July, my favorite month of the year... Really long days, fireworks, parades, slow paced, bar-b-ques, swimming, running and biking, kids outside playing all day, hot temperatures, garden produce.

I think I just wrote a hy-que with an extra line. Wow I am talented. I think I will work my way backward through July. Starting in Aug. First of all I have recovered from that terrible flu I had camping in Flagstaff, Andy has also recovered, so did Milo, Michael, Kayla and Kambri (in that order). I really am sorry if anyone else got that 10-hour killer. Can you just imagine us dragging Kambri and Kayla all over the Grand Canyon stopping here and there so they could use a bathroom? The kids were champs, as usual. Each new view of the canyon I would say, "Wow! Come and see this!!" Inevitably one of the kids would say, "Not the Grand Canyon, AGAIN!!" Our campsite was beautiful. We stayed on the rim in a wooded area. The squirrels would come right up to the kids! That's not the only wildlife we saw. We saw a California Condor, Pink Rattlesnake, coyote, and a lot of ravens. The ravens would come cawing at sunrise to get us up for the sunrise view, which was amazing!

I don't have much to say about the reunion since I spent the most time in my tent.

Girl's camp was smooth. Everything went according to plan except cooking a dutch oven took about 2x as long as I thought it would. Word of advice, if you want to eat breakfast before lunch, start your fire before 7:00am. When I took the girls on their required hike we went over a ridge where we heard gunshots and the Spanish Fork Police ordered us out of the vicinity. You can imagine how girls told that one to their parents.

Speedy Spaniard on July 25 went well. My time was 47:48 for the 10K (translates into 6.2 miles, and the .2 is longer than you think). I got a trophy for being 3rd local to cross the finish. I was 8th in my age group and 10th overall woman. Yes I am bragging. The kids loved Fiesta Days, the parade and carnival. Then the fireworks at 10:30 made for a very long day. We just drove down to riverbottoms road and sat on top of the van for a great view.

Scofield Triathalon July 16 went well too. My time was 1:45:46 for the sprint (as some sick person has named it) I surprised myself placing 3rd in my age group and 4th overall. I am definitely doing this next if anyone wants to do it with me. Scofield is the highest triathalon in the US. The water wasn't even cold.

Well I know there is more, but I am tired of writing and you are probable tired of reading.

Melanie