Scout Campout

Having Jake as assistant Scoutmaster in the ward has its challenges--scouting is definitely time-consuming sometimes! But, it also has its benefits, like Jake taking James on some of the campouts.

James loves to go!

They had to backpack in about a mile to the campsite. James was great to carry his not-so-light backpack with all his gear and no complaints.

James was excited to find this salamander. It's a little bigger than the ones the boys find sometimes in our creek.

Of course, what's a good scout camp without a sizeable fire?!

The "snack altar" where everyone put their food so they could all share.

The group. Not a huge group for this particular campout, but I think everyone had a good time!

Photo Shoot

If you're a parent, you might argue with me.

But, I feel like I love and am grateful for my kids a little more than the ordinary parent, because it took so much to get them. They're both amazing miracles given what we went through.

And, well, they're just so darn cute . . .

The last adventure in Utah that I'll blog about was taking the boys to Wheeler Farm to have their photos done. I think they turned out amazing--especially considering we had just gotten into SLC the evening before (1:30 AM EST) and that we had spent all day (before the photos) at Cowabunga Water Park getting exhausted with the sun and fun.

Jack had a little trouble getting into the spirit of things, so being the nice brother that he is, James decided to lend a hand. Literally.
Such sweet brothers. Most of the time.

At one point things got a little out of hand, James being the instigator, and Jackson being the copycat he nearly always is! Who doesn't want to be like their big brother when they're 2?

This picture (and the one below) were taken by the chicken house. I love the unique background. I wasn't so excited about it later, about 3 AM, when Jack starting crying and crying. When I went in to see what was the matter, the only intelligible words I could get from him were "the chickens, the chickens!!" Apparently the chickens left a frightening impression.

Doesn't this just make you feel like summer?!

As usual, Karina did an outstanding job (she did our fabulous family pics last year as well).

To check out more of her work, see http://ko-photography.blogspot.com

The Greatest Generation

One of my favorite moments of our trip back to Utah was the opportunity to have my Grandpa Hallows come to Family Home Evening and talk a little to my children about his service in the Marines during World War II.

I love and admire him and can't hear enough about his experiences. Partially because this time in the world is so unfamiliar to any of the experiences most of us that live today have had. Partially because of the core values and courage of this generation. My Grandpa grew up in a small town, on a farm. He was called up to serve and reported immediately. The initial experiences in the military, in basic training, were completely foreign and very difficult to most of these boys who had been pulled away from similar situations as my Grandfather. Yet they served with courage, honor, and integrity. They saw and experienced things that they don't like to speak about. Probably things that changed them forever. Yet most of them that came home continued to live an honorable, hard-working life, some LDS soldiers (like my Grandpa) going on to take an additional 2 years out of their lives by serving missions. They then raised families, most times in difficult economic circumstances. No wonder that I love the term coined for them: "The Greatest Generation".

My boys learned about basic training, how physically demanding it was, and how many new skills the new soldiers had to learn. Grandpa brought a couple of sticks to teach my boys how they drilled and had to learn to hold their guns and march.
Jackson had a bit more trouble than James did.
Grandpa also told a story about a friend named Gunther, who was from a farming community in the Midwest. We all felt sorry for poor Gunther hearing about his difficulties with basic training: He walked with too much of a bounce in his step. So in the tight ranks of the military, he was too obvious, bobbing up and down. After severe reprimands and attempts to walk differently, he came up finally with a solution to his problem. He placed sticks on either sides of his legs, then used a bandana to tie them firmly around each knee. He hoped the sticks would force himself to walk more stiffly, in military style. Unfortunately, as the company marched and marched, the bandanas gradually fell down around his ankles. Of course this was noticed immediately and I'm sure poor Gunther had to take more punishment.
James with his "rifle" and my Grandpa's hat with Marine insignia on the side.
Grandpa served 3 years, mostly in North China, battling resistance fighters from Japan who had come into China as the Allies took over their own country.
God bless you who served (and still do) to make America great.
My favorite story from my Grandpa's military experience was submitted to the Deseret News in Salt Lake City and won their Christmas story contest. If you'd like to read it, you can go to
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705354049/Christmas-I-Remember-Best-Christmas-birth-countered-ravages-of-war.html
Thanks Grandpa.

Lake Powell . . .

Well, pushing the endurance of my children by taking another road trip, we headed to Lake Powell. It was as beautiful as I remembered, and a kid's paradise with lots of sand, water, and cousins to have fun with.

The kids played so long on the beach the first day that despite 3 or 4 coats of sunscreen they still got a little sunkissed. Luckily nobody got it too badly. Except my poor brother Zach, white as snow from his mission and out for the first time with no sunscreen. Oops. Ouch.
My artsy sister Melissa brought iron-ons and shirts for all the kids (and adults--not pictured!). I think they were all pretty creative!

Of course, it isn't Lake Powell without some fun out on the boat. Thanks Kim and Gerron!

James had a great time out on the "Easy Ski".

And a great time hanging out on the boat with his cousins. This was his favorite spot, up in the very front of the boat.

The last day things got a little crazy on the boat with bath foam hats for all.

I even made it up on the wakeboard, a bit shocking as I hadn't been out for about 4 years. It was really fun, though! And the Lake Powell water temperature is always amazing.

A very fun trip and lots of time with my family--Thanks everyone!

Up Greys . . .

Let's be honest. I wasn't totally excited about going camping with Jake's family. Mostly because I haven't been camping in a LONG time and a lot of my family (despite growing up camping!) have decided camping is not for them. But, it was Jake's one ambition this summer to make it "up Grey's" which translates to real camping (no organized campgrounds here, my friend!) up Grey's River wilderness in Wyoming. We're talking no bathrooms and everything (I'll give you a hint, one of the camp tools is a shovel with a roll of toilet paper kept ready on the handle).

But, of our whole trip to Utah, this was definitely one of the highlights. It was truly a great time!

Going running with my sisters-in-law. I'm the dorky one who forgot to bring my real cold-weather running clothes (can't imagine how I forgot what with 3 people to pack for camping, Lake Powell, and miscellaneous other Utah plans including family pictures). We had a great time, though. Running is the greatest way I can imagine to appreciate the beauty around you.
Some of the grandkids, loving the "roughing it". What boy doesn't love having the whole outdoors as his own personal bathroom? And having permission to get absolutely filthy, soaked, and run around anywhere you want?

One of the highlights was "tubing the river". The boys took the first tubing trip. Here they are in all their glory. The Veigel family's finest (with a nod to Trent who may or may not want to admit that he's part of the Veigel family since he only married into it).

Truly a beautiful place. This picture was taken from the top of a hill. Incidentally, it was on this hill (the one from which the picture was taken) that Jake proposed to me. How could I say no?!

Our hike up to Stump Lake was made even more fun by Jake's mom's "backpack icecream". Look for the recipe on my cooking blog. It was amazing.

The girls had their own tubing trip. Very fun but a little freaky given that the tubes are really difficult to steer. I thought I was a pro at paddling after spending a lot of time out in our kayaks, but this is nothing like paddling a kayak. It's more like riding on a merry-go-round, while frantically trying to stop yourself from spinning. And, meanwhile, trying to somehow get yourself away from hazards like broken trees and low-hanging branches. And get you and your tube against the current to the shore where you're supposed to get out. But, fun all the same!

Vacation . . .

If you're a regular to our blog, sorry we haven't posted for so long!
We've been in Utah for 2 weeks, visiting family and traveling around.
This is Jack and his cousin Lola, our first adventure in Utah being a trip to Cowabunga--a crazy water park. The kids had a fabulous time. Other than a little sunburn . . .

We celebrated my Dad's birthday--with help from all the grandkids in blowing out his candles.
Saves the embarrassment of not getting them all blown out yourself . . . !

My very creative mother decided it would be fun to have a "treasure hunt" in the backyard swimming pool. She took some old storage wheat (only a Mormon . . . ) and poured it in the kiddie pool and hid stuff in it for the kids to find. After they found everything they decided to fill their clothes with wheat. Yikes, what a mess! Glad it was in Grandma's yard . . . !

We went to a 24th of July carnival where the Highway Patrol copter was there for kids to explore. We also got to see it land. Pretty cool.

My poor deprived children got to watch a home fireworks show (the last 2 years we've lived in states that don't allow ANY home fireworks, so this is quite a novelty). I loved Jack's face--Shock and Awe??!

The first time all the kids in my family have been together for a really long time. It has been so much fun to see everyone and for my kids to play with all their cousins.

Next on our schedule was a trip up to Wyoming to see Jake's Grandma (Pom-Pom) and to go camping with Jake's family. Here we are with cute Pom-Pom.

The kids had a fabulous time feeding the horses that live next door to Pom-Pom. She gave them a huge plate full of carrots, so the horses really liked us!
Many more pictures to come, whether you like it or not . . . !