We spent our 4th of July at my parent's property in Indian Canyon. Mike and I got in a lot of trouble for not being home on the 4th. It so happens that the 4th of July is all of my kids' favorite holiday, and they just couldn't believe we weren't going to do the usual bbq, fireworks and homemade ice cream. Even Taylor got mad and she wasn't going to be home, either since she was at scout camp being a leader on the rope course.
A lot of dead trees up at the property. Not a good thing, in fact we had to cut 4 down before we left so they didn't fall on the trailer, but at the same time I have a fondness for the beauty of dead trees...
...I had to take a picture of this. I was backing my brother Shaun's car up - I don't even remember why - and ran into this brick wall. Can you see the tire tracks in the grass? He didn't kill me!! "Didn't you realize you were going up hill?" That's all he said. And no. I didn't realize I was going up hill.
We have a little 'shooting range' at the property. It's fun for the kids to shoot in a safe environment. See all the holes on the right hand side? Yup. They're mine! (I think.)
Shaun, Suzee and Caden made this really cool fort...
...and Caden set this trap to see if he could catch anything...
...notice the trap is sprung, but the critter outsmarted the trap and got the food, but got away......I got to practice with my camera on a lot of beautiful things while we were there...
...and even though we missed the fireworks at home, we were blessed with this beautiful sunset one night. Who needs man-made fireworks when God is able to do it au natural?!?
...and then of course we got to spend time with family. My favorite part!!
...ok, so this bear isn't family. But we're proud of our heritage and family name!!
...I didn't know Mo could do magic! That picture turned out cool. I took it through the campfire.
Alex thought it ws great to cook hot dogs over the fire and be dirty most of the time. What boy wouldn't? What a goober! Check out this cheesy grin!
Josh and Mike decided to sleep outside. They slept good, but at one point Josh yelled, "A little help here!" because he was falling out of the hammock. He crashed on his bike a few weeks back and didn't have as much mobility in his arm and leg to upright himself.
...here's Mo peeking out at them in the morning...
...Good Morning, Sunshine!
Yes, it was the 4th of July, but the weather was freezing and wet! Notice we are all bundled up, and mostly indoors.
...even Ellie had to be indoors. AND Shaun wouldn't share...
...when it started to warm up we couldn't get enough of the outdoors...
...in June we had a Maughan family reunion. We went to Yellowstone and enjoyed a lot of fun there. Especially family!...
...my favorite person in the whole world! And I got to spend a week with him!!
...it was fun to see the babies (3 out of 4 of them. Mo and her parents couldn't come) interact with everyone, and each other.
...Part of the fun of the trip was all the men in the family that has motorcycles brought them and drove through the park on them. And then one day they gave everyone who wanted one a ride. Don't they look cool?!? We tried to come up with a 'gang' name for them - my vote is still The Maughan-sters.
I even got a ride with Zack-a-roni!
O's first time on the bike. She loved it until she realized she was hungry. When this girl is hungry, she is starving NOW!
We saw a lot of buffalo in the park. Yes, that's our bikers with the buffalo crossing 10 feet in front of them!
...these are the only bears we saw. We weren't even scared!!
...and then there's always the random pig.
...And OH! such beauty everywhere!!
...and whenever you get this big of a group together, there's bound to be some silliness...
...I think Jace should use this for his Facebook pic...
...and Reggie DEFINITELY should use this one...
...looks like trouble to me!!!
...no, he wasn't really drinking this! The lid was on. But it was a cute pic.
When I went on my bike ride, I asked Colin to hold my camera. This is what I get for trusting him. A bunch of skanky pics!!
Yes. His head was stuck! Mike and I just laughed as he got himself out while Grandma freaked out. I guess that's what Grandmas do!
...what the 'Colin Clown' holding the 'Strong Man..'.
While packing up to leave, Alex went Snipe hunting. Yes, he is walking, and no he shouldn't have been. But he had been cooped up all week in the building or in his chair, and it had been 6 1/2 weeks! I gave in! And for all you Snipe Activists out there - there were no Snipe injured or killed during this escapade. The snipe were too elusive for my gimpy guy.
...a new cheesy grin she started doing while on the trip.
We also got to do a few other things. We went waterskiing a couple times. I guess we didn't do a good enough job with the sunscreen on Mo this time.
We love being outside!!
And when it was too hot and we had to stay in, we took all the couch cushions off and made a fort (out of picture range) and a HUGE mess!! But what fun!
Alex got his cast off and a new brace to wear.
...when TJ got home from scout camp we took her, Alex and the little boy I babysit, with his brother and went bowling. This pic is of TJ telling me not to take a pic. HAHA! Too bad!
...Oakland got the best score... for hair anyway.
Cute little boy I babysit, Brendon.
And Brendon's brother.
And, of course, Big Al.
And then there's Mallory, my niece that comes once in a while to play. Good times!
Summer was awesome. Mike and i celebrated our 26th anniversary, Alex got out of his cast, Mac celebrated his 2nd birthday, and Mo celebrated her 1st. A lot of goings on this summer - but glad to be back in a schedule and enjoy some cooler days!
...and even though we missed the fireworks at home, we were blessed with this beautiful sunset one night. Who needs man-made fireworks when God is able to do it au natural?!?
...and then of course we got to spend time with family. My favorite part!!
...ok, so this bear isn't family. But we're proud of our heritage and family name!!
...I didn't know Mo could do magic! That picture turned out cool. I took it through the campfire.Alex thought it ws great to cook hot dogs over the fire and be dirty most of the time. What boy wouldn't? What a goober! Check out this cheesy grin!
Josh and Mike decided to sleep outside. They slept good, but at one point Josh yelled, "A little help here!" because he was falling out of the hammock. He crashed on his bike a few weeks back and didn't have as much mobility in his arm and leg to upright himself.
...here's Mo peeking out at them in the morning...
...Good Morning, Sunshine!
Yes, it was the 4th of July, but the weather was freezing and wet! Notice we are all bundled up, and mostly indoors.
...even Ellie had to be indoors. AND Shaun wouldn't share...
...when it started to warm up we couldn't get enough of the outdoors...
...in June we had a Maughan family reunion. We went to Yellowstone and enjoyed a lot of fun there. Especially family!...
...my favorite person in the whole world! And I got to spend a week with him!!
...it was fun to see the babies (3 out of 4 of them. Mo and her parents couldn't come) interact with everyone, and each other.
...Part of the fun of the trip was all the men in the family that has motorcycles brought them and drove through the park on them. And then one day they gave everyone who wanted one a ride. Don't they look cool?!? We tried to come up with a 'gang' name for them - my vote is still The Maughan-sters.
...we managed to even get Alex on the bike with his body cast. Doesn't look too comfortable, does it?
I even got a ride with Zack-a-roni!
O's first time on the bike. She loved it until she realized she was hungry. When this girl is hungry, she is starving NOW!
We saw a lot of buffalo in the park. Yes, that's our bikers with the buffalo crossing 10 feet in front of them!
...these are the only bears we saw. We weren't even scared!!
...and then there's always the random pig.
...And OH! such beauty everywhere!!
...and whenever you get this big of a group together, there's bound to be some silliness...
...I think Jace should use this for his Facebook pic...
...and Reggie DEFINITELY should use this one...
...looks like trouble to me!!!
...no, he wasn't really drinking this! The lid was on. But it was a cute pic.
When I went on my bike ride, I asked Colin to hold my camera. This is what I get for trusting him. A bunch of skanky pics!!
Yes. His head was stuck! Mike and I just laughed as he got himself out while Grandma freaked out. I guess that's what Grandmas do!
...what the 'Colin Clown' holding the 'Strong Man..'.
While packing up to leave, Alex went Snipe hunting. Yes, he is walking, and no he shouldn't have been. But he had been cooped up all week in the building or in his chair, and it had been 6 1/2 weeks! I gave in! And for all you Snipe Activists out there - there were no Snipe injured or killed during this escapade. The snipe were too elusive for my gimpy guy.
...a new cheesy grin she started doing while on the trip.
We also got to do a few other things. We went waterskiing a couple times. I guess we didn't do a good enough job with the sunscreen on Mo this time.
We love being outside!!
And when it was too hot and we had to stay in, we took all the couch cushions off and made a fort (out of picture range) and a HUGE mess!! But what fun!
Alex got his cast off and a new brace to wear.
...when TJ got home from scout camp we took her, Alex and the little boy I babysit, with his brother and went bowling. This pic is of TJ telling me not to take a pic. HAHA! Too bad!
...Oakland got the best score... for hair anyway.
Cute little boy I babysit, Brendon.
And Brendon's brother.
And, of course, Big Al.
And then there's Mallory, my niece that comes once in a while to play. Good times!
Summer was awesome. Mike and i celebrated our 26th anniversary, Alex got out of his cast, Mac celebrated his 2nd birthday, and Mo celebrated her 1st. A lot of goings on this summer - but glad to be back in a schedule and enjoy some cooler days! 
