Summer 2016 Trip

 

 As per tradition, we hit the road each June to spend time in Tahoe, Auburn, Lehi and Bear Lake. It is the marathon trip of the summer (usually a full two weeks) and one we look forward to with great anticipation.

 

 First Stop: Lake Tahoe

Ohhhhh, Tahoe. You are a slice of heaven. 

Pretty hard to imagine any place on earth more lovely than you.

We were really bad about taking pictures this year at every stop so as limited as the photos are we have a few from each place to help us remember the memories made. 

This year at Tahoe was a little bit off because the hostess, Nikki (my oldest sister) was not feeling well. The night we went skating and had pizza she was at the cabin in bed (so sad). 

From left to right: Paige, Hanna, Ella, Brynn, Erin, Chris, Evan, Max, Brandon, Benson, Lew, James. I was taking the photo and I don't know where Scott was--I think he was driving back to the cabin to bring Nikki leftover pizza.

Next stop: Auburn to visit the Juarez family. 

From left to right: Sofia, Lorenzo, James, Gabriella, Max, Benson & Lew.

The kids spent their time in the pool mostly and picking berries in the garden (Benson and Lew could not get enough of the garden). It was SUCH an anomaly to them that you could pick your own food off a plant and eat it.  

On our way to Lehi we ran into some dear, dear friends: Ira and Alexis Hansen. They had three of their darling grandsons in tow each clutching an enormous bag of candy! It was SUCH a treat to see them!

 Mike and Sue planned a picnic in the canyon one evening which was just beautiful. We also took the boys to a pond where they caught a fish with their bare hands! It came out of the pond through a drainage pipe and because the water was so shallow he was pretty easy to catch.

We decided to take the boys to tour the Salt Lake Temple grounds because every time we've been it is winter time and they are so cold that they don't really enjoy or appreciate much.

I was delighted to see them admiring the fountains and flowers everywhere.

They were amazed that the Temple took 42 years to build. I told them, "That's older than Daddy!" And they looked at me with their mouths open like, "NO WAY!?" haha.

 

Next, we were off to Bear Lake! But first we stopped in Park City to have dinner with the Millers because they weren't able to come up to Bear Lake this year so we had a fun evening with them as sort of a kick off to Bear Lake evening.

It's so cute to hear James and Max talk about everyone's kids (these are all the children of Branodn's mission companions). They refer to them as their "cousins" which I think is so cute and hardly ever correct them because these phenomenal people are practically family at this point.

Brandon and I have counted over 12 years that we've been going to Bear Lake for this mission reunion. It is a wonderful tradition.

 Noah's parents, Richard and Linda were at Bear Lake while we were there. One afternoon they rode up the beach on their horses: Roper and Lady. They each took turns giving the kids and the adults rides! It was TOO fun for me and the boys. It had been WAY too long since I'd been on a horse.

 James on Roper

 Max on Roper

Brandon's Mission President and his wife come up every year to be with us. This is President Bennett reading Lew a "Thomas" book. Lew is in heaven with foxy tickling his nose, a good book and some one on one time with a buddy.

Brandon was able to mountain bike several mornings which is something he misses. Mountain biking in the desert isn't nearly as fun as at Bear Lake, needless to say.

This is B and Noah on a morning ride clearly enjoying themselves.