Fun With The Reeds!

We love the Reeds!  Of course we love all of our cousins near and far, but with the Reeds being close, it's nice to have somebody to do things with.  Sarah and Molly love taking the kids on outings during the Summer or special events throughout the year.  2-3 times a year we enjoy weekend trips with the Reeds.  We've made St. George and Yuba Lake an annual outing with them, but have also enjoyed California, Yosemite, Mesquite, Zion National Park and more.  September was no different.  This time we visited Mesquite and Sand Hollow Reservoir in addition to a side trip with the kids, Sarah and Molly to the Utah State Fair. 

 

 

Sand Hollow and Mesquite!!!

 

 

We love Sand Hollow and make sure we get there at least once a year.  The water is clear and warm, the red rock formations are beautiful and give you the illusion of being in a quasi-Lake Powell type setting.  Set up the tarp, chill in the water and soak up the sun.  Just what the doctor ordered.  Sarah and Molly do the opposite...they sit in the shade and chill on shore. 

 

The kids like to swim out to or wade out to the rock formations in the middle of the water and claim their island in the sea. 

 

Dax is all about the sand castles.  He spent very little time in the water and the rest of the time in the fine red sand building sand castles.

 

Not this waterbug!

 

Marley loved the water at first.  She isn't really afraid of it, but didn't really know what to think of it.  At one time she panicked as we pushed her off the rock and into the water.  As she panicked and swam, she never realized the water was very shallow and she could touch the bottom. 

Duane, Elijah and Cole hiked over to a spring runoff that had made the sandstone mossy and tried to slide down it.  They never made it to the cliff jumping.

Mostly Marley enjoyed eating the fine red sand.  In fact, when the kids were walking her later that day and the next, it was entertaining to watch Marley poop out red sand logs.  Seriously, almost pure sand poop!  When the sprinklers came on, it would just wash away.  Come to think of it, that is a great thing...no picking up poop!

 

Lesson learned.  Fine red sand and a white dog don't mix well. 

 

Leah, Dax and Emerson building more sandominiums.  They were nice and reasonably priced, but the HOA fees is where they get you!

 

Cole about to get in the water.  Marley wondering why she is chained up if Cole isn't!

 

Some of the boys have no issues with the water while others are still growing comfortable with the idea.  Jake enjoyed himself as did Duane.

 

My sweet wahine!

 

I love his crooked grin.

 

Emerson, like Dax, was more interested in playing in the sand than he was in the water. 

 

Cole, Emerson, Elijah, Jake and Leah chasing fish.

 

Dax was disappointed to learn that there was a time out spot even at Sand Hollow!

 

Sarah and Marley staying out of the sun.

 

I am so happy my kids are like me, that they love the sun and sea.

 

 

Leah says, "That was awesome!  Now let's go swimming at the pool!!!!"

 

 

Sarah's awesome Aunt Kate let us use her home in Mesquite as party central.  It is only about 45 minutes from Sand Hollow and the best part is that it has a pool!!!  The kids (and us old folks) loved that!  Thanks, Aunt Kate and Uncle Vern!

 

This time around, Dax grew very comfortable with swimming.  He has always enjoyed the water, but now he is fairly comfortable so long as he has his life jacket on. 

 

Of course, I was in the pool just as long or longer than any of the kids. 

 

We engaged in a few chicken fights until somebody got hurt.  It was fun while it lasted.

 

 

 

Of course, Sarah found herself a nice patch of shade and relaxed.

 

 

Utah State Fair

 

 

Every year our families go to the State Fair.  This time they went on a weekday around 3pm so Duane and I weren't able to go.  By all accounts, it sounds like they had a fun time.

 

Jake and Leah checking out the wildlife. 

 

 

Leah's favorite part was the trapeze artists.

 

Dax was totally fascinated by the circus as well.

Of course, what's a fair without fair food?! 

 

Leah sometimes quotes random Monty Python movies.  Here she is imitating the knight before battling the ferocious rabbit in "Search For The Holy Grail".  "It's got fangs!", she says.

 

 

 

 

Well, if you have ever read my blog, you have seen a few pics of the Reeds.  I usually try not to post pics of other kids in my blog that often out of respect for those parents who may not want their kids "out there", but if I did that with the Reed boys entirely, I would have to eliminate so many of the pics of my own kids because the Reeds are just that much a part of our lives.  And we couldn't be happier about it.