Weekly Cook-out

Dave's family tries to have a weekly cook-out in the mountains. This week Dave's parents were in Idaho so we made the trip without them. We went with Dave's sister and her family.

We took them to a place in North Fork that Dave and I used to hike when we were in high school and college. It was chilly but really fun. We let the kids play in the stream, then we roasted hot dogs.

After dinner we left Uncle Brian and my mom by the campfire and went on the "waterfall hike". It is only 0.8 miles round trip, but WOW I forgot how steep it was! It was a pretty grueling hike for a big fat pregnant woman and two 2-year olds in flip-flops! There were times we were pulling on tree roots just to make it to the top of the hill. Ivy and Kristian did not like the hike very well. Erin wasn't quite sure about it either, but did fairly well. Austin loved it more than I would have liked, I could not keep him off of the steep rock cliffs! It was beautiful up there and worth every drop of sweat.

The picture above was at the Falls (of course where my battery died so I couldn't take any more pictures of the waterfall.) I was amazed that this late in the summer there was that much water still coming down. Usually this time of year it is almost dry.

I put the rest of the pictures into the below slideshow.

Swimming Fun!

Saturday we went to Camille's (Dave's sister) to spend some time in the sun. She has a pool that the kids love to swim in. I was a poor sport and did not get in the pool. Who wants to see a big fat pregnant lady in a swimsuit? I just did what I do best, took pictures. Kira (Dave's neice) just got a cute little boxer dog that Erin fell in love with. She spent most of the time holding the little pup. I think everyone had a great time!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Pioneer Day

On the 24th of July we celebrated Pioneer Day with yet another BBQ. (I think that is the only thing we have done all summer long!) We invited all of our Utah cousins and some of our neighbors. In all we had 31 people! It was fun to sit, visit, eat, and watch the kids play. We even got a game of dominoes going, during which Kristy earned the nickname IJ junior (Ima Joyce Junior). When it was dark enough we all sat around and watched Dave and the kids set off some fireworks and sparklers. It was a fabulous evening!

Unfortunately my camera wasn't working very well so only two pictures turned out. The above is of my cousin Linda and her husband Don. The one below is of some of the kids playing in our sand box. (Even it didn't turn out very good, a little blurry.)

Do's and Don'ts of Parenting!

The do's and don'ts of Parenting~
Rule # 45: Don't give your child an ice cream bar then leave them unattended. Most likely they will fall asleep and create a BIG mess! (I know...seems like common sense!)

BBQ at the Barnes

Yesterday we went to out neighbors for a BBQ. Other than having great food, they set up all of these fun water toys for the kids to play on. They had 2 little swimming pools, a slip and slide, and this ever popular blow-up water slide. The kids had a blast! We could not get the kids off of it.

Here is the ever famous water slide. Austin is the one in the black and white shorts climbing up the ladder.
It took us awhile to get Ivy to go down the slide, but she finally did and loved it.

Erin going down.
Here Austin was doing a flip from the top of the slide. Unfortunately I am a slow photographer and never got the actual flip!
Ivy, Avery, and Carly enjoying a little watermelon.
Erin was catching a few rays on the side of the kiddie pool when one of the neighbor kids jumped on the other end and sent her flying into the water! She was mad at first until she realized she had the attention of everybody there. She so loves being the center of attention that she then kept doing it to keep the adults laughing.

This is the reason that I LOVE SUMMER!

MEMORIES!

MEMORIES.....

O.k. another tag-like post. Karlenn put this on her blog and I decided to steal the idea. I thought it would be fun to read the memories of my family and friends.

Here are the directions:
1. As you comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

A Tag from Todd

My dear brother-in-law, Todd, tagged us the other day. Seeing as my husband hates things like this, I thought I had better respond to the tag.

TAG YOU'RE IT!

1. Two names you go by:

• Mindi
• Mom

2. Two things you are wearing right now:

• Left shoe
• Right shoe

(May I add that they are my favorite pair of shoes that I got 8 years ago on my honeymoon in Acapulco!)
3. Two of your favorite things:

• Reading
• Quilting

4. Two things you want very badly at the moment:

• A vacation!
• Someone to weed my yard.

5. Two favorite pets you have/had:

• Lucky (dog)
• Spider and Cricket (cats)

(I do realize that is more than 2 favorite pets, I just didn't want to leave anyone out!)

6. Two people who will send this back completed:

• Karlenn
• David, if he won't do it for Todd, maybe he will do it for me :)
  
  

7. Two things you did last night:

• Played dress-up with Ivy and Erin
  

Ate popcorn and watched a movie with Erin and Ivy (Dave and Austin had a boys night out so we had a "girls only pajama party!")

8. Two things you ate today:

• Raspberries
• Toast

9. Last two people you talked to:

• David
• Randy

10. Two things you plan on doing today:

• Go to our neighbors BBQ
• Weed my flower beds
  

11. Two longest trips taken in the last five years:

• Disneyland

• Yellowstone

12. Two favorite holidays:

• Christmas
• My birthday (isn't that a holiday?)
  

13. Two favorite beverages:

• Coke
  Coke (isn't that the ONLY Beverage?)
  
  
  
  O.k. my job is complete! Now I will tag all of you that have nothing better to do on a Saturday morning (like me!)

Check it out!

My dear husband has divorced me of my blog and has gone out on his own. He seems to think he has more important things to say!!!! Hmmmm maybe so. Check it out. I have it under "Husband" in my blog links.

Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July to all our friends and family! We hope you all had a good celebration. We had a great day. We started the day with the good old Cherry Days parade. Every year we sit in front of the Cloud's house (my parents good friends). We enjoyed the parade with the Clouds, Swans, Boyds, and Pendergasts. (For those that know my parents old friends.) And of course all of my family.

Ivy is into making silly faces for the camera lately, here is the latest.
Best Buds! Austin and Caden are 2 peas in a pod. Hunter is always in their shadow trying to be the third muskateer. They were helping each other cool off by spraying each other with water bottles, while waiting for the parade to begin. Erin was dancing for us here....trying to be like the Warriorette dancers!
After the parade we went back to our house for hoagies and more. We tried to do some daytime fireworks, but the wind was so bad that most of our parachute guys ended up on the neighbors roof! That evening we decided, with the wind as bad as it was, not to do our own fireworks. Instead, we went over to Weber High School and enjoyed their great firework show! I guess we will have to save all of our extra fireworks for a big 24th of July celebration!