Summer Barbeque

Just some pics from a BBQ we decided to do at our house. It was fun to have everyone come over.
Rylie and Karden

Zach, Carson, Jaiden, Taylor, Kylie, and Camry.

Tara, Mom, Elisa, Blake and Mike. Dad couldn't make it because of a mudslide that happened in the Island area of Logan. He had to stay up there and sand bag all night.

Kade, Jamie and cute baby Oakley.

Tony Grove Lake

Last Sunday we decided to take a drive up to Tony Grove Lake. I haven't been there in a long time and forgot how beautiful it is.

Skipping rocks.

Jaiden and Camry managed to find some snow still in July.




They had always wanted to check out the little caves at Ricks Springs, so we stopped to let them explore. The canyon is so green and beautiful. They almost had me talked into heading to Bear Lake as well.

Swim Lessons

We had our annual swim lessons at the Sports Academy. The girls love to have cousins to swim with and we generally stay and play all day 3 times a week for two weeks. The girls are getting really good at diving and swimming in the deep on their own.

Road Trip

Our road trip to Gillette, Wyoming. The night before we were to leave for Gillette, our rental car company told us they didn't have a car for us. Luckily, Tara told them we would be ther at 7 am to pick it up and to find one and so we ended up with a Durango that was pretty nice.

After getting caught in a cattle drive in Randolph canyon, we made it to Farson. Apparently we have distant relatives that built the first and only LDS church there in town. It's the tiniest church ever, but still standing. And then we had to go get an icecream cone at the Farson Mercantile. That's a tradition of my Grandpa Meyer, who would stop on his travels.

We made it to Gillette. Our 9 hour ride turned into more like twelve, because I left my purse in Riverton, Wyoming at the Wendy's and we had to turn around.(and I'm so grateful someone turned it in.) and also because HECK! we had six women in the car. Mom, Tara, Rylie me and the girls). But we made it to Gillette and stayed with Spence and Laura in their new apartment. Luckily for us they had a pool.

After our morning dip in the pool. we went to a park with the kids and toured the town. We went to see Spencers Sears store where he has been living and tested out their new fridges with a slushie maker.

This is my new sister in-law Laura , who wouldn't let me take any pictures of her.
Hanging out at the Sears store.

That night before dinner and after another round at the pool, Spencer took me and the girls for a jeep ride and to see some highlights.

This tire and shovel were used in some of the many mines that they have up there.

Grandma bought all the girls some Wyoming Cowboy boxers. Now they match their Uncle Spencer.

The next day we got up early to see some sights. This was Devils Tower. A huge monument (rock) out in the middle of no-where. It took us about an hour to hike around it, Jaiden and Cam loved all the little trails to go on. It was really cool and has alot of folktales to go with it.

Help me mom!

Devils Tower.

Jaiden had to run up and touch the base of it.

Then we were off on another tour of Deadwood and stopped for lunch at some waterfalls in Spearfish. Spence and Laura were great hosts and took us all ove, not to mention that
they spoiled us like they may never have another visitor in Gillette again. Laura cooked up gourmets meals all week even for a picnic.

Spencer and Laura preapring the picnic.

Grandma and the girls at the Falls in Spearfish.

After a hike we went on an 1880's train called the BlackHills Central Railroad. There we had an engineer, a conductor who took our tickets and everything. The train only went 10 mph to the next town. Spencer and Laura would drive up ahead of us and take pictures at every turn. Spence put some pennies on the track for the kids.

Rylie loved to yell "Toot, Toot! All Aboard."

Our last stop for that day was to Mt. Rushmore. This is one of those sights that you just have to see. It was interesting to learn how it was carved, and the time it took to make it.
It was really cool.

Mt. Rushmore.

The next day we stopped at Martins Cove, in Wyoming. Not much there, but a very humbling place to be. We watched the movie about the pioneers and checked out some of the stories and items on display. I would love to have more time to visit there.

And our final stop was at Independence Rock. I was letting the girls run around of the rocks when grandma noticed a snake about 5 feet away. She told the girls to quickly come down and the did, with huge eyes. It was crawling up a crack right by them.

Independence Rock.

That was the end of our quick road trip. Thank you grandma for taking us, and Spencer and Laura for taking such good care of us. We promise we'll come back again.