City of Rocks

We explored City of Rocks this week.  It is a national preserve located just north of the Utah-Idaho border.  It was such a neat place!  I didn't expect it to be so beautiful.  We couldn't take our eyes off all the amazing rocks.  Rock climbers come from all over the world to climb here.  There are  also good climbs for families.

Posing at Window Arch.  This arch is wimpy compared to Arches National Park but still fun.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Super Carter!

Camille climbing "Five cracks".  She was awesome!  I wish I had more pictures of her, I feel like a bad mother.  But she doesn't pop in front of the camera like Carter and Bethany and I don't have to chase her down like Ryan, so no pictures....  Sorry Camille, you really are a very important part of our family!!

Scott belaying

Carter is a natural like his Dad.

Bethany was so brave!

King of the  Mountain!  This rock was much higher than it looks.  Ryan loved climbing all the rock piles.

Summer Fun

We went to the zoo with Aunt Stephanie and her cute kids.  We loved watching the seals and polar bear swim around.  The polar bear was a performer.  He would swim right up to the glass and push off with his paws and then flip around and do it again and again.  It was such a hot day that it was tempting to jump in with the seals.

There were lots of Lego animals, which the kids enjoyed.

 Ryan smiles much better for Aunt Step than for his mother!

We took advantage of the free carousel rides at the Zermatt.  I wasn't sure Ryan and Carter would want to but who can pass up a free ride...

  

One oversize passenger!

Bethany had another dance recital.  She danced to the songs, "Hey Baby" and "Never Grow Up".

 

We've had lots of friends this summer.  The is Carter and his best friend Ethan on top of our kitchen wall staking us out.

 Bethany with her activity day friends.  I'm Bethany's activity day leader.  It's been lots of fun to spend extra time with her.

We hiked to Stewart Falls for the Jensen family reunion.  My father's mother, Phyllis Butler, was a Jensen.  I didn't know anyone very well if at all but it was interesting to see the resemblance many family members have to my grandmother.  The hike was beautiful and went across the mountain instead of up so it was relatively easy.

Bethany was starting to get tired at this point.

We went camping at Little Deer Creek campground for Carter's 12th birthday.  It was very green and pretty with a stream nearby.  Unfortunately there were tons of biting flies which made it a challenge to enjoy being outside.  The kids were good sports and we had a good time despite the flies.  We took a walk, played in the stream, roasted s'mores and Carter shot his new compound bow.

By coincidence our friends, the Weeks family, were camping at the same campground!  The kids had fun running around together exploring the campground.

Too Many Bugs!!

On the way home we stopped and explored Crystal Springs.  Ryan wasn't feeling camera friendly but he was there...

Carter with Grandpa Butler at our house after his priesthood ordination.  Carter was ordained to the office of a deacon on July 7th.

School's Out!

Bethany's school concert.  Her class sang cute spanish songs and danced.

Memorial Day with the Butlers at our house.

 

All smiles as usual!

Camille, Sarah and Joy

 Bethany has always wanted to try a Texas donut.

Bethany looks a lot like me (Sarah) at that age.  I got this dress from a friend of my father when we lived Seoul, Korea.

Scott went on a trip to Moab with his fellow Chemistry teacher, Bill Kahn.  They were so excited to escape that they left minuets after school let out for the summer.  They rode mountain bikes and motorcycles for four days.  Scott loved riding on the slickrock.  While Scott was gone the kids and I tried to do some fun activities around town.

We had pizza at the park and fed the ducks.

Ryan had to try a Texas donut too after seeing Bethany's.

We climbed the Homestead crater.

Ahhh!  I'm disconnected!

A friend for Bethany

Riding the Heber Valley Railroad with our friends, the Ailshies and Adams.  I'm not fond of the train because we hear it's horn blast multiple times daily but this ride was lots of fun! The train gives local students a free ride every year on the weekend after school gets out.  The windows were open, the air was sweet and the valley beautiful and green.  We sat in the middle section where the entertainers take their breaks because it was less crowded.  There was a cowboy lassoing, train robbing, singing cowgirl along with her husband, who was there to keep his wife company.  She gave us a mini concert right there and even took requests.  It was a great way to start our summer.

May Flowers

I love all the spring blooms in our garden.  The air smells so fragrant I want to spend all my time outside.  As usual for Utah, the temperatures range from chilly one week to hot the next.  We never know what to wear!  The kids are counting down the days until the end of school.  I do too until I catch myself and remember that summer is overtime for moms...  I hope I can relax enough to enjoy them and not worry about getting my work done. 

 We all miss Camille and wish she was getting out of school the end of May too.  She misses having a garden to putter in.  BYU has beautiful gardens but they are tended by an army of student employees so there aren't even any weeds to pull.  There is something so satisfying about getting your  hands dirty in the spring. I love the sensory experience of working in the soft soil and working with all the different textures and colors.  

Great Friends

 Bethany, Carter and Ryan have been great friends this spring.  They enjoy playing outside, role playing, and just rough housing in general.  Of course someone eventually gets hurt ...

  

Roasting hotdogs and marshmallows during spring break.

 The kids with their friends Ray and Noah.  Carter and Bethany slept in the tent that night. In early April!  Brrrr!

 Bethany was sick last Sunday, so Ryan and Carter made her a soft bed and stocked her up with books before they left for church.  What kind brothers!

                              

One of their favorite games is to slide down the stairs on blankets.  Even more exciting is when Ryan pulls Carter and Bethany down the stairs!  

Bethany with her two buddies Ginger and Pepeito.  Pepeito is a special friend from Maestra Zeleya's class.  All of the students in Bethany's class get a turn taking him home.  Pepeito is so friendly!