Orchard Days

This week was our city Orchard Days. 

Monday - Afton started her next summer session with Rococo Performing Arts. They are getting ready for the parade on Saturday as well as a performance at the park Saturday afternoon.  Afton has a solo in the park performance that she is excited about.  It was also family night at the park.  Afton's 4H group had a petting zoo set up as a fund raiser that night and she was able to help a little bit with that.  The boys jumped off a high dive into a big air mattress and the little girls spent some time on the bounce house thingys.  There was a Natural Wonders presentation that brought with them a few wild animals for everyone to see and even pet.  A giant bunny, a toroise, boa, skunk and a couple really cute albino dwarf hedge hog babies.  Dennis entered  the chalk art contest and managed to wear a nice blood blister into his finger from all the shading he did on it.  It was all worth it though because he won first place in the adult section and earned a couple tickets to the movie theatre.  

Tuesday - Khora had her  last tumbling class this season.  She wants to do it again though. The home run derby was scheduled for Tuesday but we had so much rain they had to postpone it until Wednesday.

Wednesday. Afton's horse class and the home run derby. Isaac was fun to watch.  Isaac actually had the longest hit, over the fence and well into the other field!  He got 2nd place overall in his age group.

Thursday -  The Summiteer bike race day.  Dennis had the boys up working to mark and clear trails on Wednesday and then they finished up on race day.  We didn't have anyone in our family ride in it this year - bike issues.  The boys and a few of their friends did help out though.  The girls also spent some time there, whether just playing or helping I can only guess.  It rained a bit but nothing more than just to cool things off.  It was beautiful.  Dennis has turned it over to another man in his department, since Dennis is now basically in charge of overseeing all of Orchard days.  Such is the life of the Assistant City Manager.

Friday - The Sorensen family reunion was nice.  It was good to get together and visit with everyone.  The kids enjoy playing with their 2nd cousins since they knew them a little.  Afton fixed a cookie salad to bring and it was yummy! She likes to cook.  Buddy had a really fun time playing with Ryun's puppy.  They wore each other out!  Murray's weren't there at all, but lots from the other families.  I didn't really get too many pictures though because I was visiting!! The kids really liked the snow cones.  I think Isaac said he had 6 of them!  Ammon and Marhonri were both their with their families.  Jared and Tamara didn't make it because they weren't back from their trip.  Omner had a wedding.

Saturday - Parade and park day!  Khora was in the parade with the tumbling group.  They had a trailer there so the kids could do some tricks on the pads as they were going.  We didn't get to see Khora do anything, just missed it.  Afton was also in it with the Rococo group.  She carried the banner, I think because she was late getting there.  We had issues finding the group.  Ammon and Jamie brought their kids and watched it with us.  After the parade we spent just a little while at the park to watch Afton's group sing.  I recorded it, but you can't see much because the background is so bright.  I'll try to get it put in dropbox anyway.  Afton's 4H group was also at the park and Afton was able to help with the pony rides.  She led a horse around all afternoon.  That night we went to the Rodeo.  Dennis had a relaps and was sick again, so I just went with the kids.  It was a bit long and they were done by the time it was over, but we enjoyed it!  We watched fireworks and made it home!!

Rococo, "They're coming!",  Waving, Waiting for Candy, Khora's Tumbling Class, Kaysen & Bonnie

Check Mate, Horse Rides, Funnel Cake, Afton waiting, and Jeremy Evans,  

At the Rodeo

Kaholowo and the Greys

Our family did a little split time camping this week.  I was able to go to girls camp for a couple days at Kaholowo our Stake retreat up Santaquin Canyon.  The theme this year was "Creating your own Happily Ever After".  Our ward's theme was based on Aesop's fable of "the Wind and the Sun."

Because the two camps overlapped somewhat and Bonnie was also sick, Dennis took the 4 older children and went camping with the Markers to their favorite family spot in the Grey's river valley in Wyoming.  They all had a really good time.

Baseball Tournament!

Both boys played in the state baseball tournaments this year.  Jacob's team took 1st in the city tournament so they played in the Pony league games in Spanish Fork.  Isaac's city team didn't make the play offs this year, but he was picked up by the Genola Bullfrogs to play in the Pinto tournament in Lehi.  The Bullfrogs took first in the Santaquin City league this year.  Isaac knows a few kids on the team and was really excited to be able to play with them and extend his baseball season.

The first couple days of games are rough because they are all day long!  They play 3 games to place them into the bracket games.  Jacob's team had a great first game winning 8-1.  They lost their last two games, but because of a 3 way tie and the fact that they had the better defensive record they moved on to the first round of games in the brackets.  They ended up loosing, but it was fun to watch Jacob play.  He even stepped up as the relief pitcher in the last inning of the last game.

Isaac's team won their first, lost the second and won the third game which was enough to put them in 1st place in their pool.  Isaac earned his keep with some outstanding pitching!  He even had a couple great hits!!    It was a great team to play with and it made for some very exciting games.  The team made it into the first round of bracket games, but lost in a VERY close game against the Lehi tigers.  The boys were really upset.  There was a sense of relief though that it was all over as we were walking back to the cars.  Great end of another baseball season.  

Jacob mentioned that he enjoys the regular season a lot more than the tournament.  It's pretty stressful as well as tiring mentally and physically.  This year wraps up Jacob's time in the city league. He's planning on playing in the Payson league next year though. And next year Isaac will move on to the Pony league with the city.  They were both mapping out their baseball careers on the ride home from the game Tuesday night.

Beautiful Mountain Retreat

The Sorensen kids were able to get together and did little camping up in our mountains.  Ammon and Jamie found a beautiful spot just east of Ferron Res.  We've never camped over the Skyline before, but it was a beautiful spot. We had a gorgeous view of the "Supermoon" as it came up in the evenings. It's probably my new favorite place ever!!  It was so incredibly green up there this year and the weather was ideal after the first rainstorm on Thursday night.  We were surrounded by these beautiful green mountains and a lake close enough to roll out of bed and get in some fishing time. (Isaac's requirement!)

The kids found lots of room to play, throw a frizbee or ball around, hike, explore the woods, make huts, fish with or without water, and even some 4 wheeler rides.  We also got in some board games, fishing, horseshoes, an exhausting game of Friball. We had a wonderful pile of cut wood making for some good times talking around the campfire. We made some yummy cobbler, home made raspberry ice cream and smores!

There were a couple trips out to Willow and Duckfork, but most of the time I think we just spent it at camp together.  The weather was wonderful, I think we all got some sun, some a little more than others, right LynDee!!

Family Matters

We've had a couple very nice weeks with our families this summer.  It's been very special this year because we have been together will all our siblings on both sides of the family.  The Markers had a nice weekend with all of us together at the same time. Dennis was able to spend some time on the green with a couple of his brothers and then some of us met at the historic Moyle family park as well.  Then on Sunday we were all together (minus one husband). It won't be long before the family is spread out again, but for now it's been great having everyone so close, and spending time together.

The Sorensen's were all together as well for a couple weeks. The Hackwell's make their journey out to Utah in July.  When Ammon and Jamie blessed their baby in church on July 6th, we spent some time playing in Fayette and the town hall and park with everyone.

27 of us all together!

Puppy and Kittens

Bonnie and Khora finally picked up their kittens.  They have been waiting for weeks and weeks for them to be weened.  Khora picked out the only girl in the liter.  This pretty orange tabby is named Pumpkin.  She is the dominate one and knows her way around the food dish.  She's very playful and calm and very sweet.  Bonnie picked out the black and white guy and at first named him Muffins, but we soon found out that it didn't fit at all.  He's quite the little rascal!  He likes to get into mischief.  About a week ago his curiosity led him into the return air vent and he ended up falling about 5 feet to the bottom.  He hurt his foot, but is doing much better now.  It kind of put him out of commission for a few days and he seams to have mellowed from the experience.  So whether it's his temperament or the black and white coloring he has been dubbed Stinker!  It fits.

And now we introduce to you Buddy.  Yes Isaac's work finally paid off.  While the boys were away at their week long scout camp, I found out about a liter of puppies right here in Santaquin.  I made contact with the owners and the day Isaac got back he went over and picked out the one he wanted.  While he was playing with all the puppies this big guy came over, laid on his lap and didn't move.  Isaac said that's the one. Buddy picked Isaac.  A week later he brought him home.  He's a mixed black lab, the oldest in the liter as well as the chunkiest!  He's very docile and sweet.  He's calm and does really well with the kittens.  So now the adventure begins.  He's already shown that puppies are a lot of work, but Isaac is willing and excited to train him and work with him.  

First Tooth

Khora finally lost her first tooth!  What an adorable smile!!  Isn't she beautiful!