Tuesday, August 16, 2011

there was this one time, that we went camping, and i wanted to take the bikes, but didn’t have a tow kit, or a bike rack, so i did this..

august 008

ratchet tie-down straps and all my muscle/energy/patience and there you have it.  (there are 3 mountain bikes and one bmx with training wheels up there.)

this was the way to start off our week of camping.  (with a lot of fun!!)

driving up the canyon, i realized that i forgot the milk, at home in the fridge.  no big deal, we could buy some at the valley market.  so we drove on.  once we reached the turn-off for snowbasin, about the top of trapper’s loop, i realized that I also left the camping chairs, on the floor in the garage.

so we turned around.

one cannot fathom how completely crushed my children were, especially lynn, who had been talking about this trip for the whole summer..  she was driving me so crazy the day before, I nearly sent her packing, on her bike, with a headlamp, her stuff strapped to her back, and a map.  “we’ll see you there tomorrow!!”

(she was just a little excited.)

after our take two, we eventually got to camp.

(we wish we were still there.)

(like, really bad.)

you can see why:

grandpa got to come along…

august 015

lynn loved spending every day she could with sophie.

we all loved playing at the river.

august 040

loved cade’s (my nephew) expression…    james and ash.

august 045     august 052august 063

just for you mom!!

august 079

august 111      august 130

painting rocks..

august 150

playing headbandz and other games.  uno got fierce when merrill was there.

august 157

other crafts that involve rocks.

august 158

being with our favorite cousins.

august 166

talking around the fire.

august 180

painting nails, very dirty nails..  and toes..  and feet.

august 202august 240august 248

who does she belong to?!  sheesh…

august 269

again.. 

august 298

my dad.

august 332

s’mores.  we (sophie and myself) tried them with caramellows.  i highly recommend it.

along those lines, i would also like to highlight some other camping favorite foods.

-tin foil dinners (or hobo dinners)

-hot dogs (usually all beef, cooked over the fire).

-easy cheese and crackers.

-um, marshmallows..  of course!

and a new one, banana boats (thanks jacks!!).

august 355

this is my niece abby.  this was the condition of her face about 90% of each and every day.

isn’t she darling?

august 373

ken would tell the girls stories around the campfire each night.  there was one in particular about a cannibalistic doll.  lynn became possessed and chased ken around camp with her little napkin tucked in and a knife and fork.

(she refuses to sleep with her doll anymore.  thanks ken.)

august 374

we had plenty of laughs.

this day, levi and ash started using the bike pump, pressed against their skin to make fart sounds.  it was pretty funny.

august 397

each and every day there was a dream, one i didn’t want to leave.  maybe because i love it up there with all my family, maybe it’s the simplicity.  maybe it’s because school is supposed to start next week…

either way, i didn’t like coming home so much to the tv, the computer, the phone…

i would seriously take washing my laundry in a small tub, hanging it to dry, and cooking over a fire, over all the crap that we have.

(call me crazy.)

august 406

my kids miss their grandparents and cousins.

i miss the simple life, the relaxation.  having two other women to wash faces and feet with every night.

i even kinda miss the mosquitoes and the fragrance of bug repellant…  the screech owl that visited us every night..

kinda.

p.s. i ate an ant.

p.p.s. it was on a dare.

p.p.p.s. my dad was the dare-er.

p.p.p.p.s. so you see, i HAD to do it.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

these pictures are priceless!

They all are so darling!

Ally's Corner said...

Heart your SUV! What fun you had.
Memories love that!!!

anniebobannie said...

Really fun! I agree to all those camping foods! Especially the squirt cheese and crackers (ritz or chicken in a biskit)

The Anderson's said...

Fun post, Your camping trip looked like too much fun! My fav pic was your little niece and her cute dirty face.

Maecy said...

You blame your anteating on your dad? You liked it.
Also, Peyton has some serious joy going on with her cousin. Her neck is even involved in that smile. Soooo cute.
And the Abby face is very reminiscent of my own Abby's face. Priceless pic.
Also, I love the way you write. Too funny :)

MEK said...

The picture of Ash and the bike pump, SHE reminds me SO much of you its CRAZY. Glad you had fun. I want to go camping now. However being almost 7months pregnant probably not a good Idea. I need a toilet VERY close by.

Bits and Pieces of Me...Emily! said...

I can't believe you ate an ant! I always like the idea of camping, I grew up never camping..it sounds like you guys had a lot of fun! Maybe I should just invite myself on your next camping trip! :)

Bonnie said...

I know what you mean about hating to come back to computer, TV...I am on this anti TV/Computer kick that I get on every once in a while! So glad you had so much fun. Awesome that Gpa came!

mandi said...

Jealous. I didn't get a true camping trip this year. Yet. I'm still holding out.

Janet said...

I know I will visit this every so often. What great memories we have. I love you so much. Even if you ate the ant.

Carrie said...

These pictures are absolutely fabulous! Just beautiful! Now that I'm back at work, I'm back to reading blogs when my mind starts wandering. Yours always makes me smile :-)

Jocelyn said...

It looks like such a fun trip. Love seeing all the pics...you always do such a great job of capturing details and fabulous expressions! Of course I could have done without the spider pic!!!! And you ate and ant??? Are you crazy???:-)

Promise said...

Mind...I loved it all! I am tearing up and wanting to go back. Not ready for summer to end (I too decided it didnt have to "end" just because school started.)