Funny

On a Sunday afternoon, I found Bo asleep in his full suit (of course) with his face flat on the tile. 

 This picture I couldn't get to turn around.  This was on the side of Boston's bed.  It is a stuffed animal he hijacked back when he was two and Brock was born.  It was supposed to be a gift to Brock from Matt and Marcie.  Boston loved it and named it "Bear Hart Wood" (Boston's name is Boston Hart Wood.  Now he is 15, but apparently still looks out for the bear.  I loved that it was by his journal on the floor.  Sweet Boston!

 Brock, Bo and Britton don't seem to mind reading over each other's shoulders. :)

EFY

Boston had the fun experience of going to EFY with his two cousins, Hannah and Zach.  Because BYU was limited this year in space (with the increase of new missionaries using the dorms), they opted for the U of U.  Boston said it was different, but still great. 

They had a great time.  I just love what EFY does for their excitement about the gospel.

Europe

The reason we could spend so much time up north this summer was that Braden had a week of practices for his Utah Ambassadors of Music trip to Europe.  The practices paid off and their concert the night before they left was amazing.  Braden did both percussion in the band and sang bass in the choir, so he had A LOT of music to learn.  I looked through his pictures (there are thousands) and picked a few to be on this post.  This first one is in London (his favorite stop) at Shakespeare's Globe Theater. 

 He saw the changing of the guards, crown jewels, etc.

 His personal London highlight was walking across Abbey Road, which he is doing in this next picture.  That was a special side trip he coaxed a leader into taking with him.

 I loved this picture he took of the palace.  His group performed in many places in Europe.  The first concert was on the banks of the Thames.

 If you know Braden, you know that he finds humor EVERYWHERE.  Many, many of his picture were like these next few, and it was so funny to get his commentary on them as he showed them to us.  Here is a dinosaur eating the Eiffel tower, 

 I think this one is self-explanatory,

and here he is eating his escargot (which he actually loved)! 

 But, back to the more foundational pictures....He went to Paris and the Louvre, where he saw this,  

 also the Eiffel Tower,

and the Arc de Triomphe.

 He loved Switzerland.  Doesn't this look like a scene from the Sound of Music?

 He rode this scooter all the way down a mountain in Switzerland and loved it.

 Here is one of his many "selfies".  It is a snapshot of the canal of Venice.

 This is a picture of him performing at a concert in Innsbruck, Austria.  You can see the olympic rings from years ago.

 And I loved this picture of the Matterhorn.  It reminds me of pictures my dad brought back from his mission that used to hang in our house.

Braden also spent time in Germany and a brief stop in Lichtenstein.  He saw the Dachau concentration camp, the cathedral of Notre Dame, and everything in between.  We are so grateful he had this great experience!

Cub Scouts

Our local shooting range offered sessions this summer to cub scout packs to come and earn their BB Gun Shooting and Archery belt loops.  We took them and they had a great time.  Here is Britton shooting at small balloons that we blew up and taped to the target. 

 We had a great time.  They also did archery, which Bo loved most of all.

Seven Peaks

So, knowing that we would be spending some time up north this summer, I bought (for the first time) a Pass of All Passes, which is good to Seven Peaks Water Park and its associated fun centers.  It was a great deal.  So great that apparently everyone in Utah bought one.  Oh well.  We had fun at Seven Peaks, although no one went on a water slide because of the huge lines.  It was so crowded.

BUT, that same pass also got us into the fun centers, which were a good deal.  You go and get your hand stamped and can then do as many of the activities there for as long as you want.  This included fun stuff like go-carts,

laser tag,

rock-climbing wall,

and bumper boats.

Also mini golf and some rides.  We had a blast and stayed until they kicked us out. :)

Up North

We got to go up north for a week during the first week of July.  We got to spend some time at Grandma and Grandpa's house and see lots of cousins.  The kids have so much fun together.  I saw this in the backyard one day.  The cousins are all playing a game together and having a blast.  We love being in Grandpa's backyard in the summer!

 Brock and Boston wanted to see the Hill Air Force Base Museum, so I took them out one afternoon.  What a great place.  We hadn't been there in a while.  Brock loved this one. :)

 They loved all of the old war planes.  They knew what kind they are and when they were used. 

 Braden, Boston and I took the rare chance to go to a Salt Lake Real game.  It was a blast!  The stadium was amazing, the game was awesome, and the weather was perfect. 

 We had good seats, and because it was July 3, there was a huge fireworks show afterward that we stayed and watched.  It was loads of fun!

June

Just a couple of random pictures from June.  What is it about sleeping kids?  They are just so sweet!  Summer wears them out.

I was out on my deck and looked down in the backyard to see this.  It made me smile.  It had Boston written all over it.    

Braden and his friend, Summer, went shooting for one last activity before she went to BYU for the summer.  They shot the heck out of his cymbal.  Apparently she is a good shot!