The Smith's Nine Lives!

The day after the 4th, we loaded up and drove to Idaho to visit family. We got To Sugar City late Saturday night, went to church and did the typical Sunday things. Monday we met up with Laura and Nate and Katie at the Splash park and the kids played and stayed cool. Then we went with Nate and Katie to bridge jump, but the water was too high and swift so we decided to not risk our lives, and went to a sand bar instead. While there, Benson took Dallin and Ashlynn to another area to dive, and I stayed in the wading area with the others. Peyton decided to climb up the stairs, and after handing Kennedi over to Katie, I ran up the steps in time to see Peyton climbing in the top of a water slide (no life guards on duty). Afraid that I'd land on him if I slid down after him, I booked it down the stairs and ran (fully dressed) into the lake where he is bobbing up and down. Luckily he was fine, just a little scared. I wrapped him in a towel and settled him down, just in time to look up and see the chain, separating the wading area from the swift water - leading to a waterfall, break and start to float off in the current, with Talie hanging on. Still fully dressed, I ran/swam and pulled her back to the shallow area.
The Kiddo's at the Splash Park.


On Wednesday, we got to hang out with Matt and Lindsay as well, and then to start off Benson's family reunion,we went floating down the snake river with 10 little ones. There were some tip overs, and a traffic jam into a tree on top of poor Shannon, but after Bart and Benson pulled us out, all was well.

Thursday we decided to go 4-wheeling down an old favorite trail. After Benson did a backwards somersault off the back of the trailer (while still on a 4 wheeler), Kennedi and I pulled a double Evil Kenevil (forward somersault) on our 4 wheeler, and Talie tipped sideways, we called it a day. The worst of the 4-wheeler injuries
(photographed by Talie herself=)


Friday, we decided to play it a little safer and went fishing first thing in the morning, and then drove to Jackson Hole to go swimming.

With the help of the Master Fisherman, we ALL caught a fish!

All in all, it was a fun trip, and we were grateful to arrive home safely.

The 4th of JULY!!

We were lucky to have uncle Nate, Aunt Katie, and cousin James come from Arkansas to come spend the 4th with us. We started the morning by sending Talie and Dallin off with Dad to go 4 wheeling. While the rest of us stayed home to enjoy the neighborhood parade, which consisted of neighborhood kids riding around the subdivision in their patriotic decorated bikes behind a fire truck. Apparently last year the kids went ahead of the truck, making the driver nervous, so this year, the truck tried to drive fast to keep ahead of the kids. Of course, they just rode faster and Ashy - one to never be left behind - tried to keep up and biffed it on her first go around the neighborhood. When I saw all of her friends ride by and no Ashy, I became nervous, and ran to find her. She had gotten back on her bike, but was not interested in finishing the parade or staying for the popsicles and festivities. But hey, her bike sure looked cute - great decorating Ashy!
After that we hung out at a park for awhile and then came home for the little ones to nap. Nate and Katie played water games with the big kids while Benson and I packed for the trip to Idaho the next morning. Then we finished up the evening at the Albrechtsens' home for a BBQ and fireworks. It was so cute, when the firework show started, after each firework shot up, Peyton's eyes bulged and his mouth shot open as he pointed, yelling "Fyah Wooks! Fyah Wooks!"
Then he would throw his hands over his gaping mouth.
Unfortunately we don't have a picture of it, but it was cute!
Hanging in the Hammock.