4th of July

Michelle informed us of the Run of the Mosquitoes Race  (Hooper's suckiest 5k) held on the 4th of July. This race intrigued me because it is run by a family in the ward I grew up in. Part of the race went down Nedra's Lane. Nedra is my Grandma Mecham's sister. The house at the end of the lane is where my grandma grew up. It was a great event which made me miss living in Hooper.

This is Natalie finishing strong.

 Cade's big finish!

 Jacob and Mark refused to run. Jacob read comic books in the shade of someone's car.

 Wendell running in!

 Mammy and Taycina

 Michelle and Emily

 Jeff

 Grace ran really well for the first mile, started to struggle the next half mile so we cut the race short. The last half mile she was screaming at me that she didn't want to run anymore (our race was cut down to about two miles).

 This is Grace pulling on me. She didn't want to run anymore.

 A nice stranger grabbed her other hand and got her to run to the finish.

 When all was said and done, she said she wanted to run another race.

Then Grace went straght to the Hooper Parade where she rode on a float for her dance class.

 Grace is on the bottom row next to the #29 in a white T-shirt

Scout Camp

Mark and Cade went to Camp Hunt near Bear Lake. They had a lot of great experiences.

This is the boys getting ready for swim check.

This is the opening "camp fire." 

Unfortunately, they were not allowed to have actual campfires this year.

Cade earned his geocaching merit badge,

his canoeing merit badge,

 water sports merit badge, and his wilderness survival merit badge (after he completes the fire building portion).

The boys after their winning skit.

Scripture reading.

Cade and 2 other boys from his troop becoming members of the Polar Bear Club.

Cade continuing to enjoy the cold water.

Mark and Cade cooking together.

Troop 195 teaching a dance.

Chow time!!!

Other than doing dishes, they had a great time. Cade needs to build a fire in 3 different ways (since they didn't allow it at camp), go on two more camp outs,  and an Eagle Project, and he will be an Eagle  Scout!!!!

Jacob's Swim Lessons

So what do you do with a kid that takes level 1 swim lesson 3 times from the public pool? Our solution was to pay a little more for private lessons. It was worth every penny. I think we will save money in the long run.

 Grace was showing her breath holding skills outside of the pool. I think she was breathing through her nose.

 Last year, by the end of group swim lessons, Jacob would finally go under water and try to float on his back for about 2 seconds. After five days of 20 minute individual lessons, Jacob could swim across the pool and jump off the diving board.

 I bribed him with a snowy if he would jump without help. It worked.

 He didn't want to take swim lessons. He begged me not to sign him up. The last day he was sad that they were over. I think he has a great sense of accomplishment.

WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!!!!

Hippo Tank

Mark is playing on a summer softball team in Clinton. There team is called Hippo Tank. Yes, this is a very interesting name but another team called Fatty-McButter Pants is even more interesting. (We like to tease Jacob and call him Fatty- McButter Pants).

 Mark plays catcher.

 People always comment to the kids how fast their dad is.

Mark has played with different variations of this team for about 10 years. This year they are undefeated.

Drive- In with the cousins

It is always so much fun when all of the cousins are here. Amber suggested that we all go see Brave at the Drive-In.

 Kathy and Amber a re such good sister-in-laws. I love them!!!

 Logan was quite red from the tail-light. the flash from the camera took some of the red away.

 Grace says she didn't fall asleep. She was just resting very still. However, she couldn't tell us the end of the movie or explain how she got into her booster.

Poor Cade, he has parents that can never make it to the second movie.

We wish grandma and grandpa could have been there!!!!! Maybe next summer.

Surf-N-Swim with the Wisers

It is so much fun to have good friends like the Wisers. They have four children, three of them are the same ages as our kids. (Sorry Emma, I forgot to have a little girl 11 years ago)

 Sam and Jacob (they are one month apart in age). The Wisers have all the tall genes and obviously we don't.

 Grace is 5 months older than Lexi

Wyatt is 4 months older than Cade. They met while their dads worked together at Focus when the boys were just infants. Almost 13 years ago.

Summer Fun

James had his birthday at North Shore Aquatic Center in North Ogden. He invited Jacob. I tagged along and brought the other two children since Jacob hasn't master the art of swimming yet.

 I had to convince Grace that the life jacket would keep her afloat. I finally had to just toss her in where she couldn't grab the wall. After that, she floated to her hearts content in the lazy river thing.

 After the swim party I decided that we needed to get serious about Jacob learning to swim. Our neighbors told us about some private swim lessons and we decided we would try it. It would cost less than enrolling him group lessons twice. What could we lose? He has taken level 1 three times. He had his first lesson today and I can already see improvement.

 We tried ice-blocking on the west side of Roy High. Jacob and Grace thought it was great. Cade, Tyler, and Parker did't think it was steep enough.

 It didn't take long before the older boys smashed there ice block to pieces.