2013 Camping Trip

A few weeks ago we took our annual camping trip with my family.  This year was a little different and ended up just being my parents and siblings but we still had a great time.  Because many of our family members had work and school we decided to stay close so that they could come up when they could.  We found a nice little camping spot up Highcreek.  We were right next to the river which made me nervous at first but ended up being the best entertainment of the week....

The trip began Wednesday evening with the normal set up and acclimating ourselves to the area.  Blake had to close at work Wednesday night so I took the girlies up by myself and therefore had the set up to do. While I began unpacking the van and setting up the tent Jordyn found the bucket and shovel I had brought up for the girls.  She plopped herself right down in the dirt and began digging.

I made the mistake of asking her if she was dirty and she told me off a little.....

Sadly while I was distracted setting up the tent Kenlee took a tumble thanks to a rock in the middle of camp.  From what I was told she tripped and fell forward, trying to catch herself but because the dirt was powdery her hads slipped out from under her and her face finished catching the fall.  All in all she ended up with lots of scraps and bruises. Her left knee and shin were eaten up along with the palms of her hands and her poor little nose.  She had excellent medical help from her Aunt Tiffany and Aunt Karlee.  This all happened with in the first 10 to 15 minutes we were there.

After all was set up we had a wonderful dinner of Hobo dinners, rolls and salad.  Everyone was assigned to bring up there own dinners and this years were really creative and tasty.  For dessert we roasted marshmallows over the coals and made smores... there is nothing quite like a campfire smore. People slowly started to leave, Karlee had school the next day and Colton, Brock and Tiffany all had work so they didn't stay up with us.

Thursday morning after a not very restful sleep (Kenlee would slide down in her sleeping bag and whimper until I pulled her back up, it happened alot) we gathered for breakfast and then Poppi took the girls down to the river to throw rocks (which became the hit of camping). Jordyn spent hours down there throwing rocks in to the river. Kenlee spent her time throwing, splashing everyone and walking around in the water. Amazingly enough she never did fall into the water, I didn't have to hang any clothes to dry the whole trip.  The bee's eventually chased us away from the water and we took a truck hike up to the trail head above the campground.  I had worried that Jordyn would not take a nap because it was super hot still and she didn't have her own bed and routine but even in the back of the truck she couldn't resist sleeping, it was perfect.  When we got back we had some lunch and Blake made it up to see us.  The girlies were so happy to see their daddy and show him all there amazing new games (mostly the river and throwing rocks thing).

 Daddy!!!

Kenlee and Gammie dipping their toes in the water...

Look Guys! Watch this.....

Ta Da!!!!!

Poppi helping Kenlee stay dry while walking the river.....

Thursday evening for dinner we didn't have Brock, Tiffany, Colton or Karlee so we experimented with a pork roast in a dutch oven.  It turned out so amazing.  To go along with our pork roast we had cheesy bacon potato's and salad.  Not your normal camp meal but super easy and amazingly tasty.  Blake got to stay up with us Thursday night which made everyone happy.

Friday morning after breakfast we took a small hike.  On the truck ride up to the trail head poor Blake got a bloody nose and continued to bleed through the whole hike. At the trail head there was a nice guy who let the girlies pet his horse which they loved then we started up the trail.  The weather was very much against us so we didn't make it more then a mile before we started having people over heat (and Blake was still bleeding) so we stopped off at a part of the river and played for a while.  There Brady and I trekked across the river, which was much colder then down where we were, and climbed a huge rock in the middle of the river.  Unfortunately all those pictures are on his iPod, if I ever get them I will add them.

We headed back to camp and Karlee and Colton were there waiting for us so it was good thing we hadn't been able to hike like we had planned.  We spent more time down in the river (literally with our camp chairs sitting in the river) throwing rocks and trying to keep cool.  Jordyn became the nudest of camp because she broke out with a horrible heat rash all over her body.Blake had to head back to work so he left around 2:00.  We were all so glad he got to come up for a while. Later in the afternoon Tiffany and Brock came up and we had dinner which was fajitas.  Dessert was dutch oven turnovers which are to-die-for!!!

Because of the Hyde Park celebration my brothers had to march in the parade Saturday morning so we all packed up camp Friday night and arrived home a little after 10:00.  The girls and I got cleaned up and got to bed so that we could make it to the parade the next day.  It was a great trip full of fun.  The girlies had a great time and loved living out doors for a few days.  I was super tired and felt worn out by the end but it is totally worth it to watch my girls have these experiences and make these great memories.....

Fireworks, BBQ's and Parade (4th of July 2013)

Our 4th of July fun actually began on the 3rd with the Logan fireworks. We were once again invited to a BBQ with the Olsons and watch the fireworks from the amazing view of Brock's grandpa's backyard. Unfortunately in order for Blake to have the 4th off, he had to close at work and could not join us at the BBQ or for the fireworks.  We will be so grateful when he doesn't have to miss out on family activities anymore but for now we just do the best we can....

I of course dressed each girl in appropriate holiday attire and had to show them off.  Aren't they SUPER adorable!

Then after we had met up with Karlee and Colton we headed up to Brock's Grandpa's house to begin the festivities.  The food was AMAZING.  There is nothing quite like an Olson BBQ.  I way over ate because you just can't help it with all the awesome food. After we were all completely stuffed we sat around and enjoyed great conversation and watched the kids play waiting for it to get dark enough to start the fireworks. Kenlee made a new little friend named Abby while we were there.  They spent the whole evening running around, tipping their chairs backwards and laughing at how hilarious they were. Jordyn really wanted to be able to keep up but she finally found a friend her own size and spent the rest of the evening playing with the handsome little Davis.....

After the sun went down the kids were all handed glow sticks to wear/play with while the fireworks started....

Kenlee made hers a crown....

Jordyn opted for the bracelets....

I would love to say the evening went perfectly but I don't want to sugar coat my life so that when I look back I don't remember the true event. So bear with me here.  I really wanted both girls to come sit with me while the fireworks were going, take a few pictures, have a few laughs but Kenlee had other ideas in mind.  She wanted to watch the fireworks with her new friend who was sitting with her family across the yard.  I tried to explain to her why I wanted her to sit by me but she didn't see it my way, being 3 and all so she spent at least half of the fireworks melting and cry to anyone who would give her sympathy... Aunt T swooped in and made things better eventually and we were able to enjoy the rest of the fireworks.  Jordyn was very unsure of the loud noises at first but only whimpered for a few minutes then snuggled into my neck and stayed there for the rest of the show. It was very sweet. So it all worked out in the end.....

For the 4th we headed up to the Bear Lake area to spend time with family.  After a very stressful morning trying to get everyone up, ready, gathered and out the door we were finally on the road around 10:45 and headed to the Paris to see the parade.... Even with our slow start we were the first to arrive at the designated spot.  I took the extra time to try and get pictures of my patriotic, cute family.  Jordyn wasn't feeling the photo moment having been in the car for over an hour and it being lunch time so they didn't turn out great but they still look cute!

Several of our family gathered at the Paris post office and waited in the shade, trying to avoid sunburns and heat stroke, for things to begin.  When the parade started all the kids and several of the adults went to watch and gather candy.  Kenlee was a little over whelmed by the amount of people, she is usually about the only one around us gathering candy, so she just stood back and watched the parade, gathering candy when it hit her foot or when we encouraged her to get involved.  She was never upset and still really enjoyed the parade, just out of her comfort zone. Jordyn stayed with Daddy most of the parade, watching the floats and loving the horses. It was first parade that she didn't ever cry at the noise, we are defiantly moving forward.

After the parade we gathered up and headed back to my Aunt Laretta's house for a BBQ.  We enjoyed many hamburgers and hot dogs, awesome salads and chips and an amazing eclair dessert. The kids ran around the yard and played while the adults relaxed and chatted about our family camp coming up. Kenlee fell in love with my Aunt's swing set that has an awesome fort and slide that she couldn't get enough of.

After lunch several of us headed off to the farm to finally show Kenlee around.  She has been asking to go for several months now and every time we have gone up the weather has not cooperated so we couldn't go. She saw the big cows and the calves and even got to watch the calves drink their bottles.  It was so fun!

After our tour we decided to take a truck ride to go search out a campsite.  On a normal day Jordyn would have been ready for her 3rd nap of the day but, it being a holiday and traveling, she had not sleep at all so I took her with me in hopes she would sleep.  It worked like a charm and she got a good little nap which perked her right up.

After all our awesome activities, we gathered up and headed back home. Daddy surprised us with an ice cream treat from Wendy's and then we set up to do some fireworks.  I had a bag of sparklers and pop its from last year so I hadn't bought any this year.  Unfortunately when we tried to light them most didn't work, I am guessing they had gotten wet or something, so Blake saved the day and ran to Lee's to pick up some fireworks.  Both girls LOVED the sparklers and enjoyed many, many rounds of them and the both loved the pop its.  Jordyn could only make them work if I stood up with her and let her drop them from there.  Blake brought home some of his favorite crackling bombs and showed us his sweet tricks.  Jordyn HATED how loud and scary they were and Kenlee ran backwards down the driveway but still seemed to want to watch them.  We spent the evening lighting some of our own fireworks and watching everyone else's aerial fireworks.  We have a great view being surrounded by fields and could see 8 to 10 different groups going off all around us. After a while the wind made it too hard to light the fireworks with our little lighter so we called it quits and put our tired girlies to bed.

We had such a great holiday filled with great memories and tons of fun and family!

Summer Times

The summer fun has been in full force around our house for several months already, we have been playing so much I had put blogging on the back burner...... I decided I needed to stop and get our summer written down so far before I got in over my head.....

We have been to several parades already this summer including Smithfield's Health Days parade, Richmond's Black and White Days and just recently the Paris 4th of July Parade....  Kenlee absolutely lives for parades... the candy, the floats and especially the princesses. She just stands on the side of the road and smiles sweetly, waves and people POUR candy at her.... it is honestly hilariousness to watch...  Jordyn however has been very leery of parades... she has hated how loud and noisy they are.... the candy didn't even trump the noises.   She has finally started enjoying them more and getting past her fears, her favorite part is defiantly the horses and princesses.

We also attended the Health Day's Fair.  We honestly didn't last long because it was already blazing hot and there is absolutly no shade down at the fair grounds.  We did eat our traditionally lunch at the fair consisting of whatever food tent smelled the best at the time.  We wandered the tents a while and didn't really find much we needed/couldn't live without so we called it quits early.  Still an awesome day!

Poppi and Kenlee enjoying the parade together....

Look Mom, more candy!.....

Gammie comforting Jordyn about the noises.....

Karlton striking a pose.....

Aunt T with the girles.....

 Uncle Brady marching in the parade.....

Cheesing with Mommy....

We have also done a art project.  Gammie found this idea on pinterest around our anniversary and was going to do it with the girlies while she had them but unfortunely both girls were sick the whole time so we decided to finally do it a week ago.  You take a canvas and masking tape a message on it then you let the kids finger paint all over it. When it drys pull of the tape and you get the girls pictures with a sweet message.  Kenlee enjoyed it, it took her while to get the idea of painting all over the canvas but she did pretty good.  Jordyn on the other hand HATED IT.  She tried to paint for a few minutes but decided it was aweful.  I tried to make it funny by painting her tummy and she FREAKED OUT! I won't try that again.

Pool parties have been a necessary part of our summer activities.... with these 100 + degree days we have spent many hours playing in Gammies and Poppies back yard with the big pool & the little pool, splash balls, squirt guns and jumping on the tramp in between dips in the pool.

Kenlee is still a little fish... no matter the temperature of the water she always ends up swimming around and splashing....

Ring around the rosies with Uncle Colton, Jordyn & Kenlee's new favorite game....

There are always assassins learking around the pool.... Beware!

 "Ring around the Rosies........

"We all fall down!"

Uncle Brady usually enjoys the water but this book must have been good for him to opt out to read....

They defiantly love there Uncle Colton.... for obvious reasons.... 

Daddy is awesome and is always willing to jump in the pool and play with his girlies!

Cheesing with Aunt Karlee....

She is "filling" her water gun....

and "squirting" her Uncle Nate (mostly she bounced the gun on his head)

She was super proud of her self, playing with the big people.....

The besties in the pool....

Daddy and his girles in the tiny pool.... perfect fit!

Another frequent activity this summer to stay cool has been going to Pink's Shaved Ice.  They are the BEST shaved ice around.  They have the best mix of flavors and fun additives. Kenlee usually gets Pinkalious but today she tried Tangled!

Well I think I have documented our summer so far except for our 4th of July activities but I will do another post for that.... more summer fun to come!