Highlights of Summer

Since I can't seem to get my act together to blog on a regular basis, I know there is no way to really catch up on the details of this summer that has passed way too quickly. So, I've decided to just post a few pictures of our highlights. I keep thinking I'll get better at this whole blogging thing, but it just doesn't seem to happen.

Our summer started out with Kennady turning 7. We had a fun friends swimming party at Grandma Margot's house. Isn't this a bunch of cute girls?One highlight was watching the beautiful Oquirrh Mountain temple being built right down the street. We were able to tour it with the kids and Dave and I served there a couple of different evenings during the open house. The dedication, of course, was the highlight and what an emotional and spiritual event that was for us to be inside the temple with our two boys and listen to our prophet speak just a few rooms away from us. It is something I will always remember.

Lake Powell is always one of our favorite weeks of the summer. This year Amber and Nate were unable to come and we really missed them. We found an amazing spot to camp- my all time favorite spot. You can see the houseboat in the background with Spencer tearin' it up on the knee board.

There always has to be at least one kids vs. dads water fight. Isn't this a great action shot of Dave?
Austin is getting pretty good on the wake board- way better than his mom!
Here's a serious water fighter!
You can't tell these boys are having any fun at all, can ya?


Spencer always loves the fishing aspect of Lake Powell the most and jumps at any chance to throw out a fishing line- even if it's attached to his cousin Ally's Barbie fishing pole.

Our new favorite activity- surfing.


The fam- after a week at the lake- Lookin' good!

This year was our turn to plan the annual Kimball Family Vacation and we chose Island Park near Yellowstone. Dave had never been there (and that means the kids hadn't either, of course). It was beautiful and the kids loved the week with their cousins. The hot tub on the back deck was a favorite hang out for all of them.

Once again, Spencer took every opportunity to fish and thanks to a nice uncle Andrew, got to do it quite a bit. He even bought his own pole before the trip. No more Barbie fishing poles for him!
Grandpa Steve's friend let us use his cabin on Bill's Island and we spent a fabulous day there in the lake.
The trampoline was especially popular and we all got a kick watching the kids (and a few crazy moms and dads) bounce each other into the water.
We went to the Grizzly Bear and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone where we were AMAZED by the enormous bears we got to see up close and personal.
One day we floated the Snake river in big rafts. The water remains a very nippy 52 degrees year round. Of course that doesn't deter kids (or dads) from trying out the rope swing we found en route. Cydnee didn't want to be left out of the fun and nice Uncle Andrew let her hang onto him like a monkey and try it out. BRRRRR!
Austin's awesome swing.
What a fun raft we had!!!!
Yellowstone was beautiful. This is Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
The Dragon's Lair.

Of course there's always lots of swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Uncle Phil practiced some cheerleading moves with the girls.

And of course the cabin is always a great place to escape the heat. We love going up there to relax, play games, go on walks and just get away from busy life.

Several water snakes decided to make their home under the deck, so the boys entertained themselves by trying to catch them.

Memorial Day Get Away

4 days off work+ a new Rhino (my dad's) to test out= a fun weekend in Blanding with both sets of parents. It was great to get away and the kids loved having both grandparents all to themselves for the weekend. The kids would move to Blanding if given the chance. They love to ride four wheelers, hunt prarie dogs (the boys, that is) and go to the movie theather without mom and dad. For them Blanding is a huge playground with lots of stuff to do that we can't do at home. We spent Saturday at Dave's uncle's ranch where the men helped mend fences and the moms and kids fixed food and played around.







Dad was so proud of his Rhino and was impressed it would make it through all the streams and over all the rocks on the trails Craig took us on.

There are some neat ruins just outside of Blanding (hard to see over my shoulder, but they're there if you look close)

What a nice big brother! I hope he stays sweet with his little sisters as we enter the world of pre-teens!

Cydnee loved hanging out with her cousin Ally.
The whole gang on a nice peaceful (ha, ha) Sunday walk to the ruins.
On Monday Craig took us to Arch Canyon where we took an 18 mile 4 wheeler trip. It was absolutely beautiful!
Dave doing some exploring in the ruins in Arch Canyon.

Top o' the morning

Dave was invited to some leadership meetings in Dublin, so of course I couldn't pass up the chance to tag along. We left a few days before the meetings started so that we could sightsee together for a few days.
Day 1 we were pretty exhausted after a long flight and lots of walking to find our hotel. We napped for a couple of hours, then headed out to see the sights. This is Christ Church Cathedral, built in 1030.

St Patrick's Cathedral (these cathedrals are all Protestant, despite the country being VERY Catholic). This one was built in 1192. Can you tell I'm fascinated by how old things are- I mean, we have nothing like it here! We were there just the week before the St. Patrick's day festivities. Too bad we couldn't have stayed an extra few days!

I always love the fresh flower stands- so beautiful!

On Day 2, we got brave and rented a car to see some of the sights in outlying areas. It was a rough start to get used to driving on the wrong side of the road and car and shifting with your left hand, but Dave did a fabulous job. He only crashed once!

This is Trim Castle about an hour outside of Dublin. It is the oldest Norman castle in Ireland and was where the film Braveheart was made. We took a fascinating tour of the keep and found out all kinds of interesting things about the medieval ages. We were wishing Austin was with us, since that's what he's studying in school right now.

The keep. Brrrr, it was cold and rainy, but oh so green!
We drove to the Valley of the Boyne where they have fairly recently (this century) discovered burial tombs that are 5,000 years old! This is the opening to the tomb. It is built in a way so that once a year, on the winter solstice, as the sun is rising, light shines through this little window at the top and into the burial chamber where the bones and ashes of the dead were placed in basins. They believed that it was at this time that the spirits of the dead would rise to the afterworld. Pretty amazing to think they understood soltices and such way back then. The way the tomb was constructed was pretty amazing and they had hauled these huge boulders on logs from about 18 km away.
That night, as suggested by a very friendly Irish man at the hotel, we ate dinner at a little pub where they played traditional Irish music and some very traditional Irish drunk men at the bar danced very traditional and tipsy Irish jigs. It was a true Irish experience for us.
The food was yummy!!!!

Day 3 we took a train to Howth- a little town on the coast just outside of Dublin. It was very picturesque, but oooooohhhh so cold and windy, so it was a little hard to fully enjoy it.We walked through Trinity College, the oldest and most prestigious college in Ireland. It would be a beautiful place to study.
A taxi picked us up from our hotel in Dublin and drove us about an hour to the Killashee House Hotel where Dave's meetings were held. That was the end of vacation for Dave. The rest was all business, but he learned so much and was able to meet people from all over the world. It was quite an experience for him.I, however, was on my own to continue my vacation, so the following day I ventured back to Dublin and did a little more sightseeing. This is Kilmainham jail, which was a very interesting tour and history of Ireland and the many rebellions that have taken place over the centuries as the Irish have fought for their independence. I was wishing Dave was with me because I think he would have enjoyed it. Apparently this jail has been in several films and this particular part looked familiar to me. Anyone recognize it?
The following day I took it easy at the hotel spa and relaxed walking around the beautiful grounds. The next day I headed for home. Dave stayed an extra 3 days in meetings. We had a great time and were so glad for the chance to see IRELAND!

Princess Cydnee

I haven't uploaded the pictures from my camera yet, but I wanted to quickly blog this picture Rachael took for those of you who weren't able to see the amazing birthday cake in person. Amy outdid herself once again. The crown on top was completely edible and the jewels were made from rock candy suckers she broke apart. It's hard to see all the details, but it was truly incredible. The top tier was strawberry and the bottom was chocolate. Cydnee was in heaven and is so spoiled by our dear friend who she absolutely ADORES. Thanks to sweet family for coming to celebrate with us. It was a great day and I can't believe she's already 3!!!

Say Cheese

Cydnee and I had a fun little trip to my cousin Jeni's photo studio. Jeni does amazing work and it was such fun to play dress ups. The sucker bribe even worked to coax a few smiles from Cyd. Thanks, Jeni!

You know you're old when....

Kennady brought home from school a cute picture she'd drawn of the family. (I wanted to scan it and post it, but it has mysteriously disappeared). The kids were drawn from tallest to shortest with their correct ages listed above their heads. Next to Austin was Dave with his age listed at 58. Then next to him was a HUGE me with my age above my head--- 68!!!! I was telling Dave about it later and he simply said, "Well, you're larger than life to her." Yeah, that should make me feel better about being 7 years older than my parents! But somehow I'm not sure that it does. :)