Blanding with the Hoopes

Mike and a friend he used to work with at Snell and Wilmer had been planning a trip down south for a couple of years. We finally took that vacation together and had a great time!
Thanks to grandma & grandpa and Curtis & Kristin for feeding us and lending us all you stuff!

This was the voyage trip for our new van! We headed down late Thursday night. So we could up and ready early Friday morning for lots of 4 wheeling!

Made our base picnic area at Nizhoni. We crossed the road and hiked to see the Dry Wash Cave Ruins. It was a hot day! The kids were troopers- all but Briggy ( who wanted to take home every stick he found) and Christian (who was just being himself).

Way under the ruins there is a hole through the mountain for a water pipe. The kids enjoyed going all the way through the mountain. We enjoyed sitting in the shade and catching some strong breezes.

We went back and had some lunch and then headed up the mountains taking turns driving and riding the 4-wheelers. This was up on top. You can see Tyler was not happy that I wouldn't let him drive, but we were too darn close to the edge.

This is the last time we saw Chad for a while.

Brooke (his 11 yrd old daughter) was driving down the mountain when her wheel caught a rut in the trail and they slid down about 20ft until they hit a tree. We waited for about 10 min back at the van and then Mike went and found them. He got them back up on the trail with the help of the wench. All were okay with some scratches and the 4 wheeler was okay too.

Loaded the trailers and went out on the lake for some boating and tried to wash some of that fine San Juan Red dust off our legs.

 Who knew Tyler was a kayaker?

 This sums up our darling Amy. A picture is worth  a thousand words!

Grandma had a yummy dinner on our return home!

On Saturday Grandpa took us to see a cool Indian ruin that we hadn't seen before. Thanks to Curt and Kristin for the donut breakfast and chocolate milk!

Grandpa was showing everyone those critters that come out to catch their prey if you barely touch their sand traps.

Some babysat while others floated down the San Juan River.

We couldn't have asked for better weather! It was such a relaxing float. Thanks for picking us up grandma! Then Kristin treated us to snow cones in Blanding and we were caught treating by the dads and little kiddos that had stayed home. It was a yummy reunion!

That night the parents went up to Monticello for a round of golf at The Hideout. I forgot my camera. We ended so late that when we got to the 9th hole the sprinklers were on. It was a long, fun day!!

Sunday morning we got going slowly. Headed to the Shey Ridge look out and found a horny toad to pet. Briggy even got it to smile for the camera.

Then we saw Newspaper Rock on our way up north. Subway lunch in Moab and a nice safe trip home. A great weekend trip!

That's Just How We Ride

Mike said before he thought he was a "van man", but now it is official! (He owns 2!)

Our wonderful 8 person family was feeling quite cramped (and quite illegal)in our Dodge Minivan. We had been kind of looking for a bit, but decided with some family vacations coming up this summer that it was time to get serious.

We test drove the suburban, but didn't like the wasted space and huge pricetag. We knew we wanted to park the new car in the garage so height was definetly a factor. We drove some big vans and every test drive we drove it home to try to get it into the garage, but with no luck. After we found the van we wanted Mike got out to the garage at 6am with his SawzAll and gave the garage a fine trimming. Success at last--barely!

So we went with the Chevy Express 12 seater with a sliding door. (Thanks to Kristin for her advice on normal door vs. slider door!)

We took her on a "maiden voyage" to Blanding and she was awesome! We absolutely are in love.
Now we need a name for her. Mike suggested "convict cruiser". "Duran Van" has already been used so fondly in high school.

What would you suggest?

Dr. Mike Doolittle

Don't think his only talent is wooing and gathering the fowl of the earth. Even the swift melt in his arms.

Our neighbor came over at 11:30pm and told us she could hear an animal screaming in her backyard. Mike suited up and headed over to rescue the week old baby deer from where it had fallen into her basement window well.

The poor thing was so timid and weak. The boys felt pretty special to be able to touch such a young wild animal.

The other baby deer also in our neighbor's yard.

I was worried about the whole touching/rejection thing. You will be happy to know that the baby was still accepted by her mother and is doing quite well roaming the neighborhood and eating all our plants.

Today's Superheros...

Saving us from the evil water drops!

I caught the boys outside fighting the sprinklers.

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Give me your best warrior face!

I had gone to the grocery store and left the boys in Amy's care. As I turned down our street I could see children scattering at the sight of my van. I got out of the van and there was complete silence and no one to be seen. I said, "Come out right now! I saw you run into the bushes!" Three little boys came out to meet me carrying Captain America Shields made from old garbage can lids. I asked where they had gotten the garbage can lids and they told me they found the treasures in our next door neighbors yard and that "she wouldn't mind". So we marched over to her yard and told her that they had been trespassing in her backyard, found a treasure and then painted them- all without asking. She was just tickled at such a funny thing and said that they could have them- of course! They were so proud of their creations and the acceptance of such treasury they puffed their chests up and wisked away home.

Jessie saw that the boys had their shirts off. She wanted hers off too!

Baseball has Begun!

This year Tyler is in Coach Pitch.

1/2 of Tyler's team were there for the photo

Brigham is in T-ball and loves it!

Both boys love it and even love to get out and practice. The girls will probably follow their example and try softball in the fall. "Not as much running as soccer!"