Do I dare to jump??

Fun Relay
1..2..3..jump

Who is that swimming towards me?
or maybe I am swimming to close to him?

Stopping for ice cream with Colton.
At 106 degree weather ice cream quickly melts.

One last jump....
Maybe 20 if you will let us.

He had great time swimming and jumping in with all the friends he made this summer during the morning practices.  They were all really tired but had smiles on their faces yelling at each other see you next summer.

Let's hope we can all survive the final 2 weeks of summer vacation without injury, sickness, or fighting.  Is that asking too much??

Summer Road Trip

Only 3 weeks left of summer vacation it was time a family road trip.  Time to head to Lagoon!!!!  We welcomed Megan to be part of the family for the weekend.  She is Rylee's friend from school.  These girls had planned a Lagoon trip with their friends but everyone soon bailed so without a group and without a driver this trip was doomed.

The trip was back on but instead of a lot of kids on the loose it was our family + Megan.

Dinner at Jimmy John's
It didn't disappoint and we were back on the road in a 1/2 hour.

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Let's PLAY!!!
No more pictures!!!!!!

He is a little nervous

He convinced me to ride the Roller Coaster with him & Dad.

Not to bad if you can look past the shakes, rattles, and bruises.

Checking out the Post Office
in Pioneer Village.
We even found Swig there as well.

Ferris Wheel
Look how high up we are!!!
Dave refused to pose and wanted to reminders that he made the trip again.

Reganne's tiger friend
He wasn't feeling much like company this year.

Rattlesnake Rapids
They all got pretty wet.

What's up everyone moved to the other side.

That was fun let's try another ride.

Surviving the Mouse Trap
Not sure if they were happy or not
or just cranky at me asking for a picture.

Busted!!! She ate all the Goldfish.
We were waiting for Dave & Ryder appear.

After much begging, pleading, and a few tears.
Dave took him on the water slide ride.
He even promised Dave that he wouldn't get too wet.
NOT!!!

Last ride of the day....
The scrambler

It was time to head back to Grandma's for the night.  Everyone was starving and needed some food.

We found an IHop right off the exit.  Slow service, cold soup, and no french fries we were ready to sneak out.  The waitress redeemed herself and told us kids eat free.  Surprise!!! The manager returned from the store with fries.  Dave got both fruit & fries.

Everyone was ready to sleep when we got back to Springville.  WAIT!!!! there is always time for Pokemon Go they tried their luck catching them, but it was way to dark.

Time to head home, sleep in our own beds, and no more fast food.

Waters' Sports Updated...

Where have the last 8 weeks gone to?? The final swim meet of the summer was ready to start.  Check in time was 2:45 and it was going to be another hot meet.  Temperatures outside were 112 degrees and inside the Rec Center by the pool wasn't much cooler.  That didn't phase Ryder he was ready to swim.

Same races as last time.

Waiting for the relay to start.
In such a close space there was a lot of confusion.

The whistle finally blew and they were off.
The first leg of the relay was a bit slower than the rest.
They came in 6th place .

Hanging out with friends from class.

Backstroke Times
He came in 6th place and beat his previous time of 39.62

Waiting for the whistle on Freestyle
Last race of the season and he is in Lane 1
Right in front of me.

Came in 4th Place
Beat his best time of 37.42

He did awesome at this meet.  All the hard work each day has really paid off for him and his confidence in swimming.  He now has a hard choice to make continue with the year round swim team or play flag football which starts in August.

Who knows which he will choose but he will have fun with either one.

Pictures By Reganne

Strawberry Moon

Dinosaur Egg 

Moon & Trees

White Wild Flower

Campsite Weeds

In the leafy treetops.