sleeping in a Springbar

We stopped to play in the snow on our way to the campsite. The boys couldn't believe their eyes. Best snowball fight ever.

We met up with the Crandalls past Mirror Lake near Christmas Meadows. The kids played with sticks and rocks in the woods. Outside. In the fresh air. Just what we wanted.

Rebecca and Glen.

Noah, Gage and cousin Sarah eating their tin foil dinners. 

S'mores for dessert. It was awesome.

Gage is Four!

The day was special. 

Breakfast. Presents. Family. Hugs. Kisses.

and Bowling. 

Gage would get a running start. He'd start way back by the ball racks and then huck that ball down the alley. 

  

We love you Gage! This much. Happy Birthday!!

the grotto

 

It was a short hike up Payson canyon with the kids. 

Over the river and through the woods. 

Right by one of our favorite mountain biking trails. 

Dave says it was great o.

The sun was sunny. The water was cold. 

Don't ask me. I was sick in bed. 

Missed the whole thing.

up up to Timp Caves

 Cousin Parker piggy backed Gage all the way up to the top. 1000 feet straight up in elevation.

Ranger Sue taught us to NOT TOUCH the stalagtites and stalagmites and helictites and anthodites and other mites and tites inside the cave. Noah giggled at the cave popcorn and the cave bacon. Ranger Sue also answered 100 questions from Noah and Gage and told us stories of explorers and adventures.

"That was an amazing story!" said Noah.
"You like stories, don't you." said Ranger Sue.
"Ya, I like nonfiction stories, and fiction stories, and... and... and..." Noah rattled on. 

Megan bribed us back down the trail with her fruity life savers. The view of Utah Valley in the background.

7 11

Did you know if you show up to 7 11 on July 11th they'll give you a free slurpee? 

Now you do. 

Deer Valley concert

We've missed these mountains. We're enjoying every chance we can to get up there. 

We met up with Dave's brother, Rich and his family for an outdoor concert at the Deer Valley ski resort. We ate dinner out of a cute picnic basket and even got to wear sweatshirts when it got chilly. The boys and the cousins hiked up the slope when the music got too jazzy. They would have hiked to the top of the mountain if we let them.

waterskiing in Boise

Over the weekend we drove up to Boise to see Ted and Leslie and their family. Can you tell Ted and Dave are brothers?

They took us waterskiing. 

Gage with his buddy Tessa.

Lincoln. 

Dave.

The water was so freezing, we were glad they had wet suits. You should have seen Dave shimmying to get his on. Leslie and I couldn't stop laughing.

Noah and Sam.

 

Gage and Tessa. 

Me on the wakeboard. 

4th of July

The police motorcycles led the parade. Lights flashing off their aviator sunglasses, sirens bleeping. Gage couldn't believe his luck. They even high-fived him with their fancy gloves. One by one, all in a row.

Behind the police came the rest of the parade: neighborhood kids on bikes complete with streamers and flags, a marching band, small businesses with small floats, maybe a unicycle or two. And lots of candy thrown to the kids. Mike n' Ikes and Hot Tamales. David couldn't believe his luck.

We went with David's parents and three of his siblings and their families. It was so fun to see everyone. And cousins!! What is better than that?

 My awesome niece Claire and her glow stick. This one is just for you, Claire!

 

After the parade, there were snow cones.

and a game of Red Rover.  Then we BBQed some delicious burgers and watched the kids jump off the diving board at the pool. We missed the fireworks - Dave and I put our jet lagged selves to bed early.

It was a very Happy Indepence Day. 

I am so grateful to be an American. 

There are definitely things in the U.S. that need to be improved. Quite a long list of things. But I feel like I 'get it' a little more each year. Slowly.

I am grateful that I don't have to license my TV with the government. I am grateful I don't have to buy bottled water to drink from and brush my teeth with. I am grateful I can travel wherever I want to. I can own property. I can access websites of my choosing. I can vote. 

I could go on and on. 

This year we saw places with garbage piled in the streets because there is no garbage collection. We saw an entire neighborhood of gorgeous people celebrate that toilets were being built. We saw people without electricity, roads, or schools. Real people. Born to the place they were. Just like you and me.

I don't know that I'm proud to be an American - I didn't really do anything to earn that privilege. But I sure am grateful.

21 hours later

We're taking a break from this urban jungle that we love. Going on holiday, as they say it here. 

We spent a few days getting ready, digging out our sweatshirts, packing our suitcases, making lists and then checking them off. I remembered to grab my toothbrush this time.  

Noah asked if the U.S. had a McDonalds like Singapore. Gage wanted to know if Grandma's dog Riley was going to meet us at the airport. 

We left for the airport at 4:00am. The boys were so good on The Big Flight. It helps that they are 2 years older than they were when we started this craziness. The biggest trick now is to get enough sleep. There was a point when I thought - "ok, we've done great. but I am exhausted. this is about all we can do. we must be landing soon" then I looked at my watch and realize there were 4 hours left. 4 hours! 

We did eventually reach The States. and are now nestled safely in Grandma and Grandpa's basement. We are lovin the wide open spaces and the fresh air. Gage takes everyone outside to see "The Big Mountain." And we are especially lovin the family. We can't get enough.

 

David and his parents.

Marina Bay Sands

Our incredible friends, the Bikmans, moved back to the U.S. We are going to miss them!

 

The night before they left, they stayed at the Marina Bay Sands hotel and invited us to come up for a swim. 

Now every time we drive past Gage calls it "Samara's hotel."

In the room with more friends getting ready to hit the roof.

The pool is part of the rooftop garden and has incredible views.

I need to sneak back up there one day, to get some pictures in the morning when the light is not right behind my camera. The pool guy won't notice, will he?

This is the view from the other side. The boys were trying to spot our condo. Its one of the white ones in the front row on the far right.

I stayed for dinner with the girls. The night views were amazing. But I hated to say good bye to my sweet friend.