Paying Tribute

Early on the morning of July 6th we drove to Salt Lake City to buy a truck (one step closer to sleeping in a trailer!). We had a family reunion early in the afternoon and a work party that day as well and time was going to be tight. As we drove down 300 North on our way home from getting the truck we saw that it was lined with our country's flag from main street to the cemetery turn off... 4 miles of flags. Utah Highway Patrolman, Aaron Beesley was being laid to rest in the West Point cemetery.

 

Even though we knew our time was crunched that day, Brian and I both felt that this was a good experience for our kids. It was a very humbling sight to see so many people lining the road, many in scout uniforms and others in their Sunday best, all wanting to pay tribute to a real hero.

 We watched the ladder trucks from Tremonton and Brigham City hang the flag over the road. I love our country and the freedoms that we enjoy. I am so grateful for all those that serve to protect us.

Unfortunately, we really did have to get going or we wouldn't make our other commitments. So we took off and got the rest of the things ready for the day and then headed back out to our reunion. We were able to see the funeral procession turning into the cemetery as we were leaving.

Minnetonka Cave and Monte Cristo

On the 4th of July we went with my family to Minnetonka Cave near Bear Lake.

 Brian and the kids at the cave entrance.

 Tay-Baby in the backpack. She certainly didn't love being in the pack but did pretty good throughout the cave and ended up falling asleep before we were out.

 The thing that made the cave so cool was having the cousins there.

The cousins make everything fun!

Our family at the heart of the cave (I think that's what they called it). It was pretty chilly in there so I am really glad we didn't forget to pack our jackets!

 We saw a lot of really cool formations (stalactites and stalagmites). I'm pretty sure this one (which are stalactites) was the Bride, or the Wedding party of something along those lines. Ryker prayed for days before we went that we wouldn't see any bears in the cave. After all we were going to the cave near Bear lake. Luckily we didn't encounter any wild animals :)



After the cave we ate a picnic lunch and then headed to Monte Cristo campground to camp for a couple of days. The only picture I took the first day was of these two crazy girls. Jovi had on the best getup ;) and when I asked her and Piper if I could take their picture Piper leaned in and posed with her favorite cousin. Taylee will learn all sorts of shenanigans from these two!!

Ryker and Jaxon got out of the car the first day and were off with the cousins. I'm pretty sure we didn't see them again until dinner. They had the best time!!

 The next morning my dad gave each family a book for classifying wildflowers in Utah. We spent the morning identifying the many flowers near our campsight. It was suprisingly really fun!

 

My mom taking Taylee and Jovi for a walk.

Brian and Josh trying to identify the flowers.

Right before lunch it started to rain and it continued to rain for the rest of the afternoon. It had rained during the night and the forecast predicted that it would continue to rain into the next day. We all decided that tent camping in the rain with 13 little kids wasn't our idea of fun, so tents were taken down (in the rain) and we packed up (in the rain) and drove home (in the rain).

Even with all the rain the boys had a fantastic time exploring and playing with the cousins. After our very sleepless night in the tent, I decided that if I never sleep in a tent with little kids again I would be completely happy. Trailers have never looked so enticing!!