Summer Part 2...

Blogger didn't like me adding to many pictures so I have had to break up our summer break... the other part of our little vaca in southern Utah was also visiting Pine Valley Reservoir. I haven't been here since I was a kid. It is such a beautiful place. We of course had to visit the lodge for a little treat. They also have a little steakhouse that we may have to come back and visit. We had to stop and see the church that is there and owned by the LDS church. It is the original here in Pine Valley, they also do daily tours in this church. But if you have been to This is the Place in Salt Lake then you have been through the replica they have there. After checking out town again we headed up to the Reservoir and to also check out how they have changed the campground areas and hiking areas we used to go as a kid. A lot has changed! They have modernized it know and made it more user friendly you could say but my dad says they have ruined it, just because you can't go anywhere you want to go know its all designated.

As you come into Pine Valley

The original church

The trails and Rec areas, the boys love it especially the rocks they can climb

My dad showing off his muscles

We stopped at a picnic table to eat some fruit and have a snack. It was so beautiful to sit right above the Reservoir and enjoy the view

Jake and Patrick seeing how cold the water was

The Syracuse Heritage Days Fireworks. We usually watch them every year unless we are out of town. We get to enjoy them right off of our patio in the back..

Summer Break cont...

Continuing our summer break... Joe was nice enough to let us leave sunday morning and head down to Enterprise (where my parents retired). Its about 35 minutes north of St. George. So that we could spend the afternoon with my dad on Father's Day. So, saturday night we celebrated for Joe. So to make it a little special I decorated the table with balloons for fathers day and accessorized with jelly belly's (his favorite) and with the manly thing I remember as a kid Big League Chew gum. I didn't know this stuff was still around and what memories it brought back. It's amazing what the dollar store carries. The boys loved it and thought it was neat... So, for dinner we had what Joe requested which was cheese raviolis, salad and bread. It was a nice dinner with a little bag of goodies. A new t-shirt, his favorite chocolate, white, beef jerky and some more multi vitamins that he has been requesting. I know simple but it was nice. Sunday morning came and off we went for a week of change, at least for us... 

We got to Enterprise Sunday afternoon and my mom made spare ribs for dinner, it was great. Then we had my dad open a couple of gifts.. I didn't get any pictures. Wasn't thinking.. Monday we then spent doing some organizing in one of there storage units to help with a yard sale they were going to have on Saturday. We also took a ride for the boys. Tuesday was the big day of swimming at a pool in Veyo which is in the next town over about 20 minutes away. I swam at this pool so much when I was a kid, when we would come down to visit my grandparents. It was nice to be back and bring my own kids and share in the memories I had as a kid there. The boys loved it so much! Grandpa took them back on Thursday when me and my mom went to St. George for the day..

The pool is set down in a mountain of volcanic rock..

Jake testing his jumping skills in the pool

Then the twins both had to do it together

Patrick doing so well. Swimming in the deep end and under water

After a day of swimming we headed up the mountain to a Ranch to cook out (my dad's friend owns it) We also came back up to the Ranch another night and cooked out with my dad's friend and his girlfriend. (just took video that night)

The boys riding in the back of the truck.. they love it!

Cows just hanging out on side of the road

Entering the Ranch and the cabin at the Ranch

My dad getting dinner ready.. Yummy dutch oven potatoes and chicken

There is a pond there with HUGE trout fish in it and they love to eat cat food. So, the boys loved feeding them and seeing them swim all around

The Challenge... apparently Patrick dared Jake to eat a piece of cat food with him to see what it taste like

There they go.....

What you don't see in this picture is Jake throwing up the cat food, because I was getting it on video as well... Jake did not like it and Patrick thought it wasn't bad... sick is all I can say.

Playing on the swing and teeter totter that were there

As we left at dusk the deer where out and just staring at us as we left.. Tons of them down drinking with the cows

Another evening we spent doing a little 4 wheeling..

Parents chilling as we did the 4 wheeling

Ahhh.. Summer Break.. or is it?

Summer officially started on June 1st this year for us. We have never been out this early before, which makes a month and half break for the twins instead of 3 weeks (because of year round school). And then its going to be 3 month break for Patrick because he starts Junior High this year... With our start to summer the first couple of days are just sleeping in and relaxing. I then got the call that my dad was going to go on a week and half fishing trip and my mom didn't want to stay home alone that long and wanted to come stay with us. Totally fine with it, but it was going to be a little busy. So, she came up Thursday and I was getting everyone ready for our first round of things to come with only being out of school a week. The first Saturday the twins had there first Cub Scout Day Camp..  so bright and early we were up (5:45 am) to get them off. Then back to bed for a half hour and then it was Joe and Patrick's turn to get up and go to there Scout Day Camp starting at 8 am. As all this happened me and my mom took advantage of the guys being gone all day and we went shopping and some lunch! All in all it was a busy day, everyone had fun at there events and we were all tired by the end of it.. 

The following week proved to be busy with playtimes, my dad coming through town to his next fishing adventure, preparing for Father's Day, preparing Joe and Patrick to do there 2nd Scout outing an overnight camp out and also packing and getting ready for me and the boys to go to Southern Utah for the next week. So, to say the least not much of a summer break yet... and I don't think from now on there will be. As your kids get older its just busier and busier. But, I am doing my best to enjoy it now, because one of these days they will have their own lives and we won't be sharing these moments as much. 

The twins before there Cub Scout Day Camp




Patrick at his Boy Scout Day Camp...

Patrick is not really that much taller than these boys. He was standing on the curb.

2nd weekend, Boy Scout Camp out.. up at beautiful Monte Cristo