Another Utah Summer Vacay!

Our summer trip to Provo was eventful as usual. We left for Provo on Thursday, June 28, and had the longest ride ever to get there! I had to stop in Mesquite at Walmart and at McDonald's for breakfast because we left so early, in St. George at Target and to get gas, then we stopped in Beaver to see my friend Amy.  We went to the Beaver Park and the kids played and ran around while Amy and I chatted.  Kyle got to swing in a big swing for the first time.  He wasn't sure that he liked it that much and it was so bright outside. We were there for probably 45 minutes and then we headed out again.  We made it as far as Filmore.  In Filmore we had to get the tire fixed. From Beaver to Filmore the car was rattling like we were driving on the worst gravel road ever to the point that I was getting a huge headache and it was making me nuts! So we pulled over at the Maverick and called dad and asked him about the shocks or brakes or whatever we could think of that would be causing the noise and the shaking. After inspecting the tires we decided that it would be a good idea to have a tire place check the tires just in case. It's a good thing we did because when we pulled into the shop, the tire was sitting just right to see that the right passenger tire looked wavy. The tire guy looked at it and said it was a bad tire and that we should not try to make it to Provo on it. He did not have a new one like ours nor did the other reliable place in town so he checked our spare and said that it would be fine to get to Provo. Actually when I asked him what we should do he said and I quote "If it were me, I would put on the spare and get the he** out of Fillmore." Connor thought that was quite funny. He also told us that there was another garage off the freeway but that they just absolutely prey on people coming off the freeway and he wouldn't send us over there if he could help it.  We pulled into his garage and unloaded ourselves and the stroller for Kyle and went inside their shop to wait. It only took about 20 minutes and he nicely wrapped the tire in plastic and wedged it into the back with all our crap and only charged us $10. I gave him $20 for being so kind. It was such a tender mercy in many ways.  1. That we didn't have a blow out on the freeway.  2.  That the tire just happened to be in the right position for me to see that it looked odd when we stopped at the tire shop.  3.  That we stopped at that man's shop and he was honest and helpful.  4.  That the spare got us to Provo.    After that stop in Fillmore we got on the road AGAIN.  We made it as far as Scipio when Connor needed a drink or the bathroom or something.  That gas station was totally packed with people because just behind it on the mountains was a huge fire and tons of smoke and people were pulling over to take pictures.

At the park in Beaver with Bryson Marshall on the swing.

Kyle swinging.

Pitstop in Fillmore.  Kyle was not amused.

Smoke from the Oak City fire just after Scipio

After that stop in Scipio, thankfully we made it all the way to Provo without stopping again. That was an 8 hour drive!  Kyle did surprising well although I think that he still didn't feel 100% after the stomach flu.  After we got there and got unloaded Connor was chopping at the bit to get started on all of the work Grandma Penny had for him.  He spent that evening helping move rocks and mulch and then most of the next few days getting Grandma's yard all ready for the party.  He and Jim mowed the lawn Friday night.  Don had been in Atlanta all week and he got in Friday afternoon.   He rented a car and drove down from the airport so thankfully I did not have to go and get him.  Early Saturday morning Don drove out to Payson to meet Caleb's scout troop coming off the mountain and to bring Caleb with us. We spent Friday and Saturday getting ready for the party.  Everyone helped by cleaning and cooking and shopping and we finally pulled it all together for Saturday's big event.  We were all exhausted afterward but it turned out nice.  Sunday we were all too pooped for church and I went and got some thyme oil and some vapor rub for poor Cameron who was super sick. We had plans to go to the Zoo Monday morning but poor Brady woke up barfing his guts out so those plans got cancelled.  We spent that day trying to quarantine him and lysoling every where else

 Tuesday we went to lunch at JCW's and then bowling at Fat Cats.  Wednesday was the 4th of July and we went to the Scera Pool as tradition dictates and then to Suzanna's for the Cul De Sac of Fire.  More on that later.  When the plan was go to to Provo on Monday, June 25 we had planned on coming home on July 5 but since we got up there so late we stayed longer.  Thursday Don and Caleb went to SLC with Larry, Jim, Jesse Brady and Chris to see the new Spideman movie at the Imax theatre.  We ordered pizza from Papa Johns and then we took some down to Cody so that we could see where he worked.  I don't remember Friday other than Laurel left for home.  I think we took Don's rental car back to SLC and then we went to Golden Corral and met Mawmaw, Mary and Gary and Aunt Pam there for dinner.  Saturday, Don took the boys to a trampoline place called Hang Time.  They had a blast jumping on all the trampolines.  Sunday after a family fast for Larry and his possible health issues,  we had a family dinner again and had Mawmaw ans Mary and Gary over to eat.  Connor and the little kids helped Grandma make her Fairy Garden.  We went out to Lehi Monday morning for family pictures and while we waited for the disc we ate lunch at Zupa's.  Don took the boys back to the trampoline place Monday night but this time he came home with a really bad pulled muscle in his thigh.  There was a family get together over at Jeanne Bates house that night but with Don's leg hurt and Kyle being sick we didn't go.  We had planned on going home Tuesday or Wednesday but Don didn't think he could ride or drive too well so we stayed longer.  Kyle started getting sick on the weekend and by Tuesday he was pulling at his ears so we went to the Urgent Care.  He had a double ear infection so he was not a happy boy.  We got him an antibiotic and he was doing much better by Thursday.  Tuesday afternoon we met Don's mom by the Walmart because we needed her to bring up some more medicine and inslin.  Luckily for us she was going to SLC for fmaily history so it worked out really well.  Tuesday night I took the boys to the Nickelcade and then Wednesday Connor went and did some work for Chris and Anne.  Thursday we started our Letterboxing fun and Friday after 16 days being there we went home.  There were many many trips to Sonic for drinks, and a few trips to Winco for groceries.  We tried to eat at a few new places like Kneaders, and Zupas, and the crepe place.  We also cooked some different things like chicken kabobs and Grandpa Don's pasta.  We stayed busy doing new things and making crafts.  Grandma took the kids to Michael's the afternoon of the movie and I took the boys to Hobby Lobby one night. We love going to Utah in the summer but we always love coming home to our house too.  Thank you Grandma and Granddaddy for putting up with us for 16 days!  One of those nights we had a big dinner at Mawmaw's house.  I think it was Tuesday July 3.  It is so nice to spend time together and let the kids play and get to know each other,  I love my family!