LABOR DAY RIVERS

We had a pretty fun Labor Day weekend- full of adventure, rivers, camping, and lots of fun. First off, we headed down to the San Rafael Swell to camp the first night. We love this place. It is SO beautiful and very remote, so not very crowded. It was a little rainy (and thus, muddy) but that cleared up and then it was nice.

Princess P and the 'hair extension angels.' (That's what she and Sister S named this part of the Buckhorn petroglyphs.

After dinner Big C decided some of the crew needed to brush up on their rappelling skills for the adventure the next day, so they practiced off a cliff right by our campsite. It was dark by the time most of them got down, but hey, who needs light to back off a cliff, right? (Sarcasm). Our family is crazy sometimes...

Princess P, Sister S and Companion B rappelled in the dark! New sport!

We woke up the next day and went to hike the Black Box in the San Rafael. It is one of my favorite hikes, but also holds very intense memories for our family- Sister S almost died there about five years ago. We definitely respect that place! It's a beautiful gorge/slot canyon cut out of stone by the San Rafael River, so we hike in water pretty much the entire way, even swimming sometimes (that's why the kids have life jackets in the photo).

The Black Box crew at Mexican Mountain! Ready to go!

After an amazing hike and some much needed lunch we packed up and drove to Moab to meet more friends. Moab was PACKED with people. It is a madhouse down there and I will be happy to never go there again on a holiday. What a joke! We ended up camping in a parking lot. Not the worst place we've ever camped, but not the nicest by far. 

Extra large piggy back on C Man. What a tough guy!

The next day was Sunday, so we put skirts and ties on and went to Church in Moab, then hiked, explored and played the rest of the day. We finally found a campsite by the river that opened up and go to move to a prettier spot. 

Video of Christian doing a side flip off the rocks at the big sand hill just north of Moab.

Gemini Bridges.   

The last day (Labor Day) we ran the Colorado River with some friends. Sister S and her friends went home, so it was just Princess P and C Man with Big C and I. We had a good day even though the river was pretty mellow (boring, as the kids said). It was a great last summer trip. 

Princess P in the kayak with C Man on the paddle board.

One of my favorite pics from the trip: My friend, hauling up her 'gear' from the river. hahaha

Loading up the truck after our big weekend. We were pooped!

BACK TO SCHOOL PICS

If you know me at all, you know I hate going back to school. When I had tons of littles at home, it was different, but my kids take care of themselves now and they are my buddies and I really miss them when they're gone all day. I also hate going back to a regimented schedule. I love the freedom and spontaneousness of summer and I miss it dreadfully when I get back into the school routine.

My youngest two- C Man 10th grade, Princess P 7th grade.

C Man had a friend take some pictures of he and his buddies. Looks like they're in a band.

Nice socks! I feel a vibe of the 80's...

Our McDonald's opened back up this month after being closed all summer. Here's the girls going in to check it out.

INDEPENDENCE DAY RIVER RUN & PARADE

We finally found a river that was flowing so we had to hurry and run it before they shut it off (it is an irrigation river they turn on and off for the farmers). The Sevier is small, but very fun! We took friends and family (whoever wanted to come) and ran the river twice.

Gearing up for the river.

Miss K and Princess P get ready to head out.

Taking a break for lunch.

On the river...

Princess P and I.

After the river, we drove home and went to the evening parade in Manti. It is always a cute, fun one to attend and I love that they have it at night.

The parade in Manti.

Watching the parade- Big C and I on the right.

The girls- watching the parade.

Visiting with cousins and friends after the parade.

GREEN RIVER for MEMORIAL DAY

Our Green River trip didn't start out so hot this year. We got to the campground at Swayze's Beach and found that they have started charging this year, so they wouldn't let us camp on the beach anymore. It is very depressing when the government starts taking over everything and telling you what you can and can't do. Freedoms are being lost everyday and nobody cares. It's a sad sign of our society.

Hanging out on the beach, waiting to find out where we are going to go.

Then, our friend that was with us stepped into some melting sand where a fire pan had been and burned the bottoms of his feet so bad that Big C and I ended up driving him to the hospital back in Gunnison.

W with his new gauzy 'socks'.

He'll be okay, but he'll have to stay off his feet for a couple weeks and that's not good for him. He's a very busy person and now he can't work for Big C. He was not happy. I was so sick for him. It was terrible.

Big C and I drove back to Green River early the next morning with his parents and ran the river with everyone. It was a great river day! Nice and warm and lots of water.

Lots of people need lots of boats. We had around 30 people there.

Sister S and I- loving the sunshine!

Lots of family and friends make for lots of fun and great memories.

This isn't everyone, but almost...

This is the first year we took the SUP's down the river. C Man was pretty good at it.

Elder D stayed back the first run and built a sand castle. He's such a big kid! I love it!

Elder D with Little W.

CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME

My two college boys went to California with their buddies to camp on the beach for their Spring Break. I think they had a great time, but it was pretty windy and their stuff came back coated in sand. 

My boys are the ones in the hats.

Point Mugu, with no filter according to Awesome A...

ART SHOW OPENING

I went to our student art show opening this weekend and was very impressed by the work. The students at Snow College are very impressive! I love the work and the kids. I am so blessed to work with the faculty and have the job that I do. I love it! How many people can say that?

My friends and some of the Art Department faculty at Snow College.

HALLOWEEN 2015

Halloween at our house just isn't the big deal it used to be. I am torn about it. In some ways it's nice to be so laid back, but I really miss dressing my little kids up and taking them to trick or treat! The level of excitement is very diminished.

Pumpkin carving for Family Night at the barn with all the cousins.

Princess P went trick or treating with her friends this year. She's my last. *sniff*

LAST DAY OF SUMMER

For our last hoorah of summer we went to Palisade Lake and played in the water with some friends.

N and Princess P paddle the hard shells.

Miss K and Princess P warm up after playing in the water.

My handsome honey.

PAYETTE RIVERS, IDAHO 2015

Our annual trip to Idaho to run the Payette Rivers was VERY FUN! Our two oldest sons wanted to go to a concert instead of with us, so we took some other YSA kids with us. 

Getting ready for the first run- Cabarton.

Since we didn't have tons of little kids with us this year, Big C was able to run lots of Class IV stuff he has always wanted to try, but never had been able to do. Sister S was a little cautious, so I kept Princess P with me on the bank and let the big kids do it.

Staircase in the setting sun.

We had HOT weather this year, which was a nice change from some of the years we have gone. It was great rafting and swimming weather because the water wasn't too cold, it felt great to beat the heat! 

Sister S got back in a hard shell- the first time since her mission. She is amazing!

Kayakers on the Main Payette: Sister S, C, W, N and C Man.

Our awesome group! We'd definitely invite them again.

Our camp on the river.

One of the Class IV runs Big C wanted to do made Sister S a little nervous (she hadn't been on it for 3 years), so one of her friends gave her a 'temporary tattoo' in Sharpie of the map so she would know what was coming and when.

The only tattoo I'll ever approve of.

The big kids were the only ones to go on this run too. They had a blast!

Sister S's  edit of The Canyon group.

While we were there, the local kayakers held a slalom kayak race down a Class IV-V section of the river. One of the guys that came with us, C, wanted to enter, so we all went and watched. It was crazy! I can't believe he wanted to do it! He made it through the course, but it was NOT an easy thing.

'Those waves were this big!'- Kayak stories.

C Man and his buddy N wanted to try the hard shells, so they did Swirly in them. C Man did great! He's a pretty good paddler!

Kayaker in training.

On the last day, as is tradition, we packed up and got into our church clothes so we could attend on our way home. We went to the Horseshoe Bend branch and then made the long drive home. What a blast of a trip! Definitely one for the story books!

Sunday clothes at camp.

ZOO DAY

Princess P had never been to the Zoo, so we decided to take a little trip to SLC yesterday and go to the one there. We invited one of Princess P's friends and her mom to join us. It was a really fun day!

Princess P and Miss K ride the lions. They are very tame at this zoo.

They even have dinosaurs at this zoo. Amazing!

Riding the train.

 On the way home we had a tire miracle! We got lost getting back on the freeway after buying some delicious, gourmet cookies and this guy in the car next to us points to my rear tire and tells me it's flat. I looked the other way and there was a Big O tire store right there. If we had gotten on the freeway it would have been bad! My car didn't come with a spare (don't even get me started on that), so we would have been waiting for a tow truck, paying and arm and a leg for that and then having to wait to have it fixed. Instead, I pulled into the tire store and a VERY nice guy changed our tire right there in the parking lot. We were there maybe 20 minutes! There are some pretty cool people out there and we sure were grateful that day! Blessings from heaven come in lots of different ways! 

My SnapChat while we waited for the tire to be changed. haha!