July travels

We spent some time in July making our annual summer trip out to Grandma and Grandpa Snow's house. We spent Friday and Saturday at the Harrison Reunion in Jensen and the kids got to see some of their extended cousins. Somehow there was a domestic rabbit on the loose at the park and the kids had quite the time chasing it. The rabbit is just around the corner.

Levi tried out a swing for the first time and we knew he needed one of his own for his birthday.

Saturday night we went to the Dinosaur Round-up Rodeo. When I found out we were going to be out in Vernal for the rodeo I immediately started making inquires into who I needed to contact to get James into the drawing for the mutton busten. It is free to put their name in and the just a few days before the rodeo they draw out for each night. We we were lucky and James name was pulled. He was SO excited.

Waiting for the rodeo to start. Titus was too busy watching the horses to look at the camera. Levi and Madie stayed with my sister. Levi was already getting tired before it was even time to check in and Madie really hates loud noise and PA systems and is terrified of horses and cows (the rodeo is not her thing yet... we'll eventually get her)

James waiting out back. Has to be one of my all time favorite pictures of him. 

Titus had to come down with me so he could get see James ride.

Although he didn't win he had a great time and is super proud of his belt buckle he got.

Sunday everyone went in different directions. Aaron headed home, I flew to Denver, and the kids stayed with Grandma and Grandpa. my niece Eliza was having surgery and having pin removed from her knee, my sister Rebekah recently had shoulder surgery and could do very little in helping Eliza get up and down, added to that her husband Scott had to fly out to Oregon for work the night after surgery and her other kid were all going to be gone for camps/work ect. So enter me! I get a week to visit my sister and hang out while getting a mini vacation from the kids (excepting Levi). Although most of the week just pretty much just helping Eliza, making meals, and visiting it was so much fun and I am grateful for the time with my sister and amazing nieces. Levi turned out to be a pretty good distraction as well and I'm pretty sure he enjoyed having all the attention to himself.

Jeanette was Levi's main partner in crime over the week.

Meanwhile back in Jensen the kids were having a great time with Grandma and Grandpa any my niece Elena and Ashlyn. We recruited some extra help for the week :)

To say the least the kept them pretty busy.  Grandma even picked up a small pool for the occasion which I think everyone was grateful for. It provided the main entertainment all week long.

A trip to Grandma's isn't complete with out going out to Dinosaur National Monument. James was so excited to tell me he wasn't scared of the Allasaurs skull this time

 Although we all enjoyed our own vacations by the time I flew in Friday afternoon we were already to be home and with Dad. I was thinking I might stay one more night and drive home Saturday but when I walked in the door Titus saw me and said "Van Now!" we were lucky to convince him to eat lunch and to let us get packed up. We all survived the drive home despite being tired and were all glad to sleep in our own beds that night.