(solstitial)

I have been on quite the hiatus these days.  I think July is always the busiest month of our lives!  Family vacations, swimming, hiking, playing at the park, riding bikes, we are all over the place!

This year, as in most, our Hancock family vacation led us to Pine View Reservoir.  Sunday to Sunday.  It was quite the adventure.  We rented a big house for all 19 of us to fit in!  There was a hot tub, a birds nest, waterfalls, tennis courts, 9 kids screaming, 10 adults playing Jeopardy on the Wii, snow cones, ice cream, rainfall, french braids, weird stubby stella talent night, and we found out that Hilary is pregnant with her fourth!   We played at the lake for 4 days, bowled one night, went to the Air Force museum and made rockets and sat in the panel control of the planes.  No one was seriously injured, although, I'm pretty sure most of us on the wake could have been the way Mark drives the boat.    Lucas took his first steps and got his first molar.  Payton knee boarded and drove the wave runner at full speed.  That girl has no fear.  Everyone had a blast!  Mark said, "Should I book it next year?"  It was a unanimous yes!

Catching some serious rays

Learning how to walk in the sand?

I think Payton developed a mermaid fin on this trip

First time on the knee-board

Lucas LOVED driving the wave runners (or was that Payton?)

Aerospace Museum

Cute Easton

This was like heaven for Lucas.  When we tried to take him out,  he threw  a ginormous tantrum!

L to R:  Olivia, Elliott, Sadie, Payton, Easton and Savannah making rockets

Future Pilot

Launching Rockets!

J'ADORE!!!

The rains were coming, the boat was rocking, which (of course) put Lucas to sleep in Payton's arms.

Love my family :)

Cooper and Whitney...super sweet mother/son photo

The next week was a 4 day weekend so we hit up the pool.  It was overcast and kind of chilly, so it wasn't the most awesome experience.  We headed up Alpine Loop to find ourselves in Sundance where we took the Ski Lift round trip.  It was beautiful to be up in the fresh air.

We decided to take advantage of the 3 day canyon pass and got tickets to Timpanogos Cave.  I remember going there all the time when I was little, but what I don't remember is how steep the hike is!  But, we made it, and made it through the cave where we heard a bat.  I told Payton it was Batman, she just looked at me like I was crazy.

The next morning we went back to the canyon and took the Cascade Springs trail.  There were all sorts of aquatic life, or so the plaques say....we didn't see any, but we enjoyed the scenery.  On the way home we stopped in Heber to eat the best berry shakes of our lives!

Sundance 

On the way up to Timp

This was not our Luke Skywalker look-alike tour guide, but he was taking pictures with everyone, so why not?

She looks rather frightened 

A random Cascade Springs pic

This week however, Lucas and I have both picked up a nasty little bug that has left us rather ill.  We have been lazy, watching the Olympics.  USA!!!  By the beginning of next week, the fun in the sun shall begin again!