Camping With the Grips

So we went camping with the our friends the Grips from July 6th to July 9th. We drove about 5 hours away to Ridgway State Park and camped in Yurts. As we were driving there Emily started complaining of her ears. Once we got there Mike took her to an urgent care and we found out she had an ear infection. They got her on some antibiotics and she seemed fine. While they were are urgent care I unloaded our stuff into the yurt and fed the other kids some dinner.

The next day was Tuesday and we did a little hike and then got caught in a rain storm. It was nice to have the yurts to keep us warm and dry. When there was a lull in the storm our family drove into Montrose and hit Target for some games the kids could play just in case we got rained in again. That night we had dinner that the Grips prepared and then put kids to bed. Once they were asleep the adults sat around the fire and visited.

Wednesday it looked gloomy and cold but we decided to do the Ouray Hot Springs anyway. It was beautifully nestled in between some mountains that made us feel like we were in the Swiss Alps. The kids had fun and I enjoyed the hottest of the hot. Once we left there we went back to the camp so our family could prepare dinner and then the usual night routine of bedtime for the kids and visiting for the adults.

Thursday we packed up and headed home since I had to get to class that night. We sure had fun and can't wait to do it again.

Nauvoo Reunion Day 5

Today is our last day, which makes me kind of sad. The kids have had a blast and so have Mike and I. Mike made a comment that Nauvoo wasn't really anything he ever had a desire to see, but he is very glad we did.

We did the visitors center this morning then met up with everyone at Pioneer Pastimes except Joey's family.  The kids really enjoyed the games and dressing up, and Mike really enjoyed the ring toss game and stilts.

From there we all headed to Pizza Hut in Keokuk where there was a lunch buffet. After lunch Mike and I took the kids to the Oxen ride before they closed them down for the day.  That was pretty fun too.

From there we headed back to the Pioneer Pastimes so Mom could watch the kids while Mike, Cherstin, Dan and I took the Community of Christ tour of Joseph Smiths home and red brick store.  Mike and I both felt the Spirit leave when we literally went into their area of Nauvoo, and I commented on how even though their beginning history of Joseph Smith is the same it still felt like a "story" they were telling us. 

Anyway, we got back to Mom and the kids and there had been a band and a parade that Emily participated in.

Mike and I had dinner to prepare in a hurry.  We had spaghetti, salad, and rolls.  After we all ate fast we headed to a play called Sunset on the Mississippi.  It was fun, and the kids enjoyed it, well maybe not Mordecai since he fell asleep sitting up.

We played games late into the night, and then headed back to the hotel.  On our way back Mike and I were talking about what our favorite part has been and I added that it has just been nice to be with my family who are all doing what is right and that as of now we can all be together forever. I know it isn't a guarantee but I can't imagine things changing ever, and I know it is a very rare things now days that we have all been sealed in the Temple (Felicia and Tom in November) and are all active. Love my family!!! 





Nauvoo Reunion Day 4

We missed church this morning since we overslept.  We met up with the rest of the group and went and did the quarry overlook, blacksmith shop (which I thought was very interesting) where they made a tiny horse shoe which Carlie got, but gave to us.  We also got prairie diamond rings which the kids love. 

We met back at camp for PB&J's and then went and saw Lucy Mack Smith's home.  W stayed late playing games and stuff and were going to stay for the Trail of Hope, where the missionaries walk the path of the exodus performing vignettes of those that were here, but our kids were done so we headed back instead.

Nauvoo Reunion Day 2

These are pictures of how wiped out our kids were this morning.

It is SOOOO HOTTTT!  I can't believe the rest of my family is camping. Mike and I feel bad for them. We met up with my family at Wendy's in Keokuk, Iowa about 11:30 a.m. Then from there we dropped off our stuff at our hotel, Baymont Inn and Suites, and then drove 15 more minutes into Nauvoo.  We met most of the family and visited lots of homes.  It was so hot so it was a nice reprieve to be in the air conditioned buildings.  Only our family would have the luck of picking a reunion time in record breaking temps, like 104 degrees. We went swimming this evening and I think we overloaded the pool. Ha Ha.

1st Annual Camping Trip- Day 2

Last night was so HORRIBLE!!!  There was a group across the lake from us that was partying until 2:00a.m.  I dozed off once during that time but woke up to Mike putting Mordecai back on the air mattress.  From then on I went to the bathroom like 3 times.  Around 3:00 a.m. I heard a noise that sounded like an animal getting into a bag of fruit and nuts.  Immediately the thought came to my mind that it was the deer we saw earlier.  I then kept looking to see if I could see his shadow on the tent walls, but nothing.  I laid there for a while hoping it didn't get spooked and try running through our tent and trampling us.  Around 3:30 a.m. I heard Marci talking and then come back from the bathroom.  It was then that I decided I need to go to the bathroom again, but was going to try to just sleep.  At 4:00 a.m I finally hauled myself to the bathroom because I knew I wouldn't get any sleep with that nagging feeling.  When I left the tent I smelled a skunk and was so worried that it was around, but I couldn't see anything.  I finally fell asleep at 4:30 a.m and was up at 6:30 a.m to make breakfast.

When I got up Marci was trekking back from the bathroom and she said they had had a terrible night too.  She said she got up around 3:00 a.m. and heard something outside of her tent so she un-zipped and saw something sitting outside their kids tent.  She yelled "Hey" at it because she thought it was Max sitting outside the tent but when she didn't get a reply she zipped back up and got Corey to give her her glasses.  After she zipped open again they realized it was a skunk eating the peanuts that Corey left out that night.  So much for my deer I thought I heard, it was a skunk.  It also explains the smell I smelled that one time I was headed off to the bathroom.

For breakfast we did the whole gamut. Pancakes, eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, orange juice and milk.  After we cleaned up Marci and I headed to King Soopers to buy a fly trap, we had flies like crazy, caffeine for Marci and more ice.  The kids played well with Dad's and when we got back we had some PB&J's for lunch.

After lunch it was back to the swim beach where the kids had a better time.  While Marci and I were shopping we bought some big floatie things for them to play with.  We also built sand castles and moats and the like, but have no pictures because it was wet and sandy.

Dinner was nice and quick.  We had Hawaiian Haystacks.  I did the prep work on Tuesday so all we had to do was add soup and cook rice.  We had some dutch oven peach cobbler for dessert and then the kids were in bed.  The adults enjoyed some chat time, well I know Mike and I did.  It was one of those nights of laughing and learning about the other couple...you know those conversations where when you are laying in bed with your spouse and reminisce about the evening and you still laugh and talk about how much you enjoyed it?  It was one of those.

Tomorrow is check out, and so it is going to be a quick and easy cereal morning.  We enjoyed this camping trip so much that we plan on doing one every year.

1st Annual Camping Trip

The morning started early.  I had to go to Wal-Mart before we left because as we were packing the car last night Mike dropped and broke the globe on the lantern, and we needed one of those.  Of course while I was there I scored with buying a canopy on the off chance that we needed it. 

We got to Fort Collins around 11:20 a.m., but couldn't check into our campsite until noon so we decided to stop at McDonald's for lunch.  While I was there I got a phone call from Marci saying they were on the way, but stopping for lunch as well, and to see the future site of the Fort Collins Temple.

 

We got to our campsite and set up.  Boy, is camping with little ones hard.  They wanted to help set up everything which translates into looking for parts and pieces that they hauled off somewhere.  We were almost set up when the Grip's pulled in.  After they got set up we hit the lake and the so-called swim beach.  I say 'so-called' because it was very rocky and not a whole lot of sand or beach to play on, and the water that was cleared of rocks to play in was not very big.  You could swim out of the sectioned off area but you risked the whole kicking a  major rock issue.

Around 5:00 p.m. we headed back to camp for some tin foil dinners and s'more action.  It was a very late night and the kids didn't make it to bed until 9:00 p.m.  Marci, Corey, Mike and I stayed up a bit for adult time, but Ruby has gotten up multiple times so I am nursing her and then headed to bed.