Water and Fire!

Here are some more pictures from our trip so far in Wyoming. We're having a great time getting dirty, getting sunburned (oops), staying up way past bedtime and enjoying the outdoors!

Aunt Jana got out the Slip-n-Slide for the kids to try one afternoon.

Oooh, the water is really cold!

Hayley and Allison have lots of fun together.

There are trees to climb...

and flowers to see...

and hot dogs to roast over a bonfire...

and lots of cousins to have fun with!

Wednesday night we went over to the family campground that is back behind the house a little way in a grove of trees.

We made homemade dry ice root beer (yummy!)

and McKay got to help start the bonfire.

A few more shots from the campground...

Of course we had dutch oven chicken and potatoes (wouldn't be a Humpherys family reunion without that) and other yummy treats. It got quite windy, so we had to hurry to keep everything from blowing away. I took the girls back to grandma's house after dinner so I could get them in the tub (since it was already getting late). Everyone else stayed to enjoy the fire and set off a few fireworks as it got dark.

A River and a Pond

On Monday, we decided to float down the Snake River in a fishing boat that Brian's parents got last Christmas. Brian's brother Michael came with us as our guide. The boat is only meant to hold 5 adults, but we managed to squeeze in all of our family plus Michael.

First we had to get the boat all hooked up to the truck and ready to go:

Then we had to make a stop to get some minnows for bait:

We drove up the canyon to the spot where we wanted to launch the boat. There are some spots along the Snake River that have pretty good rapids and a lot of people do rubber raft rides down them. We went a little higher up the river where it was much calmer, although we did go through a few smaller rapids (that the kids thought were great fun).

Everybody got fit with a life jacket:

Then we were off down the river.

Brian was the one who rowed and steered the boat while Michael helped with the fishing (and directed Brian on where to steer the boat):

The girls sat up at the front of the boat:

The girls got a little whiny and tired. The complained about being thirsty (I had brought a water jug but left it in the van) and having nowhere good to sit. The girls especially complained about wanting to have a turn fishing. Hayley got plenty tired and seemed to even fall asleep at one point (although I don't think she was really asleep):

Michael helped McKay do some fishing. He knew the good spots to cast and helped McKay cast out several times. They finally hooked a trout and McKay got to reel it in.

I asked McKay to hold up the fish for a picture and he was pretty unsure about sticking his finger through it. He'd start to hold it up and the fish would wiggle and he'd drop it (he almost dropped it back in the river!). Finally we got him to hold it up long enough for a picture:

After McKay caught a fish, we let Hannah go back to the fishing spot to try fishing. Michael would cast and let Hannah reel it in if there were any bites. They did have two bites that she started to reel in, but both fish got off the hook before we could get them in the boat (one looked pretty big and got right up to the boat before it got away).

We got out of the boat a little earlier than we planned because the trip had taken quite a while (and Brian's sister was waiting for the next ride down). The kids had to wade across some rocks to get over to the shore (and of course they all got their shoes wet).

Then McKay had to clean his fish, which he wasn't so sure about. Michael got him to slice it open, but he wouldn't pull the guts out. Hannah and Courtney were happy to volunteer and step in to finish the job.

Grandma cooked up the fish for dinner and McKay and Hannah ate it up (and asked if there was any more). We were quite surprised that they liked it so well considering how picky they can be with their food.

Later that day, after we got home, we went over to the little pond here on the farm so that the girls could have a chance to hold the fishing pole and try fishing. The pond has been stocked with fish, but they seem to have plenty to eat, so they don't go after bait very readily.

There is a little canoe over at the pond that McKay, Hannah and Courtney each got a ride in with their cousin Maison (who lives here).

Michael helped the kids each get a turn holding the fishing pole (we didn't catch anything).

It's a beautiful spot here in the mountains!

Golden Anniversary

Saturday evening we had the big 50th anniversary celebration of Brian's parents. All of Brian's siblings and spouses were there, as well as most of the grandchildren (I think there were 3 grandchildren not there). We had a nice dinner for the family first at the church, then there was an Open House that extended family and friends were invited to.




During the dinner, we presented Brian's parents with the memory quilt and memory book. Each couple and each grandchild picked a quilt square with something that represented a memory they had of Brian's parents or Star Valley. In the book (which was the project I was in charge of), we had a picture of the quilt square by a picture of the person it went with, along with their memories. It all turned out really nice.




Here is a close up picture of the quilt. Brian's (and my) square is the tractor, McKay's is the tent (bottom edge), Hannah's is the star (in the lower left corner), Courtney's is the pink flower (left edge) and Hayley's is the baby chick (also left edge).

The kids had fun playing with their cousins. Here is Hayley with her cousins Allison (Hayley is just a few months older):

It was a nice evening!

Fun on the Farm

The kids have had a lot of fun so far here at Grandpa & Grandma's farm in Wyoming. They've spent lots of time outside exploring, getting very dirty and having lots of fun. Here is a pictorial review of some of the things they've done so far (sorry it's a long post!).

Exploring the farm...

Checking out all the farm equipment (Grandpa was bringing in the hay bales and the kids found the combine out in the shed)...

Seeing the farm animals...

Fun 4-wheeler rides...

Enjoying the cool outdoors and visiting with all the family...

Sleeping out under the stars (Brian & McKay slept on the mattress)...

Riding bicycles and tricycles...

Playing in the hammock...

Jumping on the trampoline...

Swinging on the tree rope swing...

Driving motorcycles (McKay got to try driving his cousin's small motorbike)...

Finding the face on the big willow tree...

Making rock families...

Shooting rocks with wrist rockets at a cardboard box...

Making "nature birthday cakes" with grass, seeds and other things...

Running through the sprinklers with your clothes on...

Seeing what chickens can do to a watermelon (they actually pecked two holes -- this shows one hole after it had been cut)...

Sidewalk chalk on the front porch...

And lots more!