Thursday, July 30, 2009

Flaming Gorge

One of our recent traditions (which we hopped on with the Andersons!--thanks guys) is to go up to Flaming Gorge to camp and do a little mellow rafting on the Green River.


standing around the ready-to-burst-into-flames campfire--the kids' favorite part

We decided to experiment with smores-style ideas. Amy goes wild balancing two graham crackers with chocolate and marshmallow creme (according to Bella, "marshmallow goo") sandwiched between. That balancing act is a lot harder than it looks.

the perfectly fire-roasted smore

my first attempt at smore-style crescent roll wraps

they actually turned out really well! it's a new camping staple

climbing a juniper to retrieve glowstick rings stuck on its limbs


the Flaming Gorge Dam -- our put-in

We stopped shortly after the dam to do a little rockjumping. Carl doing a frontflip.

Matt's backflip

Bella kept saying she wanted to jump. Over and over again, enthusiastically. So I'd swim her over and we'd climb up and her mind would be changed. I helped her down (threw her down) once, then a while later she said she wanted to try again, and that she wouldn't be afraid this time. So again we went.

The best she would agree to was a dual jump, hand in hand.

Torrin ready to jump

Amy's jump!

hanging out by the riverbank

the gorgeous Green

rafters

Me and Carl on a rock we wished to jump. As we stood there a sheriff raft floated by and they told us "only jumping from 10 feet in this county," so we got down. (Later, as we pushed off to leave, I ran up and jumped it anyway then swam to the floating raft. Only yesterday did I find out how much Amy hated that!)

Beautiful little waterfall area from a tributary. Carl and I climbed up this for a short distance. This is the infamous spot that gave me so much misery, so much poison-ivy!

us boys

The next day we visited the Swett Ranch on our way out. Jarom and Bella and I visited last year, but Amy had stayed in the car with sleeping Oey. So this time all of us explored. It's an inspiring little ode to simple living and being in touch with our environment. Their small homes/cabins/shacks should be more than adequate for most of us. Our ranger guide had us balance on this one-legged stool which was used for milking cows. Then we had to mimic the milking.


so into it

Bella was the only other one who wanted to try


the view from the Red Canyon campground, near the Red Canyon visitors center

We went to the McConkie Ranch petroglyphs again on the way past Vernal, up Dry Fork Canyon. There are two trails; last year we took the Three Kings trail, so this year we took the main one.


post-it notes inside the little entry shack (this is virtually identical to a picture from last year's blog post about our trip)

starting out the trail with walking sticks

Oey loves this bending over backwards business. Me, not so much.

Look closely! Fremont petroglyph figures everywhere around here. Amazing.

baby girl

Moses and his followers

One tough gang, hiking in the heat when the sun comes out.

We always love to stop and admire the Vernal temple. It was the first temple to be converted from an existing building (from the old tabernacle building).

[below is a map of our places]

View flaming gorge, july 2009 in a larger map

Monday, July 27, 2009

Got barley corn?


aka- Carl, one of my baby brothers. He was sweet enough to drive home with me from CA, so I wouldn't have to go it alone again with the three babes. And plus I was going back to Placerville again in a week. Matt took Carl on our favorite bike ride on the Bonneville Shoreline.

enjoying the view

next on our list was Seven Peaks.

Jarom loves speed

Carl loves Oey

Bowling, both those little tikes won Carl twice!

He had to walk miles in the blazing heat while our car was in the shop

kisses for Oey

playing at the gateway discovery

This is Carl and Matt doing flips at the same time. Carl actually was able to do 5 in a row!

my trick

Oey is just as tricky

up-side down trick

just pretty, not pretty tricky

ball

At the biggest dino museum

Open house for the newest temple

Death Cab for Cutie at the gardens

With Chelsea and Mike. A great way to end our week.

Monday, July 13, 2009

When in Placerville


First stop after a long drive was to my sister Merry's house. They had new kitties. This trip was all about cousins and kittens!

We then made it in time to pick some veggies at grandma's for dinner. I always forget how beautiful it is. Look at the view. Wish I could raise my kids up on the hill.

They loved working in grandma's garden.

We brought their old bikes to ride around. You can see my dad working on part of grandma's new chicken coop.

Even grandma has a kitten

That poor kitty never found a good hiding spot

O and his buddies. It's so nice to go to grandma's. Both Wendy and Teddy live there.

Jarom made grandma and grandpa visit the magic tree house

My brother baby Joe is getting really good at the piano. Little fingers always love to help make music.

Our pool party

turned into a tattoo making party

Walked up the hill to play at great grandma's

got dizzy

Grandma came to Oey's rescue

Grandpa played with Emma

Naomi brought over her new cat.

Waiting for the new bride and groom. My whole reason for coming to CA.

Me and my cute niece Katie

Whitney and Brandon!!!!!!! xoxoxooxoxoxoxo

Right after the wedding I hurried up the hill to the river. My parents took the kids up there for a nice cool dip. Daddy coming to Merry's rescue. Those are her two babes. She has THREE more. She is a champ!!

Me and little sis Merry

mud pies coming right up

Of course Jarom makes a friend and steals their floaty.

Taking a break

And this is the end result - dead tired

4th of July

Carl and Dolly are feeling it

Gramps and the kids watching the flag

Going for a little ride

Jarom wanted to take everyone for a ride.

Lunch with Nana!

BBQ and pool party at Heather's

Mikie to Bella's rescue, she had a sliver

Down to Folsom to get fireworks, but they were all sold out!!

We improvise with some snaps and party poppers

And enjoyed the real firework show

Someone finally found the perfect opportunity to play in the fire place

Poor teddy had a bad break.