July 2021 Independence day and lots of family

July started with a reptile show at the park.  The kids got to touch a few of the animals, but Finn started with a melt down after one of the first animals. 

 

We went to the melodrama on July 1st with Grandma and Grandpa Workman to get it out of the way before the cousins came. 


The parade was on Saturday the 3rd. It was fun to have the Frey's with us to help the kids be brave enough to run out to get the candy. 


Happy Independence Day!



Running around Westwater with the Frey's 


We found a new little trail with a scary ditch cut through it. Things got a little tippy, but it was fun. 


BBQ and firework viewing at Grandma and Grandpa's



On Sunday July 4th, after church and lunch, we decided to take all the toys up to see the water tunnel through mountain.  Andrew road the 4 wheeler, Jeremy the Rhino, Brian his Jeep and I took the Pioneer.  After exploring around Dry Wash we headed further.  I took a wrong turn and so Andrew needed to turn the ATV around.  He rolled it, right in front of Brian with his mom watching.  Jeremy and I were already down the trail, I turned around and rushed back. Andrew hurt his leg and hip in the fall, but nothing was broken.  While we rolled the ATV back over we got a call from Jeremy that the Rhino wouldn't start.  We ended up piling into the pioneer and Jeep and heading home.  I got my truck and trailer to go pick up the toys, Jeremy and Brian followed in his Jeep to help load them..  They both started and drove onto the trailer without any trouble. In the end 4 wheeler was totaled but I was able to repair it with ~$700 in parts, the Rhino needed a new stator and had been running on just battery all weekend.  Brian took Jeremy and I in his Jeep and we went a drove most of the way up a way too small trail, then back out and went to see the tunnel.  It was lots of fun to chat with them during the hike and for a good 30 minutes on the other side of the mountain.  


Liam was catching bugs the whole time while visiting, so while we were hiking I pointed out a horny toad and Brian caught him to bring home for Liam. Lilian thought he was so cute!


Putting away the damaged equipment.  I decided not to drive the 4 wheeler up incase fluids were in the wrong places. 


Monday the 5th Grandpa Workman took advantage of all the extra hands and moved the last of his stuff to his garage. Finn was an awesome helper. 


Then we hit the dino museum.


And the pool


And the petroglyphs outside of Bluff!  What a day. 


July 6th we headed for Grandma Flick's cabin.  We took our trailer so there wouldn't be so many bodies in the cabin.  We blew a tire before reaching Bluff and ended up replacing all 4 due to age and one more which I must have punctured with a stick when I pulled over to change the flat. 
We had lots of fun at the cabin, but it was hot and everyone was tired!



We never got this little 4 wheeler running, but the kids had fun being pushed around.  We were debating bringing out UTV's or camp trailer. We decided on the camp trailer because there had been major fires in the area and most of the trails were closed to vehicles. 


July 7th we hit the pool at the local reservation wellness center to cool down.  For me, it was the best part of the trip.  It was cool and fun and everyone was happy for a couple of hours. 


Melissa and family playing games. Grandma is probably wiping the floor with everyone in Sequence. 


July 8th we rented some canoes at a local lake and paddled around a while.  the kids only lasted a few minutes and wanted to get out.  So Melissa and I went alone a while and argued about why I'd been so upset for the past 2 days (not sleeping and constant high temps for 2 days, was my excuse).  That night I looked at the wiring and circuit breakers in Grandmas garage and realized it would support the AC on the trailer.  We turned on the AC and I slept better. 



Cabin goodbyes are always hard, but a little easier in July than in October.  From now on we'll go back to visiting in the fall. The northwestern family and Andrew headed home from the cabin, so it was goodbyes all around. 



July 18th the monsoon finally started.  The kids had a blast getting muddy. 



Library activity with the Lyman's, summer vacation is better with friends. 


Working on repairing the 4 wheeler.  Ordering parts was a pain, huge price swings between locations, cancelled orders, huge delivery fees, but finally I got everything I needed. 


The Numbers had a cat give birth in their house.  Melissa and the kids fell in love and went to visit regularly (spoiler alert, 2 of these kittens will be coming to live with us at 8 weeks). 


Hannah and Finn did summer gymnastics and they loved it.  My schedule worked out so that I was off work for the last day.  Hannah was telling me, wishfully, all morning about the parachute.  She's heard how fun it is and how much she hoped to get a chance.  Well they did parachute on the last day and she loved it!  She had lots of fun at summer gymnastics and is going to participate during the school year. 


With all of the recent rain we were pleased to find tadpoles on a weekend hike out behind the nations of the four corners dwellings park.  We returned a few times over a week or two to see them progress. 


We left our van for Jordan and Amanda's family to use in June and Nana and Granddad brought it back.  We went to dinner one night at Cottonwood in Bluff.  They were still doing outdoor dining only due to the pandemic.  Well, a giant storm rolled in and we had to snarf the last few bites and get to the van!  There were multiple waterfalls coming off the rocks as we drove out of Bluff!  


Always nice to get extra snuggles when family comes to visit. 


And back to the pool, with Nana this time. 


On the road again.  Adam and Brendan came down to give Nana and Granddad a ride home.  I had the rhino repaired by now so we all went driving in Westwater and had a little hike. 


A giant Lilian coming to destroy the arch!


Edge of the Cedars museum was closed for renovations, so we explored the outdoor exhibits, including climbing down into one of the traditional dwellings. 


And posing with some weird modern/traditional art, which doubled as shade on a very hot day. 


Homemade pizzas!  Yum! Thanks Nana and Adam. 


 

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