Summer 2014

Summer is in full force here at our house!  It seems like we haven't really slowed down since school got out.  At the end of May, Denise went to Kansas City to be with her family for her brother in law's funeral.  It was under sad circumstances, but it was a great trip to be with family.  She drove with her parents and enjoyed spending that one on one time with them, listening to their music and driving the speed limit :-)  The kids and Greg finished up the school year on their own and managed just fine!

 back row Chris, Brandon, Grandpa, Brayton, Chad front row Denise, Diana, Debbi, Grandma

Trappers Baseball started right away with a tournament to Boise, however, Tanner chose to attend the Pre MTC Aaronic Priesthood Camp at USU with the Stake so he did not go.  There are two AA Blacksmith Fork Trappers teams this year.  Tanner is on the Blue team and Kaden is the manager for the Red team.  He loves to be able to participate and be with his buddies.

Kaden got to travel to Seattle with his best buddy-Kaden Bowler and his dad and brother.  They left from Boise so Greg drove him up to meet them on June 8.  They then left from there and headed to Seattle to watch a couple Yankees vs. Mariners games.  They had a great time.  They toured the stadium, went on a ferris wheel, went up in the Space Needle and toured around the city.  He had a great time.

June 12-16, Greg and Tanner flew to St. Louis to watch the Cardinals play the Nationals.  We have decided to take the boys to the stadium of their choice when they graduate.  Tanner hasn't graduated, but we couldn't wait until next year when Zach will return from his mission and Tanner will leave on his.  So, they went this year and had a great time.  They toured the stadium and spent as much time there as they could.  Kaden returned from his trip on the 13th so Brynn and Denise only had a small window of "girl time"!  After they dropped Greg and Tanner off at the airport, they went to Target and then In and Out Burger--and stopped by to visit Grandma and Grandpa Butler on the way home.

Tanner and Greg in the dug out

Greg and Tanner

Greg and Zach at Turner Field, Tanner and Greg at Busch Stadium

On June 17-20, Denise and Brynn went to Girl's Camp!  They went to Beaver Mountain up Logan Canyon.  Camp was so much fun---even in the rain, cold and snowy weather!  The girls were troopers and everyone got along and didn't complain, it was crazy!  They played a Fear Factor game (Denise won!), went hiking, went snipe hunting, and went to Bear Lake.  They enjoyed camp fires, testimony meeting, good food and spending time with fun girls and leaders.  Brynn was so happy she could go to camp a little before she turns 12 (they let the two girls turning 12 in the summer go to camp).

Brynn headed off to Girl's Camp

It's nice to slow down a little, but now we are going to baseball games and preparing for our tournament trip to Southern California again later in July.  Summer goes by way too fast!  We are trying to enjoy each day and do some fun things.  The kids have a few things on their "bucket lists" so we need to try to cross things off before it's all over!

Zach hits his year mark next week--holy cow!  It's going by so fast but we are all loving every minute of it.  We miss him like crazy, but are so happy he is happy and enjoying the work he is doing.  Missions are awesome!

Talking to Zach on the phone on Mother's Day