My vote for the "happiest place on earth"

Lagoon is the best!!!  I wish I had taken a few more pictures. A trip to Lagoon only happens once every several years.  This time, with the kids, I suddenly noticed how great their kiddie-land is.  Anna and Dallin were in heaven!  Sure he wandered off a couple times, but it was usually to another ride.  Bevan and I were able to wander off too!  He wouldn't ride Cannibal, but settled for the White Roller Coaster, which I found MORE terrifying!  A thousand thanks to Sharon and Vanessa for the passes, and huge thanks to Nora and her family for providing the organization, you know what I mean!
Places like this are so much better with lots of family. Tom and Kim were there, which added to the fun.  Bentley made sure I knew every curve of Cannibal, while we were standing in line.  Can't wait to go back, hopefully before Anna becomes a teenager herself!

The Timpanogos Dream

Sharon and her family were in town for a whole month this summer.  We had so much fun!  Lava, reunions, cabin parties, etc, but the one activity that I looked forward to more than others... a hike up Timp!  Just me and Sharon!  It took a little convincing for Bevan to stay home with the kids while I had fun... but we all take our turn.

We started early and drove straight to Timpooneke trail head.  Sure, it's a little longer, but ends up being flatter, which is easier on the legs.  Sharon normally lives at sea level and I was horribly out of shape.  In spite of that, we made it to the top in record time!  Along the way, we passed a hundred hikers, a mountain goat and even a moose!  The wildflowers were at their peak and it was like hiking in a dream.  Who wouldn't want to come off that mountain?!

Family of 9!

I've always been jealous of my sisters doing amazing trades with their kids.  Nora and Vanessa can have up to 11 kids at once!  In return, a fabulous couple's vacation is possible.  I was able to finally be a part of this!  Nora and James went off to youth camp with Addie and Ben.  The rest of their kids came to Midway!  My house was on the way to camp, so it worked out.  I didn't know quite how to prepare... buy lots of bananas, milk, and cereal?  Keep them in front of netflix?

Not even!  We had 7-Eleven day, walks to Ridley's for ice cream and Shastas, free school lunch in Heber, and entertainment at the cabin from Sharon's family!  The week flew by!  Paige held Drew almost the whole time.  Stewart and Issac played outside with Dallin.  Before I knew it, the week was already over!

So when does Nora get to watch MY kids?  We're cooking up something for our 10-year anniversary.  Something big!  This will be a good trade!

Ackerson Family Invasion 2016- MANTUA!

I can't believe we've been keeping up these reunions for the last 9 years, and it was finally Paul's turn!  What did he and Stefanie have in store?  Mantua!

Ya know, for years I've always driven past Mantua on my way to Logan or Jackson or somewhere else fun.  Never stopped in the town.  Always had to slow down (thanks to the police speed trap), but never stopped (I've never been pulled over either!)

They booked a group campsite in the campground next to the Bear River and it was a non-stop party.
The Mantua Reservoir was the perfect little size for our group for a Friday.  Vanessa and Trent brought their jet skis, John brought the kayaks, and everyone else brought a shade shelter... because we really don't like the sun!  There were still plenty of sunburns and a lot of dirt and some nice campfire smells going on.

On Saturday, we traveled up Logan canyon to ol' Guinavah-Malibu Campground for a nature hike.  I sure miss that place and it kills me that I STILL don't know how it got such a weird name!  We lunched at Merlin Olsen Park and the kids just kept playing.  The Logan River meanders through the park and we all know how much Dallin loves water!  I could've spent the following hour keeping him out of the river... or just let him go!  His feet were muddy, the soggy diaper was trashy, but that boy was so happy!  His friend Mckay joined him.  The older kids (including Bevan and Vanessa) got an intense game of capture the flag.  I enjoyed watching them more than actually playing.  We stopped by campus for some Aggie ice cream before heading back to camp.  It was sure a great day!

The party broke up Sunday morning and we all headed home.  What's in store for next year's reunion?  Everybody has had a turn planning and now it rolls around to John's family again.  We've gone to many different places and had so much fun.  I hope this keeps up for another 9 years, hopefully longer!

Fourth of July Fun!

Since we have soooo much fun planned for our reunion NEXT weekend, we took it easy for the 4th of July.  A campfire at the cabin, s'mores, fishing in the beaver pond, and a highline trail hike the next morning with Grandma and Grandpa!  It was high, it was exposed, and the kids quit half way through, BUT.... we did find some wildflowers, and the views were amazing!

Bevan also got some tickets to the Oakley rodeo again, thanks to Deer Valley being a major sponsor.  It was fun to sit in the employee section and see old friends!  The riders did a fair job staying on their animals and the rodeo clown was funny.  Of course he had to spill a joke to the DV section that we all came in our "fancy Priuses" from Park City!  Silly clown.  Doesn't he know that the official vehicle of Deer Valley is the Cadillac Escalade?!
Prius?  Ugh.

Last, but not least of our 4th of July festivities, was our date to Stadium of Fire!  When Bevan was pining over the tickets the first thing he thought of was "Tim McGraw!"  The first thing I thought of was "late-night + babysitter".  Funny how our minds work these days.  It was amazing of course, even in the cheap seats.  Tim McGraw was pretty small, but I got a kick out of a stadium of cell phone flashlights! You could hear their batteries just draining!  Oh, and the fireworks were pretty cool too.