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.

LEFT FORK OF THE HUNTINGTON

We sure don't have much water in the state of Utah this year. It has been very sad for our river running habit. Nothing is flowing, so when my husband saw that there was a bit of water in the Huntington River, he wanted to run what he could of it.

Big C on Huntington Creek

Princess P and I went up the canyon with him and hiked. It was interesting to see the devastation caused by a forest fire there a few years ago. The campground is even closed to overnight campers and the slopes of the mountains are bare, so you can see all the pretty little waterfalls. It was very interesting. Plus, now there are log jams so huge it's caused the hiking trail to be rerouted. Mother Nature sure can be destructive when she wants to.

Me with Princess P, hiking along the river.

There was a lot of logs over the river, so Big C had to portage a few times.

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.

KAYAK BUDDY

Big C has a new kayaking buddy! One of the students in his YSA ward is a whitewater kayaker and he couldn't be any more thrilled! I took them over to do the outlet of Joe's Valley Res yesterday and they had a blast! 

Kayak Buddy and Big C get ready to take off.

Big C starts his GoPro.

I didn't take many photos because I was painting.

Big C and Kayak Buddy get to the take out.

Kayak Buddy wants to be adopted into our family and by the time we went home, he had Princess P convinced that they should be brother and sister. Princess P taught him to stand up paddleboard and there was an instant bond.

Paddleboarding on Joe's Valley Res.

SPRING KAYAKING

One of the members in Big C's YSA ward is a kayaker and Big C couldn't be more thrilled! He is always looking for a buddy to kayak with.

That smile says it all!

 I drove them down to the Sevier so they could run it a few times yesterday. I think it was a little tame for both of them, but they had a great time. I drove the shuttle and painted while they boated. It isn't warm enough for me to get in that water yet!

The river was at a great level.

BIG C KAYAKS AT JOE'S VALLEY

Big C wanted to run Cottonwood Creek (the outlet of Joe's Valley Res.), so Princess P and I went with him and made the river over the mountain. Our friend A came as well, to see the beautiful river. It is one of the few rivers in Utah that has clear water instead of brown.

A brand new fawn trying to hide from us.

The drive over to Joe's Valley is so pretty. We go straight over our mountain and down the other side. We saw a momma deer and a tiny, new fawn in the middle of the road. The fawn laid down in the road it was so scared then ran away and laid by a tree. I snuck up and took a photo. I can't believe how well they are camouflaged. I never would have seen it if Big C hadn't pointed it out.

Big C heads into a rapid.

Big C braces so he doesn't flip.

Even though it was Big C's first time running this river, he had a clean, smooth run and loves this river more than ever. This was always his goal river to do when he got good enough. Now he does it all the time.

Princess P is so beautiful!

When he got to the take out we had a little al fresco lunch by the river. It was such a pretty day. Joe's Valley is one of those hidden little oasis in the desert that no one knows about. It is such a gorgeous place and there is hardly ever anyone there. We love it!

A, Princess P, Big C, Me

WEST WATER'S A WILD RIDE

I really do like to run rivers, but the Westwater section of the Colorado really scares me and I haven't been back since I dumped everyone {including myself} out of my boat 4 years ago. My husband, on the other hand {adrenaline junkie that he is}, loves Westwater and gets at least one permit per year. Here are some of the awesome photos taken from multiple sources from this year's trip.

Everybody loves a good horizon line (the drop in the river)!
That's Big C in the kayak.

A shot of the group from Big C's GoPro.

Another shot from Big C's GoPro of Skull rapid.

Into the hole of Skull! It was huge and hungry!

Big C tows in a friend who swam Skull rapid. I think there were about 6 people that swam Skull this trip! Yikes!

The trip really went well considering it was Friday the 13th!

LAST WEEK OF SUMMER

Our last week of freedom! Little C went to Colorado with his cousins and when we were dropping him off, Big C decided to kayak the Spanish Fork River. 

Big C surfs a wave.

It is only a Class 2, but he had fun and at least there was some water to boat in. He wasn't complaining.

Big C hikes his boat out of the ravine.

Yesterday, I was in charge of the combined activity for the Young Women and Young Men in our ward. We did a BBQ and Super Slide. It was really fun and the kids all enjoyed it.

Top of the slide.

The custodian for the Elementary school is in our ward and set us up with a hose and some tables. It worked out perfectly for us! 

A supermans it down the slide.

 My kids are good at the slide since they do it every year at our Gordon Reunion. Some of the kids in the ward had a hard time getting any momentum. It was an awesome hill for it though. Perfect!

Princess P shows us how to do it right!

GORDON STYLE FAMILY REUNION- DAY 1

This year's family reunion was filled with traditions and new events. We actually started the reunion (as you can see by the date) on the 4th of July this year. We had a big breakfast and then set up the giant slip and slide.

Little C splashes through the pool at the bottom.

This year was a small group, unfortunately. Some people were unable to attend and they were greatly missed! We love a crowded slide, but it wasn't there this year. 

Big C goes clear to the end.

Drying off on Grandma's patio eating Otter Pops.

This year we set up a mini kayak course in the river behind Grandma and Grandpa's house.  The kids loved it!! And so did Big C because he wants everyone to be a kayaker!

Princess P shows off her skills in the whitewater.

Little C's turn on the course.

After all the outdoor activities in the sun, we were tired, but still had the parade and fireworks that night in Manti.

Scrambling for candy at the parade.

Waiting for the fireworks on the high school football field.