New Adventure New Website

Hello!  My family and I are going to go a new adventure.  We are buying a 40ft. motor home to call home for the next 2 years.  We are selling off most of our stuff.  I am posting Stuff For Sale continually.  You can check that out on our new website: 7as1.com

We will be traveling the United States and outlining countries. As I have time, I will be posting more about that at 7as1.com

I am nervous, anxious, excited, busy ... getting ready for departure.  We would love to have you follow us along on our adventures!

Summer Fun Week 4

A Visit to the Mitchells in Aztec, New Mexico.

Car Ride Silliness!

Lunch Break at our favorite Moab Park.  They even had new instruments since the last year when we were there.

In New Mexico

Little I's new pal.  J and Little I. hung out a lot during the week.

Trampoline Fun

Hike around their property. (They have 30 acres.  How fun is that? I'll tell you.  A LOT of Fun!)

Their Riverside Beach

Walking the drive.

Lounging.

 Bunk House

 Hanging out in the Bunk House

 Horse Riding.  My Pearls loved it!

Riverside Campfire

 Mmmm S'Mores

Community Swimming Pool.  Towards the end a huge wind storm come up.  The wind brought with it sand.  We were planning on leaving and that sped up the process!

 Night time reading with Paul by flashlight. We had a power outage from the wind storm.

Fun and Games

We heard Christine and 3 of her girls all of who play really well.

 A visit to the Aztec Ruins.  We really enjoyed it.  The guide to special interest in our family and showed us more after the tour.  Miss B was really into it because she has studied quite a bit on different Native American tribes.  That influenced her sisters' interests.

 

 

 

 

 Miss A lost another tooth.

 Coloring with J.

Swimming down the overly refreshing (aka freezing-believe me, I know.  I went down it too. It's amazing how children don't seem to mind as much) canal.

Miss A's escort.

Eating at A&W

Thanks Paul and Christine and Kiddos for making it a Great week.  We had tons of fun (dispite the fact that my family took turns being sick, except for Rob.  Sorry Paul, but glad that it didn't keep going). Thanks for putting up with us.  

We love yous!

We enjoyed lunch on the way home sitting across from the Monticello Temple.  Pretty amazing how small it is.  It was neat to see.

On the way home scenery.  I saw a lot of rock formation that were pretty amazing.

We returned home Friday evening in time for me to get things ready for Miss M's baptism Saturday morning.

 

Miss M has such an amazing spirit.

 Afterwards we had a luncheon.  Little I was sneaking into the cake.  She would dip her fingers in it and then hide under the counter to eat it.

Colorado Fun

In July we took a trip to Colorado to hang out with family.  A cousin from Illinois was going out to Colorado for a family trip too.  So we planned it so that we could all be there at the same time.  Here is how went:

My bro, John, and his family belong to their community pool.  We made a lot of splashes there.  John was a kid magnet!  Maybe because he is so gentle and calm all of the time.

Dinner at Jim and Glant's.  Miss B helping Aunt Glant prepare dinner.  This is where we were able to see Cousin Steve and family.  It was wonderful being able to visit with them!  Steve came prepared with old photos to share.  A highlight of the evening was when the fire chief showed.  Jim's BBQing was putting out a lot of smoke and a concerned neighbor called the fire department.  It was hilarious. You can see the fire chief's truck in the top right photo.  Food wasn't burnt and tasted great!  Little I and Miss A enjoyed dressing up with Cousin C.  Little I loves Spiderman!  She wants to marry him.  

She says because "he is a good guy."

 

 

Little I is notorious for falling asleep in the car, even for small trips around town.

 Hiking around Garden of the Gods.

B. was filling up her water bottle and didn't realize the water would shoot straight out.  The handle was like a water fountain so she assumed the water would drip down.  She got a surprise!  It was hot so she dried quickly.

Of course you have to have ice cream and arm wrestling after a hot hike.

Hanging out at Grandma's.

More High-flyin' Splashes, Relaxing and Park Playing.  

Luckily the clouds were blowing away from us.  :)

 Zoo!  

Cheyenne Mtn. is such a great zoo.

Picnic at the Park

 My little Monk.

 

D. making sure that Baby M wasn't being left out.

 

Playing Pirate Ship.

  

 

CAUGHT!

 

Trying not to get their photo taken. Gotcha!

 

 Yes, cameras can take photos in the dark.

Tour of the Olympic Training Center

Pool where cousin Michael has practiced.

Eating at Red Robin

(One of Buck's favorite restaurants).

 

M. getting ready to order.

 

 R. enjoying the rain.  It was coming down fast and hard too.
This was our last night there.  Too bad we don't all live closer to do this more often.

On The Road Again

We didn't have a DVD player in the new van yet and so Rob loaded movies onto iPhones.  Each of the older 3 had an iPhone to use and Little I used a laptop.  Boy, traveling activites sure have changed.  Although, I must insert that they don't get to watch the entire way. Just 2-3 movies. Ha.

 Our van transmission was acting a little weird early in the trip.  Rob got it checked out and we decided we would go the long way around (not over the mountains) and take our time getting home.  That journey home took us close to Martin's Cove.

The youth in our Ward had just gone and shared some great experiences.  We decided to take the time to stop.  We got there close to closing time and had time only to rush through a few stations .

We crept in and sat in the front of one station that had already started.  When it was over I stood to leave and saw a couple behind me that were in a bishopric of one of my Singles Wards in Provo, the Wrights.  It was great to reunite with them after many years.

Since "closing time" was getting close the missionaries gave us a ride out to The Cove.  As we were driving out to it the Elder Missionary asked if we wanted to continue.  Referring to the dark clouds headed our way.  We said sure.  I didn't understand that we would still be hiking a couple of miles.  We were not prepared.  We were in flip flops, shorts and t-shirts. The missionary let us off and told us he would wait for us to come back from the cove, instead of us circling the entire path.  As we walked up the path about 10 minutes it started to rain.  And then rain harder.  It helped me reflect even more on those pioneers who had gone through there so many years ago.  The Snr. Missionary rode up the path to get us and then we continued to a point where we could get the Senior Missionaries serving in the cove.  It was a heavy rain, but we didn't mind. On the ride back to the visitor center we saw some deer.  We were cold and wet but it was an enjoyable time.  Rob and I decided that we need to go back and dedicate time there.  We had no idea what it would be like.  I just finished "In The Company of Angels" by David Farland.  It helped me understand more of what the those pioneers went through.  I look forward to our return to Martin's Cove and really experience the memories and Spirit there.

 More fun back at the hotel.
Thanks to my family for helping us have such a Wonderful trip!!!