Burning Homework

Last night at church, we took the youth went up the canyon for our annual burn your homework & wienie roast activity to celebrate the end of the school year. Substantial paper piles that have clearly been saved throughout the year. Afterwards, we played missionary tag and had a great time chasing each other around.
-Brenda

Anything You Can Do

Anything a big person does, Conrad wants to try out. Today it was relaxing in the most comfortable chairs in the world with his uncle Paul. Ahh! Summertime :)
-Brenda

Sick Day

Sick day for Abby. Fever, sniffy nose, cough = bed on the couch and being pampered. Sprite, popsicles, plenty of tissues (toilet paper at our house, we're cheap), Harry Potter #5 (she has to reread them again, after-all the new Harry Potter movie is coming out in July) and the TV channel changer. She asked me last night before bedtime, 'do I still have to go to piano if I'm sick?'. Oh! I'm thinking... she is already planning a Tuesday sickness to get out of piano lessons, isn't that sweet? But to our surprise, she woke up and has been truly sick throughout the day.
-Brenda

The Biggest Loser Check In

Check in time for the Biggest Loser. Lindsey and Katie are making sure we are keeping up on our weekly goals and are proving themselves to be worthy task masters for us as we work our way through the summer...
-Brenda

Sunday SPUD

We have been playing spud since the girls were little. It's part of their childhood just like Cabbage Patch Dolls, sidewalk chalk art and playing restaurant. Everyone picks a number and the ball is thrown in the air. If your number is called, you run to grab the ball and yell 'Spud'. (Note: if you catch the ball without letting it touch the ground, you can re-toss it in the air, calling out another number). Everyone freezes and you try to hit one of them with the ball. They can only move one leg when you throw the ball at them. Each hit you get a letter until you become a SPUD and then you are out. Tonight Ashlee was the winner and I was the loser... I have to wash her car. Katie was sure to remind me that I couldn't delegate it to Dad... 'you have to wash it yourself, Mom!'
-Brenda

Saturday in the Mountains

Yesterday we hiked above Alpine (Utah) to a little lake that Ransom had discovered. I don't even think this place has a name, but it was sure delightfully fun. Ransom picked up an old bike at the thrift store and smartly put a life jacket on it. Ransom brought a fishing pole and thought he would try to catch a fish. We all pretty much thought he was crazy, but sure enough, he caught a fish on his first cast within 30 seconds... all 5" of it! The ones that dared, would ride the bike down the bumpy trail, hit the jump and land in the water. The rest of us held our breath and said a prayer hoping they would be safe. Jeff did crash and got scratched up... he will surely be sore in the morning. Ransom showed up with his new facial hair, always surprising us... today it's the handle bar mustache. I did over sun-block Katie and got some in her eyes. Abby didn't want to come, but we made her anyway, knowing she would end up having a good time... she let us know she didn't.

We also hiked up to these natural falls filled with water straight from the snowfall. The water was freezing... probably as cold as water can get before it freezes. I can't believe Ransom stayed in the water to help everyone as long as he did. The rocks were pretty smooth for the most part, but we walked away with plenty of bumps and bruises. We will be back soon!
-Brenda

1. Heading up 2. Snowed capped mountains 3. Conrad
4. Paul & Conrad 5. Ransom trying to catch a fish
6. Fishing success! Ransom, Paul & Conrad

1. Ransom & Conrad 2, 3 & 4 Ransom taking a jump

5. Ransom & Jeff 6. Larry & Brenda

1,2 & 3 David taking a jump 4. Ashlee & Paul
5. Jeff & Michelle 6. Jeff taking a jump

1. Lindsey & Conrad 2. Ransom & his brother David
3. Kelsie sunblocking Abby 4. Ransom, Jeff & David
5. Katie & Conrad 6. David

1 & 2 Ransom 3 & 4 Katie 5. Katie & Kelsie 6. Lindsey, Abby & Conrad

1. Heading up to the falls 2, 3 & 4 Kelsie's turn 5. Ransom & David

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First Summer Movie

Last night's summer movie could have been called "Dinner and a Freeze". It got so darn cold and slightly windy. I think we brought every extra blanket outside and we still needed more! Iceberg shakes and Zoro. It is nice just being outside :)
-Brenda