Party with the Braithwaites!!

Nothing beats hanging out with you guys!! Especially when there is a water slide! Thanks for the quality family time! Love you all!!

the George

Fun time in the "George" (as Emily calls it!!)

We had a quick, hot trip, but loved seeing St. George and we all enjoyed our In-N-Out Burgers.

Thanks, Emily, for letting Kimbel come play for a week and for giving the rest of us a reason to go on a road trip!! We had a great time at the pool, the pizza factory and we stopped at the temple for a quick walk before we headed home!!

Loved it all!! (Except the ride home.....)

Some synchronized swimming and a little YMCA from the girls were the highlight of the pool. And if you ask Braden, he did a BIG BOB -- without plugging his nose! whew.

Trekkin' On

I had the awesome opportunity of going on the Trek with the Rose Springs Young Men & Young Women yesterday.

Okay, let's be honest... after my first trek experience 5 years ago -- I was not thrilled. But, I figured one day, how hard can it really be -- it isn't the three day, knock-down, drag out version.

So, after getting over my initial snotty attitude... I was humbled. Yup, good times. We trekked at the This is the Place Park up Emigration Canyon. There was something special about doing it there, about seeing it as the pioneers did. We pushed and pulled and laughed and cried. It was amazing. I can't believe how awesome the youth in this ward are. Wow. That's all I can say... wow. Here is a pic of Mad and I from the top -- really, it is MUCH HIGHER than it looks! :)

Our youth conference continues today and wraps up tomorrow with a fireside. I hope these kids felt the spirit of the pioneers like I did. Those pioneers were really something...

One Fabulous Fourth

We had a great Independence Day -- Fun, Family, Food, Fireworks!

What more do you need?

The parade wouldn't come fast enough for one 5 year old! And when he saw Kelly in the back of a pickup throwing candy - he knew that there was a better parade experience! So, up he went! I was too busy getting he and Kimbel into the back of the truck to take pics -- darn it!! (Niccole, no need to expand on the story!)

Parade-goers - Kenna and Taya

After the parade we headed into Liberty Park for lunch with the Braithwaite Bunch! It was a good, relaxing time.

Maya was the designated seagull chaser and photographer.

Cousin Peek-a-boo....

Cousin Glitter Nails...

Lot of cousin fun!

Our best at a family pic!

Then off to Provo for the Stadium of Fire and the Jonas Brothers!

We had a great time! We all sang every word (Okay, except for Kel - who commented that he felt like "an old dad who didn't know the words!") It's okay, hon... you still rock!

Oh, and Braden... who slept through most of the Jonas Brothers but LOVED the big fireworks (as long as his ears were plugged!)

What can I say? A great fourth with all the sparks and fun!

Girls Camp!

Okay, so I don't have any pics of myself and only a few of Madison - because the battery on my camera ran out -- of course!! But we are home safe, dried out and exhausted!

(Here are the 3rd and 4th years... I got to go to the challenge course with them!)

(Madison and Chelsie)

It was a GREAT week -- good to bond with these sweet Rose Springs Ward Young Women. We took 27 girls and 4 leaders, including me. Nothing like a lack of sleep to bring out the best!!

We got to go up to Heber Valley Camp - which is AMAZING!! Seriously, wow. It was VERY nice and was full of opportunities... We got to take canoes out on the lake, experience the challenge course with its zip-line, and smell like campfire every night! It was all good... and beautiful.

Summer do!

Time for a summer cut!

Kimbel got almost 8 inches cut off!  Cute!!

Thunderbirds!

Ah.... memories from my childhood...

the smell of sunscreen, cheeseburgers, and jet fuel...

a kink in my neck from looking up...

being amazed again by stunts that never get old!

Nothing beats a good airshow!!

We joined Grandpa, Shan, Ashly and Dallan for the Air Show at Hill Air Force Base on Saturday afternoon.  It was a great way to spend the weekend (even the annoying one hour wait on the bus was bonus conversation time with Shan!)

We even got to reconnect with some old friends who moved from Santa Cruz seven years ago!  (Small world, huh?)

Ah, summer time is good...

Love those Thunderbirds!