...The Bombs Bursting in Air

And burst they did! Wyoming fireworks are out of control. Our sheltered Utah eyes were not prepared for brilliance. In the short ride from our house to the fair grounds to view the "real firework show" we saw some VERY spectacular residential displays. We felt like we'd seen several Utah style firework shows, before the real one even started. Then, during the real show, we thought that several of the blasts were the finale. Not so! They went on for about 25 minutes and did not disappoint.

We were also glad that Bethany and Tyler stopped by for the excitement on their way home from Yellowstone.

Rice Crispy Treats

My mom makes the best Rice Crispy Treats. I don't know what her secret is, she claims it's easy, but I have yet to replicate the deliciousness. Maybe the magic will rub off on Cali, or at least some marshmallows!

Splash Down

We couldn't leave Castle Dale without at least one more trip to the new pool. I'm thinking next summer I may just drop Cali and Carter off there for a few weeks. They had such a great time, and with 6+ life guards and 2 foot deep water, it was pretty relaxing for me too. On our second trip to the pool we included a couple of our favorite people.

My brother Brandt, of course, had to get in on the photo ops. I was just impressed that he didn't choose to sit right on the jets. Ladies, he's single...

Melissa, Devin, and Parker the cousin {he used to be Parker the baby, but he's really not much of a baby anymore}. Cali took good care of him and showed him how to ride the slides.

Splash Down! Despite the drowning look on his face, Parker really loved the water! He fell over several times and wasn't bother at all by water in his nose, eyes, and mouth. He has some serious swimming lessons in his future...not to mention the pool is within walking distance from his house. Lucky!

An Early Morning Hike

Last Thursday morning we got up early and headed to the desert for a hike. We were trying to beat the heat, and were so lucky that the overcast weather cooperated.

My dad took us to a little canyon on the back side of Big Cedar Mountain. We hiked up and through the conglomerate rock formations where we saw a prehistoric crocodile skeleton. From there the canyon got very wet, which is uncommon for this type of desert. There is a small water seep in the rocks out of which tropical ferns grow. This certain type of fern has not been found anywhere else in Utah. so we were feeling pretty special!

We continued on and saw some petrified dinosaur bones and an old Indian cave. The hike wasn't long or steep and was just the right amount of walking and rock scaling for a 5 and 3 year old. My dad and I had to lift them over a few places, but for the most part they made it on their own.

Since it is so wet in there we found pools of standing water filled with tiny tadpoles swimming around. If we would've had a jar I may have been tempted to bring a few home for Grandma Gwennie. However, I think that would just give her horrible flashbacks of when I raised tadpoles into frogs and then had to release them into the Cottonwood Creek...That's a obviously a whole different story.

It was a great morning, and fun to be out on the desert!

What Do Boobs and Weeds Have in Common?

Since we've been working on our basement this year, we really haven't done much with our yard. I would insert a picture here, but it really is embarrassing. The weeds are growing at an alarming rate, and pop up faster than we {Christian} can cut them down.

We thought about having a few of the scouts stop by to earn some money for their scout camps...But, really, the job is too big for some poor teen aged boys...and I'm sure there are labor laws prohibiting the amount of work they would have to do.

So, today I called a local weed control company to see if we could get an estimate on what it would take to tame this yard. The conversation went something like this....

Me: Our yard isn't very big, but there are a lot of weeds.
Lady: How tall are the weeds.
Me: Oh, like maybe a little taller than a foot.
Lady: Damn, that's nothin' I was working on a lot today and the weeds were up to my boobs!

And that is why we will be hiring this company to remove the weeds. Because, if she can kill boob height weeds, then I am impressed!

My New Favorite

This is just a short break from my SE Utah vacation log to plug my new favorite show. Christian started watching it while we were gone, and now we're all hooked. There is NOTHING not to love about this show. Cake...more cake...and even more hilarity. Watch it, or these guys will hit you over the head with a rolling pin!

The Mayor, a Goat, and a Nap

While in Castle Dale, Cali and Carter wanted to "sit in the mayor chair". So, we made the four block trip to City Hall where they were able to live their dream of sitting in the mayor chair. They approved some resolutions, printed out some beautification regulations, and Cali may or may not have written the words, "Mayor Chair at City Hall" on entire carbon copy notebook of business licence receipts.

Carter had a lot of fun feeding Frankie the Goat. He fed him bread, crust from his grilled cheese sandwiches, and a few Wheat Thin crackers. A few weeks ago, Frankie suffered an unfortunate encounter with his fence, and lost one of his horns in the process. Carter is now convinced that Frankie is indeed a "unicorn goat".

Cali was taking a short "time-out" from her activities {and attitude} when I noticed that it was very very quiet. I opened the door and found this sweetie pie!

Summer Swimming

We've been awaiting the completion of the Emery County Aquatic Center. Otherwise known as, "Grandpa Neal's Pool". The great county of Emery has been working on it for several years, and now it's open for business. Cali and Carter wasted no time getting down with the slides! Here's Cali waiting her turn in line....

It's time to go...Of course, I showed her how it was done by demonstrating my best water sliding skills. The heavier you are...the faster you go.

To avoid a potential ear problem {she still has tubes in her ears} and spastic fake drowning {the pool is only 3.5 feet at the end of the slide} Grandpa Neal was gracious enough to catch her...over and over and over again. She went down the slide a total of 31 times.

Carter was a little scared at first, but after sitting on a few jets he determined that it was safe enough for him to enter. I had to promise him that the water wasn't as deep as the Green River, and that he would not have to dive. After that, he was good for hours!

The Harvest

Earlier this year we happened to swing by Castle Dale on the same day my dad was planting his garden. Cali and Carter helped him with the potatoes, and then proceeded to "plant" the M&M's they were eating. Here's a picture of them planting their M&M's.


Well, miracle of miracles...They grew! When we went outside to checkout grandpa's garden, we witnessed a melt-in-your-mouth-not-in-your-hand miracle. When grandpa asked Cali if she wanted to pick the M&M's off the M&M tree she replied, "Um...do you mean untape them?"

It's All Fun and Games...

Until someone falls in the mud and has to be washed off by his older sister....Screams so hard he blows a huge booger bubble...All while his mother and grandmother stand by laughing and photographing!

Price Dinosaur Museum

The Price Dinosaur Museum is the home to the famous Mammoth found in the bottom of the Cleveland Reservoir in the early '90's. It is huge and amazing, and the most well preserved mammoth remains possibly ever.

The museum is also home to an alligator and a soft shell turtle. The display is supposed to showcase some of the animals that lived during dinosaur times, and are still living today....

After staring at the display for a half hour the caretaker informed us that the turtle is MUCH more ferocious than the alligator, and in fact, killed and ate the first alligator in the display....Noted!

Cali wasn't afraid to stick her arm right in a dinosaur mouth...Carter on the other hand...well, he wasn't having it at all!

Posing on a lump of coal. Maybe Grandpa Carl can submit this to one of his coal magazines?

Digging for bones...

More digging for bones!

We're Back

We made it back from our trip to South Eastern Utah on Friday night. We had the best time, and took a ton of pictures, so several of the next few posts will be dedicated to our adventures.

Grandpa Gus

No trip to Price would be complete with out a stop at the Heirloom Inn to visit Grandpa Gus. We were able to visit with him for a few minutes on Monday {June 29} morning before he was whisked off to the dining room for his lunch. The kids love to see him, pounce him, and find out what's in his pockets. Here are a few pictures of their time together!

Old Friends

Last Sunday on our way to Price via SLC we stopped to have dinner. We met my sister Bethany and friends Megan and Suzanne. At one time {2003-2004} we all worked together at the Registrar's Office at the University of Utah. We had the best adventures and have kept in touch over the years.

Since that time Bethany got married, moved to Logan and Price, and graduated from the U. I had two babies and continued working at the U until we moved to Wyoming last December. Megan graduated from the U, got married, and moved to Boston where her husband will be starting his last year of dental school. Suzanne's boys have all graduated from high school, her husband is now retired, and she has received numerous job promotions.

Through all of our life changes we've managed to stay in touch and it was so great to meet up again!

Flaming Gorge Days

On Friday June 26 {yes, I am that far behind!} we met some friends at the park in Green River to check out the free bounce houses. The weather was cool and there weren't many people, the kids went crazy on the slides and other inflatable wonders. On Saturday June 27 we went back to Green River to watch Christian play some basketball. His team did pretty well, but after all that time spent in the sun, he was "baking' like a toasted cheeser" {yes, from time to time I quote The Sandlot}! His arms are still recovering. And I'm still recovering from all the misplaced neck tattoos and masses of drunk people riding a mechanical bull. I thought I had seen some interesting sights, I am a veteran of the Emery County Fair after all, and even I was amazed. All in all, it was a good time!

Greetings from Castle Country

My kids and I are on a fun filled tour of beautiful South Eastern Utah. We left yesterday and drove to Salt Lake, where we were able to meet up with some friends for dinner {pictures to come}. After which, we drove to Helper to visit Grandma Vicki! We have a whole week of adventures planned, and have already had a great time. I remembered to pack pretty much EVERYTHING, except my USB cable....pictures will have to wait. But, it will be worth the wait. In true Cali and Carter fashion, we already have several priceless digital gems!!

Professional Midget Wrestlers {Sorry..."Little People" Wrestlers}

Tatum and I have been friends since before the Spice Girls were cool and it was completely acceptable to dress in baby doll dresses and Doc Martens {together of course}. As young girls, full of hopes and dreams, we often talked about the things we wanted to be when we grew up. I thought about being and architect {too much math}. She thought about becoming a marine biologist {too much math}. I thought that maybe I would be an investment banker {again, too much math}. There was a phase where we thought we both might want to be dental hygienists {too much biology and too many mouths}. We bounced around the idea of starting our own salon/massage parlor. I think that one was nixed when I discovered that I really can't stand touching other people.

So, off we went to college to pursue our dreams. We both graduated from college about the same time. She graduated from SUU with a Communication Degree and a Minor in Dance. I graduated from the U of U with a Communication Degree as well. For a time I thought that I would become a high powered public relations official. She had dreams of becoming a writer and a teacher.

Then one day we both realized that we had become something that had never even crossed our minds. Professional {in every sense of the word} Midget Wrestlers. Look at our technique, check out the holds, take note of our stamina. It is amazing. There is a good possibility that some of our dreams have yet to come true. Seriously, with as much talent as we have combined...the world is just not ready for it....yet!

Cali's Latest Literary Works

Cali is ALWAYS either writing, drawing, or coloring. She can burn through a ream of printer paper in a matter of days. It's remarkable. When I went to parent teacher conference at the end of the year, her teacher informed me that for her free time and play time she liked to color and write extra entries in her journal. She first started with some sound spelling, and now her words and phrases are really starting to take shape. Here are some examples:


"Dear Dad,
You are the best thing that made me. It was you, you were the one I loved."

"Dear Mom,
Everything that made me going was you, your love was it."

A Note to Bethany and Tyler written on several sticky notes and stuck to their door:

"Bethany and Tyler's House we love each other, love is love, we love to hug."

Her notes are so sweet and now that I have them recorded forever; I can show them to her in a few years when she decides that we are not as great as she originally thought.

A People Person

On Monday we spent the day in Salt Lake attending the funeral services for Christian's great uncle, Ned. There is a good possibility that most people don't even know their great uncle, however, we knew Uncle Ned well.

I met him for the first time at our wedding in May of 1999. Ned and his wife Andrea were serving a mission at the Institute of Religion in St. George, Utah. They drove up to Manti, where we were married, and attending our wedding.

Later, in August of that same year, I got a job at the Registrar's Office at the University of Utah working with Uncle Ned's oldest daughter, Suzanne. We became co-workers, and then friends, and I now consider her one of my closest and best friends. She taught me and helped me and mentored me in everything from policy to computer programs.

Suzanne, Ned and Andrea always invited us to their family Christmas party on Christmas Eve, and we made the best memories spending time with our friends and extended family members. We were shocked and saddened at his passing, but grateful we knew such a wonderful man so well.

His obituary was published in the Salt Lake Tribune on June 19th, 2009, click here to read the details of his dedicated life and accomplishments.

Party Party People

On Saturday we were able to visit our friends in Herriman. My friend Lori planned a joint birthday bash for her kids Tanner and Madisen. She went all out with a fun carnival theme complete with carni games and food! The weather didn't cooperate at all, but luckily we were under the protection of a huge tent. The kids had a ton of fun seeing their old friends, and so did I!