Manwaring Moments

Home Sweet Home

September 11, 2014

Utah and the Heelis's

Melanie, Eric, and Family, Elkridge, Utah

While spending a few days at Melanie and Eric's home, we decided to do some swimming since they have so many places to swim around their house that is FREE!

Salem Pond, Salem, Utah

Breck with his favorite cousins: Rachelle and Samantha.

The kids asked me if I would go and take their pictures as they jumped of the bridge. I said, "Sure! no problem".

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Watching them inch their way across the hot, scary bridge (it is higher than it looks), took me back to when I was young and carefree.
Watching them inch their way across the hot, scary bridge (it is higher than it looks), took me back to when I was young and carefree.
Watching them inch their way across the hot, scary bridge (it is higher than it looks), took me back to when I was young and carefree.

It was only gentlemanly for Breck to go first. 

The girls finally conjured up enough courage to jump.

Success!

The younger cousins saw their older cousins jumping off the bridge and came over to try it themselves.

Unfortunately Grandma Heelis sent Uncle Eric over to inform me that the sign on the bridge said, "No Jumping...." I said "What sign?" As all the kids pointed to the very large sign on the bridge.

Oops! That was the end of our bridge-jumping adventure :(

(Still getting in trouble by mom, even after all these years!)

Salem was nice and shaded, and the kids had a blast!

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Except for Merinda and Isaac, who were still trying to get over the stomach flu.
Except for Merinda and Isaac, who were still trying to get over the stomach flu.
Except for Merinda and Isaac, who were still trying to get over the stomach flu.
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It all ended too soon, and then there were floaties to deflate.
It all ended too soon, and then there were floaties to deflate.
It all ended too soon, and then there were floaties to deflate.
It all ended too soon, and then there were floaties to deflate.
It all ended too soon, and then there were floaties to deflate.
It all ended too soon, and then there were floaties to deflate.
It all ended too soon, and then there were floaties to deflate.

Luckily, Melanie took us all the next day to grey water reservoir on the Spanish Fork bench, also just minuets from her house.

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The reservoir was picturesque, with the mountains all around.
The reservoir was picturesque, with the mountains all around.
The reservoir was picturesque, with the mountains all around.

But unlike Salem Pond, there was no shade. So I told Merinda to go and play in the water to cool down.

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She had fun playing with her cousin Molly.
She had fun playing with her cousin Molly.
She had fun playing with her cousin Molly.
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Corbin and Hyrum having a good time together.
Corbin and Hyrum having a good time together.
Corbin and Hyrum having a good time together.
Corbin and Hyrum having a good time together.
Corbin and Hyrum having a good time together.
Corbin and Hyrum having a good time together.

Aspen on the coveted floatie!

Chasing down the coveted floatie.

The rain clouds creeped along the canyon threatening to rain.

But we made it home just in time.

That evening us girls went for a nice dinner out to Cracker Barrel in Spanish Fork. The food left a little to be desired, but rocking on the rocking chairs made up for it. 

That night Melanie and I walked around her neighborhood and looked at the beautiful lights of Utah valley from the top of her street. It was the perfect ending to the perfect day!

Wanting to see more in the daylight, the next morning we took a drive around the little town of Elkridge.

I could get used to this place! So many beautiful places to live in Utah, and my siblings live in all of them.

Thanks Melanie and Eric for an amazing couple of days!!!