Crazy Post

I was trying to post all of the pictures from our trip but I got side tracked and haven't gotten back to it. Even now as I'm typing Talmage is demanding attention. I think they are trying to drive me crazy! It's so hot and humid that I feel bad forcing the kids to play outside or ride bikes anytime after about 9 AM. That can make for a long day. We are wishing we were still on vacation. The weather in Utah and Idaho was great. We spent two weeks up there visiting family and friends. We particularly enjoyed taking it easy by lounging in the pool and hiking in the mountains.

Aaron has been working lots of extra hours since we got back. He had the PTO to take but that doesn't change the tight deadlines. He has also had "odd hour" phone call meetings. This week he talked to a group of developers in Japan and some in India. Because of the time difference these calls can't always happen during the normal work day. All this extra work feels like Aaron's already started back into school, but that's a month away still. I hope he gets caught up by then.

The Golden Spike Monument

We spent an afternoon visiting the Golden Spike Monument at Promontory Point Utah. This is were the railroad coming from the east coast and the railroad coming from the west met- forming the transcontinental railroad. The kids enjoyed seeing the real steam engines, watching them move, exploring the museum, and becoming junior fireman.

Here we are in front of the coal burning steam engine.

Now we're in front of the wood burning steam engine.

Here the kids are being sworn in as Junior Fireman, after they completed a work book teaching them about this event in history and some train safety.

The Park Ranger that "swore them in" as Jr. Fireman let them wear her hat for pictures. The kids tried to make serious faces.

It the end of the day and the train's headed home and so are we.

4th of July Parade

Stephanie was in the Layton parade while we were there. She is the adviser for the student body officers at the junior high she teaches at. It was a nice little parade. Talmage loved it because they had several marching bands and no clowns (he hates clowns-- he's not scared of them he just thinks they are ridiculously absurd).

Waiting for the Parade to start.

There's Stephanie!

Talmage in the Pool

Talmage loved playing in the pool. It was one of his favorite things about the trip.
Here are a few pictures of him jumping and swimming in the pool. We had videos of him being thrown, like Anya was in the next post, but somehow we lost a portion of pictures
and videos on our camera.Talmage towing Anya to the ladder of the pool.
Or is it Anya trying to sink Talmage?

Brave Anya

Anya loved having Aaron throw her around in the pool. She did cartwheels, front and back flips, twists, belly flops, face flops, crazy moves . . . She loved it and couldn't get enough. These videos were from the first day she was doing flips. They became more involved each day we played in the pool.