Team Softball!

This summer I decided to play on a city softball team. I played with a group of ladies I didn't know very well and had a blast! I wasn't sure I was even going to be able to hit or catch but I did all right! Caught a pop fly with rain plopping down in my face; hit the ball just about every time I went up to bat; and even made a couple double plays at 2nd which was my position most of the time. I'm so glad I decided to play and will definitely play every year from now on. Fun fun!

Summer Visit with Sarah, the boys and Joe

Because our family camp out was canceled because of Dad having to work, Joe decided to come down from Rexburg and visit for the weekend. Sarah was able to get away too and they came together for another summer visit! This time we headed up to the mountains most of the time to fish and hike. It was Jacob's first time fishing and he LOVED it! Travis caught a bunch and let Jacob reel them in. It was so cute. The sunset was gorgeous at Upper Kents and it was a nice evening. The next day we did the Sky Line Trail Hike. Sarah borrowed a pack from a friend for Caleb and we brought ours for Dallen. He's become such the strong hiker though that we didn't have to use it at all! He hiked the whole way. We had snacks at the tops while Travis looked for deer and elk. Jacob did great hiking too. I think it was his first real hike. He was a trooper. Sarah, Joe and I spent down time at home playing cards which I loved and hadn't done in a long time. Nerts was just calling my name ever since girls camp. We filled in other down time with taking Jacob to the park and swimming during nap time and picking veggies in the garden. It was great catching up with Joe who I hadn't seen since Christmas. Love spending time wtih the fam!

 

Together for Pioneer Day

This was the first summer out of the 3 we've been in Beaver that we were all able to celebrate Pioneer Day together. We went to the parade on Main Street in the morning where Dallen loved checking out the horses and of course eating the candy. Once he had his fill on candy collecting and tasting a few he noticed the bounce houses in the park and made a B-line for them. It's been his favorite discovery this summer- Bounce Houses! It was a good thing we went to place on them before the parade was over though because it was a made house afterward. We played in the park after the parade and then went to the rodeo that night. The rodeo was all about roaming around and checking out all the horses again. Dallen didn't care much about what was going on inside the arena, but more what was going on in the parking lot where everyone' horses were tied up. So Travis and I took turns chasing him around and watching the rodeo the rest of the time. It was a nice holiday even though I still think celebrating pioneer day with all the fuss that goes into it all isn't all that necessary. :P

Summer Visit from Gma & pa Hicks!

One of my most enjoyable trail rides was this weekend when David and Linda came to visit. They had a free weekend and decided to escape the Vegas heat and spend a couple days outdoors with us. We did a trail ride starting at Merchant Valley and ended at Puffer Lake. It was gorgeous! Travis and I rode the Grizzly together which turned out to be the last time we would ride it together since we recently sold it. Dallen rode with Gma and pa in the Ranger and everyone had a great time. We had a little picnic up there too; Grandpa showed Dallen some bugs; Dallen enjoyed climbing all over mom on the ATV and then climbing up on a wall and jumping to Dad. It was a fun day trip. The next day we went out target shooting with all the hand guns we own between the 4 of us. Ok, so I don't own a handgun but Linda is totally into them now and so we went shooting. Dallen brought his truck along for something to do and was good about not getting close to the shooter or targets. It was fun to get out and shoot a little again, although I do prefer my shotgun. :D We really really enjoyed their visit and hope to have them again soon!

Girls Camp in Beaver

Girls Camp! So much fun! It was great going to girls camp again after almost 15 years! I loved girls camp then and it was nice to get up in the hills and spend time with these girls too. I could only go for one day since Travis had to work, and I ended up taking Dallen with me that morning too so Travis could sleep after his long shift the night before. Dallen and I did a short hike with Kellie, one of the laurels I brought up with me, and found the rest of camp having a little devotional at a lake on the hike.  Then we headed back down for lunch and free time playing card games in the rain. Travis came and got Dallen at lunch time so I could spend the rest of the day just being me and not a mom too. It was the last night of camp so there were devotionals, testimony meeting and a tree of life walk along an 'iron rod'. I decided to stay the night in my little tent but didn't get much sleep because of all the noise from the girls all night! Didn't really take that into account. :P It was worth it though and I enjoyed my first night away from Dallen ever.

A Fillmore Fun 4th of July

Happy Independence Day! We started out the day at the Beaver City Parade. It's just a bunch of kids on bikes and ATV's but Dallen was pretty impressed. Afterwards they had a few kids activities and what not at the Main Street Park so we headed over there to see if anything would keep his interest. He decided he'd check out the Bounce House and was a little apprehensive at first, but after 5 minutes or so he was hooked. I couldn't drag him away! He loved it and it was fun watching him. Travis had to work on the 4th but he did join us for fireworks that night in Greenville. We got there kind of early and all Dallen wanted to do was run around the cow-patty field. Even when the show started he wasn't all the impressed and just wanted to run around. All well. We liked it. 

The next day we headed out to Fillmore for the weekend with the Starley's. We 'camped out' in Mindy's Dad's trailer but it had AC so I don't really count it as camping. It was parked in Nick's Grandma's driveway and hooked up to her house. Ha! While we were there we took the kids fishing at the creek up the canyon and then did an ATV ride from Fillmore to Richfield. It was a really nice ride and yummy eating lunch at our favorite Chinese restaurant. During the down times Dallen loved pushing his truck around the yard and carport and just being outside the whole time. We did some fireworks in the street both nights while Lily hid in the trailer. She HATES the 4th...well more the fireworks, but still. Even though Fillmore is only an hour away it was still a nice weekend away and fun to ride different trails than the ones we usually go on in Beaver.