Grand Junction-

We've been wanting to visit the Ricks family for so long. Finally we did it! A few things first: The drive along I-70 to Colorado is one of the prettiest drives ever! There really is a stretch of road (120 miles) where there are ZERO services. It's a little nerve wracking to drive down the windy mountain roads late at night when cell coverage is spotty too. Finally, the Grand Junction Railroad station is not in Grand Junction Colorado like we thought. We'll have to go to Boston. One thing Grand Junction does have is a really great main street. There are lots of fun statues all along the street like this frog prince. 

 There were even a few cool music stores that these older guys checked out while we took the youngers to the candy store. 

 More statues:

 By the end of our little walking tour, the kids were just stopping to pose by every statue even when we didn't ask them too. 

 There is also a fun Lego outlet store. 

 We took a drive along the Colorado Monument. It was spectacular. 

 This is echo canyon. It works!

 Kids in a cave. 

 Sister Selfie.

 We packed a picnic lunch but missed all the picnic spots so we just pulled off the road. 

 When we were deciding whether or not to do the drive, we read a few reviews. One comment extensively details how scary the road was to drive on. We laughed at it, but she wasn't too far off base. I drove and didn't get to see much scenery because I didn't want to drive off a cliff. 

 This trampoline place, called the Silo, was actually in an old grain silo. It was cool, but the downside was that is really really smelled like an old silo. 

 None of us knew about Zack's secret dodge ball skills. He won several matches, even against the cheater. 

Summer Fun Begins

It gets brutally hot here!

The Lifetime pool is one of our favorite places to cool off. The kids swim...

...and I kick back and watch (or read or nap). 

We wouldn't miss the opening week of the new Hershey World store.  

 It didn't disappoint, they gave out free Hershey's kisses and had every kind of Hershey product you could ever want...even the non chocolate-y ones (Jolly Ranchers, Twizzlers). 

This Statue of Liberty is all chocolate. Yum! 

While we were at the New York New York casino, Matt was actually in New York. 

June- Zack Loves School

Zack was asked by his teacher to make signs for some of the books in the classroom. He did lots of illustrations for various series books. I didn't get pictures of all of them, but his was the last one he drew. 

 He had a great 4th grade year with Mrs. Francis for a teacher. She was lots of fun and helped Zack come out of his shell a little bit.  

 Zack received an award for straight A honor roll. I hope he has a good year again next year. It's fun to have a kid who actually wants to go to school.l

May--Just a Little More to Say

I asked Matt where our seats are for the Kings of Leon concert and he sent me this. 

Zack's field day flag design was chosen for his class. The theme was space and his teacher loves owls. On a related note, field day was postponed this year because of a school lock down. 

 I unlocked the door to find the key the morning after Noah let himself in after the midnight viewing of The Amazing Spiderman 2.  

 This was determined not to be candy. Dark chocolate and fruit is totally legit. 

  A new Deseret Book opened and I bought this. It was delicious. 

 This is a walk able distance from our house. Ben couldn't be more excited. He loves a foot long ham and cheese on white bread with absolutely nothing else on it. 

 Another choir concert that was very impressive. Also impressive- Ben's dance moves. 

The Francis Family Invades San Luis Obispo

This peaceful location was the site of the Homer and Marie Francis family reunion. All surviving children and most of their kids and grand kids were there. 

There were bouncy things

 

 hilltop swings

and songs to sing. 

 The kids went on a treasure hunt.

  And the non-germaphobes participated in a cow pie toss. 

 It was a great day filled with lots of fun with a great family. The next morning we all met for breakfast and then I took these posers across the street to the beach.  

There is nothing better than being with family.

Car Show

This seemed like a good idea: 

 We saw some cool cars. 

 This could be a picture with Batman but he was too shy so we had to get this off to the side shot of the bat-mobile. At least I think that's the bat-mobile. 

 There were plenty of Bumble Bees and Delorians and most importantly, 

 CORVETTES!

Reward

Our family completed reading the Book of Mormon so for a reward we went downtown to ride the High Roller. But first, we stopped to watch a street skateboarding contest. 

 Then we went over to Container Park. Matt has been trying to get me to go but I've been reluctant. It sounded lame, but it is not. This praying mantis breathes fire and scares the crap out of anyone nearby. Good times. 

 We have been to the LINQ multiple times and finally pulled the trigger on riding the high roller. We had a pretty big group with us but they wouldn't let us ride in our own pod. I felt bad for the others with us because we were a little unruly.  When we reached the highest point (535 ft) these crazies dropped and did push ups. 535 of them. Ha, maybe 5. 35 of them. 

 Ben had a Titanic moment. 

 I don't love heights so I was a little nervous about being in the World's Largest Ferris Wheel. But it moves slowly and is so huge that it was kind of relaxing and definitely fun to look out over the strip at night.