Saturday morning bike ride.

Mommy is training for yet another race so Skyler and I rode bikes while she ran her 7 mile "big" run. Maizey dog even came along and got some exercise.

We heard a train coming.

He waved but the operator didn't see him.

He rested is bike against the tree.

Ready...

Go!

A visit to see Auntie Sarah.

Sarah invited us to her parent's house out in Tooele yesterday to swim in their pool and visit.  We hadn't seen her in over 2 years and it was nice to catch up and meet her son Ethan for the first time.

Her Dad had a radio control submarine that Skyler was thrilled to use.

We brought along a "floatie" that Skyler had fun playing in.

He was just relaxing when I tried to take his picture.  He wasn't happy that I took a picture.

Kicking along.

Mommy trying to get Skyler to dive.  He did not.

But Mommy did!!  :)

Non-Newtonium fluid and a project.

Browsing YouTube yesterday and we came across Non-Newtonium fluid.  Skyler was curious and I remember from 3rd grade science class that we can make it using corn starch.  In case anyone wonders, Non-Newtonium fluid doesn't adhere to Newton's laws of viscosity.

Gooey!

His mind was blown!

 After our science experiment, we headed to Lowe's to get some pressure treated landscape timbers.  After 14 years, we finally edged along the gravel driveway since we're about to get new neighbors to the West.

Rewind 35 years and this was me with my Dad at Allwoods.  :)

Much better!

New Fatty!

I've been watching this since November last year online.  The price had dropped, then went back up, then finally dropped to an unbelievable deal over the weekend.  It was time to order!  The bike arrived in 2 days (Yay, Amazon Prime!)  and Skyler helped me build it yesterday over the course of 4 hours.

Test riding it on the way to G & G's house.  It's SO much lighter thanks to the better build and aluminum frame.

Don't poop in the park!

Skyler went to Grandma & Grandpa's yesterday to visit and play a while.  While he was there he made some instructional signs about cleaning up after your dog that he put up in the neighborhood park.  Such a smart, and caring little boy!  Big thanks to G&G for helping put up the signs and bags and taking his picture.

So cute!

Scrapers!

We headed back to the local dog park again yesterday to watch the progress on moving massive amounts of dirt using twin engine scrapers.  Skyler was pretty engaged and the dog got some exercise too.

He sat down at the top of the hill and just watched.

Lots of space for the new old folks houses!

We walked down closer and got to see them up close.

Dual Caterpillar 627K's.  700 combined horsepower each machine from the twin engines.

At the dog park.

And playing in the sprinklers!

They were playing a game of "out run the sprinkler".  He was laughing with delight!

Maizey dog wore herself out!  Note the massive amount of dirt being moved in the background.  Senior houses here we come!

At the baseball game.

Friday night we attended a Bees game courtesy of Mommy's work.  They hosted thousands of people and even provided dinner to everyone.  It was sweltering hot and Mommy had to work at 10:00 that night so we cut the game short after the 4th inning.

We rode the train down to the ballpark.  I thought the bike stencil on the sidewalk was kinda cool.

This picture doesn't depict the sweltering hot and humid evening it was.

Reading to Mommy.

Instead of Mommy reading to Skyler, he can now read stories to us!

He's almost as big as Mommy!! 😳

Party pics of Skyler.

We hosted Mommy's extended family at our house for a BBQ last Sunday.  Her Dad managed to get some great photos of Skyler.

It's hard to believe we've had him in our lives for six years now.

Great shadows from the peach tree.

Her Dad always makes the kids do a goofy picture.  

Train watching.

Wednesday, I packed up two lunches and we headed to South Salt Lake to see if we can watch some trains.  The freight yard was blocked by an auto rack so we had to settle for a couple of Frontrunner trains.  The Frontrunner commuter rail line was really close to the fence so we got to experience what 79 miles per hour looks and sounds like from just a few feet away!

Lunch in his Lego Batman lunchbox.

We found a spot complete with a picnic table.

Happy little boy.

Lego travel buddy aka, "Adventureman" came along with his lunch box too.

Hot rail!  Southbound train.

It was moving!

Locomotive on the rear since it was in push mode since this line is a "push pull" line.

Up on the retaining wall waiting for a North bound train.

Like I said, we were close to the tracks.

Headlight!

Here it comes!  I warned Skyler that if he waved to the operator, the horn would be MUCH louder than a TRAX train.  Well, he did just that and the operator blew the horn and it scared the bejesus out of both Skyler and the dog!!  I think he learned his lesson.

48 years ago today.

The United States of America put 2 men on the surface of the moon.  WOW!

The mighty Saturn V launching Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969.

Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin on the surface of the moon  July 20, 1969.

Looking at the loader.

Friday morning on our walk, (before the blazing heat hit), we ran into the rented loader the cemetery was using to move their massive pile of compost.

Too bad it wasn't the correct brand!   😜

Water fun.

I'm getting a bit tired of the heat here in the desert and I think Skyler is too.  He brought out his Bruder fire truck and asked if he could fill it up and pump water on the patio.  Sounds like a great idea!

Get the house ready.

Feed it through the ladder.

Ready to pump!

The pump really pumps water!

Ahoj Klara.

:(

We will see you in Prague in the Spring!

Riding the rails (or at least where the rails used to be).

We loaded up our ATV (or AVTV as Skyler calls it), headed down the street, joined the girls, and headed South yesterday morning  to ride near Elberta.  I had read online about an abandoned rail line complete with tunnel that used to connect Elberta to Eureka via rail.  More info here.  We packed a lunch and enjoyed it in the shade of a large juniper tree along the right of way.  Lots of interesting sights, great memories, and a wonderful time was had by all.  :)

Starting out.  It really wasn't too dusty due to an afternoon rain shower the day before.

The girls on their ride.

Us on our ride.

Tunnel!

Everyone got off and checked it out.

South end of the tunnel.

The ceiling of the tunnel.  Steam engine and later diesel exhaust has stained the roof.

Whitney helping Skyler do some climbing inside the tunnel.

Looking out the South end.

The foundation of a water tower used to water steam locomotives was still visible along the right of way.

Twin Can Am two seat ATV's.

Lunch time.  Spread sandwich and some carrots.

East view of a cut presumably all dug by hand.

The spoil pile of the hand dug cut.

Possibly the deepest mine shaft I've ever seen!  I dropped a chunk of glass and counted 6 seconds before I heard any sound.

Certified abandoned mine!

Deep!

Killer views from atop the mine shaft area.

Note the I beams protecting the shaft and preventing people (rednecks) from driving across the opening.

West view towards Eureka.

There must have been a large motor or engine that drove the derrick here.  Look at how much oil and grease residue is left!

Remains of the derrick foundation.

South.

White cliffs of Elberta?

More mine related foundations and remains.

BIG lizard!

Anyone need to call home?  Odd place for a phone pedestal...

Back where we parked.  Rails headed to nowhere.

Ever seen a railroad cattle guard?  Me either.

 Mommy took a bunch of pics too, here are hers:

I made some tasty sandwiches!

Lego travel buddy even had an AVTV! 

Northeast view as we climbed up the canyon.

Moon.

North approach to the tunnel.

Ominous.

Here we go!

South view.

Prickly poppy.

Toxic green algae bloom on Utah lake.  :(

Whitney took some pics, here are hers:

Pretty great family portrait.

Monkey climbing in the tunnel.

He's using his climbing class experience in the real world.

We were the leaders most of the day.  I kept worrying that we were dusting the girls but it really wasn't bad.

Group selfie.  What a great day!