It Bit the Dust..

Afternoons are a busy time.  Ryder has swim from 4-6 every day which means right after work I am in the van dropping him off and running errands.  This Tuesday wasn't any different.  The van needed an oil change and then filling up the gas tank.  First stop Walmart but their auto shop is still closed.  Second place Jiffy Lube and as I pull out into traffic I hear an awful noise.  The only thing I can do is turn the wheel towards the center median and stop.  I had a sinking feeling that this was another transmission problem.  Called Dave, Julie, and Rylee for help and reroute my plans for the afternoon

Loading it up

Unloading it
Ryder was proud to be able to drive it off the trailer.

Sparkers & Poppers
to celebrate the 24th of July.
Ryder was the only one home with us to party.

Staheli Farms throwing a great party.
Everyone loves princesses.

Saying Goodbye...
Official diagnosis the transmission fell apart again.
The cost to fix it was double what the whole van is worth.
Off to the salvage yard.

Will this work for mask making??
We are on the hunt for cool mask material.
If these are needed to get through this crazy stuff then 
let's have fun with them.

Ryder is back in the kitchen.
This was my lunch courtesy of Ryder.
He called him looking for steak to cook for breakfast.
He is starving.
I love his creativity however his single mindedness can make me crazy.

It has been an exhausting week with all the politics swirling around us.  Ryder informed me that he needs 14 masks to start school.  That way he always has a weeks worth available to use.  We are going to be busy learning out to make them.  It is becoming the new fashion statement.

2 weeks until school starts.  The finish line is in sight can everyone make until then?

It's Lake Time

We are always open for a lake trip and this weekend Rylee & Ben were going with us.  The holiday was yesterday so we were keeping our fingers crossed that the crowds are home sleeping off the fireworks.  We are in luck no major crowds and the boat decontamination was successful.

We all found our seats.
Got settled
We were off across the lake.

The kids were ready to cool off.
Ben was willing to try the knee board for the first time.

Rylee couldn't let Ben out
do her.  She popped up her first run.

Ben also popped up 
and kept right on going.

Time to cool off.
This if the first time in the water for Dave.
It's cold!!!

Cannonball!!!

Reganne giving it a try.

Rylee & Ben 
grabbing their turn!!

One last ride.

It was a great morning.  Everyone was hot, soaked, and hungry.  It was time to head to shore.  We all had a fun time hanging out with each other.  Playing in the water and having fun together.  We still have half the summer for a few more trips.  The weather isn't cooling off and the water is warming up.

Summer Small Town Tour...Brian Head

It's another hot weekend and we needed an escape.  We headed off towards Brian Head for their annual car show.

We brought our masks.
Let's check out the cars.

Let's try the ski lift.
It was busy but not crazy and they also
lowered price.
We headed off and up.

A little rocky start.
I was a little eager and jumped on early.
This frustrated Dave & Ryder both that I couldn't follow directions.
However, in my defense I was concentrating on not falling that I jumped way to early.

We made it to the top.

What a view!!!
Also the wind was also in our faces 
and quickly cooling down.

Love these faces
Dave trying to hold still.  Ryder wiggling around
trying catch the view from all directions.
I was starting to want a jacket.

Selfie time
I needed a jacket desperatley.

Nearing the end of the ride.
It looks to peaceful and a whole lot. warmer.

Back on the ground and
checking out the show again.

Headed home
with the top down.

It was a beautiful drive down the canyon.  The top was down and it was about 75 degrees.  As we got closer to St George it really started heating up towards 105 degrees.  I am loving these little adventures.  Enjoying the time together and not being cooped up at home.

Where will we go next?

It's Hot Outside

The temps are raising daily and not rain in sight.  However, the wind is blowing and not a cool breeze.  Instead it feels like someone turned on a hair dryer and left it on.  Once again everyone is staying inside trying to stay cool.  Scientists & politicians are asking the question of why the spikes.  Well I can't say much about the world in general.  Here in Southern Utah we are all inside breathing the same air and sharing germs.  It's bound to be higher over the next couple of weeks.

Rylee shared hers & Ben's adventure to an Alpaca farm in Hurricane.

These look like cows to me.

How cute they are.

Babies are even cuter

It's hot and now we have
multiple fires that are way to 
close for comfort.
We are on our weekly drive to
get Reganne more hours.

Trying to figure out to use
YouTube TV.
Need newer equipment to run it on.
Thanks to SkyWest for my Apple TV
20th Anniversary Gift.

Another dinner date!!
I am not sure whether they are enjoying their food
or not?

Decontaminating the boat.
Much easier than expected.
Not sure why all the negative press on this issue.
We are not good to go out another weekend.

Baking again!!!
Loved this recipe from Amber's Kitchen.
One pan and it was gone by Tuesday.

Not sure what else
they do except eat.  They were
excited to have a picnic.

It was a crazy week with our AC going out and discovering it after getting home from work.  To late to call anyone until the next day.  Lucky for us we have fans and a small window unit to try and keep at least our room to under 80.  Snow Canyon Heating & AC were able to come the next afternoon and recharge it.  We are back in the cooler temps inside.  However, the bad news is it most likely will need to be replaced in another year or two if we are lucky. 

Everyone stay cool, healthy, and strong.

Summer Small Town Adventures....Beaver

It's Saturday again and we are off to another small town to find a new adventure.  We are headed north on I-15 to beat the heat.  Let's stop and check out the Creamery in Beaver.  We have driven by this for years without stopping but they have a new building calling our names.

Wow!! This looks nice.
Not a lot of cars in the parking lot.

There were crowds inside.
We came prepared with our masks.

This made me laugh.
It is a great way to get everyone to
stop, read, and think about
what we are doing while waiting in line.

YUMMY!!!
Mac & Cheese with chicken, spinach, and tomatoes.
2 meals out of this one bowl.

Ryder had Mac & Cheese
with bacon.
Dave had a mystery sandwich that wasn't on the
menu...Turkey with Pesto.

All was yummy with left overs to take home and share.  We were too full for ice cream maybe next time.  Ryder begged for cheese curds to take home.  Dave of course agreed with him.  I have never been brave enough to eat one until today.  Way to salty for me.  I needed more coke to drink.

Sunday afternoon naps.
Everyone was exhausted after a busy week.

Due to heat outside there are no baking pictures this week.  I can barely stand to cook dinner.  It is supposed to get hotter this next week so I had better make a menu or we will be spending a lot to go out and eat.

Vacation Time!!

It is family vacation time and how weird is it when plans can't be made.  They can be made but they seem to be constantly changing.  Flights are opening up but how do we prevent everyone from getting sick?  We have managed to avoid any sickness which to good news.  We decided to play it safe close to home.  

Well almost we headed to Lake Powell for a day in the sun.  We can play in the water and explore some of the canyons.

Love this!!
They came right up to the boat.

She is smiling now.
Not for much longer as we 
moved away from the dock.

Can we buy a houseboat?
Ryder begged!!

Love the peace and quiet.
Most of all the water.

Crazy boy!!!
He was standing up and
trying to surf.

My turn
Ryder soon became bored riding
with me.  I liked it slow and steady.
He wanted waves & air.

She loves to drive
and was in the zone.

He is back as a single rider.
It's decided that we need to sell
this tube.  It's big, slow, and boring.

Sleepy boy!!
The sun, water, and crazy tubbing.

We found the channel
on the way back.

The path was very narrow
and shallow.

Time to head home but first dinner in Kanab and Houstons was open for business.  They are now in the green range with minimal cases.  There still wasn't much open for business so we headed home.

The best part of vacation.
Is catching a nap in the afternoon.

Dave & Ryder went to the movie the next afternoon to watch Jaws.  The big screen still brought out the thrills and chills that it did almost 35 years ago.  No need to social distance there they were the only ones in the theater.  Of course it was a hot Thursday afternoon.