A Ride of a Lifetime!

For Terry's Birthday Celebration this year, we went for a hot air balloon ride in Eden, Utah. It was soooo much work to get the balloon off the ground but once we were up in the air.........WOW! The scenery was breathtaking and the quiet--UNBELIEVEABLE! There were a total of 12 balloons that day. Each balloon was colorful and  were different sizes.  We were lucky enough to fly in a basket with only the two of us and our pilot, Mac. Other balloons held as many as 8 people. The ride lasted for a little over an hour and we were definetely not ready for it to end. We landed in a field and had to lift the basket over a farmer's gate and then fold the balloon back up and put it and the basket into the trailer that carried it on Mac's truck. We learned alot that day about hot air balloons and flying. We know that we would like to do it again someday. After the balloon gear was packed away in the trailer, we all headed back to the launch site for a brunch and an initiation. There were 4 of us first time flyers to be initiated that day. When you fly, you become a member of the "aeronaut" family of flyers. The initiation is fun, lengthy, and private--uh, secret to the point that they ban you from ever flying again if you reveal the details to a non-flying areonaut!!  Afterwards, we enjoyed a beautiful and relaxing brunch. These aeronauts really know how to put out a food spread! There was BBQ pork loin, hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs, brats, spicy mexican fajitas, chips galore, fresh fruit, cake, salads of every kind imagineable, and on and on and on.......it was good stuff. These people really enjoy spending the mornings together and enjoy whooping it up when they are done with their ballooning activities! They are like a ward family. We had to be to the launch site (a field owned by Wolf Creek Resort) at 6:30 AM and we didn't leave the brunch area until 11:30!  And we were some of the first to go......but I had to pee and there were no facilities so we went on.  They were a great bunch of people that were excited to have a few newbies join them.  It definetely was an experience of a lifetime. And we are already talking about doing it again in the wintertime when the scenery would be different and the balloon could stay in the air longer. All in all, a GREAT way to celebrate a birthday. It comes highly recommended -- by us -- 2 of the newest aeronauts around!

More of Grandpa Dale's Junk

Some recent (and forgotten about!) photos of the junk tractor on the Ioka property......more pics of other junky machinery and outbuildings to follow at a later date. Don't want to forget this stuff--truly!

My New Hideout

Check out my new covered patio that Dad made for me! Isn't it fabulous?  He is such a handy guy to have around.  It is a cool place to sit in the early mornings and in the evening.  I have wanted to cover the patio for several years now but we finally got around to it this summer. It seriously is 20 + degrees cooler under that thing!  I came up with the plan and Dad executed it!  Way to go, hon! You da man!!

Eating at Paula's

While I was in Georgia last month, Amber and I snuck away and went out on the town.  She made reservations at Lady & Sons, Paula Deen's restaurant.  It was sooooo yummy! It is definetely a must do place if you're ever in Savannah.  Thanks Amber for a really fun night.  I ordered the bacon wrapped shrimp with jasmine rice and asparagus.  YUMMO!! Don't show my Weight Watchers Consultant this picture--she would have my hide for my dinner choice!!

Pond Flowers

Here are a few pics of my beautiful pond flowers this year. Have I ever told you kids how much I really enjoy that wonderful Mother's Day gift from ohhhh sooooo long ago? Well, I really do! I look at it and tend it EVERY day which makes me think of all you kids since you are all the ones that gave it to me! Anyway, the flowers have been plentiful and wonderful this year. I enjoy them each and every day. Thanks for a great gift that has kept on giving.......

Who IS This Woman & WHAT Is She Doing?

Grandma Rae thinks that jumping on a trampoline at her age (76) is a good thing and good exercise! Craaazzzyy! She has to practically beat the kids off it first tho! Thought you might enjoy seeing what one of your grandmothers has been up to......

Man's Work

Found these pictures on my camera and couldn't help but post them.  They are from when Easton was visiting and we had just come back from camping and atving. To refresh your memory, it rained ALOT while Easton was here so the atvs were very muddy.  He insisted on cleaning the little atv on his own. He's such a good helper when it comes to the dirty jobs!! Love you E, miss you tons, Grandpa needs your help getting his jobs done so hurry back!