Flaming Gorge Days

The last weekend in June is always Flaming Gorge Days. Today we went to the parade. Boston loved gathering up the candy thrown by the floats. Then we went over to the fair. Boston was brave enough to go down a bouncy slide. He thinks that cotton candy is too sticky. Silly guy.

Finally

Yesterday it was finally warm enough to play in the pool. Yeah!

Ants

They finally got him. And they got him good.

We've warned him over and over to stay away from the ant hills but he likes to watch them. They have crawled on him in the past and never bothered him. Today however one got in his shirt and bit him twice on the neck. He started screaming and pulling at his neck. I took off his shirt and shook it out and he started screaming and pulling at his pant leg. I picked him up and took him to the truck. I pulled off his pants and socks and shook them out. When I put his shirt back on though he started crying again and sure enough some how an ant had survived the shake out. So he stayed in only a diaper because he was too scared to put his clothes back on. In the end he had six bites. Two on his neck, two on his back and two on his leg. Tonight when I was getting him in jammies you could still see all of the bites. I don't think he will get quite so close to the ant hills any more. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way.

Family Photo

Today while out gathering some landscaping rocks and exploring the desert we found a great spot for a family photo. So we set the timer and Justin ran back and forth for us. But the results were well worth it. What a fun trip!

Quarry

Later we went to a commercial quarry where you could excavate your own fossils. The boys got busy with chisels and hammers. It was a lot of fun to watch them split the rocks and hope to find something. Most of the time it was a blank rock face, then there were a lot of half or headless fossils and finally every once and while they would find a good one worth keeping.Boston enjoyed the backhoe and climbing the large hills of dug up rock.

Everyone came home with 4 or 5 fish fossils. There was a lot of celebrating in the quarry when some people found a bat.

Hawk or Pigeon

We had to do a quick U-turn to photograph this hawk with its chicks. When we first drove by the adult was feeding the babies. It was very fun to see. (Boston kept insisting however that they were not hawks but pigeons.)

Fossil Butte National Monument

Friday we met my family at Fossil Butte. We explored the visitor center and went on a small hike to a small research quarry. I got to help take notes and excavate a fish fossil.

Our new truck with it's brother truck (owned by my dad). Kind of funny we have matching trucks.

Boston was a great little hiker. He was always encouraging us on "Great job guys. We made it to this stick." He also enjoyed singing "We're following the leader."When Boston would get tired of hiking he would ask someone, "Do you want to hold me?"

Hike complete. Because of all the recent rain the area was green and had lots of wild flowers. But the sun was out for us and it was a beautiful morning.

Cousins

Boston says, "Come back soon!"

Swimming

We decided to take a quick swim in the outdoor pool one afternoon. The water was hot enough that it made up for the cool temperature. Boston loved being in the water. He especially loved doing motor boat with his Aunt Sharon.

The Desert

Of course we had to take John and Sharon out to our favorite places in the desert. And of course the boys had to bring guns. Spencer and John took turns throwing and shooting clay pigeons. We were really glad to have a morning without rain.

A Penguin

Spencer got Boston out of bed on Saturday dressed as a penguin. Boston loved it. He had no idea it was dad and showed the penguin all around the house. "Here are the books, penguin." "This is the table, penguin." Then John and Sharon came over and got a kick out of the suit also. Jackson was not to sure about it. When Spencer took the head off Boston said, "Hey Dad! What are you doing in a penguin?" We still have the suit laying around the house and Boston likes to put the head and feet on.

PS The penguin is the mascot for Little America. It is a long story.

A Quick Trip

When I saw the forecast for last week I knew I needed to go to SLC to escape the freezing cold. (remember it's usually 10 degrees colder in WY) We had fun playing in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard, finding worms, visiting Grandpa Slip (Great Grandpa Heslop) cousin Karen and kids Elizabeth and William, reading stories and pretending to drive. John and Sharon drove us back home and stayed for a fabulous visit.

Wildflowers

It is a great time for wild flowers. There are fields of them in some areas and then in other areas there is only one lonely plant. I need to do some research and figure out the names of these flowers. I am trying to press and dry some of them. I love the puff ball flowers in the last two photos.

Horned Toad

Boston was not so sure about holding this little guy. However he has no problem picking up red ants. He doesn't even mind when they bite him.

Summer Fun

Playing with friends

Watching Trains
Playing/Watching Baseball
Too bad we didn't get any photos of the barbecue and fire after. Thanks to Hippy and Heather for a fun night!

Jump

I love the second picture. His little hands squeezed tight, a look of extreme concentration right before taking off.

A Sandbox

Spencer and Boston built the box ...

... now all we have to do is fill it up.