Over the river and through the woods

Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go!  The kids and I unexpectedly packed our bags Sunday afternoon, hopped in the car, and just hoped that our family had a bed for us when we arrived in Utah.  For having nothing planned, we ended up being extraordinarily busy.  The driving force behind many of our activities were the brag badges offered throughout the valley.  My girls wanted to collect as many as they could, so we went all over Cache Valley doing fun and random activities.

We went ice skating with Bethany and Matthew.  My kids hadn't packed cold weather gear so they had to borrow some of the Lyman's stuff.  Luckily we found something for everyone!  And while I didn't get a picture of it, even Daxton spent time on the ice.  We bundled him in the extra gloves and blankets and I pushed him in his stroller across the ice.

We went to a Scales and Tails presentation at the library.  Cambrie was in heaven as the presenter pulled out snakes, turtles, lizards, and even a cayman.  When he needed a helper with his Asian Water Monitor, he chose Cambrie to come up on stage.  Imagine our surprise when this picture appeared in the Herald Journal the next day!  What an awesome experience for her!

We rode the bus

We picked up some frozen yogurt (courtesy of a coupon Cambrie won for hula hooping for 13 minutes!)

We went hiking up to Spring Hollow and the hobbit caves.

  

While at Spring Hollow, a butterfly visited Emma.

They were quick, easy hikes for the kids and they had a blast exploring the caves...at least until Daxton had a blow-out, Emma was crying in hunger, McKenzie found some stinging nettle, we told Kelton it was time to go, and McKenzie stepped on a dead snake.  Until then it was a blast!

We went out to lunch

We me up with the Reynolds and Stockton for a picnic at Lundstrom Park.  The kids spent more time in the trees than on the ground.

They weren't ready to go home, but they needed a break from the heat.  So we went back to my mom's house and decorated rocks with paint, stickers, fabric, felt, and whatever else the kids could find.

We launched rockets at my mom's cub scout activity.  We stayed until it was almost too dark to see our rockets.  They flew surprisingly far considering they were made out of paper and tape.

We went to Camille and Jake's softball game and spent the evening digging in the volleyball pit.  Who knew there was so much sand in that pit!

We visited Grandma-Great Johnson

We were visited by the tooth fairy!

We cuddled with Grandpa in bed in the mornings.

 And we wore ourselves out!

Wet with the Rogers

Following our journeys across Cache Valley, we moved down south for some water fun.  We met up with the Rogers at Rockport Reservoir.  It was a new experience for all of us, and was so much fun.  We set up camp on the beach.

We water skiied.  The kids used the learning water ski tube and had fun, until every one of them fell off it!  Luckily the girls knew by now to let go of the rope if they fall off and came up smiling. Kelton didn't know he was supposed to let go.  Jeremy had to jump in to save him, but he was still smiling, if a little cold.  

The adults tried to water ski but the boat didn't like going that fast, so we spent more time tubing instead.  The kids loved the long smooth rides.  

Stockton rode with Brody...you almost can't see them behind the deflating tube! 

 

The girls rode together.  

I rode with Kelton and we were swamped by a huge wave.  I didn't think I'd have to legitimately use Kelton's life jacket twice in one day!  

Kenzie and I catching some air.  We had a bumpy ride.

The most humorous ride of the day goes to Dantley and Cambrie.  They made funny faces.  

They did some standing balancing moves.  

And they flipped completely upside down.  

We also just enjoyed cruising in the boat.  

During tube inflating times, the girls challenged Brody and pushed him in the water.  

Naturally he retaliated.

We went home to the King's new house in Draper to recover from our day on the lake.  They had just had their furniture delivered three days earlier so it was a little wild hosting us, but we were very grateful for a place to stay while Bruce and Leesa's house is being renovated.  Kelton especially loved spending time with Stockton.  Their huge dogs, Deja and Dallas, were an added bonus.

Just two short days later we went to Cowabunga Bay water park.  None of us had been there before and had no idea what to expect.  It turned out to be awesome for all of the kids.  There was a perfect kiddie sized pool for the boys. 

 

There were fun water slides for the girls.  A ton of water guns and splash buckets for Jeremy and the girls to attack unsuspecting victims.  

A place to hang when we needed a break from the sun.

A place to nap.

And a lazy river.  

But the best part of all was the World's Biggest Splash.  The splash bucket holds 1200 gallons that come pouring down on top of you.  

What a blast!