Fridays = Dierke's Lake

I guess we have done more things this summer than I thought. Looking back through the pictures we have been enjoying the outdoors a lot this summer! That's why I haven't had time to blog! Another outdoors thing we have been doing is going to Dierke's Lake every Friday. It's been great to lay out and work on my tan ;), play in the sand with the kids building sand castles, chat with other moms who come as all our kids play in the sand and water.

Cousin Colton was visiting us this week.

What a great smile Colton!

Canoeing Snake River and Under Perrine Bridge

For a Relief Society Activity we canoed down the Snake River. I haven't been canoeing in years and it was so much fun. We were terrible at it too. We (Carolyn, Crystal and I) were the first to leave and the last to get to the other side. We were so bad coming back that they eventually had to tow us back. It was quite embarrassing. We later learned that the way our canoe was set up was wrong. That all the weight was in the front of the canoe rather than the back, therefore making us zig-zag all the way down, instead of going straight. 

Carolyn

Crystal

Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls

Going for a dip

Beautiful sunset. This was right before we had to be towed back by the boat.

Thanks girls for the memories and fun time! 

We laughed so hard my stomach was sore then next day!

River Rafting!

We went rafting down Hanger man river with 4 other families in our ward on July 4th. It was a perfect day to go rafting. We shared a raft with the Memmott family and their kids. 

Madisen was a little scared overall and was hesitant about it. Avery LOVED it and yelled for more. And Emily had moments of complete terror in her eyes or extreme excitement and it would change back and forth at any given moment. She would make a nervous giggle cry with each rapid we would hit that sent water flying high over our heads. At one point I almost fell out! What a rush!

Rafting the smooth parts of the river...

Smile.

Avery wanted to be front and center.

I loved it.  

Madisen getting a little braver...

 Emily paddling with Dad.

Avery Paddling with me.

Afterwards we stopped at a famous local icecream shop and partook of the most delicious icecream. It was a great way to spend the 4th of July. 

Murtaugh 5K Mud Run

Our good friend, Dan Simon flew across the country to be with us to run through the mud on July 21st. It was THAT important. We wanted to make a statement so we all went out to find costumes. Our costumes however, just didn't measure up to Dan's cow outfit...

 Ryan in his neon attire.

This picture is really blurry, but I like it, as it shows how much bigger my muscles are compared to Dan's. (You really need to work on that, Dan.)

Dan's utters were discussing. Ew. 

Me and my better half. What a stud.

Running hard. 

Ryan and Dan wrestling. What you don't see is me, pushing Dan off. 

And the Hodges dominate, again...  Muhahaha!

 Ryan sliding down after Dan.

The mud was so thick in spots I got stuck a few times and had to literally roll down the mud hills to get out.

 Mud swamp

Dan trying to push my face in the mud.

Ryan coming to my rescue!

We finished with a time of 54 minutes and 55 seconds.

I did it! 

Washing the mud off in the lake.

Dan and Deb

Our normal faces...

We had such a great time! It was so nice getting to know Deb too. She is a good friend of Dan's that came up with Dan and they stayed for 4 days. We went and played Frisbee golf, went to the movies, played lots of Rook and Tetris (where I dominated it all.... Of course. Ok, Dan might have won a few times.;) Thanks for coming and visiting us!! We had a great time, as always!