Top of Indian Canyon
Mike and I rode the motorcycles to Salina. Mikie let me drive his 900cc bright red Vulcan. Stayed overnight and rode home today. Great fun! It was better today because I was a little more relaxed. Beautiful scenery, great company, and a sense of accomplishment for driving a cycle by myself the whole way. (Can't stand wearing a helmet, though!)! Can't wait for our next outing!

Monday morning Heidi called and asked if I wanted to go with them to the Upper Stillwater Dam.  At this time of the year, the runoff spills over the dam in a huge manmade waterfall.  It really is an awesome sight.  

I wonder how much water comes down every second?

Josh is a pretty good photographer, but rarely gets acknowledged for it.  Josh in action!

Deegan and I had fun hiking all over.  He didn't want to get close to the dam, and he really didn't like having his picture taken

One of Josh's friends told him about this little store, restaurant, and campground.  We stopped by to check it out and ended up eating there.  It was really good!  I think Mike and I may ride the motorcycles up next week for our own little afternoon get-away!

First Motorcycle Ride

Well!  I did it--sort of.  Mike put me on Mikie's motorcycle today, a 900 (or something) Vulcan and had me start learning.  The bike is a little (a lot) bigger than I envisioned learning on, but Mike thought I could do it.  He had more faith than I did!  I didn't go very fast, but I did go.  It actually was quite fun--and as I get used to it, it will be a  BLAST!

Do I look like a biker?  I know--no helmet.  Mike thought the claustrophobic element of a helmet might add to my stress level.  He was probably right about that!

The Rest of the Week

Roux entertains himself in the most creative ways.  He sat for quite awhile arranging the jump-rope this way, the that.  After a few minutes he would stand up and drag the rope to another spot then sit and arrange it again.  I wonder what was going on in his smart little head?

Poppa, Roux, and the dogs--slowly, Roux is getting used to having the dogs around.  After the first day of playing in the field with Poppa and the dogs, Roux wanted to do it again and again.

Heidi and Josh left the two kids with us while they went to dinner for their anniversary.  The first time Nonna and Poppa have had all three grandkids at the same time.  It was great!

Of course we had the horses, the trampoline, and then Mikie dug a fire pit and we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores.  YUM!

This is GREAT!

A little too done for my taste!  Roux actually spit out the marshmallow right after the picture was taken.  Later he tried another, but one small bite at a time instead one big bite!

Sy

Monday night we went to Josh and Heidi's home and Josh blessed little Sy.  It was a sweet and precious moment (her dress looked great, and according to Josh, was long enough that she could 

wear it when she gets baptized at age eight).  After we had time to visit, cousins to play, and of course to eat some cowboy caviar and yummy desserts.

Deegan and his fireman hat.  He is an "official" junior fireman--got to play on the truck, shoot the hoses, and even has a badge!

A Week of Fun!

The week began with Vi and Roux arriving from Arizona early, early Sunday morning.  Vi drove most of the night while Roux slept, so she was pretty tired Sunday morning.  Mike and I took Roux to church with us and of course everyone was glad to see him.

 Roux loves his Poppa!

Sunday afternoon we were off to Salt Lake to pick up Coree and her family from the airport.  The flight was supposed to arrive at 3:38 pm.  We got there just in time!  Looking at the arrival board, it was listed as "on time," then "arrived," then "landed."  We waited and waited.  No Coree, Gavin, or kids. Thirty minutes later, the flight no longer was on the board and we were worried.  At 4:30 we found out that there was a mistake on the board and that the flight had not landed yet.  At least we knew, sort of, that we hadn't missed them!  Finally, Coree, Gavin, and their four kids come through the gate.  Coree will hate me for posting the picture, but I will anyway--eighteen plus hours of traveling from China--I think they look pretty good!

                                                                         

Saturday Mike and I hopped on the motorcycle and headed to Evanston, Wyoming to watch Mikie ride the bucking horses.  Instead of going the normal way we took the scenic route over Mirror Lake.  This is the highest paved road in Utah, with the summit over 9,000 feet. 

Our first stop, and the only picture we could 

post of it!

                                                        On the way towards the summit.

Not as cold as it looks!  The lake was frozen over, so we didn't stop to get pictures of it.  Next time we will.

Quite a beautiful sight!  The camera doesn't do justice to the view.  Riding on the motorcycle was amazing--everything was so close and you could smell the fresh pines, the campfires, and the clean mountain air.  Awesome!

 Mikie on his bucking horse.  I hate watching this because I get so anxious and worried that he will get hurt.  The ride started out well . . .

 . . .but ended in a no score.  At least he didn't get hurt!

No pictures for the ride home.  It was dark, sprinkled some, and a little cold---BUT FUN!!!

I have been working on a blessing dress for Sy.  Not having sewn much in the past few years, it was a little more difficult than I expected.  The dress was so tiny and my fingers so clumsy!  It was like I had never done this before in my life.  I guess it turned out all right--seeing it on Sy will determine if it was a success or not.

Thursday Deegan came to spend the night at Nonna and Poppa's house.  We did the normal things like read favorite books, play with the dogs, eat treats, watch a movie and so on.  

Deegan and Poppa cleaning the tramp.

Mikie and Deegan playing with magnetic connector building things.  I don't know what they are called.  Mikie's girlfriend, Charisa, brought them over for Deegan to play with.  I think we played with them just as much as Deegan!

Of course, we had to get out the horses to ride.  Mikie was a sweetheart (he will love being called that) for spending time on the horses with Dee.