Sunset Camping.

Our annual camping trip with the Johnsons took us to Logan Canyon for two nights. We left Monday after our eye doctor appointments--which made us feel so dizzy for the rest of the day because our eyes were dilated. Even though the doctor said it would wear off after an hour, it took me until the next day before I could take my sunglasses off.

It was completely crazy trying to pack up and make our last minute Walmart trip before leaving Logan. But when we arrived just in time for dinner, I remembered why we go to so much work for camping trips....it was so peaceful and relaxing and perfect to be together.

That first night we sat around the campfire and had a special little family home evening lesson from Dad about enjoying the moments and the memories with our families and then we played our traditional "Fruit Game" where everyone chooses a fruit and has to talk without showing their teeth while passing turns between one another. As always, we played more for the fun of listening to Mr. Mango, and Pig (Fig), and Passion FRUIT, and Marindacitrofolia sp?? banter back and forth. It was wonderful as it always is.

The first night I could not fall asleep even though I was exhausted, probably because it was the first time on our new air mattress and I was stressed I wouldn't wake up in time to cook breakfast. We each took a meal to plan and prepare during the trip and we were assigned Wednesday morning breakfast. We made homemade whole wheat pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bananas, and Patrick got teased for bringing Cups of Noodles for lunch last year since I wasn't there...

After breakfast we loaded up and drove over to Bear Lake where we spent the whole day in the water. We played on the kayaks, water skied, tubed, and jet-skied. I rode on the tube with Tate, then Patrick and Payton showed us all their tubing skills--getting dumped at least 3 times. Patrick even water-skied for the first time. I loved watching him. I wished I had brought my phone on the boat so I could have taken pictures of him and Dad and Mom water-skiing as well.

My favorite part was just riding in the boat with the wind on my face, soaking up the sunshine. The water was so turquoise and beautiful. We were so blessed with good safety and perfect weather. The rules for the kids were life jackets any time they were in the water and always staying with a grown-up. We had such a lovely day and the weather was pristine!

After our skin all turned cherry-red, we drove back to camp and had dinner. Then afterwards, we played "King Elephant" which was most definitely the hit of the trip! No one could do my Zebra sound quite right, Holland's ant lifting won the most creative award in my book, and watching the humor of the game--I laughed so hard. Mom thought she was the ant for most of the night, Patrick gloried in getting everyone out by throwing the turn right back at them, Easotn's gorilla smacking was worth paying to see, Melissa's "Kevin" sound was spot on, and Payton's firefly "Blub" was the coveted animal. All in all, it couldn't have been better!!

The night ended much to early and we headed off to bed, where I went to sleep much faster and slept much better. The next morning after breakfast, we broke camp and headed home to pick up our little Maylie whom we missed so much. But before we picked her up, we couldn't help stopping to get a famous Bear Lake Raspberry Shake!!

Next year Jacee and Chad will be in charge of the Johnson trip...we will probably be heading up to Island Park.  Next summer seems so far away, but I'm sure it will come soon. I so look forward to these annual family trips that we do with both sides of our family. The memories we make together are relived a million times. Families are precious. And I feel so blessed to be a part of my husband's family. They are so very good to us.

Summer Excursions.

Last week we managed to squeeze in two family vacations.  First we went to Lagoon with the Greene's and later in the week we went camping with the Johnsons.

I didn't take many pictures because I forgot my camera at Lagoon and then it ran out of battery in the mountains.  But it doesn't matter; the pictures are all in my head--perfectly preserved.

Watching my little boys' faces as they ventured on the rides was indescribable.  Indescribably indescribable.  The wonder, the delight, the excitement, the sheer joy that radiated from their little faces brings tears to my eyes as I remember.  It was the best trip to Lagoon I have ever had. 

I took this with Patrick's phone

Then camping brought adventures and hikes and games around the campfire.  The boys loved this too.  So much.  And I did too....for the first time in my life.

I just can't wait for next summer.  Because I know that the two vacations on the very top of my to-do list will be Lagoon and Camping.

Oh, my heart is already nostalgic and it hurts now that summer is winding down.  Everything is going to change this Fall with Easton starting school and my little ones growing up so fast....

Oh summer, I know you must leave, but please linger a little longer.  I need every single moment.

Summer is Dutch Oven Chicken and Potatoes.

How hard to realize that every camp of men or beast has this glorious starry firmament for a roof! In such places standing alone on the mountain-top it is easy to realize that whatever special nests we make - leaves and moss like the marmots and birds, or tents or piled stone - we all dwell in a house of one room - the world with the firmament for its roof - and are sailing the celestial spaces without leaving any track.

~John Muir

We made memories with our whole Johnson clan this past weekend...

...basking in the sunset...

...and meeting our newest little niece Colbie.

Everyone was there--Grandpa, Grandma, Megan, Sadie, Jacee and Chad, Holland, Eliza, Nelson, Payton and Melissa, Molly and Chris and Colbie.

{This is Jacee and poor little Nelson who was sick...and Melissa...who is making musical instruments out of grass.}

After a delicious dutch oven dinner, the sun went down and the air grew chilly.  But we warmed ourselves by a fire...

...roasting marshmallows.

I'm not so sure he loved the charcoaly marshmallow.

But Payton did ;)

And then there was Easton...who just wanted to pose and model his marshmallowey mouth.

The End to a beautiful trip to the canyon.

Summer is an Indoor Camp-out.

When Gram and Pop went camping we had our own little camp-out inside.

It truly wasn't much this year, but maybe the memory will be enough to spark interest in the future for continuing this tradition.

I had wanted a pretend fire and oven-roasted marshmallows, but the hour was too late for any creative fire endeavors and we found the marshmallows were all gone.  Maybe next year.

So for this year we gathered around in a little circle by the boys' tiny tent...eating rainbow licorice and playing games.

Then we went to bed in our own beds because that's the beauty of having little ones--the traditions can start out quite simple and maybe someday evolve into something more...

What I've been doing.

Where to start?  It's been so long.

Summer end is always so busy as we try to savor each and every last minute with our loved ones before they're whisked off to school again.

It's filled with garden tomatoes with salt and fresh corn on the cob.

It's filled with last hurrahs with extended families.

And as if that's not enough, we have to add on to our never-ending list of summer projects, brand new ones for Fall.

And I guess that's why I haven't written for so long.

So to catch up, tonight will be a bit extensive.

As I look back at Labor Day Weekend, which was just a few weeks ago, I'm kind of in awe that to me it was still summer.

 May I just mention that when we pulled up to talk to the camp hosts in Heber Valley Girls Camp (for our Johnson family camp out), Easton immediately rolled down his window and said to the couple, "Hey!  Look at my funny face!"  Then he pulled his mouth into a contorted shape.  He then grabbed his pail and said, "Look at my funny hat!"  You know, I've come to love these times even though Easton usually embarrasses me.  I really can't imagine my life without him in the spotlight, because ever since he has been with us, that is where he has been.  I suppose he always will.

Aren't Grandparents wonderful??

Although, Tate would probably say Kita is in the running too.

Megan, Sadie, and I spent about an hour looking through pictures and laughing as we reminisced.  I love my sister-in-laws!

This was probably the highlight of Easton's day.

Tate's first lawn mowing experience.  He's growing up much too fast.

  

And with the end of Labor Day, summer seemed to fade away.

We've enjoyed some splendid weather, but still I could feel Autumn just over the brink of the horizon.

And with a zest that is completely out of character for me, I bought some little orange pumpkins and began decorating for the ensuing Fall. (Visit this link to see my September interior decorating photos).

(And this link too for the reasons why Fall has been so much better for me this year).

Thoughts of Autumn brought me a thousand and one ideas for new projects and passions that I've been pouring my whole self into...hence, the lack of posting this month. 

(Visit this link for a glimpse of some of the things I've been doing and am planning to do.)

But, even with all of the grand ideas and schemes I still had time to snap a few pictures here and there:

And now Fall is officially here I think.  And surprisingly, I'm welcoming the change with open arms and an open heart.  It's going to be a great Autumn...I can just feel it.