Lava Hot Springs and camping...

Josh's family got together for a little reunion and we decided to go to Lava Hot Springs. We started on Sunday night and spent the night at Ryan and Lynette's house. On Monday we drove part way and had lunch at Chilli's before driving the rest of the way. We set up camp and the kids all made cute necklaces or bracelets or both. On Tuesday we went swimming. For anyone who knows about Lava knows that they have huge platform dives, they also have four big slides. It didn't take long before the boys were all trying to see who would go off the tallest platform. These are the ones who braved the second platform. Casey,Josh, Cory, and Lynette (she already jumped before I got this one).

And the only ones who braved the third one was Josh, Cory, and Lynette.

There goes Josh.

I was so proud of Makenzie she went off the high diving board. She is a fish and loved the slides and the diving boards.

This is the part of the pool where we mostly hung out. Spencer loved going down these slides. Hannah loved going on the slides you can see in the background. Kaitlyn was just happy to hang out. Gwen is going down the slide and you can see Spencer waiting to go down.

The kids all did really good and loved being together.

Back at camp my kids discovered the dirt right by the fire pit was fun to play with and easy to make dirt beards and mustaches. This one is Spencer sporting his.

And Kaitlyn has a full beard.

Three boys cooking our foil dinners with the kids trying to help, or watch, or waiting so patiently for dinner. If you look in the background you can see a train going through. This was our nature sounds for the two nights we were there.

And finally Makenzie got her dinner.

On Wednesday we packed up our stuff and headed back to help Casey and Amber pack up their stuff to move to Washington while Casey finishes school. It was fun to have all of us together one last time before they moved. We will miss not having them so close.

Riding

My parents let us take their 4wheeler home with us. We decided to go up to Fall Creek area and go riding Josh and I have been there before by ourselves so we decided to take the kids this time. Even though there were four other trailers we were the only one on the trail. We rode for about two and a half hours. There were lots of rocks on this trail and Spencer hit his helmet on his had pretty good. Josh dumped the bike once on a muddy part and scared Spencer and Makenzie so they both jumped on with me. For a while I had all four kids and then Kaitlyn wanted to go with Josh so for most of the ride I had three. On the way back I switched Josh places so he rode the 4wheeler and I rode the bike. It was a long ride for the kids but I thought they all did pretty good. We stopped at a rest stop that over looked the river. It was really pretty up there.

There were no bathrooms so yes my girls had to learn how to go in the bushes, not bad for their first time no accidents anywhere. Spencer even had to try it.


Creating their own games while we are trying to get ready.


Waiting for everyone to get geared up.

Sitting by the pool enjoying the sun

Josh had a cousin getting married so we stayed at my brothers house. They have a pool in their backyard and is the perfect vacation spot for us. We get to visit family and spend it by the pool what more could you ask for. All my kids wanted to do was stay in the pool all day. The water felt like bath water and was perfect.

Makenzie, Bailey, and Kaitlyn they were playing a mermaid game.

Hannah jumping off the side. When we got to there house she was not that great of a swimmer but by the time we left she learned how to swim to the deep end and back without any help. Progress. Last year I went with my mom to their house and stayed for a week and taught Makenzie how to swim and this year it was Hannah and Kaitlyn a little bit.

Spencer is not afraid of the water at all when Ann was taking off the pool cover he went and jumped right in and had to get pulled out. He was a little fish jumping off the side all the time or trying to dive under to get the rings. You name it you had to be ready at all times to grab him. Notice in the picture above he is swimming, it doesn't look like much but he was.

He did have some down time and I bet Josh loved that.

We had such a fun time with them we always do. Maybe next year Kaitlyn and Spencer will both be swimming without any help. Thanks Troy and Ann for the beds to sleep in and the entertainment provided.

Splash Park

Josh had some work to do in Rexburg so we decide to tag along and go play at the splash park they have. We try and go at least once a year. I think the kids had a really good time. If the water is not warm even on a hot day my kids do not last very long.

The kids loved to run through this


And then Hannah decided to sit down on it


At first Spencer didn't want to get wet which is not normal for him at all so he started running through these and warmed up to the place.


Kaitlyn is not one for getting her hair wet when we go swimming any where so I was really surprised that she went down the slide.


Makenzie pulling the rope that lets water run down and Spencer is just watching not sure what to think about this place.