The Spruces

Our family decided to take a last minute camping trip over Labor day weekend. We weren't sure if we would find a place or not but we lucked out and found the perfect spot. PLUS, we got to break in our new trailer. My parents and us stayed the whole 4 or 5 days, while Cody/Wendy, Shane/Emily, and Grandma Terra came and went during those days. My mom's cousin DeAnn got to come up and stay with us for most of the weekend too. Talk about a true camper:) And I owe her a HUGE thanks for showing my boys how to fish. She had so much patience with them. They all loved casting and rolling in the fishing line. Plus, on the way back from the lake we got to see a baby moose! It wasn't too far off the path from us. COOL!

I LOVED the cooler weather up there. It really made me want the fall weather more than I do. Hoodies, jackets, jeans? Yes please!

Brandon and Emily came up on Sunday afternoon for our annual steak fry dinner. Yum!

I love that Blakley knows just what to do with Grandma Terra's ipad. What a little smartie pants! She could sit there forever playing games and looking at pictures.

One of the days, we took all of the kids and hiked to Donut Falls. The boys loved it. They hiked up the rocks till you couldn't see them any longer. Boy, did the little ones sure think they were big stuff. Who am I kidding? The "big" boys thought they were pretty cool too! Wends and I waited with Mr. Bentley at the bottom of the water fall. He entertained himself with finding rocks and seeing how far he could throw them in the river. Oh the simple joys of kids! Love him. My mom, DeAnn and Clint's mom stayed back at camp to watch Blakley and Kenli. Good thing too. My poor mom would of had a heart attack watching the kids climb up those rocks so high. Phew! Luckily there were no injuries:)

I think we can count this trip as a success! We had a blast and all arrived home safe and sound! Mission accomplished!

Goblin Valley

We were invited to go camping at Goblin Valley with some of our favorite friends over memorial weekend. I'm not lying when I say I was more than a little nervous to head down there with my family. I had way to many people warn me that it is really hot this time of year, that there's no shade and no water......etc. I was expecting the worst. But I really wanted to go with everyone. We decided that we were going to go and make the best of it:)

I am so glad that we went. We all had such a great time. The weather couldn't have been any better (well except for the last day: the wind would not stop blowing). And thanks to this trip, I think I have Clint convinced that we NEED a trailer! I owe Brandi big time for this one:)

My boys loved:

going on all of the adventure hikes around the campground

finding cool rocks to bring home

cutting firewood (thanks Steve for letting them help)

getting dirty

being with their friends

playing hard from sunup to sundown

not being at home

The first day we headed out to a trail head just outside of Goblin Valley State Park. I think the trail was close to five miles round trip, which pretty much takes all day with kids! Most of the hike was wide open areas with some skinnier areas that you had to walk single file through. The very last part of the hike was pretty tight and you had to walk through water. Clint and Scoob thought it would be fun to scale the walls above everyone. Some of the areas got a little too wide and they had to put both of their feet on one side of the wall and both hands on the other. Crazy guys!!!

Blakley with "Uncle Boob"!

My sweet mother in law and Bruce came all the way down there to spend the day with us. They were planning on taking Blakley home with them, so we could enjoy a day without worrying about her. But when the time came, Blakley would not get in their car. Little Stinker! She was having way to much fun in the dirt. I was half tempted to go home with them though. I wasn't feeling too great. I ended up going to insta care when we got home. Turns out I had bronchitis induced asthma and a sinus infection. Really do grow-ups get sick like that???? lol

The next day, we packed up camp and went inside the state park for a day of running around, jumping off rocks, playing hide and seek, taking lots of pictures and having fun! What cool place this was. I loved all of the different rock formations.

I think Carter was a little disappointed that there wasn't any real goblins. He was really hoping to see some!

We wanted to take a picture of all of the kids up on these rocks. When they started climbing up on them we realized they weren't very safe so we made the dads go pose with them:) Luckily we didn't have any accidents!

I'm so thankful that Steve and Brandi planned such a fun trip for us.

Thanks everyone for the exciting weekend!

Do I hear Goblin Valley calling our names next year?

(5/27-5/29)

CAMPING

Every spring, my family gets together and goes on their annual camping trip. We have been going to the same campgrounds since I was a little girl. I have so many great memories from all of our trips and I hope that we are making the same memories for my kids.

Lela, Jessica, Tristin and Clint got to come with us, too.

We sure LOVE them!

Uncle Bobby and Aunt Jo

Shane Dawg and Mr. Benson

Brooks aka "Mr. Scary"

Codes and Wends

Bentley sure loved it up there.

We set up a kiddie pool to let the kids play in. Carter and Brooks loved it. Check out the hand holdin'..... Best Buddies for sure!

We took the kids to the Hot Springs. When we got there, Blakley insisted on sitting with her daddy in the car. It was way too hot outside. I couldn't blame her.

The kids got to ride in the back of the truck. They were in heaven:)

Nothing like going to see the Hot Springs in the middle of the hot day.

I want to go back in the winter when I can get in:)

Every year, we line the kids up (usually in age) and take a picture. It is fun to see the changes from year to year. This year we added Baby Avery!!! Last year we added Blakley:)

What a group of good lookin' (and dirty) kids!

What a fun tradition! I hope we continue this one for sure:)

4-WhEeLiNg

A couple of weeks ago, the boys took a little trip to the dunes.
They had a blast.

Tan Tan

Carter in the Rhino

Lookin' good pops

Boys and their toys

Jordan pretending he's having fun :)

Scoob

The girls met up with them for the 2nd night.

After going through what pictures I took, I noticed that Troy was not in one of them. Once again, I should be on the top of the recommendations list for the "Mother of the Year Award"

Next time Troy, I promise!

a CaMpIng wE WiLl gO!

We went camping this past weekend with some of our friends! We had a lot of fun swimming, riding bikes, eating yummy food and sitting around the campfire each night. I hope this becomes an annual tradition!

Here is a picture of most of the kids that were there.
There were 20 kids total!

Where's Carter?????

Oh here he is in one of his FUN moods!
We so love all of the many sides of Carter!




I love this little girl:)

I love her expression in this picture!

Our sweet friend Scoob came along with us. He was such a Good Sport and helped empty the sewer. I think he was dry heaving in this picture (I know I would be). Thanks Scoob!

Carter thought this was soooo gross! He couldn't even fake a smile:)