Grandpa & Grandma's Visit to Utah

Dave's parents came out from Pennsylvania and stayed with us for a week in early August.  The kids had a great time hanging out and playing games with Grandma and Grandpa, and we did several little excursions to show them a bit of Utah.

The boys trying out their lasso skills at Gar Ranch on Antelope Island.

Emmett ready to rope!

The lasso was a bit more than Vera Gail could handle, but the water pump was right up her alley!

Dave and the boys getting in touch with their cowboy side.

Still trying to catch that wooden steer!

Gareth having a go at it.

Vera Gail and Grandpa.

Vera Gail, Emmett, Grandpa and Grandma in the shade by the spring.

We hiked up to Buffalo Point after the ranch visit.

Gareth in his natural element - climbing rocks!

And Vera Gail as well!

Gareth and Grandma taking in the view.

Gareth on a high perch

Emmett doing a cannonball off the high dive at the Aquatic Center.

Gareth jumping in too!

The boys in line for another leap off the diving board.

Daddy and Vera Gail going down the water slide.

The kiddos and Grandma enjoying an ice cream in Park City.

The crew on a locomotive at the Odgen Union Station.

Birthday party time!

Birthday booty!!

Vera Gail with her books from Grandma and Grandpa

The boys with their cool Star Wars figures.

Vera Gail oohing and aahing over her princess clothes!

Cake - with enough candles for everyone!

Grandma and Grandpa and the kids.

Fun in the mud at Causey Reservoir - the reservoirs are sadly low this summer.

Emmett and Grandma ready to canoe.

And they're off!

The kids splashing around in the water after canoeing for a while.

Gareth having a blast!

Emmett and Vera Gail wading around.

Vera Gail staying cool.

The water level is usually nearly to those shrubs in the background...it's prettier when there isn't so much mud!

Emmett in the water

Dave cooling his feet.

Gareth grin!

Vera Gail proudly 'swimming' around

The kids at the Fort Douglas museum.

Another museum shot. (Haha, bad pun...)

Gareth and Vera Gail and Grandma catching some shade.

Emmett working on his Tarzan skills

Grandma and Vera Gail at the bowling alley.

Gareth and Grandpa chilling between bowls.

It's a fuzzy photo, but you can tell he's having a good time. ;-)

Vera Gail making good use of the pink dragon!

California Vacation & Gareth's Birthday!

We braved the 12 hour drive out to see Grandma and Grandpa in California!  It actually was far quicker and less painful than I had anticipated, with the exception of Sunday afternoon traffic through Sacramento.

Though it was technically bath-time when we arrived, the kids needed some exercise and down time and were more than happy to spend an hour in the jacuzzi.

Vera Gail in the water.

Gareth sending a toy boat down the waterfall.

Emmett 'deep-jacuzzi diving'. ;-)

Emmett by the big pool - of course, the first and only thing the kids wanted to do the next day was SWIM!

Vera Gail fearlessly joining the boys in the big pool!

Emmett jumping off the waterfall into the pool.

Gareth involved in a little project.

Dave relaxing outdoors.

The boys in the pool.

Goofing around in the their innertubes.

Gareth having a great time in the water!

Emmett going down the slide.

And Gareth zipping down next!

Gareth sending his boats down the BIG waterfall.

Dave and Gareth and Grandpa having chips by the pool.

Gareth and Grandpa!

Gareth and tube taking a flying leap off the waterfall!

Vera Gail and Daddy in the jacuzzi.

Noodle-jumping!

Grandpa and Gareth playing in the pool.

Birthday boy!

The kiddos ready for a party!

The awesome talking R2D2 and C3PO birthday card.

Gareth with the long-desired LEGO Space Center!

As if they need more sugar...

Vera Gail and princess record set.

Gareth grinning over his highly food-colored Transformers cake.

Blowing out candles.

The kids having some cotton candy at Six Flags!

Emmett and Grandma and Grandpa doing a wild ride while Dave and I watched the other kids on the big playground.

The ever-popular bumper-cars as our finishing event.

Daddy and Gareth ready to zoom!

Fun with Grandpa in the pool!

Lift-off!!

Rock-climbing on the sides of the pool...

Vera Gail climbing around on the retaining wall with Grandpa.

Vera Gail and Dave in the jacuzzi.

Emmett joining the fun!

We went for a Sunday outing to the coast.  Here are the kiddos on San Gregorio State Beach.

Me and Dave enjoying being by the ocean.

Emmett with a nice driftwood walking stick.

It was an unusually warm day at 65 degrees, and very pleasant - in a jacket. ;-)

I always say that if one truly wants to capture a Gareth moment, video is required, but this time a photo managed it!

Dave with the cliffs behind him.

Walking along the beach.

Surprise, surprise, the boys found dismembered crabs...

The kids all loved running around on the beach!

...and avoiding those sneaky high waves!

Vera Gail had to find herself a nasty crab claw too. ;-)

Emmett with a big piece of shell.

Gareth hanging on Grandpa...again..

Crab trophies...

Goofy Gareth grin

Heading back for a picnic lunch.

Emmett and I found a crab that was still whole and still alive, and we managed to send him back out to sea.

Our next stop was Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

Dave with the lighthouse behind him.

My turn.

Vera Gail climbing on the rocks by the tidepools below the lighthouse.

Gareth investigating seaweed.

Gareth and Grandpa by the tidepools

Emmett finding fun things

We saw snails and anemones and some other really interesting creatures in the pools.

The day after we went to the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. It was really cool!

Dave in the kids along the Sacramento River.

Group shot in the jacuzzi on our last day

Tube-jumping!

Emmett jumping in too!

And Vera Gail as well!