FHE BBQ

Our first combined FHE of the summer was a BBQ up at the barn. It was lots of fun and SO GREAT to be outside in the sunshine! We have had a very rainy spring (I am not complaining, we need the rain bad, but sunshine is wonderful too!)

C Man, Aunt J and Cousin C watch Uncle C shoot his blow dart gun. He's pretty good.

Cousins A and G with Princess P. Yay for sunshine and green fields!

SPRING SOCCER

Warm weather has arrived just in time for C-Man to start playing spring soccer. It actually hasn't really been that cold this year. Our water levels are very low and it is definitely going to be a dry summer. But I digress... 

Princess P and I enjoying the sunshine and the soccer game too.

 C-Man is playing forward this year instead of goalie and enjoying it very much. He scores at least once a game.

C and his headband chase the ball.

C-Man in green.

I got fried!

WEEKEND IN MOAB

Sister S had a very early Spring Break up at USU this year and talked us into taking a little trip while she was off school. We decided Moab/Arches would be a fun little jaunt and planned accordingly.

After 3 1/3 hours in the car, we were ready for a break...

'I'll race you up the sand hill!  Go!'

 After getting all sandy and stretching our legs, we drove over to Wall Street on the North side of the Colorado River so that Big C and Sister S could do some climbing. Princess P ended up climbing too, but not on the car, like it looks in the photo... haha!

Big C on the wall, Sister S belaying, I was drawing.

 By the time they were done climbing everyone was hungry! We went and ate at The Broken Oar. I highly recommend it. It was really good!

You don't have to wear bibs like my kids though.

 The next day, after a lovely night's sleep and a shower, we set out for Arches. I am blown away by how crowded our National Parks are becoming. Don't get me wrong, it's great, but CRAZY BUSY! The cars were lined up clear to the highway and beyond. Once you get in, it's not too bad though. 

First we hiked to Delicate Arch. Here's C-Man, Sister S and Princess P.

 C-man ran all the way up the trail. Man, I wish I had that kid's energy. He is such a terrific athlete!

Grandma and Grandpa G met us at Arches in the morning and hiked with us all day. It was so fun to have them with us!

Gma and Gpa Gordon!

Sister S and C-man hiked over and up a hill so they had a different vantage point of Delicate Arch. Awesome!

On the way down from Delicate Arch.

Sister S's selfie with all of us.

After lunch, we also hiked to Pine Tree Arch, Landscape Arch, Double Arch, both Windows, and many more! We were tired! It was such a beautiful day! We couldn't have had better!

Big C takes his lip protection seriously. 

 After hiking to almost all the arches in the park (ok, not really, but it felt like it), the kids started to get bored and Sister S and C-man hid in this rock and pretended to be dead and would also growl as people hiked by. How old are they? 

Sister S, scaring the tourists.

We sure had a fun day! We were all tired and sunburned by the time we drove home that night. What a great early Spring Break!

MAY & THE BEGINNING OF THE END

The end of the school year is fast approaching and it can't come fast enough for me. I am not going to lie, I really enjoy the three weeks while the kids are still in school and I am done, but I really love when they are out for the summer and we are home together.

Princess P and Miss D (neighbor buddy)

Princess P and her friend were running through the sprinklers the other day and I think the next day it was freezing and rainy. Spring weather is so unpredictable, we have to enjoy it while we can.

MHS tennis team in the newspaper.

Here is Awesome A in the Boy's Tennis team photo. The season is over and he's moved on... it was fun while it lasted though!

Grandma G and Princess P

We've also been climbing a time or two. The spring weather is fickle, so we have to take those days and do something fun when we can.

SNOW DAY WITHOUT MOM

Yesterday my family went skiing without me since I had a meeting all morning and part of the afternoon. A even stayed home from Park City. They went up Fairview Canyon and skied at the terrain park. Big C drove the snowmobile and the kids skied their little hearts out. Here are some of the images from the GoPro.

A on the box.

Little C on the box. 

Little C on the tow rope behind the snowmobile.

Princess P is always in racer mode. Go girl go!!

MLK HALF DAY

Big C took off a half day yesterday since the kids had no school and we went up in the mountains to ski. A couldn't go because of work, but the rest of us had a good time.

My handsome honey.

Princess P loves a sunny snow day.

Princess P took a photo of me, so I have proof that I actually am there. (I'm usually behind the camera).

Little C is a speedy skier. He beat the snowmobile down the hill most of the time.

We made the neighbor kid drive the snowmobile.

Big C 'slides into home' in a tele turn.

GORDON STYLE FAMILY REUNION- DAY 1

This year's family reunion was filled with traditions and new events. We actually started the reunion (as you can see by the date) on the 4th of July this year. We had a big breakfast and then set up the giant slip and slide.

Little C splashes through the pool at the bottom.

This year was a small group, unfortunately. Some people were unable to attend and they were greatly missed! We love a crowded slide, but it wasn't there this year. 

Big C goes clear to the end.

Drying off on Grandma's patio eating Otter Pops.

This year we set up a mini kayak course in the river behind Grandma and Grandpa's house.  The kids loved it!! And so did Big C because he wants everyone to be a kayaker!

Princess P shows off her skills in the whitewater.

Little C's turn on the course.

After all the outdoor activities in the sun, we were tired, but still had the parade and fireworks that night in Manti.

Scrambling for candy at the parade.

Waiting for the fireworks on the high school football field.

POOL SCHOOL

Swimming lessons started this week for Princess P. She has had a bit of a rough time. Swimming doesn't come easily to her (she takes after Big C and A in that respect) and thinks she should be doing everything perfectly.

Princess P and cousin G practice their diving.

I told her that is the reason they call them swimming 'LESSONS'. She's learning. She gets frustrated, but it helps having cousin G in there with her. They can commiserate together.

Cousins and buddies.

They do have a good time for the most part. Yesterday, after lessons, we went and ate lunch and came back for open swim. There was a whole group of us. It was lots of fun!

Princess P, Miss B, cousin G, cousin C, Little C, friend B.

It was a gorgeous, warm day and the kids hardly got out of the pool at all. They played hard and had fun in the sun!

Princess P in her noodle 'recliner.'

TRADITIONAL SCANDINAVIAN DAY

Memorial Day weekend always starts with the Scandinavian Festival. All my family (aunts, uncles cousins, etc...) meet at my sister's house because she lives on Main Street and she makes breakfast for us all. This will be the last time, however, because she and her family are moving. I am happy for her, but sad for me. I'll be the last of my family living in town. Sad day.

The parade in action.

We had quite a group this year! Lots of cousins came and it was really fun to see everyone and visit. I really love this tradition. We all have such a great time!

Princess P with her cousins.

The kids got lots of candy, otter pops, frisbees, balls, pens and even a toothbrush from the floats. I love living in a small town!

My guys and some relatives at the parade.

This year marked the first year there was a mountain bike race and Big C and Little C both decided to ride in it. It was called 'Vike on a Bike'. They did great and had a good time and also got a free t-shirt!

The race line-up. 

I was impressed at how popular the bike race was for it's first year. There were lots of different categories for every type of rider, so families came and rode too. Very fun!

Princess P and Miss B have a good time sliding.

We stood in horribly long lines for BBQ turkey and Tornado potatoes, etc... and then looked through the booths and the kids played on the blow up toys. It was a beautiful day and we all got sunburned. 

At my parents headstone in the cemetery.

Of course we went out to the cemetery to put flowers on the graves.  It was a good day full of family and fun which is traditionally what this weekend has become for us.

 

WARMING UP FOR SUMMER

While Big C got the sprinklers working properly, Little C and Princess P decided to cool off in them. We have had temps in the 80's this week and it has actually been hot for the the first time this year.

Soaking wet- sprinkler style.

Warming up after cooling down.

The proper way to wear a towel on your head.

SPRING SKI DAY

Big C wanted to go skiing today- one last time. I REALLY didn't want to, but I got sick of the nagging so we all finally gave in and went with him up Fairview. The snow was bullet hard corn snow. It really wasn't that bad and it was a gorgeous day. We all got a little sunburned, but that was fine.

A, Princess P and I play follow the leader.

A, Big C, Princess P and I skied down one hill and D and Little C went over on the other side of the road and built a jump so D could work on his front flip. There was lots of hiking since we didn't bring a snowmobile and Princess P was not excited about that.

Princess P takes a rest.

When we finally got back up the hill A and Princess P were done, but I wanted to do a few more runs and Big C offered to pull me back up the hill with his kite. I wasn't sure how that would work, but I thought it was worth a try.

Big C towing me up the hill with his kite.

 It worked okay, but my arms were VERY sore the next day. At least I got to make a few more runs! Princess P took this picture.

Big C photographed by Princess P.

My favorite boys in the world!