Beaver High Adventures

A month or so ago we made our first family outing to Beaver with Jeff and our friends the Demille's came with us. Having grown up always camping and backpacking, I love the camp so we were so excited and having good friends there makes it so much fun. We set up camp right above Kent's Lake a little ways, about a 1/2 mile from other campers and the lake. It was perfect weather! There was a sign posted about it being bear country, but I didn't really read it at that moment so we just got to hang out and have fun. There was a river close by the boys got totally soaked in and they hiked all over the camp playing hide and go seek and pretending. We went for a hike down the the lake while the guys were out scouting for elk and it was so beautiful. If only I had known it was this gorgeous just 30 minutes away! We cooked dinner and set to drying out all the kids and just relaxed. That night right before bed I read the sign that was posted and then I really started to get a little nervous. O well, what are the chances right? Well about 4 am something comes to my side of the tent and slams it HARD! Instantly I was awake, since Hunter was sleeping on the cot with me I was blocking him knowing it had to be a bear testing out what this big thing was. I was ready for it to pounce on us and know the tent down. I heard nothing for about 30-45 seconds and then it hit the other side of the tent just inches above Jake who was lying on the floor. Jeff was up then and whispered BEAR! Ya, I know I said, get your gun. Well, he was a little frazzled and it took him about 10 min. to load it. All the while I am trying to patiently wait. It was a full moon so he tried to shine his light out the windows but couldn't see. So he put on his headlamp, had his gun ready at his hip and zipped open the door. Nothing! Needless to say we didn't sleep after that. At about 5:30 or 6am the guys were going hunting so Jeff got out of the tent and asked me what I was going to do. I said starve here in the tent till you get back or book it over to the Demille's trailer as soon as the boys woke up. There was no way I was going out there especially since I know nothing about guns! The next morning we went out of the tent with the fire and super nervous. Blake told us he woke up a 4am to the sound of the kids shovels moving. The guys left to go look for elk and Dani and I were trying to decide if we should cook breakfast or just eat snacks. Then a truck with bear dogs drove past, so I ran up to him and asked him if he was looking for a bear? I told him one had come through here about 4am and about 20 minutes after that there were bear dogs everywhere! They found a track in camp and estimated it to be 150 lbs. and about 2 yrs. old. After they figured out where it was going we finally were able to relax the rest of the day! No bear was coming back this way with 25 dogs chasing it. We got to watch the bike race which was fun for the kids and hung out at the lake till it was time to go. What a trip! What is camping without a little adventure, right!

 This is the boys trying to dry out!

 This is the football the bear chewed up which was right by the plastic digging toys. I also got a hold and chewed up Jeff's target and out baby packer. When we were packing up I had Jeff try and hit the side of the tent as hard as he could, to see if it sounded the same as the bear and there was no comparison!

 The kids gave high-fives to everyone who rode past and their cheering paid off when the riders started giving them free water bottles. 

 The two signs that were posted I didn't read till that night thankfully.

Monsoon Summer

I just love summer monsoon season in July and so do the kids. Hunter and I were outside riding bikes and the rain hit hard and at first he was a little nervous about it but when the older boys came out it was so much fun! We were soaked to the bone and the boats and duck sailed down the gutter a hundred times.

Party in Ogden

The boys and I went to Ogden for the week of the 24th and it was so much fun. We arrived Monday afternoon after a long 5 hour drive. Thankfully Grandma and Grandpa were ready for some fun. Cami came up with Cooper and Cole and Mitch came up after work. We had another bday party for Jax. We played Pin the Tail on the Donkey. I loved it, my mom had the coolest old donkey. The kids were so funny. We opened presents, ate cake and played duck duck goose and just hung out which was so nice. The next day we went to Lagoon and I forgot to get out my camera we were having so much fun. We mostly stayed in kiddie land and the rides were thrilling enough for the older boys and still fun for the little ones. I couldn't believe Hunter, it took him some convincing that he could go without me and once he did, he didn't want to stop. On one ride my dad got him out and didn't see him do the more sign and he hit my dad and did the sign again. He was so funny. He even put his arms up on the kid roller coaster.  On Wednesday we went to the North Shore and spent a good 5 hours there and loved every minute of it.   Thursday we went hiking and boy was it hot, luckily the boys were troopers and we found a good shady spot by the river to play in for a bit. We saved a little butterfly that was stuck in the water and had a good laugh at all of us trying to cross the river. Friday we hung out and went on a drive up Ogden Canyon again and up to Snowbasin. Along with all of the planned things we played with neighbor friends, played kickball at the school and played at the playground at the school. I still can't figure out why I didn't take advantage of that playground when I was little. It wasn't quite so fancy and colorful, but so nice to have your school so close. We were so happy to be up there and even got to see Mitch and Cami's cute new house on our way home. Can't wait till next summer!

This was Hunter the first hour or so, back and forth, he couldn't let his mama go so he could go have fun.

 I finally talked him into the merry-go-round twice and it took some convincing. After that he was crazy about every ride!

Jaxon's 6th Birthday

Jaxon turned six years old and we had a great party to celebrate. We played all day and then most of the kids were there to help make and decorate the cake. We were a little nervous for the golf ball and Jax kept telling me, "Mom, its supposed to look like the picture." He must have forgotten I'm not a master chef and cake decorator. It was fun though. I think this is my favorite part is having the kids come up with fun themes and cake ideas. Jax loves golf and has taken Jr. Golf the past two years and is really good. I talked him into a golf part instead of Thor. Thankfully he agreed. Who is Thor anyways? Right before the party Uncle Jim showed up to play blanket monster. This is the kids favorite game with him and I love to watch their faces in surprise and sorta scared as he pulls them under the blanket with him. The party was great as usual and everyone was so generous. We have been lucky to have family so close so I haven't ever had to do the two party thing yet. I'm still crossing my fingers. The kids played and played with all the fun stuff while the adults got to talk and laugh. 

The beginnings of blanket monster.

One of the rules is if you go off the tramp (usually b/c they're scared) you have to wait by the wall till the next game.

This is the lasso he wanted to help his Uncle Jace rope the new cows.

A new bike, the only benefit of all boys so far for Jax is he always gets a new bike and we just pass them on down.

This was the Monday before his birthday, he was doing tricks off the curb and trying to jump both wheels off and he went over the handlebars and a few hours later we had five stitches.

I love for the boys to wake up on their day covered in balloons, I think it was Cami's idea, Jax hardly noticed this year because he woke up at 5am to go flying with his dad and Jim. 

Summer Fun

Our kids love being outside in the summer, its bike riding time at 8:30am and it doesn't slow down after that. We are always jumping on the tramp and going in and out doors with toys and pretending something new and exciting. They have the most wonderful imaginations and their friends do as well. I love to be upstairs in the kitchen and listen to them pretend and make up new things. Dress ups are a hit as well. Not elaborate just old dress ups of mine and Jeff's as well as old Halloween costumes. Water is a must in the summer and finally the boys were old enough this year for the slip n slide and it was so fun to watch them. They also learn how much fun it is to have a water fight and squirt each other, though sharing the hose is still an issue we are working on. Hunter like to be right there with him and he was not happy with me when it was nap time. 

June Camping Lake Powell Trip

I really don't know if we were here in June, we did so many fun things and were out of town a lot, mostly soaking up the sunshine. One of our first trips for the summer was a week at Lake Powell camping at Lone Rock Beach. Just the boys and I usually go with my parents and their friends. It was a blast. It was amazing to see how fast the lake was rising, it moved 5 feet up the beach every night. The tents were moved and all the gear 3 different times. It was perfect weather not too hot. I love to go on vacations with the boys where you can sit back relax and just watch them play. The beach is perfect for that because the entertainment is all over. They were so good. Hunter wouldn't leave my side like usual. The last night was a little crazy when a storm blew in winds that were 65 mph. I was literally holding my tent up hoping it wouldn't cave in on the boys who slept through it all. It went by fast and when we stepped out boats were all over the place having lost their anchors and people were spotlighting everyone to try to help get them all back. I was so thankful once again to have a nice sturdy canvas tent!

 These are our sleeping arrangements, I love the bunk beds for the boys and Hunter slept in the pack n play right by me. Perfect!

 This was our shade set up and where the kids dug holes endlessly. 

 The kids really got into digging these holes which were deeper than Jake's head! Every night they would fill up with water and people would walk by and fall in the kids little trap. I know dangerous but really it was pretty funny to watch. I tried not to laugh but I couldn't help it.

 This was the afternoon ritual, of all the gals laying out on the tubes and chatting. So relaxing and I learn so much from not only my own mom but these other more experienced moms teach me so much. Love them!

Jax tried to wakeboard but to no avail. I was proud of him for trying though. Both the kids just kneeboarded instead.