OUR LOOOONG SUMMER VACATION

We've been home from our 2-week vacation now for almost 2 1/2 weeks. I've been putting off blogging about it because we did a lot of things and it takes a lot of brain power to remember it all. So I'm going to try and remember what we did and post pictures:

THE FIRST PART OF OUR VACATION:

• We left on Friday, July 10th and headed to Fish Lake with Rex's family and stayed at the cabin.
• Saturday we took a trip to beautiful Capital Reef and swam in the water with a waterfall, played at a park, and had a group birthday party for all the family's summer birthdays.

Our Family at Capital Reef

Evan's 'Little Mermaid' poseEvan loved digging in the mudMason is famous for this face.
He gets embarrassed when we're taking his picture.Ty chewing on a mud-covered stick.
Poor little guy - mom got sunscreen in his eye.Mason wading at the parkThe Birthday crewTy thought he was so big to walk on this bench.

• Sunday we attended church at the Lodge and lounged around the cabins and relaxed.

Evan and Mason and cousins ready for church

Our family in front of the cabin.

• Monday, I strained my back getting Ty out of the high chair (AAGGHH, I'm getting old!) - spent about five hours lying on the bed because it made me nauseous to get up plus it really hurt. Ty had a good nap while Rex, Evan, and Mason went on a walk by the lodge and enjoyed nature. They especially loved the sky bench (I still don't know exactly what that is) and the bouncy log they found. Later on when I felt like getting myself off the bed, I went to find them and we played by the water throwing rocks for about an hour.

Our family sporting our Ireland shirts

Rex brought back for us. Too bad he didn't think to pack his.
The problem - I packed everyone except for him.Tuesday we all went to Capital Reef again with Kay and her kids who weren't there on Saturday. Evan jumped off the cliff into the big waterfall for the first time with cousin Dallin. We're so proud of him. That night we all ate dinner at Bowery Haven - all 19 of us that were still there.Evan getting ready to jump off the cliff with Dallin.
I didn't get a picture of the actual jump because I was filming.
I hope Grannie got one.On the way to Capital Reef Mason fell asleep holding onto the folding chair.
I don't see how that can be very comfy.

• Wednesday we were leaving - Rex was coming back home to go to girl's camp with our ward and the boys and I were continuing on to my parent's for the next week. We met my mom and Grandma Pittman at Cove Fort and hitched a ride with them.

We played with cousins, went on walks, enjoyed playing by the lake, played (watched others play) Nintendo games, slept, ate, and had a ton of fun. FISH LAKE WE LOVE YOU!

THE SECOND PART OF OUR VACATION:

Anybody need a drink? This is what Lynnie and Ty love to do with water on the ground.

We went to the open house of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah temple. What a beautiful place. Evan and Mason kept asking when they would get a cookie. They have a reception area for visitors after the tour through the temple where they serve cookies and water.

The whole family that went to the temple open house

Saturday was our annual Allred family picnic/reunion at
Grandpa Allred's namesake park in Lehi.

Ty loved my cousin Libby's dog

Aunt Sherlyn hired a face painter.
Here are Evan, Mason, and Paisley as tigers

As always, a dunking tank. The kids found it more fun to just
swim in it after all the dunking was done.

This is Mason sacked out on my mom's neighbor's lawn after he fell asleep in the car on the way home from the party. We got him out of the car before we realized we didn't have a key to the house until mom and dad came home. Luckily they were about 15 minutes behind us.

Grandma gives great hair cuts.
Here's Mason enjoying the clip

All week long we enjoyed icees from Aunt Kelli.
Here's Paisley devouring hers.

Ever been caught between a rock and a hard place?
Here's Ty literally caught between one.

Picking carrots with Grandpa in his garden

Ever felt like climbing the walls?
Evan and Mason found a way to do it in Grandma's family room
(Don't tell Grandpa - he'd have a fit!)

FOR CELEBRATION OF THE 24th OF JULY,
WE WENT TO TUACAHN IN ST. GEORGE:

We swam in the pool at the hotel

Ate dinner at Benja Thai and Shushi restaurant.
(picture of Ty at Thai restaurant)

We saw "Annie" at Tuacahn. It was very well done and the
boys really liked the singing and dancing.

Our 2 week vacation was great and we were ready to come home.