Mo Family

Mindy and Dax joined the fun for a few days!  Mindy always shows up with gifts, and anything related to bikes is a good bet.  This time, an actual bike.  Ruby has been working so hard on her bike. She is peddling,  riding dirt, covering miles I wouldn't have considered until my high school years, and so, the gift of the next size of bike up, was perfect.  She picked it up seamlessly, and as you can see by the smiles, it was exciting for everyone.

The next day we took it for a test spin.  "I really like it" she told Aunt Mindy.  Thumbs up!

Siblings. :)

Went into town and rode the trolley around for a bit.

Well, big surprise, we got a cow cookie.  I wonder how many of these we have consumed over the years.  yummy..

A visit to the splash pad to cool off...

and home for frappes and popsicles up at our  picnic table in the woods.

Dreamy.

Aunt Mindy did some really cool science experiments again.  I mean, REALLY cool.  Things I have never seen before.  I don't feel like I can even begin to describe what I saw.  I wish Ruby and Owen could have Mindy for science in school some day.  It must be an incredible experience.  We love you Aunt Science!

Mindy and Dax treated us to homemade spring rolls.  They were amazing.  We will be repeating.

And, Oma stayed with the kids while they slept so that we could get out on a bike ride for a few hours before sunset.  It was pitch black when we got home, and SO fun.  This was my first ride of the year and I came home in one piece.  Success!

The second day we adventured out to Wall Lake for a hike, picnic, and some cliff jumping.

Chip estimated the height at 18 ft.  Dax did a back flip off of it.  Crazy!

And Chip flew off of it.

I felt lucky to step off of it.

Thumbs up for little person's version of high alpine lake swimming.

Oma- made it and looking good!

Group shot- good looking crew in a good looking spot, eh?

Back home, all cleaned up, for another group shot!

Mindy and Dax left and then, the next day, Oma had to leave too.  Ruby told us the night before that she wanted to wake up early (6:15am) and take her to the airport with me.  Ruby usually sleeps until 8:30 if she doesn't have to get up for anything.  So, when she woke up on her own, without an alarm, got dressed, and came out to load up, I was blown away to say the least.  We are SO appreciative of Oma's time and efforts over the past three weeks.  It was fun, emotional, and action packed.  Can't wait to do it again!!

Summer Lovin

With Oma's encouragement, I finally made it to the Driver's License Bureau and got a Utah driver's license.  I have been driving with my Oregon one for almost five years now.  Oh man, feels good to tick this one off the "to do" list. 

I think we lived an entire summer in the three week visit.  Here we are taking Graham and Greta for a special summer day of activities.  We planned as a group and decided on the zoo (waiting for the bird show to start here), and a trip to the Gateway splash pad.

The kids were awesome.  Oma was awesome, despite some pain.  Oma got into a big car accident the day before this.  The truck ended up totaled, but everyone fine.  It was a great experience in that it brings to the forefront how fragile life is in so many ways, how grateful we are to have each other, and how little we care about material things.  I mean seriously, loose grip people.  This experience allowed us to practice self love, forgiveness, letting go, and taking responsibility...the good stuff of life.  So glad that Oma did have pain from the impact of the air bag going off, but was mostly off any mediation by the time she left and never needed a trip to the clinic.

The face painting continues.  This one got a little mommy assistance, but was filled in and finished by Owen himself, same with Ruby's below.

Art class outside with Oma.  Really cute results.  I love coming home from work to this stuff!

Saturday morning at the Farmer's Market in SLC.

A-mazing popsicles were found by Oma and Ruby.  We loved them so much we came home and replicated them immediately.  Strawberry basil and banana cream pie.  Yummmm.

Savoring.

A stop at the Ruby Snap booth in Tina's honor. :)

It has been hot.  So, several afternoons, we have played in the water and then Ruby and Owen cuddle up on the deck for "cozy time".  This routine will not surprise anyone who knows my kids and their addiction to cozy and cuddling....But really, it is about 90 degrees in this photo.

The poppies- amazing show, as always.  Mind blowing beauty.

More facepaint.

And, our version of "banana cream pie".

A trip to the river one hot afternoon for a picnic and time to get wet.

Oh yeah baby! That's joy!

We rescued Walter, the neighbor's Cockatiel.  It is a funny story.  Ask next time we see you.

And finally, father's day!  Ruby and Owen loved on dad lots.  They pretty much worship the ground he walks on, which is great.  I can't think of anyone I would want them to look up to more.  We are a fortunate clan, that's for sure.  Love you, dad!!

Oma's here!

We went with Oma to the Park Silly Market.  It was a beautiful day for some live music, a shave ice, and...face painting!

Ruby decided to spend her own money on getting her face painted.  

And, Ruby and Owen put their money together to buy their own face paints for at home.  They have been face painting on a daily basis.  Clean up has been better than one might expect.  The deal is they mostly do it themselves.  They sometimes struggle to get all off from around their eye and then we go around town looking like they have eye liner on or something.  It's cool.  That's how we roll I guess. 

"Mom, I'm the earth!"

Work it, Ru!

 I know, hurts so good.

Oma took them to the library's summer program kick off which included getting to visit with a few super heroes.  Ruby and Owen look like they are flashing the black power hand sign more than a muscle.  When asked what they want to be when they grow up they often say, "PA", which is great.  I hope they do that.  However, I think there is a little social worker in each of them too.  Just sayin. 

Oh man, Oma, Ruby and Owen made the biggest trek any of them has ever done including such vertical gains.  It was a STEEP hike up to the caves.  They all did amazingly well and the caves were incredible.  We even came home with some good stories...like the one about the rattle snake that Oma almost threw a rock at because she "wanted some action".  I am not kidding. Thank goodness I walked up on these three fast enough.  ;)

Ruby and Owen.  I love this picture SO much.  I see visions of the two of them sharing a lifetime of adventures, views, awe, and inspiration together.

We made it!!

Oma and Ruby baking the biggest plate of chocolate chip cookies you have ever seen.  

Oma needed to meet Pedro so we took them both camping in the Flaming Gorge.  It was such a treat to discover!  The views were unlike anything we have at home, there was lots of water to play in, and it is only 3 hours from home- a simple weekend trip.

This was a nature moment- a water snake with a fish in its mouth.  SO cool.

Dad taught Ruby and Owen how to fish.  We didn't catch anything, but no one seemed to mind.

Lunch!  A safe lunch.

This is Owen's "walking on water" picture.  It looks like summer and joy to me.  Yahoo!

Painting back at camp.  I cannot get enough of that smile.

Smores!

Aunt Mindy gave Ruby and Owen these travel trolls last year for their birthday.  They are so fun and go most places with us. 

On Sunday we rented a raft and floated the "A" section on the Green River.  It was stunning and just the right amount of white water.

The sign behind Oma says "Mother-in-law Rapid".  Chip made sure that Oma got splashed on this one. ;)

Rafting is pretty great, eh?