The Ranch

The next part of our vacation was spent playing at "the ranch". I was so excited to share it with some of my family on Thursday night and Friday. I have never been able to do that before and it made it really special. My Aunt Thora and her family came over for dinner on Thursday night and Alexis and LeAira even jumped in the pond and went down the zipline. I guess they couldn't let Daniel have all the fun. Mom, Dad, Kirsten, and Erik & Kristine all spent the night and had a great time playing Friday. I couldn't let Kristine and Candy get away with being the only tough girls that would jump in the pond so I did it too. The zipline was fun but not something I wanted to do over and over. The water was pretty dang cold. Friday night my family headed out and the ranch started filling up with the Heaton crew for the reunion on Saturday. Daniel and I actually spent most of Saturday traveling to and from Manti for my brother and sister-in-law's sealing. It was really special and really neat to be in the Manti temple again. I really do love it. We got back to the ranch in time for the dinner and the program. Nora and Kyla sang "Pioneer children walked and walked", they had been practicing it as we drove across the country where the pioneers had traveled. Sunday was a nice "chill at the ranch day", except Myka got sick so I stayed home from church with her. Pictures I wish I had taken: Well really I wish I had taken any pictures at the ranch at all but I guess I was so relaxed I just spaced it. Luckily Mormor saves the day again (I do get the credit for stealing her camera and downloading them, though!)
So this must be the picture where I am telling my big sister, "Will you please watch my girls for a few minutes while I go make a phone call with mom at the KOA?" The problem was the septic tank was backed up, Daniel had been digging all day to find the cover, and we needed to call to have a truck come and pump it or we were going to have no water in the cabin all weekend instead of just a day and a half.And this is what I find when I get back from a short trip to the KOA. A two year old totally covered in mud (well I guess it was sand) from head to toe, literally. Thanks sis for watching her, I really appreciate it (j/k it just made a great story and memory). Not too terrible of and incident if you actually have running water for a bath. So first I sprayed her off with a hose, she didn't think that was too hot. Then Daniel tried to wash some of it off in the pond, which is just as cold as the hose. When we got most of the heavy stuff off we put her in this bowl with hot water on the lawn.
She thought it was the best thing ever and was ready to spend the rest of the day soaking in the warm water and warm sun. And yes, she actually came pretty clean with that little bit of water. Myka, Kyla, Savannah, Kirsten, Nora, and Isabella (my cousin Esther's daughter). The girls found this cute water snake by the pond and were very excited to have it has their pet. They took very good care of it until the next day when some of the Heaton cousin's let it go and crushed their hearts.

My Dad, LeAira, Temara, Nora, Lise, Pierce, Neil, Isabella, Esther, Savannah, Kirsten, Myka, and Thora. My mom is taking the picture and I am not sure where Erika hid, but she was there too. Neil helping Alexis, LeAira, and Daniel have fun on the zipline while Savannah tries her hand at fishing. This picture was taken from sitting on the porch and watching everyone play, which is one of the best past times at the ranch.I think we counted this as one of Kyla's birthday celebrations. Of course at the ranch you are always short on things, but sparklers made great birthday candles.Nora being our 4th of July mascot. The kids just love the dress-ups in the basement that Aunt Carolyn got.
A whole bunch of kids playing at the beach while Kristine gets out from one of her first dips in the cold water. Let's see if I can name them all: Savannah, Miles, Sydney, Myka, Safia, Talon, & Nora.

I do wish I had gotten a picture of me on the zipline or jumping in, who knows when it will happen again. The next day when all the Heaton's got there it was actually too cold and rainy that nobody got in, not even Aaron.

At the Manti Temple after Erik and Kristine were sealed. Daniel and I are on the right. Kristine even wore her wedding dress, I thought that was amazing after two years and a kid. It was really special to be there with their little family. They even got a carriage ride around town afterwards.While we were in Manti, the kids were well taken care of at the ranch. Grandpa Heaton, Aunt Carolyn, and Amy kept good track of them and Amy took these pictures of them in the races. This is Kyla running hard. And this is Nora. It sounded like they had a great time and barely noticed we were gone. They gave all the kids a little medal at the end of the night. I should probably try and name them all. Zigzagging from front to back Nora, Isaiah, James, Angelique, Beauchene, Jaren, Jamie, Riley, Mikey, Rees, Myka, Kelsey, Talon, Kyla, Dana, Safia, Jileigh, and I can't figure out who the baby is. And just in case any of you are wondering what the cabin at the ranch looks like here is picture that Amy took. Whew! well that was a long enough post. Too bad it only took care of 4 days.