Halloween 2024

 We got snow on Halloween this year! (You can also see Dad's squares that he mowed on the lawn. Friends drive by occasionally to see the latest lawn creation Dad has done).

Austin dressed up as a Mexican, Kate as a greaser, and Scott as a BYU football player.

Ty was a Ty Detmer reindeer (first year in middle school - 6th grade)

Logan is IronMan

This is the first year with only one kid in the elementary Halloween parade in many years! So fun to have one there!

Mom and Kate helped at Logan's class Halloween party!

We went to the Nelson's annual Halloween dinner (Truman just got home, so it was fun to see him), then we went trick or treating on the Smith's party bike. Always so much fun! It was a very cold Halloween this year.

Such a fun Halloween! We all had a great day!

BYU at Florida State

Dad took Kate, Scott and Austin to the BYU @ Florida State football game. The kids were so excited! Mom dropped everyone off at Provo airport and they took off. On the plane, there were tons of BYU fans as well as Utah fans (Utah was also playing a game in Florida).

Shortly after they were in the air, the plane was diverted to Tulsa, Oklahoma so they could fill up with gas. They ended up having to spend the night there. Luckily, first thing in the morning, they were able to take off and make it just in time for the game in Tampa.

Scott

Kate, Austin, Scott

Dad, Kate, Scott, Austin

Once they got to the game, there was some major weather, and the game was delayed for two hours. BYU ended up winning and they all had a great time!

Austin

Dad at church

Kate getting gear before the game

Austin, Kate, Scott

Dad, Austin, Kate, Scott

Kate, Austin, Scott

Kate, Austin, Scott

It was a fun and memorable trip!

4th of July and Last Day in DC

It was so cool to be in Washington DC for the fourth of July. We went to the parade in the morning. There were so many awesome bands and some cool representations from different countries. We got decent seats as well.

Logan and Ty finally got to see the Washington monument. We went to get popsicles because it was very hot and saw this on the way!

The bands were incredible!

We all especially loved the colonial band.

After the parade, we got some Subway for lunch, then headed to the Arlington cemetary. It was sadly closed, but we got to see it from outside the fence. There were protesters headed into DC, so Dad, Kate, Scott and Austin went down to talk to them. Mom stayed up the hill.

We also went to the Holocaust museum on the fourth. It was a very solemn place, but so powerful. It was Mom's favorite museum.

Dad got interviewed after the parade on some of his political views.

Then, that night, we went to the firework show. Fireworks went off over the Washington monument and it was incredible to be a part of it. We all loved seeing the patriotism all day in DC.

 We went so hard in DC. We walked and walked and walked! We were all exhausted by that night!

The next morning, we got up and took a train to Maryland.

This was actually at the very end of the trip after Washington DC. At the Salt Lake airport after we arrived, Mom and Logan were behind everyone else and we ran into Taysom Hill. Logan didn't know who he was, but the other kids were so sad they weren't with us!

It was such an awesome trip, we had so much fun together!

Washington DC

After Gettysburg, we headed into Washington DC. It was so exciting! It was everyone's first time besides Dad.

Our first evening in DC, we walkted down to see the White House. Pretty cool!

Scott, Mom, Dad, Kate, Ty 

(Austin had not caught up to us)

Austin got his picture.

One of the evenings, Mom, Dad, Kate, Austin, and Scott went down to see the monuments at night (Washington, Lincoln Memorial, WWII, MLK)

Austin, Dad, Scott, Mom, Kate

After a full day of museums (and throwing up), Logan was ready to head back to the hotel. We were a couple of miles away still, so Mom, Logan, and Kate took e-scooters back to the hotel. Logan enjoyed and afternoon of watching Bluey.

This is the view from the roof of our hotel, so beautiful!

The pool was on our roof in DC, This is Ty on Austin's shoulders and Logan on Scott's shoulders having a chicken fight.

Dad was always playing with the kids in the pool (and we had a pool at every place we stayed).

A major highlight in DC was all of the Smithsonian museums. This was the Museum of American History and was so cool.

Scott and Austin

Logan with the actual Captain America shield

The Thomas Edison section was very interesting and we had to go through since Ty did a big report on Thomas Edison last year.

This was a common sight. We walked 12+ miles per day and the big kids helped piggyback Logan around.

This is Scott carrying Logan.

Ty was excited to see a restaurant called "The Smiths" like his besties.

We went to the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence. 

This is Austin

Ty with Thomas Edison in the US Capitol

We got to go on a tour with some Utah representatives. Here we are in front of the Supreme Court

Austin, Mom, Scott, Dad, Kate

Logan and Ty in front

Scott, Mom, Dad, Kate, Austin, Logan and Ty in front

The US Capitol building

 We had the best time together! Such an amazing family trip!