June and July!

The kids had their last day of school and then it was off to the Manti Pageant. We've been to fourth of July celebrations and family reunions. Our favorite reunion was down in Zion National Park at Ponderosa Ranch. It was awesome! The desert beetles here are the size of my hand! But the Jeep tour made it all worth it. We sloshed through mud puddles and sand pits, it felt like the Indiana Jones ride at Disney Land. We learned why it’s called Ponderosa Ranch. There are ponderosa trees everywhere and they happen to smell like butterscotch, maple syrup, and vanilla! Beautiful majestic views of Zion, Bryce Canyon, misty peaks, sunset and rain! What more can you ask for? Horseback riding, zip line, ATV course, bungee trampoline, rock climbing, Jeep tours, petting zoo, swimming, tennis, basketball, club house, star gazing, gourmet food, gift shop, cabins, glamping, summer rain, - this place was not boring!

Gabe went to the temple for the first time. He did baptisms for the dead. We prepared yesterday by finding 11 new ancestor names. We also took a trip to the Layton Family History Center and Gabe had a lot of fun there. Then today after baptisms we went into the temple cafeteria and he ordered all of his favorite foods including a crab cocktail and coconut soft serve ice cream. It was such a great experience and Gabe loved how everyone at the temple is so friendly!

Grandma Bev came up and spent a few days at our house and we went fishing with the cousins. We had a crazy lightning storm and a field by our house caught fire. We also had a firework malfunction, and Paisley turned ten!

Paisley turned 10! We celebrated big by taking her and Cambrey on a back to school shopping spree. We went to lunch at Zupas and then the girls got their hair done at a salon. Then it was off to the splash pad and dinner at Golden Corral. Paisley got a new bike, lots of clothes, and mermaid bath products. Then it was Pioneer Day and we dressed the part while making a Dutch oven dinner in the backyard. We picked cherries in the neighbor's yard and canned them. Then it was the first day of school! Yes half of. my kids are now in school while the other two are still enjoying summer break.