July in Utah

"Next time we go to Utah can we stay there for two months, or a year?" Bridger.

We had a great time on our trip! And we were there a long time. We came early so we could make the Poulton family reunion and then stayed through to the Hansen reunion that is with all the Tolman extended side. But the biggest reason we went and stayed so long was because I had so much dental work to be done. That was not the most exciting part, but hey, if I had to get it done, making it into a fun filled trip is the way to do it!

Still even after the two weeks, five days we spent in Utah, my kids didn't think we were there nearly long enough! My dad did a lot to make the trip awesome and fulfill all of Bridger's dreams. He asked us what we wanted to do while we were there, he pulled out his calendar, and wrote something down on every day. We didn't follow the schedule exactly, but my dad took off several work trips to spend time with us, and we made some special memories. Bridger was invested in the tree house building, and our last night there he was finally able to sleep up in the tree house with grandpa. His biggest request was fishing. That one is made easy with the stream, where he can just fish out of the backyard, but Tony's Grove was amazing fishing too.

My kids absolutely love animals; so being able to spend time with the chickens, grandpa's cows, visiting our friends who had horses and kittens were some of their very favorite things. Myra keeps talking about those cute little kittens, and that she wants one for Christmas... keep dreaming.

On mornings/days when my dad did have to work, we planned other outings. I was able to catch up with some of my roommates which is always good times. I planned some hiking adventures. And we went to the Dinosaur Park.

So much of the trip was spent in swim suits. Out on Willard Bay or Pineview Reservoir on Nicholas' boat and jet ski's. At the pool at Courtney's parents house. And at Causey Reservoir where we kayaked.

We loved hanging out with all the family that we miss all year long. Courtney is one of Myra's favorites, one reason is that she is always giving her make up and they paint nails together. Dallin is so funny and my kids love teasing him. Landon is so fun, but Sawyer continued calling him "Dallin skunk" the whole time we were there. Haha. And Sawyer named Dax his best friend. We love every single one of our family members.

To say it was fun doesn't even begin to capture it all, but we missed Devin terribly. Next time I'm bringing him with me!

Fishing out of grandpa's stream

The kids loved picking peas and blackberries out of grandma's garden every day!

Helping grandpa haul hay for the cows.

The master plan.

Pioneer Days Rodeo

Patsy's Mine & Flag Rock

Hill Air Force Base Museum

This is only my second time on Causey. How I got through high school without ever knowing about this spot is a mystery to me. Bridger still remembers the last time we came here when the Salmon were running. We had kayaked up the river and he was able to catch the fish in his hands. We were too early to make the salmon run this year, but we had an enjoyable time kayaking. Myra wasn't as thrilled as she commented that her flip flops smelled like fish! But I was super impressed with my kids when they tried cliff jumping! Really, it was a big rock, but for their size it was an incredible jump! (I lost those pictures somewhere :( )

Boating with some of our favorite souls.

This was impressive! Surfing with Landon.

 Loving animals

 Museum of Curiosity with friends

All our little munchkins.

Dinosaur Park

Hansen Park

I love Hansen Park. It's a reunion that seems to have been going on forever. Every year the Hunsaker family gets together to camp at the same park. It always involves dinner, shooting clay pigeons, a big campfire, roasting s'mores, and campfire songs, and when I was little we'd play night games half into the night, and there is always a pancake breakfast. It is one of my favorite memories from my childhood and I was so glad so share a part of it with my kids. Myra loved the campfire songs! And Sawyer loved the marshmallows. (He spotted the marshmallows early on in Aunt Betty's bag. I told him repeatedly that we had to wait until it was dark to eat them. So once the fire got lit he ran and stole the bag of sugar away yelling "It's marshmallow time! IT'S MARSHMALLOW TIME!")

Bridger was excited for the opportunity to sleep in a hammock again!

The pretty view over Tremonton.

Tony's Grove is one of the prettiest places I know. I love coming here.

Myra, gathering pretty flowers.

Sawyer, trying to catch a chipmunk to eat him :/.

This was the funniest part. Grandpa knows the best way to bait a hook and where to find what he calls the "secret spot". There were six poles lined up along here, but ours were the only one catching anything. My dad would cast, then let the kids trade off holding the pole, and each time it was almost instantly that the pole would jerk, and then they'd reel in another fish. The man next to us could not believe it! "Do you have some scuba divers down there hooking the fish on your line?" His boy Luke got in on the rotation with my kids and the cousins, and each of them caught plenty of fish! We gave several fish away, our catch was incredible!

Bear Lake. Our last hurrah in Utah! 

We love these cousins!