24th of July weekend: PINE VALLEY with the Butterfields

We invited all the Butterfield clan down to the cabin in Pine Valley to spend the holiday weekend with us.  Mike and his family weren't able to come-- but everyone else was there and we had a great time.

The first day we headed down to the reservoir and had a picnic lunch and then took a little walk/hike/bike ride around the stream and lake.

 We made our way down to the reservoir and started fishing. Some of us just observed and others had pretty good luck catching some little fish. I think Bella and Gabi were the ones that did the most catching.

 The kids enjoyed playing together and exploring.

 Lincoln LOVES his cousins and hanging out with the bigger kids.

 Later that day we did some rhino and 4 wheeler riding, relaxing, did a nature scavenger hunt with the kids, and did smores and dough boys!

 We also had some yummy homemade rootbeer.  The kids liked watching it brew.

 The next day we went down to Veyo to go swimming in their pool and check out crawdad canyon.  We had fun swimming and then headed to the little creek and canyon.  The kids had fun trying to catch crawdads with hotdogs and going across the wood bridges.

We loved having the Butterfields down! hope they come again!

Barton Family Reunion: DIRT FARM

Another year at the Dirt Farm with the Bartons. This years theme was focused on my amazing Grandma, Margaret Ann Barton and especially her childhood years that she spent in Orderville.

The great grandkids that were there.

 Grandkids with Grandpa and Grandma.

 We arrived on Thursday night.  In our little wittwer camp, only Nana/Pops, us, and Uncle Jordan were there. So it was pretty quiet around our parts. The Gardners and Losees always have a big group so Lincoln had lots of new friends to get dirty and play with.
On Friday morning we headed down to Orderville to learn all about my Grandma and to see some of the places that she spent time as a child and teenager.  We were supposed to meet at the high school but of course we missed the turn off to the street (not sure how you do that in a teeny tiny town haha). But we saw this old Flintstones car so Lincoln got to try it out.

 and take a pic with an old fire truck.

 We then made it to Orderville high school where my Grandma attended.  Each graduating class for many many many years, paints their year up on the mountain behind the school.  So we hiked up and around trying to find either our graduation year, birth year, or any other significant year.  Lincoln's year (2011) was at the very top in white letters) so instead of hiking all the way up we opted for a picture of him pointing up at it.

 Adam was able to find his graduation year pretty easy.... and wasnt too hard to get to.

 I was never able to find the year 2000 so instead I found an '82..... That was the closest I was going to get to it.  We also found Norah's 2013 but forgot to get a pic.

After we hiked we ate lunch at the pavilion there at the high school seminary.  After we had all eaten the kids were all playing around on the grass and in the trees when we were suddenly hit an awful awful awful smell. It was almost suffocating!  a SKunk had attacked someone. So we hurried and packed up the rest of our food and headed out.  I didnt think that Lincoln was the culprit initially but he sure STUNK.... and for the rest of the day he was stinky stinky stinky.  If you got close to him you would get an overwhelming skunk smell. So although he says he didnt see a skunk I think he may have been one of the culprits to disturbing and making a skunk mad. He was def. close to the skunk when it sprayed. When we got back from camping we had to bathe him in a mixture to get rid of the smell... our van smelled for a week or so.  Not fun!  

 Our next stop was to the cemetery to check out many of our relatives.

 Of course Nana had do bring her gloves and garden clippers to clean up around the headstones.

 My great Grandpa and Grandma Russell (my Grandma's parents).  Because his name is Eugene and Adam's middle name is Eugene I thought it fitting he be in the picture.

 Uncle Jordan is always the fun uncle!

 Norah lounging around camp.

Kids always have fun in the big pipe! 

 One of Lincolns favorite activities was to make cakes--- lots and lots of dirt cakes.  So glad this little one has an active imagination.

We had a great time and always love camping! It is fun to spend time with extended family and cousins that I dont get to see very often!

Happy Birthday America

For the 4th of July we headed up to Northern Utah to spend the holiday with the Butterfields.
We had to take a pitstop on the way up for a potty break. The side of the road is as good as any right?

 We love AMERICA!

 We went to the west Jordan parade and got lots of taffy.... and it was HOT!

 The next day we went up to Logan and spent time with the Butterfields up there.  Lincoln and the rest of the kids loved the sparklers and the glowsticks.  Lincoln was obsessed with the glowsticks and had to get as many as he could and hook them together.  We were not going to lose him.  Brian had bought some fireworks and he put on an awesome show for us.  Ever since shooting fireworks are legal- you dont even need to go to big city fire work shows to get a good show.  We had an awesome 4th, 5th, and 6th of July. Full of fireworks, family, and fun!

 That Sunday, cute little Rowen was blessed.  It was a great blessing given by Brian and it was followed with a luncheon with all the Butterfields at a park in Logan.  So fun to get together and see everyone!