Utah Summer Vacation Part 1 June22 - July 9

We spent yet another wonderful summer vacation going to Utah to see family and friends. We also went to drop off all of Allyson's college gear for when she went back to start BYU! We had such a great time with everyone. We are so lucky to have such great families. We love you all.

Mom and the kids drove out by ourselves as usual. Dad cannot get that much work off. Here we are at a rest stop along the way looking real good after our many hours in a van. Notice Tyler's stuffed animal on his head. Allyson thought this was about the funniest thing ever. Go figure.

First stop was Grover, Wyoming to see Nate and Laura's families. As you can see we did not even get unpacked before Nate took interest in my boys airsoft guns they brought. I think he took a little too  much interest as you can clearly see. Hee Hee. I have to say he actually deserved this as he told my boys to shoot him from a short distance right after I told him how bad it hurts close up. You have never seen a grown man dance around in pain so much. Ha Ha. Yes, those are all welts.

Here we are out front of Nate and Cindy's house with the van that the kids always have to write on for our long drives.

This is what the kids had been waiting for. Unfortunately, Nate got rid of most of his motorcycles, but that did not stop the kids from having a blast on this baby! Tyler is in heaven.

Andrew taking his turn and making the motorcycle look even smaller.

And of course Sydney Grace who rode it by herself this time.

Sydney with cousin Madison. So cute!

What would a trip to Wyoming be without stopping at the snoasis. Yes, Nate's family runs this every summer. He bought this and fixed it up and you can imagine how popular this is in the booming town of Afton, Wy.

Cousins Landon and Mariah working hard in the Snoasis.

Now if this isn't small town, I don't know what is. Sydney and Maddy sitting in the pool at the Snoasis.

Allyson and McKenzie with Auntie Laura. Looking like hot babes!

Our disabled brother finally comes out of hiding. I told him he would regret this. I actually had tears rolling down my cheeks as I posted this, and I am home alone. Oh Nate! You have always been the odd ball. We love him anyways.

And yes, this is sweet Nate again proudly showing off his chicken coop in his backyard. Only in Grover, Wyoming. He will proudly show you his rather large eggs that bulge out of the egg cartons. They come in all colors and sizes. Hee Hee.

On our way out of Wyoming and off to Utah. This really is a great little town. People think we live in a small town, but I think not. Our little model, McKenzie.

Under the largest elkhorn arch. You have to be on the map for something. I thought this was pretty cool. Notice Tyler is not in the pic. I'm sure he was mad about something. Ha Ha.

We finally arrive in Utah and have dinner at Grandma Hamilton's with Matt and Liz's family. So good to see everyone again. I wonder if we will ever end up back in Zion.

You all know that we of course had to spend time with our BFF's since they now live in Lehi. Just more time to split, but it must be done as they are like our family. We love our Wiricks. We just spent one day with them and got to go to our favorite restaurant, Pei Wei, then spent the day at Park City.

Little Lovers in Park City.

Greg, Christy and Me as we wander through the streets of Park City.

The three Amigos getting ready to ride the Alpine Slide. This was pretty darn fun, even if we did look like fools.

Greggy!

Brian!

Christy!

Julia! What a fun day. Thanks to Grandma Hamilton for taking care of our sick kids who were throwing up. It never fails, we got sick again in Utah. What is it with this place.

McKenzie's 16th Birthday Party, June 18th, 2011

McKenzie had quite a fun 16th birthday. We started with pizza dinner and volleyball and other outdoor games and then they stayed all night and we had a big outdoor movie. It was a lot of fun for them all to just hang out. Wowzers! Another dating age child and official driver. She got her drivers license the day after her birthday, only because the DMV was closed on her actual birthday.

Some of the fun decorations for the party.

Happy girl with her favorite kind of cake, German Chocolate!

Some of her great friends that came to the party. Some were school friends and some were from our stake and ward. She has awesome friends.

Making a Sweet Sixteen wish. I wonder if it involved boys.

A couple of her sweet friends from school.

Andrew & Tyler Airsoft Birthday Party, June 18, 2011

Once again, we had a combined birthday party for Andrew and Tyler. Since I like to torture myself I decided to do this party and McKenzie's 16th party the same day. This one was very low key thank goodness, as you will see with the awesome cakes.

The whole clan all decked out to go to war. They use a big open field across the street from us.

Andrew's friends lookin tough.

The base camp was set up in our garage, managed by big sissies Ally & Kenzie.

Lookin big and bad as he goes to war!

Cake #1. Who wouldn't be proud of showing off this masterpiece. Hee Hee. Sometimes you just have to throw your hands in the air and say, I'm done.

Awesome cake #2

Don't they look excited about these great cakes. Happy Birthday Boys!!!!

Tyler Aarow of Light Ceremony, June 15,2011

This was a big accomplishment for Tyler. Even with a group of only 3 scouts, he made it through and earned the highest rank in cubscouting. The Aarow of Light.

Our huge scout group doing an activity before the pack meeting starts. We made paper vests. Bishop (aka, Dad) was getting in on the action.

We begin the ceremony with the Cubmaster (aka, Mom) and the den leader doing a fun face painting ceremony.

They each got different colors of war paint for each level of scouting.

Mom gets to pin Tyler's award on him.

Tyler crossing the bridge from Cubscouts to Boy Scouts. Notice big brother Andrew and the Scout Master waiting to greet him on the other side.

My littlest guy all decked out as a warrior with his aarow and biggest rank. I can't believe we are done with cubscouts and they are all growing up so fast.

Andrew's 8th Grade Graduation

Yes, that title is right. 8th grade graduation. Whoever heard of such a thing. Well, it is high school graduation minus the caps. They have full on gowns, processional, speeches, diplomas and all. Crazy. I guess there are too many kids who don't make it to high school graduation. So, here is documentation of the wonderful day.

Andrew receiving his "diploma"

Andrew being crazy with sissy Mckenzie.

Andrew and his best friend Jack Timmerman.

Andrew loving the attention from his school girl"friends"

The proud graduate wearing his National Junior Honors Society cords. This is the first year they have had the Junior part of that. He was pretty excited. Way to go Andrew! He has his dad's genius genes. 

As you can see, little bro Ty got dressed up nicely for the occasion. We basically had to drag him kicking and screaming to this. It's great to have siblings. He was a good sport.

The graduate in the making. I loved this picture of Sydney. She was so excited to put on Andrew's robe. Her time will come, even though she reminds me daily that no one will be here by the time she graduates.

Allyson's Graduation Party

Illinois has a crazy tradition where you host an open house for high school graduates. So, as not to ruffle feathers, we gave in and had quite a little party. We may as well have had a wedding reception. That is what it felt like. You invite your neighbors, friends, and church. We had well over 100 people and had a taco bar and dessert bar. People give money to the graduate and Allyson was able to put a good sum into her college account. It was a fun night, thanks to friends who ran the kitchen for me so that I could host.

Allyson with just one of her tables at her shrine. Hee Hee.

They put out different things from their life. This is her very outdated scrapbook from when she was younger and we got mocked the entire night by people. Very funny.

Everyone signed a cute frame. Told you it was like a wedding.

The loot basket.

The proud graduate amongst her actual shrine. Notice the pictures I hung on the entertainment center of each year of her life. Everyone loved seeing these and laughing at her. Ha Ha.

Grandpa & Grandma Webb Visit

Grandma and Grandpa came out from Utah for Allyson's graduation. It was great to have family with us for the big occasion. Thanks for coming!

G&G trying to whip up a perfect batch of frosting for cupcakes we needed for the grad party

We spent a day in Chicago in the Frank Lloyd Wright district touring the studio and homes

Rainy day, but beautiful

Allyson was none too happy about going to these sites with us, but by the end of the day was "thrilled that she came! The three amigos.

Father and son in front of Frank Lloyd Wrights home

In front of the Unity Temple designed by Wright

To top of our exciting adventure, we stopped at Portillo's to impress G&G with an awesome chicago style hot dog. Unfortunately, this was not a very good Portillo's. Oh well. We still had fun!