Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Labor Day Campout

August 29 - September 1, 2014

After a hectic 1st week of school, we packed up on Friday for a camping trip with our ward friends.  It was a pretty stressful week so we did not prepare as well as we should have, and later ended up making a huge list of things we need to bring next time.  On Friday, we drove to Paragoonah and stayed with my parents.  We talked late into the night about The Great Brain series that my mom read to me and I am now reading to my kids.  We found a website that had a lot of info on the family the books are based on.

The next morning we got up and ate, but before we headed up the mountain, my dad wanted to show us something.  There is a lot in his town that has a map of the US made with landscaping curbing. The retired teacher who owns it, is trying to collect the state flower of each state to plant within the map.  It was a pretty random but cool idea.


We headed up the mountain to the Duck Creek camp site.  The Goons, Shafers, and Thatchers were already there and helped us set up in record time.  The Taylors and Witts came up later in the afternoon. 

We had forgotten a lot of things, including chairs for the kids.  We borrowed 2 camp chairs from my parents and then saw out old stroller in their garage and took it for Seth to sit in. The kids had fun pushing each other around in it.


After a gross lunch of Spaghetti O's (Dave's idea), we wanted to go hiking.  We loaded up to head to the nearby Ice Cave. When we drove up, we realized it wasn't much of a hike, but we did have to climb down into the cave.


It was pretty cold and muddy down there. Lex got Taz to pose for a pic with her.  They have a good time together when our families are camping. 


We took a family selfie and got photo bombed!


All the kids drove back down to the main road in the back of the truck.


The Ice Cave wasn't as adventurous as we wanted, so we went to Mammoth Caves. There were a few tunnels you could go through and the kids tested all of them out. Dave and I went through a gated tunnel and although it was one of the taller caves, Dave managed to hit the top pretty hard and started bleeding from the head.


The ended of the tunnel got pretty tight but we made it out.


The kids came out of the caves filthy.  We went back to camp and had Hobo dinners then hung out at the Goon's campsite and made S'mores, roasted Starbursts, and cobbler. and just chatted until bedtime.


Sunday morning came and Taz got Lex to get up for a run with Sean while the rest of us had Barney Biscuits for breakfast. We had all gotten a little too much sun on Saturday, so we lather up the sunblock, but Seth went a little crazy. The kids spent the morning collecting firewood and finding ways to break it down to fit in the fire pit.


We decided to try another hike to the Cascading Falls.


The hike was better but the Falls were pretty lame.


The Witts had their dog Nella with them.  She is getting old and had to be carried back on the hike.


We drove up to check out Navajo Lake.  The dogs went for a swim and a few of the kids waded in, but the water was pretty gross. Nella followed Seth around in the lake and pooped where ever he went.


Back at camp, we roasted hot dogs so Seth could pass off outdoor cooking for Scouts, then we went to the Witts shadier campsite to play games.  We played Goblet of Fire (my family calls it Time's Up) and Couch of Power, where we had a stick team and a nonstick team.  Taz decided he needed a whole branch for his stick.  It was a fun afternoon.


That night we grilled up steaks then went back to the Goon's for a campfire.  We shared chocolate filled cones and more cobbler.  The older kids wanted to go for a walk in the dark, so Bill Witt went to hide in the woods to scare them.  A lot of screaming and Bill scraping up his bald head was involved. The older kids came back and talked about scary movies and the younger kids played Would You Rather.  

Monday morning, we packed up right after breakfast and went down to the Iron County Fair. The kids each rode a few rides.



Seth and Camryn also tried this high jump.


We visited with my parents at the Car Show, ate lunch in Cedar at Brad's Food Hut, then drove home.  I made a bet with Seth and Camryn that they couldn't make it home without a potty break.  I happily lost and will have to pay up with a slurpee for each.  We did get home quicker.  We got unpacked and cleaned up and Seth passed out.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Back to School

August 25, 2014

We all headed back to school.

Lex is a Junior at Silverado HS.

Cam started middle school at Schofield and is in 6th Grade.


Seth is going to Hummel ES, with me, this year and is in Ms. Scott's 3rd Grade Class.


I am the Librarian at Hummel ES and I'm really excited to only drive about 3 minutes to school everyday.


Dave is back at Cartwright and Gehring as an ECS.

Summer 2014

August 2014

Our summer seemed so short this year.  We did squeeze a few activities after our trip.  Dave, Lex, and I had a youth temple trip, and we saw a huge rainbow on our way home.


Seth and I read books and played game together. He knew the tile I needed and wouldn't put it down - the game lasted FOR-EVER!


Seth started soccer.  His fall baseball league has games on Tuesday nights during Scouts, so he thought he would give soccer a try.  He and Lex played together on our trip and Seth picked it up pretty well.


We made it to Whitney Ranch pool once too.  We had Heather and Lauren for the day and thought it would be a good outing.  The kids had a good time and I ended up with a splotchy sunburn where I missed some skin with the sun block.


And finally each member of our family was nominated to take the ALS ice bucket challenge. Seth screamed like a girl.  (Lex did hers at night as is so dark I can't get a picture.)