Trial Lake 2014

My best friend Kathleen and her family came with us to Trial Lake this year.  Kathleen had the fun idea to visit the Fairy Forrest.  I had heard about it but didn't realize it was right on our way to Trial.

The girls had a good time wandering around and looking at all the painted rocks.

Some of them were really creative.  Addy was happy to find several Tinkerbell ones.  I liked the Minion one, Star Wars, and Olaf.

Mckenna even found some raspberry bushes nearby.

After we set up camp the kids couldn't wait to do some fishing.  The Dads were up for it too.

Kathleen and I had a good time just hanging out and talking while the rest of the kids threw rocks in the lake.

Addy and Sophia were happy eating fruit snacks and hanging out on the camp chairs.

The fishing was really good again this year.

Mckenna with her first catch of the day.  She kept count and we caught 40 fish on this trip.

Addy was glad to have her turn out in the boat.  She was happy just chilling with Dad.

We had a beautiful sunset that first night.  The sky was all orange and blue.

I got my new phone that week and it has a really nice camera on it.  I enjoyed taking lots of pictures with it.  This is what it looked like in the morning.  It was so cold outside that there was steam coming off the lake.

We decided to take a hike to Wall lake.  It was a first for all of us.  You can tell from the looks on Mckenna and Parker's face that they were not happy about it.

I thought it was beautiful hiking through all the pines.  The girls stopped every few feet to gather wild flowers.  I didn't mind.  I would have done the same thing at their age.

Mckenna wasted no time taking off her shoes and wading into the lake.

Kathleen and I at Wall Lake.  It was a nice day and not too hot.

When we got back to camp Addy got a turn fishing. I love her cute little pigtails.

She caught her first fish right away.  I couldn't believe she caught this big rainbow trout on the little Barbie pole.  She was excited about her first fish of the trip.

I sat in the back of the boat with Sophia.  She is a very curious girl with lots of energy.  I kept her happy and distracted with my sunglasses.  She thought she was pretty cool wearing them.

We cooked one of our favorite dutch oven meals for dinner.  It is Mesquite Chicken and Potatoes.  The bacon and garlic are what really makes this meal good.

Mckenna and Grant enjoying their corn on the cobb.  It is great that they still get along so well.  They have known each other since they were babies.

Halle and Eva had a lot of fun together.  They spent hours hanging out in their fort.  Kathleen took this cute pic of them with their pinecones and other treasures they gathered.

The boat battery died so Hayden tried some fishing from shore with Dad.  They caught a few fish that way.

The last day there I finally caught some fish.  I was happy with this big tiger trout that I caught.  It was a fun weekend away from home in the High Uintas.  It was even more enjoyable sharing it with our good friends the Trumans!

Welcome home Spence!

Spencer came home from his mission on Wednesday August 6th.  We were all so excited to see him!  Mckenna and cousin Aubrey ready to welcome him back with the posters they made.

Spence had the biggest smile on his face when he saw everyone.  He had his camera and was filming the whole thing.  He looked just like he did when he left except maybe a little taller.

The kids all wanted to hug him at once and it ended up in a huge group hug.

 

Addy gave Spence a big hug and was getting reacquainted.  She was only ten months old when he left.  We prayed for Spencer everyday at our house.  We also would show Addy pictures of her and Spence before he left.  I think it helped her recognize him better.

Cousin April took this picture of everyone together at the airport. It was a happy reunion.

Kev was so excited to show Spence what was waiting for him in the garage.

Kev had fixed up his motorcycle and even had the seat recovered for him as an early bday present.

 

Spencer was so happy!  It was one of the first things he wanted to do when he got home.  He took off for a ride around the block.  It was fun seeing him cruising around with his missionary tags still on.

 

We had a nice family dinner together.  The cousins were enjoying their ice cream on the back deck.  We are glad Heather and her boys were able to come visit for the week.

 

Spencer's homecoming was on Sunday August 10th.  He gave a powerful talk in church. His excitement and enthusiasm for the gospel is contagious.  He even had a family from his mission come from California to his homecoming.

 

It was fun spending the day with family.  Hayden giving Spencer hugs while he talks with cousin Lindsay.

Spence came back with his new California fashion sense.  He wore these socks with his suit.

 

Aubrey and Halle had fun running around together.  They are both going to be eight in a few months.

 

We took a family pic with Spence.  We are so glad that he is home!  It is fun having him back at our house again; eating cold cereal and just hanging out. 

Picnic with cousins

The great thing about Summer is all the family and friends that come to visit.  My cute Grandma invited us up to her place for the day.  My cousin Melissa, Jared, their kids, and my Uncle Wayne were all visiting from Iowa.

 

The kids had playing until it was time for my lunch. My Uncle Wayne ran around with them while Grandma and I talked.  At one point, he had six kids going down the slide with him.

 

Our picnic lunch was from Wendys.  The kids ate their fries and frosties while I had my Strawberry fields salad.  It has become my favorite this Summer.  I also love it because it is low in calories.

 

We went back to Grandmas where the cousins had cookies and ice cream.  I love Hayden's big Oreo smile.

Halle and Marianna had fun dressing up and putting on shows for us.  Marianna is hilarious!  She would spontaneously burst out into song.  We laughed all afternoon.

 

The older girls had fun eating ice cream and playing cards together.

 

It was great catching up with my cousin Melissa.  I usually only see her every couple years.  She has always been like an older sister to me.  I look up to her in many ways.

Hold your horses!

We invited our good friends the Castagnos and Frosts up to the cabin with us.  It was their first time coming up in the summer.  Tessa made the comment that Kev seems to love the horses in summer almost as much as he loves the snowmobiles in winter.  It is the truth! Parker had fun going for a ride with his best buddy Ryker.

Halle decided that she wanted to learn how to mount the horse herself.  I think watching all the young rodeo princesses had something to do with her motivation. 

Kev took Mckenna and Emily for a ride around the field.  Everything is still looking nice and green.  It must be all that rain we have had lately.

A picture of us Moms on our ladies ride.  Kev led us around the field nice and slow.  Which is just the way I like it.  It was my second time horseback riding in one month.  That is a record for me.

Emily took this cute picture of Addy with my camera.  I thought it was funny that she has orange fingernails.  It probably has to do with the fact that she ate lots of Cheetos for lunch.

Payton driving the gator around the field.  Mckenna, Emily, and Payton took turns hauling the kids around.

Kev went out for a ride around dusk.  I took this picture from the deck of the cabin where I was relaxing.  It was a peaceful time of night.

Once the younger kids were in bed we hung out on the deck.  The teenage kids plus Kenna were allowed to stay up.  Payton was entertaining us with his Joker impersonations from The Dark Knight. Then they decided to be zombies and roam around the deck.  Al even told his Hatchet story again.  It creeps me out every time.

Addy with her two big brothers the next morning.  The other two girls didn't want to cooperate for a picture.

Hayden spotted this deer in the field.  We spend a lot of time and the cabin but rarely see any deer.

Who wants to go for a horse ride?  I think Hayden was the most enthusiastic.

We drove the Gator down to the river. The kids had fun throwing rocks.  Mason and Hayden were a little scary with their rock throwing.  You learned quick to stay away from them.

Parker went for a ride on our horse Duchess all by himself.  She is a good horse and keeps a steady pace.

Kev pulled out he lasso to impress us with his roping skills.

He had no problem roping Ryker.

Kev taught Al how to drive the tractor.

We took down our extra carrots from lunch to feed the horses.  Halle and Nayla loved it!  It was a fun weekend getaway with our friends.