The Farm

Sometimes it seems we are going to Utah for weekend visits every other month at times throughout the year. This particular summertime visit was not going to be one of those quick, jam-packed, whirlwinds, though. We decided to spend the week, and it was wonderful!

Brandon finally had a three-day weekend, with Labor Day, and a flight he needed to use, so he could spend the long weekend with us and still get back to Vegas and work for the week while the boys and I enjoyed a vacation. It was a great time to go to Manila, which is about 3 hours further from Salt Lake, to visit Grandma and Grandpa O. It has been a long time since we were able to make it up there and even longer since we were able to celebrate my favorite Labor Day festivities, the annual Boat Parade and Fireworks display.

Saturday evening was the anticipated event. We enjoyed watching the lighted boats, decorated by the clever mariners, from the top of a hill overlooking Swim Beach bay at Flaming Gorge (Thanks to Blake for knowing a great location to have the best view of both!!)... The picture of the boys with Grandpa does not accurately portray the aforementioned hilltop, but this was another of our fun adventures on the 4-wheelers... back to the parade, from "Nemo" to a "snake" to patriotic "flag flying" shaped lights doned the boats which cruise at wakeless speed around the bay for all to marvel. The spectacular fireworks display followed the parade and even Brandon was impressed by the show (he doesn't generally find as much satisfaction in a fireworks show as I do, maybe there's hope for him yet).

We got to experience Grandpa's farm as he has a newfound "horse" hobby. He bought Chance and Thunder a couple of years ago and more recently got a colt, Charlie, who he has been learning how to train. Eli liked getting the horse to run when he was riding, but once he started realized it was a little scary, especially when the stirrups weren't adjusted to his leg reach. The boys would love being on the farm more often, Brandon, on the other hand was remembering why he would have a hard time living in the country again...the poor guy is so allergic to horses, not to mention the dust and weeds that cover Dad's acreage. He could only stay outside so long for the horseback riding before his throat started to close off and his nose became totally congested.

Easton couldn't get enough of the 4-wheeler. He's one who likes speed, if you hadn't known.

We couldn't get over Braxton and how fun it was to see him in this oversized helmet! He gets embarrassed and upset when he knows people are laughing at something funny he's done, so we tried not to make it known how adorable he was.