Utah Trip (Part 1) - Time With Travis' Family

What is the best thing to do when the heat reaches 115 degrees in Phoenix?  Pack up and go see family in Utah!!  Travis's brother Brandon, his wife Anne and their kids were in Utah so we headed there before they left.  Travis has not seen them in 2.5 years so we wanted to make sure our trip overlapped with theirs. 

The funniest part of our trip was when we arrived at Travis' parents house and Brandon and Leah had the following conversation (while Travis was holding Leah)

Brandon:  "Who is better looking, me or your daddy?"  

Leah: (Looking at Brandon, then at her daddy, then whispering) "Ask me quieter."

Brandon: (whispering) "Who is better looking, me or your daddy?"

Leah: (whispering) "You are!" 

I guess she didn't want Travis to hear her answer...but he did.  Poor Travis! 

 I love watching Leah play with her cousins and also watching Travis with his nieces and nephews. I am so glad Travis was able to hang out with them for a few days before he had to head back to Phoenix to go to Scout Camp.  

Being the good son that he is, Travis changed the batteries in his parents smoke detector and while up there noticed the fan needed to be cleaned.  

The kids spent a lot of time jumping on the neighbors trampoline!  Of course the adults had to have a turn too.  I only wish I could do the crazy stunts that I did when I was younger!

All the kids love to read books

Playing with Grandma's dress-up clothes

Pretending to be Uncle Braeden

Leah loves her Uncle Braeden

After Travis left Leah and I went with Travis' family up to Bear Lake to go see a play at Pickleville Playhouse.  On the way up there we stopped by Utah State University to see the campus, buy some apparel and eat some amazing AGGIE ICE CREAM!!  

 

When we arrived at Bear Lake we had to go to the Lake first and let all the kids put their feet in the water.  I think the adults wanted to put their feet in just as much.  

Running to the lake

Leah and her cousins

After playing at the lake it was time to go eat dinner and watch the play "The Hanging of El Bandito".  Anne's relatives own the playhouse, write the plays, and are some of the actors.  This play was one of the funniest plays I have ever seen, Leah even loved it.  If you are ever visiting Bear Lake I highly recommend going to a play at the Pickleville Playhouse!

Leah was a little nervous to have her picture taken with "The bad guy"

According to Leah this was "The prince and princess"

Grandma and Sadie Visit

My mom and my niece came out to Phoenix to visit us for a few days!  (We never thought anyone would visit us in the summer with 120 degree weather!)  We were so excited that they came and we had a ton of fun and did our best to keep cool.

The first thing Sadie "HAD" to do when they got here was go swimming.  We were all for that, it is the best thing to do during the hot Arizona summers.

Leah had to show her Grandma and cousin that she can float

I just love this picture

The next day we went to the Aquarium, it was indoor with air conditioning!!  The girls enjoyed learning all the fun facts, seeing all the fish, and taking fun pictures.

On the way home from the aquarium we stopped by the new Phoenix Temple site to see the progress of the construction of the temple.  We can't wait for it to be done so we can have a temple 10 minutes from our house.

Celebrating Our Independence!

I love the 4th of July and everything it stands for.  I Love this country that we live in and all the freedoms that we get to experience.  I am also sooooo thankful for those that have fought and currently fight for our country, and especially those that have given their lives so we can live freely!  If you are reading this and you have served, or currently serve, in the military...Thank you for all you do!!

We spent the evening of the 3rd in Anthem with some people from church.  They had all sorts of inflatable bouncers set up and Leah LOVED them and we enjoyed watching her go crazy!  In the past Leah has been scared of the fireworks, she started off scared this year but after a few big bangs she changed her mind and decided that she likes them now.

For the 4th of July we met some friends in the nearby city of Cave Creek for some more fireworks.  We hung out in a church parking lot waiting for them to start and to our surprise when they started we had the perfect view!

Leah and Travis looking at the stars

Leah and her friend Piper

Leah sharing (stealing) Landri's snacks

Reeves, Piper, and Blake pulling faces for the camera