http://www.fox13now.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=5295685f-3b87-464e-b884-bb7cc44a73c1&src=front
Kennady performing at Gateway lights on festival.


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?


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.

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.


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!!!!
We walked through Trinity College, the oldest and most prestigious college in Ireland. It would be a beautiful place to study.
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!