A Trip to the Ranch

This last week was a fun one.  The first part of the week was spent playing and just enjoying summer.  Monday I worked on a little cake for my neighbour to use on a display table at her parents 50th wedding anniversary.  They didn't have any pictures of the cake and her mom couldn't remember anything about it so I could do whatever I wanted.  She just wanted something tiny, so I did a 4 inch round and a 6 inch round.  I just did butter cream...since they wouldn't have used fondant.   I also added some scallops and roses because I thought it would fit the time period.  In the afternoon we played outside.

Tuesday we went on a walk to the horses.  Jared and Lauren rode their bikes.  On our way we ran into some friends who were also on a walk and they decided to go with us.  It was a long hot walk but fun.  We hurried to the store in the afternoon and made it home just in time to celebrate a little girl's birthday with cupcakes (there are a ton of July birthdays around here ).  Alan has been staying later trying to get more done.  We have enjoyed watching the Olympics in the evenings.

Wednesday was just about the same.  We walked to the horses again, but this time no friends came..and we were a lot faster.  We played outside and cleaned up a little and got ready for going out to the ranch. Wednesday night Alan was putting some things in the car and got stung by a bee on his thumb.  His thumb swelled up and is just now back to normal after a few days...almost.

Connor fell asleep while playing

Just hanging out

Thursday we loaded the car and got the rest of our things ready for camping at the ranch.  Wymount had a make your own ice cream in a bag activity we did in the morning too.  When we were all ready we drove out to the ranch.  We had foil dinners that night.   Our first night there was pretty cold and everyone woke up cold at some point in the night...even with extra blankets.  Mostly they just had a hard time staying in their sleeping bags and keeping their blankets on. (The second night was much better).



Friday we went to Dinosaur National Park.  We had a fun time seeing the wall of bones and hiking around the park.  We also saw a few petroglyphs and Josie's cabin.  When we got back to the ranch we had a fun time swinging and playing with cousins.  We had more foil dinners and got dogs and smores.  It was Grandpa Atherton's birthday so there was also cake and ice cream.  We listened to Alan's cousin Jordan play guitar and sing for awhile and then they played a dancing game on the wii for a short time, but it was getting late and time for bed.

Sleeping

Part of the Wall of Bones that you can touch

While working on junior ranger booklets

The one shady place on the whole hike

Connor loving his plain snow cone

Hey that's mine (he did get it back...it was just dripping on my leg)

sand castle building with cousins

Lauren dancing

Saturday we spent all day playing, swimming in the pond, eating good food, hunting geodes, and just having fun.  Alan's back was bothering him on Friday, but was feeling a little better on Saturday.  We had to drive home last night after dinner...and everyone was pretty sad to have to leave.

Bradley giving Connor a ride.  He walked around and said Hey look and my baby brother.  Connor was loving it too...and he didn't poke him in the eye the whole time.

pirate treasure hunt

hunting for geodes 

Alan moved a piece of wood and found this scorpion

Swimming at the bass pond

fishing

Snow Cones!!!

Today we started learning Build An Ark in primary.  Our family really loves this song.  It is from the September 2010 Friend.  We are all pretty tired from playing so hard and luckily we all were able to take good naps today...all at the same time.  After dinner we went on a walk and when we got home Jared Lauren and Bradley made some necklaces/ collars for their newest beanie babies.  It was a great week and we are looking forward to another one.

Surfing

riding on a boat