Day Four is our trip to Manti for the

"Mormon Miracle Pagent"

This is the main event for our Family Trip this year. For those that don't know, our Mother passed 5 years ago in May. We have gotten together every year since then in May on the week that mom passed. We promised her and our selves that we would not allow us to grow apart. Mom taught us that Family is all that you have and that matters. We decided when she passed that one of our most favorite memories were our trips that mom made sure that we had every year, therefor we would have a vacation together every year. We have done different things each year, but even in the toughest times we have made sure that we have been together. This year was an exception to our normal time frame.

Our last vacation with all of us together including mom was 20 years ago, and we had came to Utah and ended the trip by going to the Pagent. So last year we decided to change our normal plans and have our vacation in June so that we could all go to the Pagent together again. It was the first time that my sisters have been since that trip 20 years ago. It was a great day and trip for us. It was nice to all be together again, Mom was right Family is all you've got that matters. She would say friends come and go, but your family doesn't. I would like to add that you also have those times when you have a few good friends that stand by you always, and can be considered as close to you as family. I am very grateful for both!!

THANKS MOM FOR GIVING US EVERYTHING YOU GAVE US, TAUGHT US, AND INSTILLED IN US.

YOU DID A GREAT JOB!!

AND WE'RE MAKING IT!!

The Second day was a real lazy day... We just hung out talked and played board games... sad when the "Adults" kicked the kids off of playing "Whack a Mole" so that we could play. They went downstairs and outside and we all competed at it. We had a blast!!...Then we let the kids play...LOL....good to be kids again!!

The Third day Tuesday (June 17th) we headed out for Vernal, UT. He have an Uncle & Aunt that live out there. We decided to go and see them since Kristel and the boys hadn't seen them in about 4 years. So we went to the new Dinosaur Museum first then to Uncle Dave's for a BBQ. It was a fun, and very long day!! 9 of us in the Suburban for 4hrs straight and then till 1am (on the way home).

The following are some of the pictures of the day.... just a note... I have a tradition that before a "road trip" we take pictures of everyone in the vehicle (that might explain some of them).

The first day was a much needed "lazy day". It was a great day that we used to get caught up on life and what is going on with each of us. It was nice to sit together and just have time to talk and enjoy being siblings.

The kids used it to catch up and play with each other. It was a day of Trampoline jumping and water "blasters" (I don't care for calling them water guns). They had a blast and it was fun for us to watch them.

Just another fun day with family....Nothing better than that!!

Wow what a great vacation we all had!! It all started on Saturday June 14.

The Girls (Kim and Kristel my sisters)

and the Boys (Matthew and Skylor my nephews, Kristel's boys)

all got here (from California) at 6pm just in enough time for us to gobble down some BBQ and run to the town Parade (our city's celebration kick off to summer).

I didn't find out till we got there that it was the boy's first parade that they had ever been to. They were surprised, they were expecting a small thing with a few people there, not an all out full fledged parade. Then Fireworks afterwards, we all had fun and it was a great way to kick off the week of vacationing with each other.

Just kicking back and waiting for the parade to start

and we're still waiting (didn't realize we were at the end of the parade route) ops sorry for making you all RUN to make it in time...LOL

Jimmy and Aunt Kim

Our friends, thanks for letting/inviting us to join up with you

Chris showing us his Karate' moves (he just saw a Karate group go by)

p.s. Chad and Steve were at work, bummer...

That is what Jimmy said to me on Tuesday to melt my heart and open it up, in order to accept the newest member of our family. Meet (Sammy) now known as (aka lol) Wicket (yes from Star Wars). Also really close to Wicka (for those that don't know I love the show Charmed). I FINALLY got to name my pet. So I came up with 4 that I liked and the boys (Chris mainly lol) helped in the final picking of his name. I wasn't sure that I was ready to replace the void that loosing Scamper left, but Wicket has a really great little personality.

Jimmy was right, he is going to make a great match for us all.

As Jimmy will tell you there are 99 days of

Summer Vacation !!

They didn't waist any time, this was Saturday and they were playing out back as I was mowing the lawn. The "tramp" was hot so I thought I would surprise them and put a sprinkler under it so it would cool down and thought that they would enjoy it. Yup!! it was a real HIT!! they loved it and jumped forever. When they got cold they would lay on the sides, warm up, and then start up all over again! :) They went back out latter in the afternoon as well. I think I might have started something...LOL!

Just Jumping Around !!

Ahh !!Rest time after a long hard playing morning!

I'm glad that they still Love each other this much, they are so good to each other !! :)

The Last Day of School !!

Jimmy and Chris

(the honorary member of the class this year)

Brotherly Love .. Jimmy is a great Big Brother !!
Chris and his "special friend"

He had to bring her a special "treat" too!! He had fun making a card for her :)

(he stoped in and said HI to her everyday!!)

Ahh Summer... Bring it ON !!

Just Soaking in some Sun!!

*I purposely kept names out as to not violate their privacy :) Thank you for understanding...

I'm a little behind but on Thursday May 29, 2008 (the day before the last day of school)both boys learned to ride their bikes. Chris was first and finally rode his bike with the peddles, instead of scooting himself along (we've worked on it since last summer).

Jimmy also in the afternoon (after school) learned to ride his 2 wheeler without any help nor myself or Abe (our neighbor) needing to walk along side him. We were so excited!!! He said "I get out of school at 10 tomorrow morning and I'm going to ride my bike ALL DAY!". And that he did, including we rode our bikes to school the next morning!! It was a really good day for us, and I was so blessed to be here and enjoy it with the boys! I wouldn't trade if for ANYTHING!!

I love this day !

This is AWESOME !!

A REALLY GOOD DAY !!!

I thought I would add the picture of the ladder that didn't make it through "The Fall" of Chad's off the roof...lol

"ouch"