The Heber Creeper

Part of our family reunion was to ride the Heber Creeper. We stayed in Park City and drove down to Heber to get on the train. It was a lot of fun. They had a snack car, so the kids really enjoyed walking to that car and buying some snacks while we rode. Rhett enjoyed the swaying motion enough, he fell asleep on the way back. But, so did some of my nieces and nephews. Rayce couldn't wait to go to the snack car. Finally about 10 minutes into the ride, I gave in. When we got there, there was a little bird stuck in the car. It was flying all over the place trying to get out. Everyone was ducking and swaying (from the train), trying to dodge it. I bet we looked ridiculous. There was one lady I thought was going to cry. She kept saying, "Poor little bird, I feel so bad for it. It just wants to be free. Can't someone help it?" (And other similar things) So help arrive. 2 train conductors were called in for the emergency. The had to be at least 70 years old. They pulled on there gloves and then we got the entertainment of watching them try and catch this bird. Needless to say, the bird finally found there was an opening in the side of the car and flew away. Thank goodness for both our conductors and that lady. I didn't want them to injure them selves and I didn't want her to break down into complete hysterics!!!

Pictures coming soon

Dinosaur Museum

So, as I said before...For part of our vacation we went to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. We have been before when our kids were younger. So, we wanted our little boys to get to see to displays now that they are bigger.This is Rhett and Morgan. They have a science room when you first enter the museum. They are playing with a gravity experiment.

Rayce is standing in front of a dinosaur leg.
This is Wade in front of the same leg. The window behind him has archaeologists working behind it. You can stop and watch them work for a while if you want.
Morgan and Rayce in front of some smaller dinosaurs. Rayce always wants his picture taken and Morgan is more than willing to join him.

Rhett reading about this dinosaur.
Here is Rayce sitting on Morgan's shoulders under the skeleton of a Brachiosaurus dinosaur. I can't believe how huge this animal was. (by the way Morgan wants me to state that this is good use of her cheerleading skills, since her and Rayce are doing a shoulder sit.)
Same skeleton. I thought it was interesting that the 2 of them on come up to the knee joint!
Wade and his mad modeling skills.
Now everyone was pretty good sports about me taking their pictures. Except Tanner. I was sneaking around the museum the whole time trying to get pictures of him. Finally half way through he gave up and let me take some. You would be amazed at all the failed attempts I had to delete!
Here is a display of the famous T-rex dinosaurs. There are 2 of them fighting over another dinosaur (dinner) that one of them has trapped under his foot.
There is a room that we took a break at. Wade and Rayce put on aprons and dove right in. It teaches about erosion. There is sand in there and little plastic dinosaurs, trees and other plants. They can build little island and watch what the water in there does to them.
Wade making a sand dam. Rayce pushing water towards it to wreck it. Oh, the memories...
Wade built this nice little dinosaur haven.
Morgan decided that there needed to be some pictures of me. Rayce wanted to be in them, too.
I have no idea what kind of dinosaur this is. It looks like a mini T-Rex.
I thought this massive sea turtle hanging from the ceiling was cool. Note: another sneak attempt to get Tanner in a picture.)
He gave in...Tanner and something. Nice pose.
What, there is something behind us? Oh no! We are going to die!!! Wade and Morgan loved this shark
The world is so heavy...
I agree...
Awe, much better if you position your body under it. Now I can hold it up. End of the museum
But wait, they were having pirate day. And Rayce would not let us leave until he made a pirate hat. So, we all stood in the lobby and waited for him. The only way Rhett and Tanner survived, was the promise to visit Cabelas down the road.

Nice hat Mattey!!! Don't let that big ol' hat get the best of ya little man. We had fun. Now, time for Cabelas and Park City...

Summer Vacation

For the Coates Family Reunion, I was in charge of it this year. I decided that I really wanted to take my kids on the Heber Creeper Train. My siblings said they thought that sounded fun so, the planning began. The main part of the reunion was in Park City. And then we went to Heber to the train. But, Rhett and I decided to have this double as our summer vacation. So, we took our kids to Seven Peaks on Thursday evening. Lots of fun!! We had a blast. Then the next day we went to Thanksgiving Point to the Dinosaur Museum. On the last day we road the train. It was fun and was a really pretty area. On Sunday we slept in and came home!!

Wade is an All-Star!!!

Well, Wade played baseball all spring and did well enough to make the all-star team! We were so proud... So, the all-star tournament was in Parowan. We took our camp trailer up and camped in the mountains just outside of town between games. He is quiet the little hitter. Which is good because he runs a little slow. (It would help if he stretched out his legs when he runs. But, no! In his mind you go faster the more steps you take, even if they are only inches apart. LOL!! But, he'll figure that out)

Wade is ready to slug it out!!! His team ended up taking 2nd. Which I think is totally awesome!

He did get a couple really nice hits. And one was a homerun!!!
Wade is a great outfielder because he can throw the ball really far!

Look at that determination...

Nice warm-up swing.

Spencer Sanderson was one of his coaches. That's him by Wade. Apparently this hit only got us on first, but hey, we can score from here!
SCORE!!! Homerun, made it all the way around. Nice Job buddy!

Kindergarten Graduation

Well, Rayce is graduating from kindergarten. It is bitter sweet. I am gald to be done with the half a day stuff, but he is my youngest and it is a little bit sad to see him grow up.

Rayce and some of his classmates singing,"But, I Can't Spell Hippopotamus." Hailey Drake is Rayces girlfriend. (atleast that's what he tells us) She is the little girl holding the pot sign.
He has Grandpa Coates tongue. Anytime he is really concentrating, out comes the tongue, just like his grandpa.
Some more singing.

I just like this picture. Nothing special going on. Just my boy I think is cute!
These next two pictures are when the kids are singing,'Tootie-Tauttie" and doing the dance that goes with it.


Great Job Bud!! We love you! Wish you could stay 6 forever...
Rayce, his scrapbook and Mrs. Snow. Well first grade here we come...