Palisades

We were invited to go with some friends to Palisades a few months ago.  We were unsure if Jer could take off the time for work, but in the end we decided to make it work.  We are really trying to spend more time taking trips and spending time as a family even though we have a million things going on and it never seems like there is enough time.  We having been toying with the idea of getting a trailer for a little while and we thought we would rent one for the Palisades and see if we liked it.  We got it packed Thursday and headed out of town after lots of planning and packing.  You always forget how much work it takes to go camping!

It was a three hour ride and the kids were so anxious.  We were actually the first ones there of all our friends so after we had things set up and realized we were in the wrong spot we had to redo everything.  It was great having a camper, but he sites were so close together it didn't really feel like camping, more like a trailer park.

After we got all set up we headed into Manti to grab some dinner and see the temple.

After we got back from dinner, the kids were a little crazy so we headed out for a walk around the lake.  It was a great time of night and it was a lot of fun, except for the darn mosquitoes.

After dinner the kids taught us a new card game that we played for a while until it was bed time.  It was a little hard to sleep that night because the camp was a bit noisy.

A picture of most of the kayaks our group brought.  We had plenty to go around and there was a paddle boat as well that the kids would pile into.

Jer did a great job cooking while we were up there.  He did a yummy dutch oven dinner with chicken and potatoes.

I don't know if we are convinced we are going to get a trailer.  We just aren't sure if we would use it enough to justify buying one.  We would be up for renting one every once in a while though.  The kids had so much fun we would like to do something like this every once in a while.  We may even try to get back there next year.

Fourth of July

We got back into town on the 4th, but decided we should still go to the fireworks downtown.  We were all a little tired from our trip up north but it was a nice time.  Soon after we started eating our pizza, the sprinklers came on and soaked us.  Luckily it's hot enough it felt pretty good and we dried fast.  After pizza we walked to "Iceberg" and got shakes.  We headed back and tried to be patient with four crazy, and tired kids until the fireworks started.  They played on the grass and did some gymnastics until it got dark.  The city did a great show and we quickly headed home and got to bed.  I was beat from days at camp and a trip up north.

Camp and Picking up Kids

I have been gearing up for (dreading) camp since I was called a few months ago.  I'm not a camper and I really haven't been to all of girls camp since I was in young women's many years ago.  I have a whole new respect for people who do girls camp all the time.  I was assistant stake camp director.  Luckily I was with one of my good friends here in St. George, but I tell you it was so much work.  It felt like we had to entertain the girls for 4 days straight.  It made me think how different the boys and girls are.  When my husband goes with the young men, they go someplace awesome and plan what they will eat and where they will go.  So different from what we did.  We go do Cedar Mountain every year and we aren't allowed to leave the campsite.  Although it is beautiful, we are very limited on what we can do...thus the "entertaining" for four days.  How cool would it be if we could go different places, go on hikes, or visit historical spots?  I learned a lot, mostly that I would be totally fine if they called someone one else next year!  I did get to know a lot of the young women in my ward a little better and that was awesome.  I was so anxious to get home and see Jer and the kids!

The Sunday before camp we drove to Farmington to drop the kids off with their Grandma Linda.  She took them to their cabin up Logan canyon for the week.  I was glad they were able to have so much fun.  She always plans so many fun things while they are with her.  I worried it would be hard for her to handle all the kids but Prentice assured me she would make sure everything was okay.  Luckily I was so busy at camp I didn't have a lot of time to worry much about them.  On our way up to drop them off we ate at the "PIE."

After girls camp we drove to Logan to pick up the kids.  Jer and I had a little time to kill so I asked if Jer would take me to see my grandparents grave.  I hadn't been back since my Grandpa's funeral in February.  It was pretty emotional for me.  It was hard thinking about how that is the last place I left them and how much I miss seeing them.  They are both such special people and to think all they have left here on Earth is their legacy.  Sometimes I just wish I could have them here for a little while longer.  It was definitely their time to go but it's lonely and hard having them gone.

We hung out at the busiest Bear Lake ever that day, ate at Maddox that night and headed to the hotel for a night.  Jer's parents joined us as well as Anton, Liz, Lilly and Claire.  I wish I had more pictures.  They boys were pretty excited about the continental breakfast!

The next day we headed back up Logan Canyon.  We decided to check out Tony's Grove.  It was so beautiful.  Such a different landscape from St.  George.  We hit it at the perfect time.  Great weather and all the flowers were in bloom.  Tacy had gone back the day before with her cousins so it was just the little boys.  It was a great little hike for kids.  Jer and I couldn't believe we hadn't done it before considering we have both spent a lot of time in Logan.

Truman caught a dragonfly and it stayed on his finger for quite a while.

We stopped and the boys threw rocks into the water.

Cardon kept wanting me to stop and take his picture.

When we finished the loop around the lake we went back to the car and had a little lunch.  I loved this picture of the boys relaxing on the rock by the car.

 After lunch we headed up a different trail for a while.  We probably only made it a mile or so, but again it was breathtaking.  I of course wanted to go further, but the boys had done great and were getting tired.  Jer kept them hydrated by spraying water into their mouth from the camelbak.  As you can tell they thought this was pretty great.

Of all the beautiful flowers the only ones the boys wanted were the dandelions!

We got them to the end of the hike by playing, "red light, green light."  It was the best thing ever.

When I looked back on our way back to Salt Lake this is what I found.

That night we hung out with my brother and his family and the next morning we wanted to do one more hike before we headed home.  Anton suggested Mary's Lake and aside from the mosquitoes, it was another great one.  Hiking has really become one of my favorite things to do.

Made it to Mary's Lake!

Fun times up north.  It was nice to get out of the St. George heat a little and fit in a lot of fun things in a few days.