Summer Recap, School Starts, & Lake Powell

It has been FOREVER since I blogged. I kind of miss it--I don't know why really. I have been journaling a lot and I kind of like keeping a lot of thoughts and feeling to myself. Facebook just doesn't seem to cover enough, and is a bit TOO public, and journaling covers too much for public...so maybe blogging is a medium for communicating with friends and family. I don't know, but I thought it is a good place to put a few pictures of our trip to Lake Powell, and a bunch from the summer time.

We had a great great time at Lake Powell. It was very relaxing and good family fun. It's always a lot of stress and work getting there, but so worth it, and by the time we are home, I wish I could do it again, and not have the pre-stress of it all. The trip was a success though. Here are some fun pictures you can look through if you have a moment.

Here are some more pictures of things happening through the summer, and the kids' 1st days of school. We have been busy having fun!

A Friend's Wedding

It's been a while since I've gone to a wedding...so this was a lot of fun. A good friend of mine, Amanda, got married yesterday. I was fortunate to be able to go to Durango, Colorado to attend her wedding and see her married to her honey.

It was a beautiful wedding...and she was a beautiful bride. I really enjoyed meeting her family--they are great people. Everything about the wedding was very nicely done. I'm sure she'll look back at it with happiness--from the cake, the location, to the bubble send off...it was all very beautiful.

Congratulations Amanda & Shane!

Camping Memorial Day 2009 - Sylvan Lake

We had such a good time. It rained on and off, but it was great--when it rained, we sat inside and played board games. It was a fabulous time all in all--great to spend time with each other as a family--no distractions...just some good family fun and memories for us all.

GREAT THINGS:

being together

the perfectly roasted marshmallow

board games

listening to the light rain in the dry trailer

a furnace in the trailer

s'mores

hiking

the misty clouds in the morning

the beautiful view

listening to the kids play together nicely

fishing

the brisk fresh air

dutch oven cooking (yum)

clean bathrooms

warm showers

dirt under the finger nails

the campfire smell in clothes, hair...everywhere

snuggling in the trailer

no distractions

NOT-SO-GREAT THINGS:

gnats by the lake

We have a fun summer of camping planned!

Drunk

We went camping this past weekend--up past Vail to a town called Eagle...then West--to Sylvan Lake. It was beautiful and we had a fun weekend. I'll try to get some pictures of our trip up soon. Toward the end of our stay...actually, the late afternoon before the morning we were going to head home, Kyle came down with a fever. I had no Tylenol or Motrin--I had scoured my medicine cabinet...and nothing. Rather than going to the store -AGAIN- before camping...I convinced myself...they'll be fine! So, we packed up quickly and headed home rather than have a sleepless night with a crabby baby.

On our way home...we see this car come onto the freeway, and swerve to the shoulder, almost hit the shoulder guard, then over-correct and swerve into the other lane...almost hitting another car. We were behind him, and in no hurry to stay close. Then...a minute later, he swerves off to the right shoulder AGAIN. On occasion, I'll call that *277 from my cell to report a bad/scary driver to the Colorado State Highway Patrol. Well I called--even if this guy isn't drunk, he was using a cell phone or something...and he should clearly NOT be driving. I gave the make of the car and described what happened, and where we were. No sooner, did they call me back, ask where we were and where the driver was--and there was a trooper up at an on ramp waiting....we saw the trooper and they were radioing right to the trooper what I was explaining. The trooper caught up with the car, and got the guy. We didn't know what the outcome was...drunk, cell phone, or just crappy, but we were glad they could sort it out from there. But it was kind of like watching an episode of "COPS" live--and it is cool seeing in action technology working to get the bad guys. The kids were amazed at what was happening.

I got a call this morning from the state patrol...the guy was DRUNK...and I am happily going to sign a statement to the things we saw. If any of you know us well....a drunk driver nearly killed my husband, his brother and best friend when he was 16--we have no tolerance for that crap. So Yay!

A fun weekend of Camping

Ah, Autumn is upon us. We knew that this would probably be our last weekend to go camping, so we took advantage of the trailer we just bought last Tuesday, and went before the weather was too cold. It was borderline while we were there. I have to say that the furnace in our trailer was very helpful! I LOVE MY TRAILER (excellent Craig's List find)!

We had such a good time. Jim's cousin's family were camping this weekend too, so we coordinated with them so we could all have fun together (Aaron & Megan and their kid) and my friend Shauna, her kids, and her two sisters and their kids. Okay...a lot of kids...but what a great place to just set them free and let them have fun--hiking, climbing big boulder-type-rocks, and just playing around. They kept themselves rather entertained. Tess (our puppy) had so much fun too--the kids loved taking her on walks and she was in heaven with all the attention.

We ladies were entertained too. Our favorite time: in the trailer playing board games and eating licorice. It was great!

We dutch oven cooked, sat around the campfire and sang silly and fun camp songs, and just had a good-ole'-time. The fall colors were awesome and I'm so glad we went before it was too late. This upcoming weekend is going to be in the 40's--good thing we went while we could!! What a great time we had!

More Utah Fun

Okay, besides the baptism, we had a really nice visit with friends and family. Sadly, Kyle was sick sick sick (barfing on the way there). We had to go though, and we're glad we did. The vacation wasn't exactly "ideal" as the first 3-4 days, we were just laying low at my parents' home...trying to take it easy on Kyle. He did start feeling better though--but this is the worst "flu"-type thing any of my kids have EVER gotten. Poor kid. He just wasn't himself most of the time we were there.

Kyle trying to feel better in a sink bath & Kids at Grandma Mac's Breakfast table

We did visit with my sister a few time; and then more siblings, family and friends at the open house.

Isabel huggin Auntie Marcie (Sara's Sister) and Allison peaking in too!

My parents were really great hosts. My mother loves to sew--quilts, costumes, dresses, etc. She made the boys some cute Indian shirts and the LOVED them. Isabel and she made a small blanket for Isabel's special teddy bear, Bobby. While there is no place like home, it was very nearly as comfortable. It's so nice to have a nice home to stay in and have your normal comforts. While there we finally talked them into letting us install a water softener in their home. They've been wanting one since they moved in but have put it off...so I bullied them into it and Jim installed it as the house was already prepped for it! Jim's a whiz at this stuff anyhow!

Boys wearing their Indian shirts & Jim installing the water softener)

So, we did have some fun. We visited BYU Bookstore and that was neat. I got to go to lunch with my sister. I went with my mom to the Distribution Center and got Isabel her new scriptures and then we lunched at The Garden up on top of the Joseph Smith Memorial building there on Temple Square. It was lovely to look out at the brides. Jim had some fun too...he got a truck. Yes, a real-life truck. We'll have to post pictures of that sometime soon. It's big and red.

Sara's Parents & Bryce, Rory, Allison, Isabel & Jorma

We got to spend some time with Jim's family too. Bob and Sheila came up and visited us there since we weren't taking Kyle anywhere. It was nice of them and we even enjoyed a fun dinner at Winger's! (I've missed that place) It was good to see them.

Jim's Parents with Bryce & Isabel

We love our family and friends in Utah! Thanks for the visit. Hopefully we'll all be healthier next time we're there!