The Fast Version

Here's the fast version of the rest of our summer. We discovered Herriman Reservoir and spent several days there soaking up the sun and visiting with friends. The kids loved the sandy beach and playing in the water.

Jackson spent a lot of time tormenting the girls. SURPRISE, SURPRISE.


I'm already excited to go back next summer ...

We took the kids on a hike to Stuart Falls up by Sundance. It's a beautiful hike and not too long. One of our kids was having a bad attitude on the hike. Can you guess which one?

This trail is usually pretty crowded, but we did it on a Saturday evening and had it just about all to ourselves.





Dave enjoyed playing with his new fire pit. He's wanted one for a while, and I have to admit it has been fun to sit around the fire and roast marshmallows in the backyard.




T.J. used to be really photogenic and would willingly post for pictures. Not exactly sure what happened ...




Also, we now officially have a TEENAGER in this house. Austin turned 13 back on August 11th. Wow.
His chosen birthday activity was going to see Captain America with his friend Keegan. I had Dave take them since it seemed cooler to have your dad take you and your friend to the movies, rather than your mom. Am I right?


We're not much into traditional cakes around here, so a stack of peanut butter bars became Austin's birthday cake. The boy is obsessed with peanut butter.
We spent the day as a family at Trafalga for Austin's birthday.
They have these cool water boats there. I stay away from such things. But thankfully Dave was like knocking over little kids to get out there, so at least the kids had someone to play with. I am the photographer ... photographers do not get wet.


Dave was egging on our kids and total strangers, and as a result got seriously wet. Serves ya right hon.




Dave's little bro got married. Congrats to Brian and Meghan!




Didn't even mean to be all matchy-matchy, but check that out!


And lest you think Dave is the only INSANE BYU fan in his family, this is a picture of Brian and Meghan on their special day with .... wait for it... Tom Holmoe. And WHO is HE you ask? He's the Athletic Director at BYU. REALLY?!??!! Yes, multiple members of Dave's family recognized him and someone finally went over and asked him to pose in a picture. It was definitely one of the highlights of the day for Dave's family.


We did LOTS and LOTS of boating this summer. Thanks to Grandpa Morton's boat and his generosity with his time, the kids spent lots of time riding around in the boat, getting pulled on the tube, and learning to water ski.

I even got on that contraption once myself. I got thrown violently from this tube (I think my dad did it on purpose), and I'll have you know I came up out of the water with my sunglasses on my face and my earrings in. I'm tell you, it's a gift. Of course, I had fish bathroom water in my mouth, so I wasn't too happy.


Grandpa is helping the boys with their boating merit badge requirements for scouts. There's actually a lot they have to do for it, and they're just about done. Thanks grandpa!


And did I mention, cute little Raylie was born in August. London finally has a girl cousin on my side of the family who lives 0.7 miles way. She COULD NOT be more excited! She is obsessed with little Raylie, like we all are, and loves to hold her and hover over her and just be around her. What a cutie!