4th of July in Tahoe

While Cori and Grace were enjoying Utah, Mom and I packed up Grant, Eden, and JJ and we hit the road. We all met up at Lake Tahoe to spend the 4th of July holiday. I was so grateful for another week with family. Grace and Grant were endlessly diverted. We played mini golf, went to the movies, swam in the pool, and watched a lot of Star Wars.

Around the table at Fire and Ice. 

We ran down to the valley a couple of times to visit with Super Grandma Bettie and pet the ponies. We also stopped in to see Papa's new office space and chat with Grammie's work out friends.

The Tahoe condo is just steps from the Van Sickle Bi-State Park. Most of our afternoons there were cloudy and a perfect temperature. We ventured out for a little hike. I gingerly tagged along.

Some of us were a little tired on the way back...

We also spent an afternoon at the trout farm. We got there right as the stocking truck was unloading. Everyone got to catch a fish - Grant got two actually. Papa Jeff and Cori made us a yummy dinner that night.

Baby J with his namesake.

On the 4th of July, Dad treated us with a cruise on the Dixie.  Samuel Clemens was aboard as well. The Dixie sails from Zepher Cove, across the lake to Emerald Bay and back. It was a beautiful day to be out on the water and nice to be away from the crowds on shore.

The tea house in the middle of Emerald Bay.

Tahoe blue

That evening, we took food and games down to the beach and got our spot for the fireworks. Grant got a little wet playing on the beach and got to spend the rest of the night without his pants on. 

The next day was check out. Before we left, Grace really wanted to try the bungee trampoline. Hurray for backflips high in the sky!

Not a bad way to spend one's third week of life. He has been such a good baby!

utah for a weekend

A couple of weeks after we welcomed JJ, Cori and Grace took a trip to Utah. Cori ran the Spartan Beast in Soldier Hollow with some of his family, and Grace got to spend a couple of days in the luxurious company of others of our family there. She and her cousins built hammocks in the bunk bed (with the permission and help of her Aunt Brittany). They actually slept in them! The weekend they were there, Elk Ridge had its Independence Day celebration. They started bright and early with a 1 mile fun run.

Gorgeous Elk Ridge sunrise... Aunt Brittany was sweet and studly enough to run with the kids. Grace loved every minute of her weekend there. She hung out with Grandma Sandy and Papa Ray at the fair that followed while Cori and the crew ran their race up north.

breakfast at the firehouse

games, and more games

(Thanks, Grandma Sandy for the pictures!)

Meanwhile at Soldier Hollow, these guys were getting signed in. This particular Spartan Beast was a 13 mile course with some 20+ obstacles. Here is the posse. Cory, Brett, Tiffany, Randy, and Cory. All shiny and clean. They did a great job. They stuck together and finished up in about 4.5 hours. Randy finished 3rd in his age group- way to go Dad!

Afterwords, they were not so shiny and clean, but I think their smiles were a little bigger. Once they had crossed the finish line, they went back and took a few pictures of some of the obstacles.

They are already talking about which Spartan race(s) they want to do next year. Something to look forward to...