Sun Oven

Today I made banana bread in my Sun Oven. What a brilliant invention! You use the power of the Sun (plentiful here in Arizona) and you don't have to heat up your house using the inside oven. Awesome!

Spencer was able to participate in Taylor Junior High's band camp this summer. They have a fantastic camp, with professional instrumentalists from many of the orchestras and ensembles in the Valley coming to teach music and technique. This video clip is the theme song from "Indiana Jones". About halfway through you can tell Spencer is on the xylophone. He is in the Symphonic Band this school year at Taylor.

Hey Batter Batter Swing!

A few days after we returned from Utah, we spent some time cheering for Arizona. The Diamondbacks, that is. Spencer, like his Uncle Jon, has discovered the panoramic setting on our camera and all photos are courtesy of him. All the boys, especially sports-nut Jacob, were so excited for the game. Jacob and Isaac spent much of the time yelling, "Hey, batter batter, swing!". We also made the rounds to all the kid-friendly stops in the ballpark: the Playhouse, the Sandlot, and our favorite, the audio-kinetic sculpture "Based on Balls". Really, that's what it is called. I looked it up. We even got free Subway cookie coupons for supporting the team. Go D-Backs!

Pioneer Day

July 24th. I love this holiday! It's a great reason to celebrate! We went to the pancake breakfast at Bowman's in Kaysville and actually got to meet Mr. Bowman who took our picture (numerous times!).

There was so much food, more than we could eat! Pancakes, sausage, ham, eggs, hashbrowns, cantaloupe, honeydew, juice, milk. It took forever to get Isaac to finish.

Later that day we went to save seats at the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo. Oh man was it hot! We were saved by a nice family behind us who tipped their umbrella just right to give us some shade. The couple a few rows up helped, too, by spraying their water fan our way plenty of times.

Oh yes, don't forget the giant slushes that got us through the worst of it! (Sorry it's sideways. Someone forgot to turn the pictures right side up and now I don't know how to fix it.)

Jacob with cousins Grace and Liam. They are actually Mutton Bustin' experts, having entered that competition when they lived in Texas.

The rest of the Bean family. Henry, Katy, Clara and Dan. We don't get to see them nearly enough. We had so much fun with them!

(Another sideways picture. Duh.) Thanks, Grandpa Tom, for taking us to the rodeo! We loved the skydivers, the bull riding, the queen competition and the fireworks!

We Love to See the Temple

While we were in Utah we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house with Granny Paula, Grandpa Tom, and cousins Grace and Clara. It was pretty special seeing all the rooms in the temple, but the best was the Celestial Room. When we walked in, Isaac said (in a big, loud voice) "This is Boootiful!". Spencer, Noah and Jacob liked the Sealing Room and looking at the images in the mirrors. The reception tent was a big hit, too. "As many cookies as we can eat? Wow!" What a blessing to have the opportunity to take my boys to the temple. We can't wait for our temple in Gilbert!

Bear Lake Part II

We love to grill outside at Bear Lake. Papa makes awesome steaks, plus it's cooler than trying to cook in the A/C-less condo kitchen. Spencer, the pyro, keeping the flame alive.

We were each in charge of a themed country day while we were staying at the condo. We chose China and after eating awesome Chinese food we went outside to fly kites. If you look really closely at this picture, you'll see Noah is multi-talented. He is flying the kite with the handle attached to his ear!

Jeremy and his dad trying to get a kite airborne.

Meanwhile, Isaac was in heaven playing dolls (Strawberry Shortcake) with his cousins Kaitlyn and Kallie Jane.

Jacob and Uncle Brian challenged each other in a game of lawn darts.

One morning while most of us slept in, Jeremy and Noah went golfing with Brian and Cameron. What a foursome!

Go Cameron!

Go Brian!

What a stunning shot, Noah! A hole-in-one! Congratulations!

And Isaac had his turn, too, at the miniature golf course.

Bear Lake

I suppose this will have to be Part I of the Bear Lake Report. I started uploading pictures and realized how many there are! The Bear Lake Trip in July is our annual King Family Reunion. One whole week of fun and sun with family!
Jeremy bought a new remote-control boat this year. He and Jacob spent hours driving it around in the water.

Papa rented a boat for us this year. The boys were so excited!

Jacob trying his best to NOT hold on while we cruise over some big waves!

Legend tells of the legendary daredevil boat driver who is the stuff of legend.

Jeremy skiied until he was exhausted. Jacob and Isaac were so impressed with his antics!

We thought it would be a good year to start Spencer and Noah water-skiing. Yeah, they are wimps like their mom. The water is just too cold! And it was really choppy the day we went out. They gave it a great effort, though. We laughed and laughed at Spencer telling his tale of being dragged through the water when he wouldn't let go of the rope. Better luck next year!

Poor Noah. We have nicknamed him "Inspector Clouseau" as it seems like if anything bad can happen, it happens to him. Like Spencer, he couldn't get up on the skis but then one of them came off and hit him in the head. Then the boat drifted over him while he was in the water. The last straw was when Papa pushed him in the water for pushing Jacob. He, of course, hit the propeller. Poor Noah.

Since no one else had the heart to brave the water, Jeremy skiied all the way back to shore.

The next day we opted for some calmer water. We brought a new toy from home: the Hamster Wheel. The boys played with it all morning, sort of a King of the Mountain thing going on.

Isaac only spent a little bit of time in the baby pool. He thinks he's a big boy now and swims like crazy. We have to watch him very carefully!

I love this shot of Jacob flinging himself onto the Hamster Wheel. He would usually just bounce right off but kept at it!

We call Spencer the Vampire because he says he hates sunlight and the outdoors. This is him with a tan, which proves otherwise.

Jeremy's turn to make sure fearless Isaac doesn't drown on his watch.

Thumbs Up! All the cousins ADORE their Uncle Jon. They have so MUCH fun with him!

Our last day at Bear Lake. A Pinata made by Uncle Jon with enough candy inside to last the entire two-day trip home. Isaac's turn.

Jacob taking a swing.

Heavy Hitter Noah preparing for his chance at glory!

Spencer makes contact! Now the frenzy can begin!

Good Bye Bear Lake! You are so beautiful and we'll see you next year!

King Family Pictures

Sweet Kallie Jane Carlson making her way down the boardwalk to the beach at Bear Lake. What a nice Sunday afternoon walk!

Nana and Papa with their grandchildren. They are always overjoyed to spend time with them!

Isaac decided he had had enough of family pictures by the time we got to the beach. He was a little stinker but we got a few shots of him holding still.