Summer In a Nutshell Part II

Well, I have come to the realization that "Nutshell" in this case translates to "World's Longest Blog Post". Well, the second longest blog post anyway! The first longest was my previous post that I decided to break up into two posts because it was truly, ridiculously loooong! But, now that I have started, I certainly can't stop! I must finish out the summer, so hopefully, you will bear with me here! I will back-track a little at first becuase I somehow skipped the 4th of July in the last post, and then I will finish off July and most of August. 

Here are some pictures of the parade in Rexburg. The kids loaded up on candy in the first 10 minutes of the parade, which was enough for James. Once he felt he had a sufficient supply, he plopped himself down and began the process of unwrapping and consuming.

This float was our ward float! It won some kind of award. Way to go 16th ward!

Marianne helping James get his sack on his back. All that candy was just weighing him down I guess.

That's better!

That afternoon, we had a barbeque at my parents' house. Mom and Dad planned some fun activities for the family!

Granddad Burt with Will

Water Volleyball

Mom and Abram

This slide was a big hit! Rachel and Marianne

We had another great 4th of July! However, it was the first year we didn't do fireworks that evening. We were just too busy getting ready for music camp. We left for Harriman the next day!

After the music camp, we had a 24th of July celebration at my Grandparents house in St. Anthony. Two of the kids' favorite things to do here are:

Throw rocks in the river. (Hopefully, not themselves!)

And, of course, ride on the golf cart with Granddad! It's always surprising how many kids seem to be able to cram on here. Granddad is so nice to do this!

Have you ever seen a happier bunch of kids? This group includes ours, Jared and Nicole's (my brother) and Scott and Molly's (Scott Donahoo is my cousin)

Our next exciting adventure was a quick overnight trip to Badger Creek to spend some time with our good friends, Brian and Natalie Ashton. Brian is the guy in charge over there, and he let us ride the giant swing!

Here are Brian and Natalie getting Thomas and Marianne harnessed up and ready to go. (I don't know that Thomas and Marianne had any idea what they were getting themselves into!)

The other kids seemed entertained enough playing with sticks and dirt. And luckily, just wearing the helmet was enough for James. Here he is with Brigham.

Too late to back out now!

Thomas is that tiny speck in the air. He hadn't started swinging at this point. Those of us on the ground pull him up with a rope, and once he is up there, he lets go himself when he is ready. SCARY!

Screaming for dear life as he flys through the air.

Marianne getting ready to go.

That little speck is me, I promise. I only felt like I was going to die for a few seconds and then it was fun.

Richard must not have been able to figure out the "zoom" function on the camera. :)

Richard was the last to go.

Here he is trying to be Superman. Apparently, it's not as easy as Christopher Reeve made it look!

With everything we did in July, I am wondering how the month flew by so fast! We ended the month camping at Heise Hot Springs for a couple nights for the Burt Family Reunion. It was great fun, as usual!

 Here is Mom visiting our tent. We had an air matress with a memory foam topper and sheets. (No sleeping bags!) This was actually REALLY comfortable. I could handle camping any day with that set up!

With my sister-in-law Jeana. Can I just say - I have such cool sisters!

Dad cooking up a fabulous Dutch Oven dinner!

That night, we sat around the campfire and listened to Grandma and Granddad Burt tell stories of their parents when they were children.

Mom and Dad enjoying a delicious breakfast prepared by none other than the Ferguson's!

You can see the look on Richard's face below to gather how he felt about his pancakes. He claims to make the best pancakes EVER. And, I must say, they are pretty dang good!

What a good Aunt Becky is! Reading stories to the kids in Mom and Dad's tent trailer.

Boy being boys. On the left is Adam, Jeana's son, and on the right is Adam's cousin on Jeana's side. Thomas is excited because he and Adam will be in the same class this year at school!

To work off the pancakes, bacon, and eggs we had for breakfast we went on a hike. To get to the hiking trail, we all piled into our pick-up. What kid doesn't love to ride in the back of a pick-up?!?

You can see from the pavement that this hike must have been pretty grueling. ;)

I was playing with a setting on my camera for these next two pictures. It makes everything black and white except for one or two colors.

Mom always plans a craft for the kids. Dad helps the grandsons and Mom helps the granddaughters.

James enjoying the car he and Daddy just made.

Granddad and Anna. CUTE!

Getting ready to go swimming!

Richard hates swimming so he volunteered to take pictures instead.

I love my new swim suit! It was a great price and it gives me good coverage.  Thanks Amanda. :)

Some of the girls showing off their crafts.

This is my nephew, Will. Isn't he adorable???

Jared playing with Will. I love this picture.

Sarah, Anna, and Rachel. Bestest friends!

It's cooler to start the marshmallows on fire than it is to eat them! (According to a 10-year-old boy that is.)

Mom and Dad with the grandkids. Thanks everyone for such a fun reunion!!!

The last morning of the camp, Marianne and I took off at 7:00 to pick huckleberries. I have always wanted to go, and I finally got my chance. We may have just started a yearly tradition! I have thoroughly enjoyed them so far!

Okay, so seriously. I did it again. I posted a TON of pictures. I guess I will end this post here and do August in a seperate post.