Utah

For the 4th of July we made our annual migration to Utah to see the Smith clan. 

The morning of the fourth everyone went to this super cool trampoline, trapeze, climbing wall place.

 

The Caboose wasn't scared at all, and wanted help to get on the highest of the trapeze bars. The foam pit below made falling all part of the fun.

 The evening of the fourth of July, the family meet up in Heber for fireworks. Before the show started, there were a bunch of old fashioned games set up at the Homestead. They had set out a circle of hay bales and before long we had a line of boys lined up, running across the tops of the bales while we timed them. So fun! Meanwhile my niece was tugging on my arm, wanting to get her face painted in a nearby booth - huh? Clearly God knew what he was doing when he made me the mother of all boys. Below you can see BB#2 as he played tug of war.   

 

Long ago, Diamond and I decided that we would not have our kids do sleepovers, with only one exception - cousins. Whenever we visit Utah the boy cousins are literally together 24 hours a day.   Usually, they camp out at Diamond's brother's home, but when we were upgraded to the suite at our hotel, the boys all moved in with us for the night. They have a great time playing games, swimming and loading up on the free breakfast. 

They say you marry the family, and I do suppose that's true.  But what a catch!  These lovely ladies are all part of the Smith clan - related to me only through marriage, but I would pick them for friends with or without Diamond as part of the deal.   Good, smart, funny women.
 

Out last night in town, Cheryl had the whole clan over for a BBQ and s'mores.  Yum!  They have a beautiful backyard and the kids loved making the most of their last night with the family.  Here we are hangin' in the hammock with my boys and my darling little niece. 


 

 The cousins with Uncle Tyler roasting marshmallows. 

It was a great, relaxing time with the Smith side.    

First Day of First Grade (and Middle School)

The first day of first grade!!!  The Caboose was SO excited to be such a big kid and go to school all day.

Walking to school with his big brother on the first day.

The Caboose's teacher this year is new to the school and young - which makes me a bit nervous.  However, his best buddy was put in the same class - which makes me feel a LOT better.

The big eight grader!  Since two of his best friends moved over the summer, it will be an interesting year for this kid. 

Big Boy #2 is entering sixth grade this year and was pretty bummed out when his none of his good friends were put in the same 'team' as him.  The good news?  His friends from the old neighborhood (who also moved to our current town, and although they attended a different elementary school are zoned to the same middle school) ended up switching teams and was placed with BB#2.  For the first time since kindergarten, BB#2 and his friend are in the same class.  How cool is that?

Two middle schoolers!

Summer Rain

What's a group of boys to do when there is a summer rain storm, but strip down and head outside!

 The boys had a blast!  When hail briefly formed, the boys had a contest to see who could stand out in the hail the longest.  (Big Boy #2 wanted me to say that he won).

Then there were the leaf races.  As the run off flowed through the gutters, the boys raced their leaves or sticks.  Big Boy #2 names his leaf Missy Franklin.  (Clearly this particular storm was during the Olympics).

 Check out the abs on this kid!

Ahh, summertime!

Scout Camp 2012

Big Boy #1 went to Scout Camp again this year.  

His favorite part of this year's camp was the labyrinth of rocks that he climbed through, leapt over and explored. 

He was the Senior Patrol Leader this year and commented "It's hard work trying to get people to do stuff!"  (Yeah, try being a parent!)

BB#1 outside his tent.

Diamond spent a couple of nights up with BB#1.  Here is Diamond with BB#1's Scout Master.

The rest of the family went up for Family Night the last night.  It was fun to watch the skits and hear all about the week.