Enjoying Julie

After we arrived in New Mexico, Julie was able to stay a few days with us!  We had fun swimming, going to the zoo, building clay figures, seeing Maleficent in the theatre, staying up late talking, watching movies, and having fun!  Julie even volunteered to watch the kids for us one night so Clay and Laura could go on a motorcycle date!!  Wow..what a treat for us!  We are indebted to you Jewels.  Thanks for spending time with us, laughing with  us, serving us, and just being you Julie!!! You are lots of fun.  Can't wait to see you again.

 

 

We had planned on seeing the movie Maleficient when we got to home... while we were driving we saw this rock structure in the distance and swore it looked like Maleficients domain!  Crazy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We met up with several friends at the pool....lots of Julies...Julee Neilsen, Julie Gragg...we love you both!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arches quick stop

 

On the drive from Bear Lake to New Mexico, Laura, Julie (Laura's sister, who was nice enough to drive back with Laura!!), and the kids stopped at Arches National Park to take a quick peek.  It is on the way, how can we not stop?  However, after being gone from home for over 7 weeks, Laura and the kids were tired, exhausted, homesick, DONE with the car, ready to be home....but we just couldn't pass up the opportunity to see Arches.  So we allowed ourselves to stop for one short hour.   So Carpe Diem!  WE ARE DOING ARCHES TODAY, TIRED OR NOT, HERE WE COME!  The kids lasted about 2 stops, and then all the golden arches started looking the same to them and they were done.  Laura and Julie could have gone on for hours looking at the beauty of Southern Utah's red rock and amazing structures!  But, as anyone who has kids knows...when the kids aren't happy...ain't nobody happy!  So, we compromised and went to one last stop - the kids refused to walk the trail, so Julie walked to the arch and took a picture while Laura gave the kids a potty stop to prepare for the rest of days' journey.  Was it worth the stop? Definitely. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beachside Babes & Blackmail

 

On Day 1 at the beach we lucked out with beautiful weather!  Partly sunny, a few clouds, and unfortunately LOTS of sunburns!  The kids enjoyed digging, spraying, and playing with cousins.  Kathy, Becky and Julie made an awesome castle that they defended from the raiding children.   Day 2 weather was not so perfect.  It was cloudy and overcast that eventually turned into a rain storm!  Perfect weather or not, the day was full of adventures, fun and making memories, especially as we made handmaid shelters out of towels, but even those got wet after a while and we RAN for it!   

 

 

Brad and Debbie's friend brought a pair of paddleboards and offered to let Laura try it out!  What a treat!  Laura had a blast, and was able to catch on pretty fast and didn't even fall off!! Yipee. 

 

 

Aparri graced us with her singing of "Rain, Rain go away....an old man is snoring"  Over and over again!  She thought it was pretty hilarious.  Unfortunately, her singing didn't make the rain go away.... quite the opposite!  Oh well!

 

We can be a pretty silly bunch at times, we just don't always capture it on camera!!!!  Well, this time we did!  And these pictures prove it!  I'm not quite sure what was going on in the car at the time...but I assure you...silliness prevailed!!!  I love my family!