How we are spending our summer!

The boys and I are trying to keep busy this summer with different activities.  I wanted to highlight some of them so far.

Kangaroo Zoo-this is a local place that is full of inflatable toys.  The boys had a great time.

Toads

Isaac had fun in the arcade while the other 2 boys played laser tag

Jeremy practicing his swing 

air hockey lasted like 2 seconds!

Alex hit pretty good!

trying for the hole in one!

Isaac just loved hitting the ball wherever!

Green Acres park floating the river

Jeremy's first attempt

"this is fun!"

Alex's first attempt

"this is cold!"

The boys saw some other boys who brought a model Titanic  that they had made to float in the stream.  Jeremy is obsessed with everything Titanic so this was a highlight of his day! He now wants to make one himself!

success!

Hill Air Force Museum

Alex wanted a picture just of him! Isn't he a handsome pilot!

Father's Day

For Father's Day this year, the boys made fun little surveys in Primary for their dads. I wanted to include what the boys said about their dad:
My dad is ___ years old. Jeremy said 35 (he's almost 35).  Alex said 22.  Isaac said 2.
My dad is really strong, he could lift a _____. Jeremy said a 80 pound weight. Alex said a chair. Isaac said a lot.
My dad's favorite color is _____.  Alex said blue (he was right). Jeremy didn't know and Isaac didn't answer any more questions.
My dad's favorite food is _____. Jeremy & Alex didn't know.
My dad always says ______. Jeremy said be nice. Alex said clean your room.
My dad is the best at _____. Jeremy said being a dad. Alex said games.
My dad's job is _____.  Jeremy said a mortgage guy. Alex said mortgages.
My dad laughs when ____.  Jeremy said something happens. Alex said we tickle him.
If my dad had time, he would love to _____.  Jeremy said play with me. Alex said go to the park.
My dad and I like to ____. Jeremy said play baseball together.  Alex said go places.
My dad really loves to ____.  Jeremy said he didn't know.  Alex said to play baseball.
I love my dad because ____. Jeremy said he's a great dad.  Alex said he goes to the store.

I have to say that I think Ben is a great dad.  It isn't easy being a dad to three active boys but he really does try and I am grateful that despite being busy a lot of the time with work, he talks to the boys when he can about things that are important (his work, the gospel, healthy eating, things that are going on around the world, how important school is, etc.) and loves to take them to the park and play ball with them.
The boys gave him some BYU shorts and a regular pair of shorts to wear around.

 But the big surprise was a BBQ.  The boys were so excited to give it to him.  He suggested we blind fold him.

Idaho Falls

Isaac loved to be in the dugout with Jeremy

Dad and the boys

Mom and the boys

A couple of weekends ago, we went up to Idaho Falls for a baseball tournament that Jeremy was in. Jeremy had 2 games on Friday and two on Saturday.  His team lost the first three games and finally won the last time.

We looked around town a little bit and came across this really neat structure that someone built.  It's a water feature with eagles

 We went to Bear World in Rexburg and the boys had a great time! It was fun to see all the animals.

The entrance from the road

The entrance right before you go in

the bears just roamed around

there were little rides for the kids to ride and Isaac loved the train.  He wanted to be right  up front

what cute bears we have!

there were cute little bear cubs to watch

Alex loved the petting zoo

He said he was really soft!

We also went to the grounds of the Idaho Falls temple.

cute little family!

me and the boys

We finished the trip by heading up to see my sister Cindy and her husband Bruce on the other side of the state of Idaho in Paul.  We had a fun dinner, the boys played with the toys, did puzzles, had a fun sleepover and then got to see the fire station that Bruce volunteers at before we headed home.

the boys and Uncle Bruce

Barker fish farm

Prepping to get some fish!

Alex's catch

Jeremy's catch

The boys and their respective catches

I named him Fred

He is pretty slimey!

Dad trying to get the hook out!

For the second year in a row, we went to the NAIFA annual summer party at the Barker fish farm.  The boys had a lot of fun fishing and we even played Frisbee golf.

Memorial day

Playing volleyball with the cousins

Alex in action!

For Memorial Day this year, we went up to the Wirthlin cabin because Ben's uncle is leaving to be a mission president and we all wanted to get together one last time. The boys had fun playing around with all the cousins.
 We then went to Park City to look around.  We took a bus ride around the town and ate on Main Street.

Isaac wanted to try on ski helmets!

Dad and the boys on Main street

a little closer shot

Mom and the boys

walking along Main street

The trolley we took

me and the boys

 Then we decided to go up to the St. Regis, a 5 star hotel we had heard about on a local TV station.  They have what's called a venicular.  It's a tram type ride up the mountain to the hotel.  The guy that helped us go up told us they have free smores over the fire for the kids.  The boys had a blast.  Isaac kept getting more and more chocolate.  The boys wrestled around on the grounds and looked around.  Alex said he wanted to live there because you get to ride on the venicular, wrestle and have smores every night!
Other Memorial activities included going to the Memorial Day program at Evergreen Memorial park.  Dad and Isaac dropped me off.

We also visited our family graves including my parents and my brother Jeremy's