Bear Lake, Summer 2010

Once again, Mama and Papa Bailey brought on a great family reunion. This summer Gr Bailey found an awesome house in Bear Lake that was big enough for our ever-growing family. We had such a great time. My kids are still talking about it. The grandkid picture was taken outside the front of the house. The inside was very nice and included a basement full of fun: pool table, foosball, ping pong, games, playroom, and movie theater. We played outside all day and saved the basement fun for the evenings and nights when the mosquitos were in full force.





There was a park across the street from the house we stayed at. We spent lots of time over there playing capture the flag, launching water balloons, having water fights, kickball, obstacle courses, and ole fashion park stuff. I think that some of the adults were into the capture the flag games as the kids. That game was definitely one of my most favorite memories of this reunion. After the obstacle course, Gr Bailey had a treasure box full of loot for the kiddos to pick from. Yum, yum- rootbeer flavored chapstick!








The house had a huge backyard. It was the perfect place for catch, frisbee, and letting the kids run without worrying about someone straying. Gr Bailey had packed a gi-normous box of fun things. The kids got to set off little rockets and blow up rocket balloons. The little guys played with bubbles. The perfect day includes playing outside all day long with best friends...I love that my boys think of all of their cousins as best buds even when we don't see them as often as we'd like.













We spent very little time at the actual lake. It was chilly that morning and the water is c-c-c-cold. That didn't throw the kids off at first, but it wasn't long until they were ready to dry off and just play in the sand by the picnic tables.








The area was beautiful to bike and run through. Our family had such a fabulous time and we are grateful for a fabulous family to share time with. We look forward to next summer...

Summer Fun Part I

While I was running Ragnar, Darren and my parents spoiled the kids in Park City. We stayed in the Marriott that is next to the alpine slide. They got all day passes and spent the day going on the alpine slide and coaster, mini golfing, bungee tramp, rock climbing, and riding the small rides. The resort was great- it had an arts/craft/play room for the kids and an arcade (Blake was in heaven). The pool was a bit cold but there were several hot tubs that made up for it.





After Park City, I took the kids to Jill's house (Darren went back to Vegas to work). Before this part of our trip was over, the boys wanted to move to Draper. Not only did they get to play with cousins, but Jill's neighborhood has a fun group of boys and they have formed a "Boy's Club". The kids were outside all day long- we'd have to take them drinks and snacks. It was so fun to let them run around like that in the middle of summer. The pictures below are of the kids at a jumpy place and at the Thanksgiving Point farm. Ethan got to go off on a little adventure and stay with our cousin Kaden in Logan for a couple of days on his own. It was a first and it turned out to be a great time for him. We also got to see G & G Bryan's new condo that they are staying in while serving a mission in SLC at the Family History Center.

Wasatch Back 2010 * Lucky Ladies

This race was just the beginning of one of the funnest two weeks of the summer. Ragnar- Wasatch Back- 2010. The name of our team was the Lucky Ladies and it consisted of 12 gals from Vegas. I was in the second car with Myndi, Joanna, Jen, Brenda, and Michelle. We had such a great time! I was surprised at how rested I felt after 30 hours of relay running * sleeping in a sleeping bag on a cold morning * running 10 miles in the middle of the night * running the first leg of Guardsman Pass * encountering barbed wire * no true showers * etc. The scenery during the day was AWESOME and it is one of the things that would draw me to this race again. Also, I would do it again if I was guaranteed to run with these awesome Ladies!




Looking out over Guardsman Pass


Car #2


Joanna coming down after her long climb. Her view was the following picture- Snow Basin.

Diamond Kid Triathlon 2010

Ethan, Blake, and Keaton completed the Diamond Kid Triathlon at the beginning of the summer. This was the 4th year in a row that Ethan and Blake did this race! It was Keaton's first tri and he did fabulous. All three boys really gave it their all- they were genuinely exhausted after the race, especially Ethan. (The first photo was taken after they had finished all that hard work.) Blake seems to have a strength in running. Ethan did awesome with the swimming! I helped Keaton with the swim and then Darren followed him on the bike and run. I have to mention our sweet little Nash. He's an awesome cheerer for his big bros. It is such a fun race. I love for the kids to be involved and see all the other determined kiddos out there. I hope the boys are up for keeping this a summer tradition for our family.

Engineer Ethan

Ethan has an a.m.a.z.i.n.g ability to follow lego/k'nex/bionicles instructions. He does the most difficult assemblies without help. This summer my dining room table has been a permanent place for housing finished products and current projects. I love legos! I love that when Ethan is working on his things, the other kids get into the mood and work along side him doing their own works and creations. This includes Nash! I will snap some more pictures of all the finished works later. For now, enjoy this fine piece of work. PS- I have a home video of this k'nex masterpiece but I can't get it to download. It moves like a double ferris wheel. Pretty cool!