Utah

For our vacation we were able to stay with Jon and Jen in Layton, Utah. Jaxson and Bethany had a good time together. Although, Bethany is a really good boss and I'm sure Jaxson was tired of having Bethany "mother" him all the time.

Bethany showing Jaxson the horses at Grandma Atkins.

Jaxson and Bethany playing ball in the kitchen.

The reason why we decided to take the trip in the first place was to be in Utah for my Grandpa Willard Atkin's 90th birthday party. So for one of the days we went out and tried our best to help my grandma get ready.

Scott and Emily sanding the poles to get ready to paint.

Matthew working hard.

Bethany and Jaxson "helping".

It is so hard when we visit Utah to be able to see everyone we want to visit while we are there for such a short time. But I felt like this time we were able to see quite a few of our family and friends.

We stopped in at Grandpa and Grandma Jeppsen's for a visit.

Bethany, Grandpa Jeppsen, Timmy, Grandma Jeppsen, Sam, Scott, and Matthew

I had a great time visiting with old friends at the park.

Back Row: Jamie Wilkerson, Vanessa Fawson, Staci Hurst, Nicole Thompson
Front Row: Ellen Farnsworth, Becky Shapiro, Emily Peterson

I even got to stop in for a visit with Andy's cousins and strangely enough Mike's wife Maureen is my distant cousin.

Chris, Nate, and Mike

Maureen and Me

Jared, Matthew, and Scott
They became instant friends and had a great time together!

We saw Andy's Brother Steven and his adorable family.

Baby Samuel loved Steven!
Sam probably would have stayed if Steven would have been lactating!

Piper, Amy, Steven, and Hannah

Hannah, Bethany, Piper, Matthew, Timmy, Scott, and Sam.

We stopped in at the Sweet's Factory for a few goodies!

Andy and the kids in front of the Sweet's Factory

Hillary was kind enough to have her sweet baby Valerie before we left so I could give her a squeeze!

Valerie Ann Bolander
July 9, 2009

The kids were glad that we were able to play at Hillary's with the cousins at least once before she had the baby.

Swimming in Hillary's backyard with Emily, Joe, and Josh.

Ever since Scott had to do his state report on Utah he has wanted to visit the Great Salt Lake. So we took one day and went out to Antelope Island.

The Bison at Antelope Island.

They all wanted to get out and touch the salty water. That black line in front of the water is all brine flies. Needless to say the kids didn't last very long out there.

I'm sure the highlight of our vacation, at least for my kids, was our trip to Lagoon! They loved it!
Jon, Jen, Jaxson, Grandma and Grandpa Lay and Hillary's kids all went with us. Scott says we "absolutely have to go to Lagoon every time we are in Utah". Scott liked Wild Mouse and Centennial Screamer the best. Matthew said he loved all the rides. He is at the perfect age, small enough to go on the kiddie rides but tall enough to go on the big rides. He really liked Wicked. Timmy and Bethany were little thrill seekers they loved every ride we took them on and cried when it was time to go home. Timmy was sure that we hadn't taken him on all the rides and pointed them all out on the way out of the park(which of course he was right because he was too small to go on those rides). I wish I would have had pictures of them on their favorite rides but I spent most of my time with the little kids and Andy took the older kids on the bigger rides. So the only time we were really all together was on Rattle Snake Rapids.

Jon, Joe, Andy
Grandma Lay, Josh, and Bethany

Matthew, Clark, Scott
Timmy, Jenny, and Emily
(Timmy did not want to get wet!)

Timmy, Joe, and Josh

Even Samuel loved Lagoon!

To end our vacation we went to my Grandpa Willard Atkin's 90th birthday party. He is such a great man. I will always look up to him and am grateful for the opportunity we had to be there to celebrate his 90 years of life! We love you Grandpa!!

Willard George Atkin Jr.