A Week Away

 during the week of the 24th of july, i took the kids for an ENTIRE week to various spots!  i can't believe i left that long, but i am glad that i did it.  we started off with the park valley celebration and to visit great grandpa.  grandpa kunzler doesn't get out much anymore, so i never get a chance to see him.  it had been a year, and i wanted my kids to be able to see him again.  i thought this would be the best time to go, since we could buy food at the bowery and there would be lots of great activities.  we watched the program, the little ones played in the water fun, ran the foot races where everyone got a 50 cent piece (bridon was in love)!  and bentley and bridon both mutton busted and bentley rode a calf. bridon was able to stay on the longest and did a pretty good job.  bentley almost got a ribbon in the calf scramble...he was so close!  they all had a super fun time at the rodeo with their cousins and my cousins.  we stayed overnite in the basement and went to church and had dinner with del and kellie's family.  grandpa was doing pretty good that weekend, so he was alert and it was fun to see him again! he was honored during the program for turning 90 years old this year, on christmas day.

on monday, we met up and went to antelope island on the great salt lake.  it was fun, but our water adventure was a bust!  we checked out the buffalo and pronghorn, visitors center, and ranch.  i have seen so many pictures of people floating in the great salt lake near antelope island, but when we went to give it a try, there were so many gnats it was insane!!!  they were literally like the cartoons.  the boys tried to brave it, but we couldn't take it anymore on the shore.  even where they left their shoes was a swarm of gnats.

 i spent the next few days at lisa's house while the boys went on their 'vacation' with grandma.  we canned applesauce,  played at the park, emerson and anni did a little flag dance camp (emerson froze up during the performance), and attended and played softball, and bought some boots and canning supplies!  it was a nice stay, and i'm glad we were able to crash in on their lives for a bit!  it is always fun to spend time together.

on thursday, i went to mom and dad's and left the girls to go spend some time with aunt carolee.  she went to an assisted living home last month, and wanted to go over all of her family history that she would like to pass on to our family.  it is a little overwhelming, but it will be good in the end i'm sure!

 friday, ben met up with us and helped alan with his water so that we could all go out for the afternoon at steadman's.  it had been burning hot the entire week everywhere we went, but that day was a bit cold.  we still had fun on the slides and playing and having lunch.  at the very end, lisa went on the zip line, and after several moments (and i mean alot) of crippling fear, i finally went.  it was fun!  kellie and her girls also came over for the afternoon and by the time we all left, it had warmed up nicely.  so nicely, that we were all fried crispy from our small application of sun screen that chilly morning.  i felt bad about that, but had a great time with family!

 and off, we headed for home!  the boys had had a great time with grandma swimming, going to movie, doing string art, visiting aunt carolee, going on an outing to lake cleveland, mowing lawns (bentley), and rouging barley for uncle alan.  thanks you everyone!!!