Utah Trip part 2-St George

The second destination on our visit was to the St.George area to visit my side of the family. Soon after we arrived and felt the heat, my parents suggested we go to a splash park down the street from their house. The kids were relieved to be out of the car and able to cool off.

Love Alissa's face in this picture.

Of course Brylee kept her distance from the shooting fountains, and just watched with us.

For some reason, Zack loves to sit on top of the geysers. Hmmm...

When the kids had had enough water, we went to the attached park to dry off. My little monkey!

More Brylee's speed.

After a comment from Katelin about how pointless this addition was, Grandma had to show them "how its done".

Katelin giving it a try.

The next day we took the advice of our good friends the Wilsons, and braved the heat to go to this "spin park". All the play equipment spins or rocks in some way, and they said it was a lot of fun. It was so hot we weren't able to stay long. Most the equipment was covered with shade, but some were too hot to handle. Madi enjoyed this spinning apparatus.

This one was like a skateboard, but Alissa tried it sitting since it was too hot to hold onto the handles. Look at her poor red hot face.

Yay, a smile!

Ryan and I trying our hand at getting dizzy.

A sunny rock climbing wall. Ouch. It was a great park, just better done in cooler temps!

The next day, we headed to downtown St.George to visit the old LDS Tabernacle, and another bigger splash park.

Mom got permission for Dad to play the piano in the tabernacle. I know he just loved it! (:

He is a very good pianist.

The water park was right next door, so we headed straight over. Brylee only got in the water after I put her there and made her follow me around. She wasnt extremely happy about it.

Managed to catch one little smile a little later. Notice she is out of the water.

That person in the middle of the giant geyser is Madi. I think it actually picked her up off the ground.

Zack loves fireman, so this was heaven to him. Watch out!

Our cute kiddos. Brylee was not happy I made her sit in the waterfall of death!

The park had a few sculptures, including this giant frog. Madi attempting to turn it into a prince.

Last up was the merry go round. A good way to dry off.

Alissa

Madi

Grandma and Zack

Me and Brylee

Dad and Brylee

Grandpa, Zack and Katelin

That night, some more of the family arrived. Aunt Tina came straight from girls camp and went right to work teaching the girls how to make bracelets out of embroidery floss.

The next morning was our family reunion. We headed over to the park for a pancake breakfast and games. With this one, they had to race to see who could get the toilet paper to break first, by squirting it with a water gun. There was also a hula hoop challenge, races and a ball game.

Madi and her cousin Casidi facing off.

Pinata time!

Lastly, water balloon volleyball!

Some family snap shots.

My sisters and I

Some of the grandkids. Not everyone could make it. The creepy guy hiding behind the tree is my nephew trying to stay out of the picture. I dont blame him. He isnt a kid anymore, so he didnt really fit in there.
So thus ends the Heaton family festivities. It was great to be with family again and catch up!

Utah Trip part 1-Salt Lake

We have a lot of pictures here, so I am breaking up our trip to Utah into 3 different parts based on the places we went. Be forewarned that they can get a little long. I couldnt leave out anything, because it was all so great!
Our first stop was in the Salt Lake area, and mostly dedicated to friend time. We arrived on a Saturday night and decided to visit our old ward on Sunday. Mom and Dad Taylor live close to there, so we stopped over to their house afterwards. As always, they were oober excited to see their grand kids.
Grandma gave Katelin a big birthday hug along with a little gift, and also cards for the other kids as well. We spent a few hours visiting and had lunch.
Next up was a visit to my brothers house for dinner. The kids finally got to meet their new horse...uhh, I mean Great Dane, along with the turtle, fish and....

snake! Zack worked up the courage to hold him for a minute.

After the petting zoo, and dinner, Zack started a water fight. We all ended up pretty soaked, but I would like to think my team...the girls, won! Oh yeah.

The next day was the 4th of July, and officially Katelins birthday. We started the morning off with Red, white, and blue pancakes. Katelin looks older to me in this picture. Must be because she is 9 now!

After breakfast we headed to the park with our good friends the Wilsons.

We played a friendly game of kick ball...

played on the swings...

and climbed up the goal posts...? Yeah, I dont get that one.

After lunch we had a little birthday celebration. Barb made a patriotic tower of cupcakes for Katelin.

Yummy!

Then it was off to the park for a Independence Day celebration. They had blow up water slides...

a dunk tank...

a giant blow up wrestling ring...

(with gloves bigger than Zack!)

face painting...

and Brylee's personal favorite...games and prizes.

Oh, and of course there was food! We all had a blast. Here is the party crew- the Taylor and Wilson clan.

Best friends!

Alissa, Courtney, Katelin, Sydney

Madi and McKenzie, AKA: M&M

(they are about the same age. McKenzie is just REALLY tall, and Madi, well...nuff said.)

And the big kids-

Scott, Barb, Me, and Ryan

One more thing was missing-fireworks of course!

We met with my brothers family again and headed to another park for the show. It was all good except for Katelins emergency potty run at the beginning, Brylee screaming in fear, and the perfect timing of the sprinklers going off after the finale and soaking us! Oh what memories!

A few nights later, after we all dried off, we did our own little show; almost as equally impressive. Almost.

The next day, we set up some time to visit some friends. I dropped Ryan off at the house of an old work buddy, and I went to lunch with a few high school friends. We spent the rest of the day catching up on old times.

The last day in Salt Lake, we decided to beat the heat at a splash park.

Zack and Brandon being silly, as always.

Brylee doesnt like water unless its in bath form, so she kept herself entertained by stealing my chair! Oh yeah, real funny.

Madi and McKenzie were too awesome to splash around in some kids park, so they spent their time sun bathing...

and squeezing in a few massages from the help.

The others decided to join in when they got too cold. "Excuse me? Masseuse?"

So that about sums up our visit in the Salt Lake area. Next up: family fun!

And then she was 9

This year, Katelin decided that what she wanted most for her birthday was a trip to Utah. Well, since we are just possibly the nicest parents ever, we agreed to it. Actually, we had already planned to go, but she didnt need to know that! Her presents were covered! See how nice we are! All sarcasm aside, we did plan on getting her gifts all along, we just wanted to surprise her with them. We wanted to celebrate her birthday as a family before we left, so Katelin decided to have one of our good ol backyard family camp-outs. Of course, all the kids were on board with that idea.

This year, we added a new fire pit, so we could roast hot dogs and marshmallows better than over our camp stove like last year. If the fire would start, that would be helpful. So far, just smoke! Makes my eyes hurt again, just looking at it!
After the fire co-operated, we munched on our yummy hot dogs. The kids commented on how they were the best hot dogs they ever had. Maybe it was the smoked flavor.

Thumbs up for fire roasted hot dogs from Zack.

And 2 thumbs up from Madi.

The always present inside the tent goofiness.

The next morning, it was present and cake time. I think Katelin got everything on her wish list this year, including: Ramona and Beezus...

DS babysitting game...

a Ken doll...

and her favorite...

a beanbag chair.

All the kids love the beanbag chair, and tried to fit as many bums on it as they could. FYI, it fits 4. Yay for small tooshies.

One of Katelins favorite things to eat is strawberries, and we actually had our own to pick this year. We froze some strawberries for a few days, so we would have enough to make her a strawberry birthday cake. Of course we had to leave the strawberries off one side for our anti fruit loving girl. Who doesnt love fruit!? Madi, thats who. Crazy.

So a camp-out, a trip to Utah, presents and a birthday cake with fresh home grown strawberries. We really are the nicest parents ever.

Oh, and Katelin aint half bad either! (0;

HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY KATELIN!