Our Summer Trip to Utah - Part 3

Every year in the summer when we come to Utah, the kids take swimming lessons. They are all very good swimmers but I want them to learn proper techniques and solid water survival skills, so we make them take swimming. Most of them love it. The one that doesn't still has to do. Yep, we are mean parents. And we are good at it!

Lexa making her breast stroke.

Sophie is making her way to the other side of the pool.

Twins were the only ones in their class who would dive head first and they took every opportunity to do so and then some more!

Nika and Lina waiting for their class to begin.

Payson where we mostly spend our time in the summer has Scottish Festival at the beginning of July. This year it took place just a few days after our arrival. People from many different states come to compete in Highland Games. Our favorite event was when they had to throw this haystack weighing 16 lb for men and 12 lb for women up over a raised bar. There were some very impressive throws!

This guy was over 60 years old and a champion in his age category.

A log throwing by women is happening in the back.

Kids watching intently and cheering for their favorite contestant.

While in Utah we also took the kids to the Payson Temple and to Temple Square in Salt Lake City. At Temple Square we visited our favorite place - the Family Search Center. It is a lot of fun for all ages plus you end up learning something about your family. For example, we found out that Spencer (and our girls) are related to a few famous people including a couple of US Presidents. My family on the other hand is a mystery since we all come from Eastern Europe and Russia.

It was Lina's first time going inside the temple.

At Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

Reflection pool

This is one of my favorite pictures of the Salt Lake Temple.

Spencer at the Family Search Center is finding people he is related to.

All of the places his ancestors came from.

Girls are leaving a recording for posterity.

It is funny how when you live in a place, you often do not explore much around it. Since we moved out from Utah, we keep finding these little gems that we didn't know about while we lived there. Or maybe it is just that we are at a different point in our life now and have different interests. I love hiking but there are no mountains in Astana where we currently live. And so I try to find some fun hikes whenever we happen to be around the mountains. Donut Falls up in Big Cottonwood Canyon was such find! I heard about it on one of the blogs I read sometimes so we decided to try it out. It was sprinkling a little the day we went there but it didn't stop us. The area was just beautiful. The hike was easy and led to a nice waterfall.

Twins and Spencer are crossing a little stream.

Two partners in crime.

Mika and Lina trying to get back down from a rock. The rocks were wet, and it was quite an ordeal.

Nika

Lina

Beautiful!

While in Utah we visited some of our dear friends and family... unfortunately, I didn't take pictures with each one of them.

One night we had a dinner with the Stices at their Provo home.  They've been home from Kazakhstan for a year now, and it was fun to see them again.

We saw Mary and Jerry Busenbark who we haven't seen in a few years.

And one evening we met up with Spencer's two high-school friends, Mike Hansen and Dan Haring and their families at Payson Park. We all have kids about the same ages and they all ran together and got along great!

We made a couple of trips up to Logan and ran into Aunt Laura at the Farmer's Market! Of course, later we gathered for a big get together at her house with some of our family.

Twins being twins at her house.

We also stopped at Suzie's house for a couple of days, and the girls had a great time playing with their cousins and Jade the dog.

We are a pretty good team!

Every great vacation comes to an end at some point. We loved seeing our family and friends and having all of the great experiences but it was time to go home. We are now back in Astana having other kinds of adventures.

Lexa walking through the airport in Houston.

When a crew member saw the way I put our luggage in the overhead compartment, he was in awe. He was also a German which makes his awe even more impressive!