Meet Suga Booga & Ding Dong

That's Suga Booga in front and Ding Dong close behind...

I'm not sure if this much fun should be allowed in one month...it just keeps going and going, I ♥ summers! This past weekend we drove up to Wilson, Wyoming (just outside of Jackson) and visited my little sister, Alethea. She's been working on a landscaping crew up there for the past 3 summers. She lives in a van down by the river (really an airstream by a creek, but still :)

The airstream is located on her boss' property and they have a couple of goats named Suga Booga and Ding Dong. They are hilarious, and since they are 'in training' to become pack goats we got to take them for walks. Kaden and Kyson were in heaven tromping around with their 'pet goats' playing king of the mountain and climbing all over the playground toys.

Alethea's boss is married to a guy that builds his own wooden boats and does private trips down the Snake River. He offered to take us, and it was fabulous!! The boat was much more comfortable than a raft and they're designed for white water as well, although we just did a quiet section with the kidlets along. We saw 7 bald eagles and a beaver on our float trip. The boat rocked all the kids to sleep, it was wonderful!

The wooden boat designed and built by AJ

The whole gang floating down the Snake River

The boat rocked Sadie to sleep so we had to stow her in the bow

Above is Captain Cosmo

If the winters in Jackson weren't so cold and long I would love to live there...it's the most beautiful alpine climate. The smell of pines as I walked thru the forest was intoxicating, the cold lakes were refreshing, and the view of the Tetons, incredible! The only downers were the zillions of skeeters and of course the 8 hours of driving with kidlets, although they did amazingly well.

String Lake

The landscaping wheelbarrow was the perfect kid karrier!

Alethea's boss, Carol-Malia, volunteers at the Raptor Center - this owl was born with a small wing (kind of like Nemo) and is used for educational purposes.

Another great weekend, thank you Alethea. We love you!

4th of July - Tusher Lake

Happy 4th of July...and 1st of July to all you Canadians :)

Once again we had a wonderful weekend full of outdoor splendor. The Melling clan let us crash their family reunion this year and we (36 people, 4 camping trailers, 5 trucks, 7 tents, and 1 dog) headed to Tusher Lake on Beaver Mountain. It was great fun with a lake just a short jaunt from our campsite stocked with canoes and paddles, teeny fish, and leeches (we'll get to that). It was quite the production and although it was rainy for the first day, it was a very relaxing camping trip with yummy food and great company.

Each family took turns cooking meals. We were in charge of breakfast and I was a little worried because I've never cooked for that many people while camping, but George and I worked as a team and with the camp chef it was no problem.

We enjoyed a lot of dutch oven which is a personal favorite and there was also the treat table fully stocked, mmm :) George introduced the Mellings to sobe bombs which were a hit with all the children and even a few adults ;) It turns out 'star-brulee' was more popular than roasting marshmallows! If you are unfamiliar with star-brulee, quite simply it is roasting starburst candy over the fire. Grandpa and Grandma gave great devotionals every night around the campfire; teaching about prayer, ancestors, and some history of Utah. There were many different activities to enjoy:

Canoeing

Water fights - as you can see Sadie was a top contender storing water in her cheeks.

Liar's Dice

Sleeping

Widdling sticks was the activity of choice by many producing fancy chains, sliding balls, and spoons.

Eating, of course :)

The wonderful candy bar game

Badmitton

So on day 3 it was nice and sunny so Sara, Katie, and I decided to take a dip in the lake. We headed to the dam and crawled down thru stinging nettle (without touching it) to the rocky shore where we jumped in. It was SO freezing it made it hard to breathe, but we managed some good screaming before we got out 3 seconds later. We then went back to camp to rinse off, and that is when I hear Sara yelling my name. I go to the trailer to see what's up and there was a leech attached to her leg, EEK!!! We stripped down to make sure there were no other lil boogers creeping around. Eww it gives me the heebie-jeebies just to write about it now. It made the dip not quite as refreshing, but hey no serious damage was done. Later that day George and I found a clear stream and tested out our bare-hand fishing skills...yea we're pro. Two trout for each of us :)

I know I look a little nervous...it was quite slimy!

Misty did her three daughter's hair before they came up to camp...a lot of people were jealous so she had to give all of them similar hair-do's.

Grandpa Shrek :)

We got back to town Saturday afternoon. After some work on our house in Cedar we parked the truck up on a small hill and sat on the roof while we watched the local fireworks in Cedar City. It was the perfect way to wrap up such a great weekend. We think the Mellings are such a wonderful family and are so grateful they include us in all their fun. Thank you!! Also I just want to add how grateful I am for our country and the freedoms we enjoy each day.

God Bless America!

Stout Canyon

I LOVE summers! We just spent a great weekend up at a friend's cabin. We went up with Brett & Kate and his brother's family. The owner of the cabin fit the perfect rancher grandpa profile. He was SO kind and very welcoming. It's seriously a patch of paradise with a spring and pond, view of red rock spires, horses, and fresh mountain air! I thought it was neat the the cabin was completely off the grid. There is a paddle wheel that kept batteries charged for electricity and all the water comes from the spring. The weekend was full of good company, perfect weather, walks, swimming, zip-lining, 4-wheeling, dutch oven, fly fishing, and games. I love this time of year, especially in southern Utah!

Stout Canyon

Fly fishing at dusk

Grace & Wes - the cutest fisher-children out there :)

Taylor, Evie, and Kate taking a break on the 4-wheeler

George back-flopping off the zipline, zow!

PB & ♥

George texted me this photo a week ago...I hope he doesn't mind me sharing it, but I thought it was so cute. He is always sending me little reminders like this that make me smile and let me know he loves me. It's hard to be away from each other right now, but it helps us cherish the time we do get to spend together. I'm so blessed to be married to such a great guy. I love you George and can't wait to see you!


P.S. I promise we eat food other than PB&J's!!

A new sister!

Mac and Stephanie got married!  I'm not sure we can say they eloped, because they didn't really 'plan' it, but either way we are SO excited!!  They were rafting the Grand Canyon and found out that a reverend was on the trip with them. So Mac, being the romantic, asked Steph if she thought they should get married. She agreed and so the next day the ceremony was held on the rocky shores of the Colorado River. Dutch oven pumpkin cobbler and strings for rings...sounds like the perfect wedding for Mac & Steph :)  Congratulations you two!! Steph, we're so excited to add another sister to our family...we think you are wonderful!

Mac & Steph

April 21, 2009 

The newly-weds