Swimming Fun

Summer started out soooo very late this year.  The last week of June we were only hitting 60*F for a high.  Not good for swimming.  Then we went to family reunion in Idaho and got blasted by 100*F weather.  Needless to say the kids wanted a pool set up when we got home.  This little dinky one was the closest we got.  Our big pool sat out this year do to vacations and just weather issues.  It wasn't too bad for the younger 3, but the other 2 kinda got gypped.  Such is life.

Evan jumping in

Lex cooling off with a bucket of water

Couldn't keep this little boy out of the water.  Before 9 am he was ready to put his suit on and go swimming.

Baseball Game

My sister Paige got a great deal on baseball ticket through work, so we had her get us some.  We were in the bleachers, however, we were lucky because the sun was behind us instead of in our eyes like the other side of the bleachers.  We also weren't seated together.  For some reason they split up our seats.  Doug and one child were on one row at one end and the rest of us were on the next row down at the other end.  This did cause some issues when it came to child management.  We didn't stay for the whole game because we, the Spokane Indians, were way behind; but mostly the children were not being their best and I had had it.  Before that time hit though we were happy.

Ben, Evan, and Chris

Ben and Peter

Pitchers warming up

Chris and Mommy

July 4th

Fourth of July was sunny and perfect for a day of fun.  We started off the day with the annual breakfast at church. 

 Lex ate her plate clean

Then after a brief stop at home it was off to great-grandma's house for more food and games.

Lex found Uncle Jeff and Aunt Brin to eat with.

We were in charge of games for the 5-11 year olds.  We decided to go carnival style and looked up some games.  We had a variety of games with some being more popular than the others.  We used pool noodles as javelins.  We hooked three hula hoops together like the Olympic rings and had them toss a ball in them.  We had darts and balloon basketball.  We also had a swimming pool that had rubber duckies in it.  The object of the pool game was to use squirt guns and have a race to see who's duck could make it to the other side first using the squirt guns only.  However, a couple of my favorites were Plinko and Toilet Toss.  Yes we made them and as far as I am concerned they turned out great.

Justin playing Plinko

Toilet Toss just waiting to be used

Grandpa brought balloons and one of my cousin's husband knew how to make hats and swords.  My kids were in heaven.

Ben

Chris

Evan

Lex

Peter

After we were gamed out we headed over to grandpa's for some sparklers.  We had to forgo the fireworks because daddy had to work the next day.

Ben, Chris and Evan

Lex

Daddy and Peter on his first one

Then we or he got brave and did one alone.

Our beds were waiting for us when we got home and I, at least,  happily climbed in.

Solomon Reunion - Family and Camp Life

We have never been camping before as a family, so this was definitely a learning experience.  As in, we learned that we need to purchase some camping gear if we ever want to go camping out in the wild and not just someone's back yard.  We also learned that Lexie is afraid of port-o-potties.  And who isn't?  I really should have gotten a picture of them but I didn't.  Let's just say you didn't use it unless you needed to.  With lots of people and high temps in that small enclosed space it was nasty!  However, camp must not be defined by the nasties or those things that we much purchase next time.  We had lots of fun playing games and just hanging out.  We also learned a new game, our favorite game for now, called Scum.

Cousin Brayden was a hit with children and adults alike.  He's just so cute and adorable.

Ben with Brayden

Lex with Brayden

Lex just chillin' with her cookie

Chris giving Lex and Peter a wide in a metal wagon someone found

And then there were the first aid moments.  

Evan got stung by a hornet

And Peter walked into something larger and tougher than him.

Luckily I had a good first aid kit packed.

Reunion was hot, tiring and lots of fun.  It was good to see everyone, but boy am I glad to be home.

Solomon Reunion - BYU-I

When Doug and I attended Ricks/BYU-I it was a two year college.  A nice small town with little to do but schooling.  Man how things change in 13 years.  Now the college is a four year university, campus is expanding and new attractions are popping up for those college kids to do.  Thankfully the old is still there underneath and we didn't get lost driving around.  I was able to show the children the two apartment complexes I lived in, my first place of employment as a married woman and the hospital my oldest, Ben, was born in.  Our main reason for going though was the campus gardens.  They are so beautiful and well maintained.  Doug and I actually used them for our invitation pictures.

Here we are looking in a pond.  There were so many ponds and just gaze into.  It really made us want one of our own.  Just a secluded area with shade and a pond.  Is it too much to ask for?

The children sitting on the fire pit hearth.

Lex and Peter sitting on the rocks and watching the water go by.

While Evan used the restroom, Lex and Peter found the sprinklers to play in.  It was very hot out and since we had come from 60*F weather to this desert of 100*F, we let them play in the water.  They probably could have stayed all day there, but move on we must.

We found this little house/shelter and took a brief rest.

On one side there were benches to sit on.

Lex and Peter

And the other boasted porch swings.

Chris, Ben, and Evan

A bridge path to walk over

Evan, Chris, and Daddy

And many more ponds

Lex looking in the pond

This was a rock face at the last pond we saw.  Kinda creepy and kinda cool at the same time.

We managed to make it into the bookstore for a quick stop to see what there was to see and then we got ice cream before heading back to camp.

Solomon Reunion - Rexburg Temple

On our first full day of reunion we awoke to the pitter patter of rain, or so we thought at first.  After fully coming to, we realize that it isn't rain but sprinklers watering the trees and our tent.  We didn't know.  As we arrived at the house Ember was leaving and said to set up in the trees where ever and we did.  We picked out a nice shaded spot with some soft grass to pad my old bones.  Oops!  The grass was nice and fluffy because it got watered regularly.  They forgot to turn off the water with all going to the hospital.  Thankfully it was set on a 1hr timer and then only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  We were dry the rest of the weekend.  

After getting up and moving around we decided to visit the close town of Rexburg, ID.  Doug and I had both attended college there when it was Ricks instead of BYU-I.  We wanted to show the kids around and reminisce a little.  First stop was the temple.

Ben and Chris sitting in front of temple

Evan, Lexie and Peter sitting in front of temple

Daddy and Peter walking down the stairs

Ben and Daddy walking on temple grounds.  

For some reason I just love this picture of my oldest walking as if they love each other, it was a rough weekend in the loving each other department, on temple grounds.

And then I think we were a little irreverent as the children rolled down a hill on temple ground.  But really, what did they expect?  A perfect rolling hill, not too steep and not too shallow, with no trees in the way.  It was as if they were asking my boys to do it.

After a stop on campus we came back to the temple to eat a picnic lunch.  We ate near the stake center and thankfully it was open since we all needed a potty break.

Solomon Family Reunion - Getting there

Traveling down to family reunion was suppose to be a simple affair.  We get up, get going and get there.  Not really how it went down.  Oh, we got up and actually left close to when I wanted to leave (6am) and got going, but then the plan broke down.  We were cramped and the children were handling things pretty good with minor squabbles, but there were more bathroom stops than planned.  More potty breaks were okay.  The "Text" is what stopped us.  Kaytie and William had a blow out and I'm not talking about Ashleigh's diaper here.  The tire decided to blow apart on the freeway.  Luckily we weren't far behind them so we were able to help, at least by the end.  As we were gaining on their location I had a brilliant idea:  We both have vans so our tires should be compatible.  They could use our spare, which is a regular tire not a doughnut, until they can buy another tire.  Great idea, right?  Ehhh, not really.  We stopped and tried to switch tires.  In the process a stud broke off and then when we think everything will be fine, the tire really doesn't fit so the doughnut goes back on.  Not cool.  We stop in the closest town, fill up with gas and find that there is no tire shop around.  We have to travel to the next town down to find one.  Thankfully the tire place had a tire and the studs (see the plural?  Tire guy broke some more) and a very hot wait later we were again on our way.  But, how do we get to our destination?  We planned on camping out at Doug's uncle's, Uncle Dave, house.  Between Doug and myself we were able to get close, but not close enough to be there.  Technology stepped in to help.  With cell phones going we tried to call.  No one answered and then it was crazy busy forever.  Finally we get through only to find out the Uncle Dave is in the hospital and so is the rest of his family.  We could still come and set up though.  So with directions in hand we make it to the house and set up camp and the kids run around.  Camp was in a small tree farm with some clear land and my boys proceeded to climb the trees.  At this point Doug and I realize we are horrible parents because our children had never climbed a tree before.  What kind of parents are we to never let our children up a tree?  Smart.  Controlling.  Extra Cautious.  You can decide.  They made up for lost time though.

Chris up a tree

Evan up a tree

We set up camp between tree climbing and then had a look around.

Daddy and the children on a walk to burn energy and get the lay of the land.

After a run to town to eat dinner it was bed time for us.