Hot Pots

On Monday, July 6th, we went to my family's house and hung out with them for a little while. We showed off our mad skills at Rock Band. Jason and I took turns on the microphone and the guitar. And I definitely prefer the guitar. My vocals aren't the greatest. Jason actually does pretty good at the singing part. He knows a lot of the songs already. We had a great time hanging out with my mom and sister, Jessie. The kids also had a great time at Grandma D's house. They love to play with all of her toys and let me tell ya there are lots of toys.

My mom at the drums, Jason at the mic, and Jessie on the guitar.



Later that day we met up with my friend, Brook, and her family and hiked up Diamond Fork canyon to the hot pots. All my life growing up in Utah, I had never been to the hot pots, so this was my very first time. I was really excited for the hike and to see the steamy hot pots, but a little nervous that my kids might struggle with the hike and catch a glimpse of a naked person. Apparently, a lot of people hike clothes less to the hot pots and then do a little skinny dipping when they get there. Well, I was hoping we'd avoid the nudity, but one lone man on his way down the trail happened to be in the nude and to make it worse, all of the little girls were at the front of the pack. Fortunately, I was in the back, so I missed it, but the girls didn't really know what to do and looked to Brook for help. I guess the guy tried to cover himself up and he walked off the trail. How considerate of him! Oh well, we knew it might happen and it did and the girls recovered from the incident, so it was all good. And the kids did great on the hike up to the hot pots. They had fun hiking with their friends and swimming in the hot pots and river.

On the hike up to the hot pots we came across this beauty. Some people coming down warned us of this very large snake just off the path. Well, Brook's husband, Jonathan, is quite the adventurer and quickly caught the snake. It was a gopher snake so it was harmless, but still, the man is crazy!! He was holding it like it was his best friend. The kids were more interested in seeing it than I thought they'd be. I thought they'd be running and screaming bloody murder up the trail. They actually touched it and thought it was pretty cool. In the picture is Afton and Morgan petting the snake.

Will wasn't liking it too much.

A few of the lower hot pots. This is where we stopped and got in. And it was so nice. The hot pots were nice and warm, a little slippery, but it felt really good in the water.

The kids relaxing in the nice warm water. They had fun going back and forth from the river to the hot pots.

The boys: Will, Dax and chubby Logan. He probably outweighs both those other two together.

Brook and Jonathan in the pool with the kiddos.

more fireworks

On the 5th, we got to do some more fireworks. We went to my sister-in-law's house for dinner and then fireworks. the kids love to play with their cousin Kya, so they were pretty excited to go to her house. They had lots of fun playing in her backyard and on the trampoline. Ever since they jumped on that tramp, they've been asking me everyday why we don't have a trampoline.

They were doing some kind of dance on the patio.

Getting ready to watch the fireworks

I finally got Logan to get in the picture. He definitely is the odd man out. The other three look so much alike and then there's Logan. He's totally a Phillips.

The kids watching fireworks with their Grandma Sharon.

Me and my hubby

The boys giving me their best cheesers. I think Dax wins. He has the best cheese smile.

Some of the awesome fireworks put on by Ben and Jason.

Afton and Logan with their sparklers. Logan loved it and kept wanting more. I think he liked them better than his popsicle.


I had to share this picture. We were at my parents earlier that day and Logan got his head stuck in their railing. It was so funny! He didn't really cry because he was concentrating so hard on trying to get his head out and he finally did. This is a classic picture. I think everyones kids get their heads stuck like this once in their life. They just can't resist sticking their head in between things.

4th of July fireworks

After a long fun-filled day at the cabin, we headed back to my in-law's, only to be on the move again. We met up with my family to watch some fireworks. We met my parents and my sister and her family there. They were actually watching them from the Ranch where Jason and I had our wedding reception. It was the first time we'd been back there since we were married. I wish we could have got there earlier when we could actually see. It was pretty dark outside, but it was still neat to be there. It brought back some great memories. And the kids were so excited to see their cousins, Abby, Emma and Tred. Our six kids are so crazy when they get together. They had a blast running around the ranch and watching the fireworks.

I really wish we were there before the sun went down. If there were light, you'd see a gorgeous view behind us. The ranch is a very beautiful place. It sits up on the foothills in the Provo area.

The crazy cousins. Dax, Afton, Abby, and Emma

Emma and Dax. I think this picture is so cute. You can tell that they just really love each other

Abby and Afton enjoying the fireworks. We were watching the ones at the Stadium of Fire.

My mom and Dax

We really had a great 4th of July spending time with both of our families. I think every summer we'll probably come up for the 4th.

parade and wales canyon

On the morning of the 4th of July, we got up bright and early at the cabin, had a yummy breakfast and then headed off for the Moroni parade. This is another one of Jason's fondest childhood memories. He loved going to this parade because there was always lots of candy. And true to his words, the kids got bags full of candy. It was crazy how much candy there was. They even got some otter pops. The kids were definitely in heaven at this parade.

Afton, Dax, Kya and Logan enjoying the parade. Afton loved the pretty girls in the very pretty dresses. She had to wave to everyone of them.



Ben and Logan chilling along the curb watching the parade

They were so excited to get an otter pop and couldn't wait to eat them.

Jason's grandma Mary and grandpa Mardell and his parents, Sharon and Rex.

Now it wouldn't be a Sanpete parade without a funny looking lama and a five year old driving a 4-wheeler down the street. What a classic!


After the parade we stopped by Jason's grandma's house and let the boys feed the horses. They were a little nervous, but loved feeding them. Logan especially loved the horses. He calls them "orsies".

Jason let the boys drive back to the cabin. Gosh he's starting them young. Dax was very into it if you can't tell by the picture and he actually was a pretty good little driver. Logan just had fun turning the wheel back and forth really fast. yeah, we were all over the rode. But don't worry, it was a very deserted dirt rode.


After lunch, we packed up some of the kiddo's and decided to take the 4-wheelers and the rhino for a drive up wales canyon. I love riding up this canyon. It's beautiful and the view is amazing. And there are so many dirt roads you could drive for hours up there.

Isn't the view breathtaking? I just love it there.

The boys were suppose to be wearing helmets, but didn't like the big bulky motorcycle helmets so they took them off.

Afton and I with another pretty view in the background.

While we were driving around, we came across this huge field of yellow wild flowers. It was so pretty! Of course we had to stop and take some pictures.


Ben taking a walk with the kids through the flowers.

Some more fun shots in the flowers.

I told Afton to smell the flower. I thought it would be a great picture, but man she sure wanted to smell that flower.

the cabin

After Lehman Caves, we made our way to my in law's cabin. Jason's dad has been building a family cabin in Sanpete and he's been doing it all by himself. I have to say that my father-in-law is one talented guy. The cabin is amazing and he's doing such a great job and once it's finished it's going to be awesome! So we met Jason's family at the cabin and our friend's, Ryan and Lyn Burbidge and their two boys, also met us there. The second we pulled up to the cabin the kids wanted to ride on the 4-wheelers and the rhino. They were all so excited and couldn't wait to go for a ride.

Can you see the excitement on their faces? Aidan, Afton, and Dax getting ready to go for a ride on the rhino with their crazy driver, AKA daddy.

playing around by the cabin. Logan found two sticks and he was so excited about these sticks. He kept showing them to me and saying, "mommy, mommy! look two sticks!"

One of Logan's favorite things to do is push people around on these little quads. We have one at our house and instead of driving it, he just pushes the thing around the living room.

Afton on the little 50. She is getting so big. She was driving this thing around like she'd driven it a million times. She loved it!

After some 4-wheeling, the kids and the dads decided to hike up this mountain right behind the cabin. I wasn't too sure about it, so I tagged along to help and I couldn't believe it, but everyone made it to the top. And the kids weren't even that tired when we got to the top. They were running around pointing at all of the deer poop.

This is the kids getting ready to hike the mountain. (Tyler, Afton, Aidan, Dax and Logan)

Look at those awesome hikers!

Later that night, Jason and I drove the 4-wheelers up to his family's old cabin. I guess his uncles built it when they were in high school. It was pretty worn down, but it looked like a sweet hangout for a bunch of high school kids. Jason use to go on camp-outs with his friends there.

What a fun and exciting day, but man were we worn out.