Last Week of Summer Vacation

Moses Lake Waterpark on Monday. 
It was the perfect day.  No wind, not too hot, but hot enough. 
And we didn't get kicked out early because of smoke in the air like last year.

Gigi and Sariah. 
Sariah set a goal to go down the big blue water slides 14 times.  She did that and much more!  (Including bolstering the confidence of her cousins to go down the slides and off the high dives.)

Reichert, Bryant, and Damon.  So glad these boys have each other.

So glad these boys have each other!  The 3 amigos have definitely morphed into the 5 amigos.

Then Uncle Vard showed up and amped up the fun!

Wednesday and Friday afternoons we spent at Stock's pool with Spechts.  They have been so good to let us come time and time again.

Of course we had to fit in a few more cousin swaps. 
We had Damon a couple days and Jhett a couple days. 

Thursday and Friday we were purging bedrooms.  Sariah was intense and really got rid of a lot.  We finally found the floor of the little boys' room.  So nice to have a place to sit and read Mrs. Piggle Wiggle (our bedtime story recently).

Her little girl sleeping bag.

Her 4th grade etiquette lunch dress.

COUSINS!! 
Final afternoon of swimming. 
Super fun that Talmage got to join us when he got off work early.  He has a true farmer's tan from all of his long, hot days on the Merrill Farm.

Everybody came back here for pizza and the kids watched End Game.

Family Reunion at Ensign Ranch

Not a very happy Lyle to have to sit out when the kids were playing in the creek. 
Didn't want to risk infecting his nail wound.

Brrr. 

Even though it was super dry and a burn ban was in effect, the Ranch had a propane ring they allowed to roast marshmallows.

Several hours spent on the slide.  Lyle finally got to go on Friday.  His nail wound looked healed enough--at least I hope so.

Went to Rowley's cabin and got to ride the train.  Big hit!

And see and ride Brother Rowley's masterpiece of a Merry Go Round

Onesies and Snow Cones

When we went swimming with Lizza she gave us another bag of clothes.  They had these on before I hardly got in the house.

Lyle stepped on a nail at 351 that went all the way through his foot while they were taking down the treehouse so he had to sit out his swimming scout activity.  

Thank goodness for a swing and a Snow Cone.

Father's and Sons

Grandpa got his 4-wheeler running just in time. 
These guys rode it so much they came home with blisters!  And they wanted more!

Lyle

Rex

Getting Air!

Happy boys in helmets!

Meanwhile...

...took Sariah to get ready for school. 
Brother Adamson had hired her to pick raspberries and make jam and she made a total of 15 batches.  What a blessing with great timing!

And a little slumber party in Sariah's room.

Oh What Do You Do In The Summertime?

Swimming at Stocks

(Sariah taking pictures with my phone in a glass underwater.)

Zuchinni Races

(Actually cucumbers)

Rex

Lyle

On the 2nd day of races, Sariah was feeling well enough to come with us.

She won.

Bryant was so good with the boys, carving and coaching.

They were so excited.

At different times, each of them said, "This is so much fun!"

Smurf hands

Watching McGarys riding motorcycles from Nielson's where we were weeding. 
Rex and Lyle were enthralled.

Weeding at Nielson's house.

Utah Trip

We stopped for a picnic on the way down and the big kids found this big swing set.

Talmage reading the favorite Grandma stories.

Marylan let the kids borrow some games and so they played a lot of games at Grandma's house.  They especially liked the game "Trouble."

The day we went up to Provo we spent the morning at DI and then had a picnic at the park on 500 West.  There was a LONG jungle gym set and since "Beast Master" had been a favorite show the previous night, James and the kids timed their Beast Master runs.

Family Reunion in Mapleton 

Rex and Lyle dunk tanked ALL day long!

The big kids playing volleyball with cousins.

We didn't know if Lyle caught a bug or if he just played himself sick, 

but Sunday he was one sick boy.

Grandma teaching Talmage how to play the organ.

Since traveling is the only time I let the kids play media games, it catches everyone's attention.