Pikes Peak

Colorado Springs is down at the base of Pikes Peak, a 14,000 foot tall mountain. After Grandma, Bruce and Ron arrived we decided to go for a drive up Pikes Peak. The weather was perfect for it, and when we got up there, we were loving it, you could see forever!!

Mark, Dan and the kids went for a hike up in the mountains while Nikki and I prepared for the family reunion.

Jessie and Lilyanne

We missed seeing Pat and Darlene, Cassie and her family, Fred and Sue, and my brother Casey. Hopefully we can all meet up again soon!

Colorado Springs

After visiting Utah, Mark & the kids drove out to Colorado to meet me. I flew, because I had to work (work is cramping my style!) so I didn’t get to go to Utah and Yellowstone. My family lives in Colorado Springs, and we hadn’t been to visit for quite awhile.

While waiting for my plane to arrive Mark and the kids hung out at the Garden of the Gods visitors center. There was a lightning storm that rolled in, and Mark caught this beautiful image, isn’t it awesome??

We played at Nikki and Dan’s house for awhile.

My mom had me pull out several boxes of my “stuff” that they had saved from under their stairs. While we were looking, we found her wedding bouquet! The kids had fun playing on my dad’s model railroad.

Jellystone

Mark, his parents and the kids went on a drive to Utah. They stopped in Yellowstone to check it out. Here is the prettiest mountain range in America (in my opinion) the Grand Tetons.

Hello Mud Pots!

The wildlife was few and far between, but it was a fantastic time!

Wings and Waves

While Mark’s parents were visiting we went to the new Wings and Waves waterpark out in McMinnville. I liked the concept of the waterpark, and it was really nice inside. The kids thought it was awesome.

I thought the Great Wolf Lodge was a lot funner. Also, the prices for the waterpark were really expensive, it was ridiculous for such a small place. There were only 4 slides, and a lot of people. If you plan on going be sure and check it out first.

I must say though, the kids loved it :)

Mark's parents came, and went.

Mark's parents flew in to Portland for about 3 days before they headed to Utah, we had a nice time with them!

Mark's mom comes up the cutest things! She took a styrofoam cup, poked a straw into the side of it. Then she put a towel over the top of the cup and rubberbanded it on. You fill a shallow bowl with dish soap and a tiny bit of water, dip the towel part of the cup into the mixture then blow on the straw and look what happens! You can get the soap really long, it's funny :)

We of course went to the rose gardens.

And saw a pretty sunset.

Pioneer Day

Our stake put on a great Pioneer Day event. We went to the beautiful Fallbrook Farms out in North Plains and had a great time, we were there all day and didn't want to leave. They had food, a band, games for the kids, candle making, rope making, and a lot of other great things. Here are some fun pictures of the kids!

Curren and I made candles.

Jessie's team won the tug of war!

Curren and Jason won the 3 legged race.

Log cutting is so much harder than it looks.

The 4th of July and stuff

On the 4th of July we had a BBQ with Stacy and Richard, and the Weaver family, and of course, lit off a bizillion fireworks.

Matt Weaver took the firework photos, they are awesome.

We went surfing

And boating a few days later

And climbed on some rocks

Gotta love summer.