The Lake

Another great lake trip. On Sunday night we decided to go to the lake at 5am. Randy and Rebecca were down but needing to get back to work. They each called their bosses and said that they had stuff to take care of so they would be coming in late in the morning. They met us up at Saguaro Lake and we did some wake boarding and some tubing. Rathen issued the challenge to Ryan to try and get him off the tube. Ryan succeeded and got all of the kids off the tube. It was so fun to watch the kids try and stay on the tube and to watch Rathen jump from tube to tube. I think they were all a little beat up after the crash but they still wanted to keep tubing.

The family and Rhett just getting started at the lake.

 I was able to get up on the ski. It took a few tries which was a little frustrating but I got up and then didn't want to crash so I let go.

Ryan is getting really good a wake boarding. He was jumping the wake and having a ball.

 

 After a long day Kate was done. She conked out and slept for about 30 minutes.

California

 What more can I say about California that I haven't already blogged about? We had a great time again. This time we didn't stay in the dorms but rented a house for three days in Costa Mesa. But three days wasn't long enough so we pricelined a hotel and got the Hyatt in Huntington Beach so we stayed two more nights. I really love California and the beach.
Here we are saying good-bye to Rachelle since she is moving to Alaska. Kate is so sad and so am I. Rachelle will be missed greatly. She is so fun and always takes such great care of the kids.

The family at Corona Del Mar. Ryan played about 20 games of volleyball and would have played more but others wanted to play. :) It was perfect conditions for volleyball a little overcast so the sand didn't get too hot.

Kate, Jack and Jay in front of the slides at the Hyatt. We had a great time staying there and were very sad when we had to leave.

The family saying good-bye to the beach. We got ice cream one last time then headed home.

 Jack, Kate and Jay at Huntington Beach, still our favorite.

Christopher Creek Camp Out

We had such a great time camping. I love having all the family together hanging out and playing. It was almost a perfect weekend except the rain. I really do not like camping in the rain. I don't like to be wet and I really don't like worrying if all my stuff in the tent is getting wet. But here in AZ when you pray for rain cause it's needed so badly I can't complain too much about getting wet while camping. Besides a good lightening and thunder storm is always fun to watch and listen to. We had a great time and I am already looking forward to next year. It just makes me smile thinking about it.

24 of the 26 grand kids. Only Ryan and Austin are missing. I see this picture and it makes me smile. I love knowing my kids will know their cousins and know their heritage. 

 Joe put together a horseshoe tournament complete with a bracket he made using a Capri sun box. Matt and Kyley were the champs and now get to brag about it for a year. I will go on the record saying I am horrible at horseshoes. I can't seem to throw straight or on target. But I played and tried.

The boys at the water hole. They hiked to the deep water hole and took turns jumping in.

The kids around the campfire and walking the Loop. I love that my Grandpa and Grandma Taylor always walked the Loop when we camp and it's a fun tradition to keep.

 Jack and Jay jumping off the cliff. I wonder how soon they will be doing back flips off cliffs like Ryan? I hope they hold off on that.

Kate with her cousins, Annie, Keelie and Lucille. I am sad that Kate won't have a sister but I love that she has three girl cousins her age. Almost like having three sisters. Kate's favorite part of camping was hopping on the rocks. She loved being in the creek and outside.

Jack catching crawdads. No camping trip is complete until Jack can catch the biggest crawdad. He still has the touch and could spend hours catching crawdads.

Rathen's Homecoming

On July 17, 2013 Rathen J. Ricedorff returned from his mission in Raleigh, North Carolina. We were all so excited to see him and to see how he has changed and yet remained the same. His family changed a lot while he was gone. He gained a nephew and a brother-in-law in just two short years. It's crazy how much can happen in two years and yet so much stayed the same. We are happy Rathen is home and I think my favorite part, aside from seeing Rathen, was having Randy tell me that Jack said "Rhett is next, then me and then Kaden, then Jay. I love that Rathen set such a good example for his brother and his cousin and I love that Jack wants to serve a mission.

 The Randy and Rebecca Ricedorff family after two years. Ross, Duke, Brookelyn, Randy, Rebecca, Rhett, Rathen, Alexis and JT

Kate finally likes Rathen. It took a two year mission for her to grow up and like him. I loved listening to her pray for Rathen. 

Rexburg, ID

On our drive home from Yellowstone we drove through Rexburg, ID and Ryan got to travel down memory lane a little bit. We played a little football, walked around the field house and just enjoyed Rexburg. It was a great place for Ryan to have gone to school. He loved playing football and enjoyed the good atmosphere of a church school.

 We had to stop and eat at Big Judd's. It was the biggest hamburger I have ever seen and I won't eat a hamburger for a really long time. Along with the hamburger we got two huge orders of fries, two drinks and two ice cream cones. Needless to say I think we all felt like Jack in the end.

Yellowstone Finally

 

 Yellowstone National Park

We finally made it to Yellowstone and it did not disappoint me at all. I have been wanting to go to Yellowstone for a long time and I am glad I made. We did a lot of driving but it was incredible to see all the animals and the scenery. Holy cow it was beautiful. I loved how there was water everywhere and the rolling hills with mountains in the background. Here we are at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It was 300 and something steps down but well worth it.                                                                                                       
The kids and Ryan playing in the water. I really think one of Ryan's goals is to do a back flip off as many cliffs as he can. I loved this spot on Lamar River because we were by ourselves except for one couple. I kept waiting for the bear to wonder down by the river to get a drink. But I think we were a little bit too loud for that. Besides if that did happen we would have freaked out.

 

Some of the views of Yellowstone. I wish I had a good camera and could take good pictures because these pictures don't do Yellowstone justice. We had rain a few days in the park which made for come chilly nights and some beautiful rainbows.

 

Some of the wildlife out on the range and Old Faithful. Funny story about the elk. We all got out to see the elk except Jay and Jeremy. I had given Jay a peanut butter sandwich that he needed to eat before he could have anything else. The day before he had a sandwich and it took him almost an hour to finish it. Well we all got out to see the elk and when I came back the sandwich was gone, including the crust which he never eats. So I asked Jay if he ate all of the sandwich and he told me he did. I was impressed since it had only been about 10 minutes that he had it. Later that night we were talking with Jeremy and I mentioned how Jay had finished his sandwich. Jeremy then laughs and says really because as soon as you all left the car to look at the elk, there was a lot of movement in the car and it looked like Jay was up to something. He never said Jay threw the sandwich out the window but it was implied. I have since asked Jay about the sandwich and he swears he ate it. I have no choice but to believe him but I will monitor his peanut butter sandwich intake from now on.

We had a great time and we really do live in a beautiful world. 

Grand Teton and West Yellowstone

Grand Teton National Park. 

The entire time we were there the primary song "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" kept going through my head. I am truly "glad that I live in this beautiful world Heavenly Father created for me." We had a great time walking around Jenny Lake and finding water to jump in. My kids are always happier if they can play in the water. The Grand Tetons really are awesome and incredible.

 Once we left The Grand Tetons we drove through Yellowstone on our way to West Yellowstone to see "Beauty and the Beast" at the Playmill Theater. As we were watching the play we recognized two of the actors as Rebecca's nephew, Jacob, and niece, Camilla. We had to snap a picture and text it to Rebecca. It is amazing what a small world we live in. We really did enjoy the play. Jack said that if the movie were as funny as the play he would watch the movie more often. It really was a great play.