Floating the Provo River

We have been threatening to float the Provo River for several years - and we finally did on Saturday July 18.  Both the weather and the water were ideal for the trip.  We invited Ryan and Karen Edwards as well as Spencer Heywood to join us.  It's amazing that this has quite literally been in our backyard for decades and that we are just now doing it for the first time.  We've decided that we need to make this a regular experience moving forward.  The trip starts down at Vivian Park where we parked our car and then rented the raft.  The rental place provided the raft and life jackets and transportation to just below the dam.  The floating was up to us.  Beautiful views. The entire trip is 3+/- miles and takes 2-3 hours round trip.  You can take as long as you want because you can pull the raft on to the river's edge and have a picnic, etc. in several great spots.   I think next time we will take some water toys: ie good water guns, and try to soak the tubers and rafters as they pass by.  One kid was doing that and appeared to have a great time.  The water is refreshing but not comfortable - that is why the water gun would be great.  I'd guess it is probably in the low 60's.  When it is 100+ degrees outside it is certainly a great combination.  But next time I want to go with a picnic and water guns.  
The Heber Creeper passing by along the water's edge.  Two Heber Creeper sightings in two days while playing on the water ... pretty cool eh?  How many of you recreate alongside one of the country's last remaining steam powered railroads while boating or swimming or rafting? Jealous? Move to Heber.  Cory and Kristen are getting closer but not there yet - but Utah County is certainly closer than California.  Baby steps ...  Posing with the Heber Creeper.  Notice Garrett's nose picking - he did that every time he was conscious of the camera being on him.  Funny lad.  The back of raft spot was reserved for the raft "captain".  Notice my BYU blue attire.  Anytime you see me in the future just call me "Captain".  Also notice that Mckay has a "oh no, I think I might die" face.  He was pretty much convinced that rafting wasn't a good idea for most of the first several minutes on the river.  Eventually he warmed up to the idea and had a great time.   Our five oarsmen included: "Captain" Paul, Karen, Bryson, Spencer and Ryan.  

Do you see the water bottle in Tanner's hand.  He used that a plethora of times (remember Three Amigos) to try to get many of us in the boat wet.  That smile of his is an ... I'm going to get you wet - smile.  Notice Angela trying to hold the water bottle down.    

Here is Garrett trying to keep the newlyweds separate and their hands off of each other.  He was quite effective.  

Our "Religious" Boating Experience

In the middle of July 2008 Joe and Kristy Bond went to Lake Powell where, in a joking way, Joe says he had a "religious boating experience."  Two days after returning, on July 22, 2008, they purchased a beautiful MasterCraft X15 family boat.  From the end of July to the beginning of September last summer they put more than 80 hours on their boat.  To put that in to perspective an average boater in Utah will put somewhere between 50-75 hours per year on their boat.  

Living in Heber, with three recreation reservoirs between 5-20 minutes away, Joe and Kristy put that many hours on their boat in only 45 days.  Joe said it was the only mid-major to major purchase with which he hasn't had even a minute of buyer's remorse.  In a short year the Bond's have become what I affectionately refer to as professional "Boating Nazi's" (in addition to being the best salespeople MasterCraft could ever hire).  Look at the picture below: this is how Joe looks the entire time he is on the boat.  He should become the MasterCraft poster child.   

On Friday July 17, 2009 the Bond's invited our family to go to Deer Creek with their family. The pictures will speak for themselves, but it was more than clear that the kids had a great time. We kneeboarded, wakeboarded, surfed, tubed, swam, danced, and ate.  As the Wasatch Wave used to conclude nearly every article 40+ years ago "fun was had by all." Here are some pictures of the families swimming on some secluded portion of the lake.

Here's a picture of Tanner on the kneeboard.  We couldn't get him off (we finally just turned the boat off after nearly 10 minutes).  

Bryson wakeboarding.  This was his first ever attempt.  He got up on his second try.  With a few more days he'd be jumping the wake - what a stud! Check out the video of Bryson wakeboarding on the link below his picture.  If you look and listen closely, you can even see and hear the Heber Creeper in the background.  

Paul Surfing.  These new boats have ballists that add more than 1,000 pounds of additional weight to the boat which throws up an enormous wake when you want it.  The wakes are such that someone can surf just feet off of the back of the boat in front of the wake and when you figure it out you can even throw the rope back in the boat and surf, theoretically perpetually, on the wake.  Very fun! 

Tubing: Trevor B., Bryson, Garrett, Nick B. and Tanner (from left to right)

Nick and Tanner (hands free)

Trevor, Bryson, Garrett

Paul, Mckay, Logan, and Angela

I think it's safe to say that at least a few of our family members have now had their own "religious boating experience" and are now constantly looking for justification as to how a boat will bring the family together, etc.  In fact we've even been boat "tire kicking" - we'll see where that takes us.  Thanks again to the Bond's - you are the greatest!

An Evening with our Parents

It seems like most of our married life we have had one set of grandparents on a mission.  Even though Jim and Carolyn are serving still at BYU Hawaii, they are service missionaries and can come home during semester breaks.  We are really enjoying having them here for awhile!   We decided to invite both grandmas and grandpas over for dinner and had a great time together.
The boys visited with us for a bit, then they were lured in by the sprinklers (yes, we have dry spots we can't get with our darn sprinkler system).  The boys had fun getting themselves soaking wet fully clothed!

4th of July Parties

Its no secret that I love parties, and what a better day to celebrate with family and friends then the 4th of July!  So, why not have 4 parties?

Party #1- Backyard breakfast with the Ritchies - we had fun eating yummy french toast casserole and fruit, having races with the cousins, then listening to a few words from Aunt Vera and Grandpa Jim.

Party #2 - We headed to the park for a couple of hours for an "old-fashioned" celebration.  The boys competed in a watermelon eating contest. Logan loves watermelon as you can see.

The boys and some of their cousins had a blast cooling off at the dunking booth.

Party #3 - Dutch Oven Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Edwards.  Grandpa made yummy BBQ ribs and chicken and potatoes.  After dinner we played ladderball and a couple card games.

Party #4:  Neighborhood Fireworks with Dutch Oven Cobbler and Homemade Ice Cream!  We had lots of families, lots of fireworks, and lots of treats.  I wish I would have gotten more pictures, but I was a little tired at this point, and wanted to just enjoy the moment.

Logan crashes

Logan has a hard time stopping in the day to get his nap, so sometimes he keeps on going until he just can't keep his eyes open... and then he crashes, where ever he is.  This one is probably my favorite, I found him a couple of days ago asleep on top of the air hockey table downstairs, it must have been a nice cool spot to rest in the hot afternoon.

Here is Logan asleep behind a chair in our front room.
And another crazy spot, the laundry room floor.  I didn't dare move him and he slept there with the washer and dryer going for over 2 hours.

Then last Sunday evening, he finally crashed while Paul was reading the boys a story on the swing.

I know what you are thinking, that I really should put him down for a nap and then put him to bed at night. He usually goes to bed and takes naps like a good boy, but there are days when he just wants to be like the big kids and keep going.  I know he is going to crash when I here him singing to himself and his head starts nodding.  Logan is just like his Uncle Cory, has to sing himself asleep (just want to see if you are reading...hee, hee).

Scout Camp

Bryson has been to scout camp with Paul at least 3-4 times, but this year he was finally 12, and one of the scouts.  Paul and Bryson have so many stories about camp this year, but here are some of the highlights.  The big hike this year was Coyote Gulch.  They hiked all day and then slept over night down in the canyon, then hike out in the morning.  This was not an easy hike, there was a lot of rock climbing and they had to watch close for flash floods.  I felt much better about Bryson going knowing that Paul was there too!
There's Bryson on the right and a couple other scouts doing some impressive jumps in the lake.

Paul did his 2nd annual Fear Factor at scout camp, good thing they had there handy Blend Tec along for his nasty concoction. YUCK! 
Trying to take a breather and get some shade during the hike...
Bryson sporting his miner's headlamp.  

Paul and Bryson were gone all week, and didn't get home until 9:00 Saturday night.  They were so tired and dirty (and so was my nice white Suburban).  The kids and I missed them and were very excited to see them pull in.  Logan was especially excited.  He kept asking all week for his Daddy and his car.  

Happy Birthday Garrett!

Garrett had the ultimate birthday party this year, every 10 year old's dream birthday party... Boondocks!   We had just gone there for a work party and because it had rained a little while we were there, we got a bunch of free passes to go back again.   So, Garrett's wish came true, I took a bunch of friends and all the boys (minus Logan - thanks Mom) to Boondocks.  They had a great time!
Here is Garrett with his good friend, Konrad.
After getting home from Boondocks, Garrett had his first comp. soccer practice and then came home to a family birthday party.  We had both sets of grandparents come over for a BBQ and brownie sundaes.
Garrett got a wiggle car for his birthday.  These things are so fun!  The boys are having a blast with this toy.  However, Logan is positive that it is his and is not very happy whenever Garrett gets on it.  This isn't a great picture, but I love the look on Logan's face.  Logan is determined to get Garrett off the wiggle car and Grandpa Jim is sitting in the back laughing at my crazy boys.
Garrett never wants to hurt my feelings, and I know that he isn't much into clothes, but he is really trying to look excited about getting a new shirt.  What a nice boy.  

We are so lucky to have Garrett in our family.  He adds a lot a excitement to our family, he loves to tease his brothers and loves to laugh and make others laugh.  Garrett is a great help to me and is such a good kid.  I can't believe that he is ten, happy birthday Garrett!