Bear Lake

After getting back from Oregon, we spent most of the next week in Bear Lake with Randall's family. (Thanks Cali for reserving the condos for all of us!) I hitched a ride with Randall's sister Cali and went a few days before Randall. We all had a great time, aside from a few sunburns. The weather was beautiful for the most part, and all the kids had a blast playing in the sand and the very shallow water on the North Shore Beach of Bear Lake. The water is so shallow at the shore that the babies could crawl in it!

We were only 1 hour from Star Valley, so before coming back home we made a stop there to check on our house and go to church with our old ward. It was a bit of a tearful trip, but it was fun to see everyone. I sure do miss our house there and all of our friends. Star Valley still feels like home to me.

One funny story about Cooper- while in Star Valley we stayed at our house for the night (No, we STILL haven't sold it yet! If you know anyone interested in a house in beautiful Star Valley, PLEASE send them our way!) Anyway- when we got there Cooper kept commenting on how the walls were painted---I think mostly because everything just looked so bare and empty with all of our stuff gone. This is the conversation that took place next:

Cooper: "Oh, we forgot my bed!"
Me: "Oh, that's ok. We're only staying here one night."

Cooper wasn't quite ok with that explanation, but then he got a really worried look on his face.

Cooper: "Oh no! We forgot Rooster!" (Rooster is our dog)
Me: "That's ok- we'll go home and see him tomorrow."
Cooper: "No- we left him! He's going to be so sad!"

I think Cooper thought we were moving back, and while he really wanted his bed to be there, he was most worried that we had left Rooster behind. Poor kid!


Carson playing in the sand and very shallow water

Cooper

Carson

Cooper

Cousins enjoying a meal together (Left side: Carson, Cooper, Tyler. Right side: McKynli, Trent, Klayton)

Grandpa Raymond & Carson

Carson

Cooper and Carson actually playing together!

Randall, McKynli, and Cooper being pulled in the tube- they were all laughing!

Melissa & Carson on the tube

ZX Ranch in Oregon

July 27-31 Randall had to be at the ZX Ranch in Oregon to do some work, so the boys and I tagged along. It was beautiful while we were there, so we spent a lot of time outside playing in the pool. (Yep, the Barn House has a pool!) Cooper had a blast jumping off the diving board. He was a bit scared at first, but after Randall pushed him off once and he realized he popped back up to the surace with his life jacket on, we couldn't get him to stop! We had the Clarks over for a BBQ and pool party while we were there; we met the Clarks at church when we visited in April. We also took Cooper and Carson fishing at a little pond Simplot stocks with fish- Cooper had the only catch of the day, and he was all smiles. All-in-all it was a fun week.

Randall, Cooper and Carson in the pool

Randall showing off

Randall & Cooper on the diving board

Cooper "jumping" off the board for the first time

Pajama boys

Cooper & Randall fishing

Carson- he had more fun playing in the dirt than fishing

Melissa trying to fish

Tired boys

On one of the rare days we were actually home, Cooper and Randall both crashed on the couch. I guess they were both pretty tired. I had to snap a picture, because when Cooper was a baby, Randall would come home from lunch and they would both take a quick nap in this same position.


Randall & Cooper- 3 years old


Randall & Cooper- 1 month old

Pack Trip (aka: Boys-only outing)

Randall and some friends from vet school planned a last-minute 4-day pack trip (July 21-24), mostly for an excuse to get together, I think. They went to Bridger Lake in Wyoming, near Jackson Hole. Aside from the late-night driving (2 am!) to and from the outing, it sounds like they had a blast. Among the trip were: Randall, Paul Haderlie, Gordon Merayo, Braman Merayo, and Mitch Neibaur (Paul's brother-in-law).

While Randall was gone, I spent some time with my family. We went to the Schneiter family reunion up in the hills and had a great time camping and hanging out with everyone. Unfortunately Randall took the camera with him, so I don't have any pictures of Cooper & Carson playing in the creek and getting filthy dirty! So, just imagine the boys covered in dirt with a great big smile on their faces!

Here are a few pictures from the pack trip:


Randall fishing

Braman & Gordon

On the trail

Bridger Lake

Mitch fishing

Braman fishing

Gordon & Braman

Paul fishing

Long-overdue update

So, I know I've fallen a bit behind, but so has everything else at my house. Until last week, I could count the number of days I've been home and slept in my own bed on one hand. We've led a crazy and travel-filled life lately, and we're all glad to be back home and get back into a schedule! I'll do my best to fill you in with pictures from our recent summer adventures!