July in Utah

Sandy chillin' with Jeremy

Could be Gollum in the background there...

Emily isn't always amenable
to paparazzi stalking her
with cameras.

Check it out! We've discovered DIRT!

Grandmas can't resist babies.

So happy it's Emily's birthday!

Johnny takes a breather
between watermelon binges.

Meet Percy!

Actually, they look like this
even when you're not
taking their picture.

What is that classy looking gal
doing, hanging around that
NERD? ;)

Happiness is a cool toy with
wheels and having the evening
free at Grandma's house.

Moto Mishap

Joseph trying out a downsize motorcycle
at a friend's house. Looks fun, eh?
No way this will end in the
emergency room. Nope.

An enjoyable little dig on some
public land nearby.

End of lap 1: Everything is fine.

End of lap 2: Everything is fine,
except for a bit of a scrape on the knee.
Something about trying to do a u-turn in
some gravel down the road.

Ouch! Looks like it might need
some dermabond.

Or, possibly, a stitch or two.

...or 6.

Evel Knievel here was profoundly traumatized.

Vernal, 2008

The new museum of natural history
fieldhouse in Vernal is pretty cool. Lots
of stuff for the kids to try out hands-on.

Johnathan wasn't thrilled with the huge
mammoth staring down at him. And
he didn't think it was much of a
Kodak moment, either. I told him
I only shoot using Canon hardware
but he wasn't having it.

My kids never misbehave. They certainly wouldn't
be caught with their finger up their noses when
a picture's being taken. Hmph.

The Fairbankses! We laughed, we cried, we caught
a lot of fish at Steinaker, and a good time was
had by all.

Ashley Creek

There's a road that comes off of Taylor Mtn
Road, then there's a trailhead, poorly marked.
Then a long hike (with "little feet" in tow
about 2hrs down, closer to 3hrs up).
Some of the most beautiful scenery
in the world.

The stryations on this tree don't look like any
man-made tools. There is evidence of beaver
dams nearby in the creek.

A stitch of the panoramic view seen
during the hike down.

Hiking the Loop

It's an annual tradition that helps us keep track of
how progressively out of shape we are.
(All of us except grandma, but she can tell you all about that.)

Wardle Reunion 2008

I think Johnny put about 10k miles on
this dump truck during the trip.

Merlin (yes, the one from the 70's) is the
most advanced electronic entertainment
we allowed on the trip. :)

No matter how hectic your toy truck playing becomes,
never forget to stop and pick the dandelions.

Shangrila, courtesy of Cabela's and Sam's Club. And others.

If you watch this subversive long enough,
you might get the idea he's got a thing
for baseball.

The outdoor shower has gotten progressively less
craptacular over the years.

Patty!!!!

I don't know these ruffians. Yes, I'm sticking with that story.

Grandpa watching the grandkids speeding by.

A new look for Emily. It didn't last long.

Meagan trying her best to pout for the camera.

These slackers refused to clean the fish.

Johnny finds a use for the screen enclosure around the
trailer awning.

Emily figuring out which way is up.

Meagan performs for the reunion amateur hour--
ouch! I mean, um, talent show.