Hangin' with the Smacks: A Busy July

The Fourth in Steamboat-

The kids on what will be the front deck to the third story of the condo.

We watched the fireworks from the building that Ted is framing. It was the perfect location because we up so high on the side of the mountain it seemed like they were right there. It poured earlier with tons of lightning and tremendous thunder that we didn't go to the rodeo like we wanted. But we played games inside and had a BBQ. It was a great fourth!! Happy Birthday America the Beautiful!! The next day we drove to Boise to stay with Ti and Jevonne.

Tate, Tyson, and Ti SUPER excited to be pyros.

Is it my turn, yet? They kept asking every 5 seconds.

The kids with Jay, Kara and Tyson after the damage had been done.

The Larsen Reunion- Alturas Lake, Idaho

Wednesday, the 8th, on the way to Alturas for the Larsen Reunion.

We had the reunion in a beautiful spot that Ted has always told me about but this was the first time I was able to see it for myself. It is very beautiful country. The reunion was held at a church camp with cabins and a main lodge for activities and eating. It was so great.

The water was so FREEZING- I could hardly stand to put my feet in the water, but the kids totally had a ball and you would never know it wasn't bath water to them.

We had canoeing and boating and "Battle of the Sawtooth's." "Battle" is played with 4-5 people in a canoe and you try to tip over or sink the other canoes using milk jugs to dump water into the canoes. The last canoe remaining is King of the Sawtooth's. It was fun to watch but I didn't get any good pictures of it.

Ted winning the bubble blowing contest!!

Family History skits

Ti and Tate in the stick pull. We had all sorts of fun pioneer games.

Three-legged race. Joe and Josh in the middle.

Emma and Jay

Sophie and Joe getting ready for some Duck Duck Goose!!

Joe and Emma playing Duck Duck Goose.

Marbles

Good ol' Tug-a-war

Fish Drama

When we got back from the reunion, my poor neighbors began to relate the tale of the blue heron and the fish pond. They were frantically trying to save our fish but the heron made away with four of the gold fish. Now mind you the goldfish were at least 10-13 inches long. We hope it choked but that is another story. My kids were heart broken and tried to calm them down by telling them that we will go to PetsMart and they each can pick out a new fish. Thus the adventure begins.

At first, the neighbors had put up a scarecrow and some silver streamers. Then I asked our dear neighbor (plus he is in our ward) Mr. Fred to come over and he strung fishing line across the top. That way the heron cannot fly down into the pond for easy dining. After the fishing line was up off to PetsMart we go.

2 new babies

2 of the 4 babies swimming with the koi.

More drama. . . soon I find Joe's dead floating. So off we go to get him a new fish. He picks out a dark gray one- and yes still technically a goldfish. They name him Shade and hope that his camouflage ability will keep him alive because we sure can hardly ever find him.

Shade- looks like a large tadpole.

Still more fish drama. . . A week or so goes by and I find another baby floating. So we are down another one. The next day the boys catch two toads and put them in the pond as they were rescued from the window well. Well. . . now there are NO baby fish. I waited a week looking for them and to see if Shade made it. No signs of any baby fish. When the heron got the original fish I heard every way imaginable to kill a heron and how much they hated herons. Now they all hate frogs.

So off we go to get 4 more!! By this time I tell them already that this is the last trip. If they don't make it, then they don't make it. We get the new ones in and are watching them swim all around the reeds getting used to their new home, exploring the underwater caves, etc. when up swims Shade. He had made it. Joe was so proud of him that he could camouflage himself to hide from the mean monstrous toad. If he could have picked up the fish to kiss it I think he would have. Shade is his new hero.

We did end up losing Ti's but a friend gave us one of theirs that needed a bigger home so Ti now has that one. Oh boy. . . what a summer for fish drama!!

Swim Beach

Still one of my kids favorite places to go and it's right in the middle of town.

Kid + sand+ water & sun= HAPPY

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

They played at Red Rocks and they totally rocked!! They are so awesome to see live.

Stunning setting

Amazing talent

A surprise visitor. In the center, is the back of President Monson's head!

Great company. Bishop Frank Roundy, Mr. Fred, Miss Dorothy, Ted and Kristi (Bishop's wife).

A great night!!

Swimming and fishing at the Peden's

The Peden's are friends that live on Horseshoe Lake. We hung out there for a few days in a row and I felt like I was at a resort. They have a beautiful place and we played in the water all day long. TI really got into fishing and caught a 16 incher one day and the next day about a 24 incher. No lie. I didn't get a good picture of it though- you can believe me if you want!!:)