Super Sized Slip n' Slide

My older brother is very much like Tim the Tool Man from Home Improvement. Everything he does is bigger, better, faster, taller, stronger, cooler and with more power.....grunt, grunt, grunt.....which usually works out in the kids favor!! This even applies to the slip 'n slide in his oversized backyard. He bought bright orange tarps, bailing twine, and stakes and created a 100 foot.....yes, I'll say it again...100 foot slip 'n slide. The kids love it and it doesn't compare to anything around. It is thrilling!! It is always on our list of things to do in Utah. Thanks Ry, for thinking BIG!! We had a few wipeouts but no one got hurt. Just lots of fun and laughter.

All 100 feet of orange plastic and water

Maddie and Connor seem to be the ones to get

the most runs. I love all the smiles and laughter

This is my favorite.....holding hands on the way down

and on their knees. Pure talent!!

Running into Lauren and being chased by

Tyler, Isaac, and Parker at the very top

A pile of happy kids at the bottom

Parker and Isaac catch up to them

Note.....Lauren's cute bumb

Silly faces before heading up the hill to do it all again

Parker has no fear. He LOVES to do as the big kids do

A look of satisfaction

But, he has to run his fingers through the spray

before he heads back up for another turn

Lauren loved going down sideways

tying to catch Parker

They meet up at the bottom

Cousin Tyler

Cousin Isaac

.....and finally, what the adults did. Shade seekers!!

Grandpa was sleeping in the chair on Grandmas

orders. He'd passed out a few days before and

ended up with an ambulance ride to the ER where

he got stitches in his head and orders to take it

easy for a week. We all did our best to take good

care of him and not have him do anything.

WE LOVE OUR GRANDPA!!! Glad he's ok

SwIMmiNG AnyONe??

No doubt about it, we always spend lots of time in the water when we go to Utah. Our first stop was at good 'ole Dixie's pool. Grandma Farrell arranged a fun day of swimming with all the cousins. We had a great time. I love it when Jeff is around to play in the water so I can stay dry and take pictures from the sidelines.

Two handsome dudes!!

Lauren showing off her new goggles and her new

suits that don't match. She likes the top of one and

the bottom of the other so that is what she wears

Maddie in action off the diving board

Aunt Jill was also there to play with the

kids in the water......thanks Jilly-O!!

The next water stop was the frog pool. It isn't really called the frog pool but my kids call it that because of the oh, so exciting slide inside a frogs mouth. SO MUCH FUN!!

Lauren spent a lot of time here

And so did Parker

This is Parker "swimming" on his own

He was so proud of himself

Parker and Zac had a great time with the water guns

I love the look on their faces. They look like they

they are planning something serious

Lauren and Parker also spent a lot of time on this

I didn't get pictures of them because I was busy making

sure they were safe. They have no fear of the water!!

Maddie spent most of her time on the big slide.

Somehow I missed getting pictures of her.

Sorry Mad!! Guess we'll just have to go

back so I can get my pictures

GaTEwaY & CHaRlie

We created a "fun" list of places to visit and things to do while in Utah. Gateway was on our list and the kids were very excited to go with their cousins. Some of them rode the train with Grandma and Grandpa and some of them rode in the van. It took a bit of time to get to the fountains and the kids were a bit grumpy along the way but I figured as soon as we made it to the water the kids would be happy. Well, I was WRONG!!

Parker and Lauren went out for a few short minutes

then quickly returned to their towels

Maddie didn't venture out at all

She had other things on her mind - snow cones

Finally, Grandpa came to the rescue, bought

snow cones for the kids and the smiles came out

Next on our list was to see my cousin Charley in one of his concerts. He is a local county music singer with a great show and a great voice. We love seeing him perform even if it is only once a year when we visit Utah. The night was filled with fun, dancing, and cousins.

The girls just sat and enjoyed the

concert for the longest time

Then the sillies came out and the fun started

Aunt Michele brought ring pops

and the kids loved them

Parker had an especially great time with his

By the time he was done he was one giant blue

sticky mess. Thank goodness he is washable

Maddie's Baptism

A couple of weeks after school got out we packed up the van and drove to Utah. I used to hate road trips but the kids do such a great job traveling that it is really fun driving 12 hours to get to grandma and grandpa's house. We made a list of what we wanted to do while we were in Utah and we were booked solid the entire trip. We had a fabulous time. The kids and I were there about 3 weeks but Jeff was only with us for about 6 days. We had so much fun that fun was oozing out our ears. I have many more pictures to come but I had to do this first!! The highlight of the trip was Maddie's baptism. It does a mother's heart good to watch her oldest be baptized by her husband. I even shed a few tears that day. We had an absolutely perfect day. At Maddie's request it was small and intimate. Grandma Farrell talked on baptism and she gave a great talk. We had a musical number with Maddie, and her two girl cousins accompanied by Aunt Gita on the piano. The song was heavenly. They sounded amazing. Then Jeff baptized Miss Maddie. Maddie LOVED being baptized. She said the water was warmer than her bathtubs and she likes them hot. She liked it so much she wanted to get back in and do it again. After she was dried, dressed, and dolled up, Jeff gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Following his talk he confirmed her and Grandpa Karl and uncles were able to be in the circle. We had a great lunch after the baptism in the bowery behind the church. Thanks to all who came!!!

The invitation

Before the baptism with dad

Seeing them all in white was emotional

Yes, I really was there. This is about the

only picture with me in it. I am usually

behind the camera.

Grandma Farrell

Grandma Georgia & Grandpa Karl

The whole family

Great-grandma Foust

Right after the baptism

"Sinless and so clean"

Grandpa Karl and the girls

Lunch pictures

Parker was thirsty!! He just kept filling the cups

Maddie really enjoyed being with the family

Lauren and Aunt Jill....glad she made it!!

Great Grandma & Grandpa Foust

I LOVE THESE TWO!!!

Maddie really wanted to play and I didn't want her

to get her dress dirty so we changed. Thank

goodness we had her pajamas in the van. I

wasn't smart enough to bring a change of clothes

Nothing like army crawling after a baptism

The kids had a great time!!

Some of the cousins

Parker and Zac found the water. They worked

hard to get it on & their teamwork paid off

They were soaked but it was so fun to watch!!