Going to Oregon

(Colton, Clay, & Charlie)

My baby brother, Colton, the youngest of 8 is getting married this Saturday; so, we are all piling in the van for an 8 hour drive to Milton-Freewater. I'm very much so looking forward to the visit, but Aaron would rather be doing about anything else in the world. He's avoided going to my house for 4 years now - I just take the kids and go with my sister or brother - but a wedding requires the he make the trek. He likes my brothers and is looking forward to some golf with my friend Tricia's husband, so hopefully it won't be too painful of an experience.

We are squeezing 8 people into the van - max capacity. The 5 in our family and then Clay, Jessie, & Jade. I don't think we will be too stir crazy since the kids will have DVD players and Jessie and I are planning on sleeping most of the time. I am worried about Charlieman though. With all his perfection, I have found 1 flaw - he is not a travler. The 10 minutes to the gym is hard on him, so I'm dreading 500 miles; I'm thinking Benadryl might be needed.

Friends

(1: Wheeler Farm: Anna, Cami, Candace, & Kristine 2 Coco Cafe: Cami, Anna, Charity, & Candace) - I've come to realize as a mom and a wife that there aren't many peaceful moments in each day; so on the rare occasions (every 6 months or so) that I get to go out and be just a girl and a friend, I cherish the pure enjoyment I get from just being me. My friend Anna came from Seatle to SLC for a month this summer. Whenever she is here, it gives Cami & I an excuse to get the rest of our friends together (about 8 women that worked at the Apple Fitness Kid's Club together and became really close). We do a few things with all of our kids, but then try to have 1 girls-night-out with just the moms. Coco cafe had to kick us out when it closed and then we just stood in the parking lot for another hour chatting away. It is so wonderful to hear that others are going through the same stresses with their kids, husbands, lives and everything in general. And it makes you feel more human, more acceptable, less lacking than you believed before. Thank you to all the women in my life that bring a smile to my face, encouragement to my soul, and have love for my family and me.

my new thing - hiking

(Sunday, 7/13/08, Millcreek; Salt Lake City, UT)

I admit it - I'm addicted. It's just so easy, fun, and something everyone can do no matter what age or ability. The kids love it because they can get dirty and see bugs; I love it because we can be active while spending time with the whole family; and Aaron loves it because...well, that's just a lie, Aaron doesn't love it, but he complains a lot less than I thought he would and he did say he was glad he went after it was all said and done. I encourage you all to pack a sack lunch (we made the kids pack their own) and just get out of town for a few hours. Fun, Fun, Fun!

We Survived!

...and, dare I say it, I had a good time :). I could have done without the mosquitos and being grimy when I went to bed, but other than that it was fun. We packed everything in about 1/4 a mile to Lake Bonnie and set up camp only a few yards off the shore. We hiked in the mornings, fished and swam in the afternoon, and sat around the fire eating treats and telling stories at night.

I caught my first fish since I was about 9 with my grandpa West - I screamed like a little girl and scared Charlie half to death...not only because I was screaming and jumping up and down, but because the fish was flopping around on the ground and he didn't know what to do. And I found out lots of things about my family.

Aaron - is not as big as a sissy as I thought. He was quite a mountain man and even braved freezing cold water in his swim trunks to take a bath everyday.

Aleah - must have the sweetest smell ever because no matter how much OFF we put on her the misquitos still feasted. And she is an excellant fisher and would go out to the lake by herself for hours.

Cameron - loves to hike. He was always the one in front. He loved to explore every tree, rock and lake...and there were a lot of them. He never complained once about no TV, Computer, indoor plumbing, or taking a bath - in fact, he still didn't want to take a bath when we got home.

Charlie - still amazes me...not 1 misquito bite! How is that possible? The rest of us came home with a minimum of 10 and he didn't have 1. He also can sleep anywhere; he even slept on Uncle Clay for over 1/2 hour while he was hiking up and down trails with rocks and mud.

Clay - should have been born 200 years ago. He loved every second that we were there and I'm pretty sure he didn't want to leave. It was fun to remember stories of Wallowa (SP?) Lake and other times we had been camping as kids.

Jade - will eat anything. She never complained about the camp food and even endured the burnt toast and burnt marshmellows with a smile. She is also quite the poser. She knows her Aunt Candi loves the camera and would find different places and say, "Take a picture!"

Jessie - not only endured 4 days of camping, but 4 days with my insane family - 4 days of Akes stories, crazy kids, and being bossed around by me, "Jessie, Hold Charlie...wash dishes...help with dinner...give me chapstick." Okay, so I wasn't that mean...I did say, "Please." She was wonderful and I wouldn't have been so cheerful without her - yep, she's a keeper.

Overall, I guess it was the perfect memory I was hoping for - at least for my kids sake, and now we have to go a few more times to make all the camping gadgets Aaron bought worth it.

Pray for me!

(Pictures - the first one is on Charlie's 2nd b-day party; he's such a big boy. The other is of Cam at the pool; he's so funny.)

We are going camping...no, you heard me correctly; I'm going to torture myself for 3 days for the love of my children. They have informed us that we are lacking as parents because they have not been camping yet, so Aaron decided 4th of July weekend would be a great time to rectify the situation. And, oh no, there will be no drive-up cement slabs and walk-to bathrooms and showerhouses for us; my brother Clay insists on hiking at least 1/4 mile away from all human life and packing our stuff in. I'm holding fast to the blow-up mattress though - my small form of rebellion. Okay, I have to pack now. If you see no new posts by Tuesday, you might want to contact the Park Rangers in Utah :).

I am surrounded by fish!

(Random picture of Father's day)

My 4 children (I have my niece Jade for the summer so she counts as mine) would live in the water if I let them. I am willing to do 2 hours at the pool a day and that is still not enough for them. We also go to the park or library both of which have free ponds/fountains/water features for kids to play in - they just keep their swim suits on all day. Oh, to be a kid again :). I'm going to Old Navy today to find more suits for everyone - including me. I imagine that when my kids are older they will look back on summer and think it smelled like sunscreen and chlorine and remember that it looked like swimsuits and towels forever hanging on my front porch to dry......I'm enjoying every minute of it :).

Summer Fun

Wha Who! I figured out how to add pictures! This one is from the last day of School. I'll add one of Charlie's Birthday soon.

The last week has been crazy. We've had a lot of little projects going on. Spending time at the Library, Park, Pool, and more - it seems like we are always hopping from one thing to the next.

Charlie's 2nd b-day party was on Saturday. It had a Monkey theme and it was so fun. Everyone got him Monkey stuff - from books and blankets, to toys and towels. Which is great because he loves Monkeys.

Jadey got here yesterday and Aleah couldn't be happier. We went swimming this morning with Jessie, Clay's girl-friend. After 2 hours, the kids still wanted to stay, but I was done. They are getting tan so fast. Now we are home for a bit while Char takes a nap and I do the 13 trillion loads of laundry that are waiting me and the gazzillion dishes - then it is on to the library.

Have a fabulous day! Candace :)