Vacation Day 4 - 4th of July

We woke up, ate breakfast with everyone, and then drove to Flaming Gorge Reservoir to set up for the day. Dad had taken Courtney, Ethan and Josh with him to get the "party boat" and then David had found a great spot on the reservoir. We put up our shade tent and then waited for the boat to show up. Ethan and Courtney had been swimming off the side. They pulled the pontoon boat up to the shore and we waded out to it.

The kids had a lot of fun playing in the water. The adults, however, were watching the dark clouds move closer and closer. Julie suggested lowering the shade and then we pulled everything under it. It began to thunder so the kids had to get out of the water.  And then it began to rain...stop raining....rain....stop raining. And it was blowing so it was pretty cold. 

We played a few rounds of "telephone" which was pretty funny.

After hunkering down for a while we all decided to pack it up and go home. There was a break in the rain and we packed up.

We went back to the KOA and went swimming until it started to thunder again. We then showered and got cleaned up.

Jessica came to let us know that they were going to take a ride on the boat because the weather had cleared up a bit. Courtney went with them but Ethan, Bryan and I stayed back to relax.

It started to rain again and has been raining on and off the rest of the day. So it was a rainy 4th of July.

We ate dinner and visited with everyone and then we went back to our campsite to start a fire. Others came over and Grandpa told stories and Uncle David told stories and then it was time for bed.

Vacation Day 2 - Flaming Gorge

We woke up to cows mooing, showered, ate breakfast and broke camp. Courtney and I went on a walk in the early morning. It was very peaceful.

We drove back through Hintington to look at our old house and Grandma and Grandpa's old house.

Ours..is kind of run down.

Grandma's and Grandpa's house...

The we bought gas st B&Ks and we're off. The drive was long but we made it! 

We set up camp at a KOA and the kids went swimming.

We hung out with cousins, had dinner with everyone and then went to bed.

Vacation Day 1 - Huntington Reservoir

We are off in another vacation! We are going for 10 days to the Hodgson reunion, Yellowstone, Lagoon, etc. We packed the car with our camping stuff, food and clothes for 10 days.

It was really full!!

We drove to Huntington Reservoir to camp for the night on our way to Flaming Gorge. It's a nice camp area. The reservoir was a lot smaller than I remember but it was still beautiful.

Our campsite.

It started to rain so we stayed under the awning. We roasted hotdogs and went to bed.

Our view.

Wind Storm

On Thursday morning Bryan and I put up the tents so they could air out. I hadn't aired the big tent out since girls camp so it needed it!

We got it up and I staked down the rain fly so I could scrub the sticky tree sap off. I cleaned the tent and the rain fly and left them in the sun to dry.

The day got really hot so I didn't take them down because I figured I could when it got cooler that evening. 

I took the kids to swim team and on my way back the wind started to blow. As I got closer to our house the wind got stronger and stronger. I was really afraid the tents would have blown away. When I turned the corner and drove behind our house I couldn't see the tents.

I parked and ran outside. Bryan's backpacking tent was stuck in a tree so I grabbed it. But I couldn't see the big tent. I looked at the field across the street but it wasn't there. Then I walked to the side of our house and it was jammed between the a/c unit and our shed. I had to wrestle it to get the poles out and it began to rain. I finally got it down and pulled it in the house.

There was one small rip near a zipper but it was fine otherwise.

The tent mess in the house.

Courtney's First Backpack Trip

While Ethan's and I were gone to scout camp and girls camp, Bryan took Courtney on her first backpacking trip. Bryan took her to the trail by Oak Grove that we had hiked for Father's Day.

They left in the early afternoon and hikes in. Courtney carries her backpack and did a great job.

They made dinner, played games and had a lot of fun together. Courtney loved it and is ready to go on another one!

 Setting up camp

 The trailhead

 Courtney's cribbage hand that creamed Bryan!

Girls Camp - Day 5

We woke up, ate breakfast, cleaned up camp and then had our final devotional. The 5th years gave out awards and then everyone was free to leave.

It took us FOREVER to get out of there because the camp hosts were very picky about the condition of the camp. But we finally got home around 1 pm.

It was so much fun!!

Scout Camp

Ethan left for scout camp the Monday before I left for girls camp. The plan (from what I understood but I could be wrong) was for them to camp at Oak Grove then backpack Tuesday and Wednesday over to Pine Valley where they would spend the night at a cabin. They would then go to Baker Reservoir Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Ethan wasn't too excited to go because his buddies weren't going but the deacons really wanted him to go. He loaded his backpack (37 pounds) and headed out. 

They spent the night fine and headed off on their hike Tuesday morning. They got to their backpacking campsite just fine and spent the night. But on Wednesday afternoon the Fire Marshall flew up in his helicopter to tell them to turn around. There was a huge fire in Pine Valley. The boys were never close to the fire or near danger but they had to turn around and go back to Oak Grove. 

The scout leaders were in touch with the parents and so Bryan knew that Ethan would be home Wednesday to reapply and then go back out. Ethan took a break, ate a bunch of food and then the scouts went to Kolib Reservoir (near where I was!) to spend Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 

They swam, played, fished and had fun. Ethan got the award for the first fish caught and the biggest fish caught. He ended up having a great time.

I had a bit of a panic attack when, during rotations at girls camp on Wednesday, I was told that the scouts were helicopter evacuated from their hike. But I figured Bryan would have it all under control. I had no idea Ethan was so close to where I was camping!