Daddy returns!

Kevin and Galen flew in on the same day. We celebrated there return with a picnic and walk up to Bridal Veil Falls. Brianna, Jerilyn, Josie, Lincoln, Julie, Kevin, Conor, Galen, Mackenzie, Janet, Jessica and Megan

Janet, Megan, Galen, Lincoln and Kevin

Brrr...Cold feet

Last breakfast with the cousins at Grandma's. Next stop-Kellogg reunion for Kevin and the kids and my stop is the Wilson wedding!!

Stewart Falls and Melissa shower

We woke up early early early this morning to hike up to Stewart falls. It was just like I remembered it. I can't get over how pretty it is up around Sundance.

The front runners, Mackenzie, Jessica and Conor

Conor-just after he left some skin up on the rock slide

The hiking gang

Mom and Conor overlooking the falls

A great view of the back of Timp and the trail headJosie woke up to a new cousin in the house!!! These two were fast friends. Jerilyn and Brianna flew in late the night before and once Josie and Brianna found each other they had a blast together. Here they are toasting their plastic cups of water and they also tried using their peanut butter sandwiches. CHEERS!!

Janet and I threw a bridal shower for Melissa. We had a great turnout and all the time and planning was well worth it.

Janet, Melissa and me

The shower spread

More Utah Valley fun

Early morning hike to the Y!! I took a break from running with Jennifer one morning to hike with everyone to the Y. Such a great view and fun hike. Just the right distance if you ask me for a good morning work out.

Conor and Me-Conor was a great hiker. He almost beat me to the top and could have gone much farther.

Mackenzie, Katy, Julie, Janet, Conor, & Jessica -Grandpa, Chris and Jennifer all were here, but were in a rush to get back home.

Spending a lazy afternoon giving Grandma's swing set a workout

Lincoln-though this swing was a little piece of Heaven

Watching the Ice-cream - freeze...delicious!
Swimming at the neighbors pool-we did this a few times and couldn't be happier.

Conor perfected his back flip on this great diving board

The Witt and Kellogg cousins

Brianna and Josie

Fun in Utah

Time to let the fun in Provo begin...so many fun people to see and good things to do. I will try to document in chronological order and show what pictures I have.

The Monte Bean Museum - Fun to catch up with some of my long time friends-Katy Knight and Kerry Gardanier. Katy works at the museum so we got some behind the scenes treatment. We walked around campus and went to see Katy Witt at her job, we went to the book store to stock up on some cute BYU apparel and see how much campus has changed. Then we hit the creamery for yummy ice-cream.

Katy, Kerry and Julie

The Witt's and Kellogg's in front of the ginormous elephant

Josie finally worked up the courage to touch the snake...she was very timid-reach then pull back, reach then pull back. Finally she braved the scales and was very proud of herself

Ice cream at the creamery is always a must-especially since my beloved Hogi Yogi is gone :(

Next we got to go to the Sundance Summer theater with all the Nielsen family that was around. We saw the Sound of Music and it was excellent! Josie and Lincoln stayed home with a sitter and Josie was not happy, I almost didn't get to go because of her super-sized tantrum. Conor and Jessica

Spencer, Conor, Amber, Janet and Julie

You absolutely can't go to Utah with out going to Brick Oven. Best pizza and salad bar ever. Oh and on my must do list was go to Costa Vida...did that a few times but no picture.

Not a sad face in this crowd--except for maybe Grandpa for a minute over the Root beer, but that is the 2nd best part right?

On to Logan

We were sad to send Daddy home to Spokane to work, but we figured someone needed to play and spend the money he was making. We hit the road once again for a much shorter trip up to Logan. We were able to catch up with a lot of old friends. We did the mandatory drive by the old house to see how things have grown or changed and we got all the dirt on the neighborhood. We got to see the Geddes's and spent the afternoon with the Clark's. It is so fun to see how all the little kids have grown up. Mom got a much needed haircut and then we spent the night with the Blake's. We got to go to the gym and catch up with all the gym buddies which was super duper fun-makes me miss everyone so so much. Then we stocked up on our year supply of Gossner Milk and Cox honey and headed South again to see more cousins! Thank you to everyone who fed us and took time to hang out. Come visit us so we can return the favor.

Bryton, Luke and Conor...still fast friends. They had so much fun together, it was like old times and Conor had never even left. We miss these cuties so so much!

Bryton, Luke, Conor, Josie, Ethan and Gracie

Lincoln and his future girlfriend Brynlee-hopefully one day he will be bigger then her, but for now she has him beat. They are about a month apart.

Next stop...Lake Powell - take 1

We spent the next day getting ready to go to the best place on earth! Lake Powell. We were able to stop in Gunnison and introduce Lincoln to Great Grandma Nielsen on the way down. We were planning on meeting Craig and family down at Lake Powell, but we got an early morning phone call, informing us that they had run over some rebar or metal rod and it actually lodged in the gas tank so they were going to be a bit delayed. Fortunately it was only a few miles from home so they were able to make some car switches and continue. 1st bullet missed...next incident. Once we arrived at Powell we were having trouble with one of the Sea doo's so all the men were working on getting it started. Well long story short a 6 foot fireball gave grandpa a hair cut and some serious burns on his hands. It was super scary, but I can say 2nd bullet missed...we were very blessed this was all that happened. We finally got our selves settled on a beach and began our fun week of sun, water, fun and play, play, play. Here are the pictures to document.

Great Grandma Nielsen with the kids

Lincoln and Great Grandma Nielsen

7/26

Kevin and his "other woman"

Fun with Daddy off the back deck

Free falling Josie

Relaxing on the back- critiquing the diving, cannon balls, flips, etc...

Nice form!

I am sad we don't have any pictures of this other really cool hike we went on. Jen, Chris, Kevin and I took the Sea doo's out to the channel and up this really neat slot canyon. We hiked for a good 1/2 hour way up there. It was one of the more memorable hikes I remember doing at Powell. We creeped/clawed/jumped and squeezed through some tight stuff. I will note that the boys left Jen and me at the mouth thinking we wouldn't follow, but we showed them!

7/27

Not my best side, but I thought it was a cool angle-we are jumping off the top of the house boat

My flipping fish-he later accomplished the back flip

Thought I would document my craziness as I am aging by the second.

The two who ran the ship...buddies!

Lincoln and Josie

Conor officially mastered the water skiing this year! I was so proud of him. I actually had to fight with him for water time. (I am not complaining)

This is where Kevin spent a lot of this trip. We decided he should start a little sea-doo repair shop in Spokane. He has the magic touch.

7/28
Today brought the arrival of Blake, Austin and Matthew. Conor couldn't have been happier. He had so much fun with his boy cousins.

Cool arch we hiked to from our camp

cliff jumping Josie

Matt, Conor and Blake

Josie finally discovered her love at Lake Powell, tubing! Melissa and I tricked her into going, but she got over her anger really quickly.

7/29

All the Nielsen Grandsons

Annual Kellogg family portrait at Lake Powell

Lincoln and Mom taking a swim

Conor and Matthew...doing the trick water skiing

Ahh...smooth water+good ski+good boat+good health = FABULOUS ski run


Bullet 3 was missed when the boat trailer tire threw a tread, then after a spare was put on the axel locked up and did some serious damage to the trailer. Somehow we limped home no worse for the wear. What a great trip!