Introducing the NEW Utah Museum of Natural History

The University of Utah opened their new Natural History museum this year. It is exactly the sort of establishment you would expect at the heart of dinosaur country. Utah can hold its head high for sure. This is the best museum this crowd has been to. I thought poor Little Chief would be confined to his stroller for the entire exhibit, but there was actually something for him to do in every room. 

2 thumbs up for an educational, fun, interactive museum. 

First up, splashing in water in the back yard adventure room.

...and animal dress-up time.

Next into the world of dinosaurs...

My favorite thing was this section of a dinosaur quarry Superkid is standing on. The paleontologists hiked 4 miles into the quarry with tools and plaster on their backs to set these bones in place. Next a helicopter lifted the bones out of the canyon. How cool is that?! 

Who wants to be a paleontologist now?

  Okay, so here is the part where we get to be paleontologists too

...without hiking 4 miles with tools and plaster on our backs!

More underground rock quarry fun. I just think it is too cool!

Superkid does too!

There were many many other cool things too. Like this erosion table...

Then it was off to Iceberg for a REAL milkshake. 

You know then kind that stands ABOVE the cup.

We're all fans!

Lehi Rodeo Round-Up

These cowgirls can't go to a rodeo without proper boots!

We loved the cows!

We loved the bulls!

But OH! Those Rodeo Queens were the Bomb!

There were about 40 of them! Big hair and Giant hats! 

We will have a few upgrades to our accouterment next year for sure!

The best part of the evening was when the head Cowboy came over to and let us love his horse!

Grandma Sandi and Grandpa Bob had a seriously fantastic idea! 

Fabulous seating too! Front row, right by the pens! 

We went home with dirt in our teeth and huge smiles on our faces!

Cousin Capitol

We had to take advantage of having Boo, Tiny and Andy in town. 

What better place (if you are land locked) than a splash park?

It was a SCORCHING hot day and soaking each other with a power hose was sweet heaven.

Cousin Nick joined us for the fun as well!

And Tad drug Pops into the action!

Then back to Grandma's for puppy kisses! Tiny is a major dog enthusiast!

Then round 2 of water fun with Mindurs kiddos.

This time Slip and Slide Style!

...with periodic drink breaks!

Man vs. Nature

Birthday week continues! 

This time Bampa's birthday boating party! 

...which happened to fall on an EXTREMELY WINDY day. 

There were a couple of tight moments corralling wave runners, but this crowd can not be deterred! ...even if it means no lit candle on the donut cake.

Here are Pops and Little Chief before the waves got too wild.

It was a good thing that Uncle Dave was there to man the boat!

There was lots of fun on the boat

...and nothing makes you feel more safe and secure than snuggling with a REAL life guard 

We crammed and slammed as many kids as we could into the boat for good times.

Here's our little "show boat"!

And tons of fun on the water!

There was also plenty of fun on the beach

...and it is nice to collapse into Grandma's arms for a beachside snuggle.

Happy Birthday to Me (again)!

Man, I love my birthday. 

Utah has to be the BEST place to celebrate it! 

Grandma Sheri had a sleepover  with all of our kiddos plus cousin Izzypop on my birthday eve. Seriously, the best birthday present ever. The gift of sleep. Pops and I woke up with the world before us. Our original plan of spending the morning at the Salt Lake Temple was foiled (closed for cleaning), our back up plan of checking out the Oquirrh Mountain temple was also foiled (forgotten recommend), so plan #3 was a day of shopping!

Even without them we couldn't forget them. The kids made out like bandits on the shopping spree and we missed them as well so we stopped by to drop off "Angry Bird" birthday cup cakes.

The kids were having a blast swimming, eating candy and playing Whack-a-Mole.

And Tad was a major fan of his new cap. Don't you love his *angry* face?

Grandma was a trooper, she kept the kids so we could go to the 

*RED IGUANA*

 for dinner with Julie and Myke. 

What a great Birthday!

This Is The Right Place!

Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sandi treated us to fun day at This Is the Place State Park.

Since we are all Wild West fans, we had the time of our lives! You may think that pony rides were the best part for Abizella, but it is doing laundry by hand that she can't stop talking about. 

She is well on her way to getting a scrub board and wash basin for her birthday!

But of course, we all love the pony rides. 

Here is the beautiful cousin Izzypop in her matching dress that grandma bought the girls...

Superkid is a saddleman

Little Chief and his counterpart Skeeter were major fans of the animals.

We couldn't get enough petting in... well until LC got snapped by a goose, that is!

Tadpole is a kid of simple pleasures, a rope and board swing will suffice!

And then we got down to work, had to pan for gold so that we could by some CANDY!

We were pretty pooped and parched after all of our exertions. Pops had the BEST idea ever, lunch at LETHERBY'S! I wish I had pics, but my camera battery was pooped too!

Thank-you Grandma and Grandpa for the Super fun day!

Let's Get The Party Started!

Let Birthday Week 2012 Roll!

Being in Utah for my birthday brings back ALL the memories.

 I was determined to spend the time just like the good old days. 

We kicked off the festivities with a trip to Millcreek Canyon to play in the "crick".

Hop some rocks...

Take in the splendor of nature...

and ford a stream...

For the first time in 11 years I celebrated like I was born to party. I was *nearly* born on Bampa's 30th birthday. My mom insisted that I have my own birthday and had my birth induced a day earlier. But we all know now that it is way better share the birthday fun. I've missed celebrating with Bampa. 

Plus Bampa and I agree, only a berry pie will do on the big day!

Keep the party rolling!