We always look forward to our annual trip to Utah! This year was especially cool with a much anticipated wedding of my cousin, Sara and Troy's 2nd annual sibling backpacking trip. This year the destination was to King's Peak. The kids and I did some extra fun things in Troy's absence but Troy had the camera so I don't have any cool pics. Oh well his photos make up for it. It feels like I was almost there.
Unfortunately we did not get hardly any pictures of my cousin Sara's wedding due to seeing people and family we don't see ever or very often I should say but here is a shot Troy snuck while waiting for the couple to come out of the Bountiful Temple.
These are shots of Troy's backpacking trip.
This is Troy, Scott, Dane and Katy.
Troy's tent...very exciting.
A waterfall with Katy and her friend/(boyfriend?) Jake!
Friends on the Falls.
This is a rock shoot they took that they could have died on.
13,000 feet!
Wild Flowers
I love these pictures and hope to blow them up SUPER BIG!
Cutthroat Troy caught for supper.
Porcupine
The Lake
On the trail
Before going on his hike Troy satisfied Gavin's (NEED) to fish by taking him behind my aunts yard to fish in the creek. They caught a Whopper!
After Troy returned to SLC we went to COWABUNGA with my cousin Diane and her cousins whom my kids adopted. It was KILLER! If your kids are 42 inches they can pretty much have free reign of the place.
Mazzy could even go on almost everything and she took full advantage of Troy at her disposal!
Gavin loves to eat!
Gavin and Colby definitely got their exercise.
We finished off almost every day with a Marshmellow fest in Ann's Backyard! 
Great Grandma even joined in on the nightly events! 
We LOVE UTAH!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Utah trip 2009!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Backpacking Over the 4th
4th of July weekend was coming up, and with no significant plans, I figured I'd take the Bobs backpacking and flyfishing. I knew a good place up in the Sierra Nevadas that was ideal for Gavin and Colby. Since they are little (6 & 4 years old), I figured I would carry most of the gear, and if they could just walk with their small sleeping bags, we would make it. We headed off July 3rd, just the three of us just to spend some outdoor time together and fish. Loralee was contemplating bringing Mazzy, by in the end decided against it.
We first arrived at Big Bend State Park to get an update on the trail. There are two ways into the lake area, unfortunately my Infinfiti doesn't have the clearance required to get us to the easy trailhead, so we had to take the harder trail, which is 2.5 miles with 1000+ elevation climb. 
On the trail, it still felt like spring time in the Sierras, the flowers were out and yes also were the lizards. As sneaky as Gavin and Colby are, the lizards took them by a long shot.
Whats a backpacking trip without fire. Gavin and Colby, my guess are like all other kids (other than the fact that Colby hates shoes and shirts) in that they can spend all night throwing sticks into the fire. It was nice to be able to relax and watch the Lord of the Flys instinct start to take over.
The lake in the morning was perfect, other than the fact there were no fish.
The following morning, we packed up and got out of there. Surprisingly, the way down was much longer than the way up. Even with the downhill, the kids were tired from the night before and they weren't overly fond of the instant oatmeal in the morning so both were on empty stomachs. Plus to top it off, Gavin had to go to the bathroom so he wanted to hurry while Colby was tired and wanted to stop. 
We made quick time to Denny's in Auburn, a restaurant I haven't been to in 10 years. Surprisingly, it was pretty good. the kids liked the bacon and pancakes, and then we were off again to the Bay Area for the fireworks. It turned out to be a great trip.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Monterey with Most MacDonald's and Smyth's
We had a Action People Packed Adventure in Monterey this June. The day school got out, the kids and I drove out to Monterey to hang out with Poppy and Nanna. The first night was quiet and peaceful. Friday almost all crews crammed in for family fun! Robb and Dalee drove out from Arizona for the week with their two ladies. Lance, Becky and Wyatt drove out from Santa Barbara, Katy flew out from Utah, Ladd took his 3 boys up solo for the weekend to give Jen a break with the new babe, and the Smyth team. It was a ton of chaos, activity, and FUN!
Mazzy with her favorite messy snack...Cheetos.
Practicing her balancing skills.
I am not sure what they found but it must have been cool.
The boys found a seal pup stranded on the beach. We called Animal Control to check on her and make sure she was o.k.. When Poppy got down to the beach he took matters into his own hands.
After the boys realized what Poppy was doing they knew he needed their help. Ends up that this time of year Mother Sea Lions are abandoning their 1 year old pups on the beaches to teach them survival. This particular pup was resting and our best intentions probably just annoyed this exhausted young pup who was gone in an hour.
Nanna, Poppy and grand kids at the Gazebo.
Poppy rented 2 multi passenger bikes to ride along the Wharf. This a a shot of Mazzy, Simmy and Venice at the helm of one of the bikes.
This is a picture of Grand kids after 8:30 am church!
Gavin has graduated from finding hermit crabs to finding the ones that can actually pinch!
Luckily he just found the claw of this one.
Robb's girls can't get enough of him seriously.. I've never seen anything like it! 
Troy took this picture of Venice and she seriously looks like a Mini Goddess!
Gavin realized he is now tall enough to go over the front of the train at Denis the Menace.
Brotherly Bonding!
Poppy felt sorry for Mazzy so he took her on a tour of the train.
The last day Poppy rented a paddle boat for everyone who was left. 
Hailey's 3rd Birthday at the Zoo!
I decided that Gavin hadn't missed enough school this year and that we should go to the zoo the day before school was out!
Hailey claiming her Turtle.
Colby posing on his Frog!
Mazzy and Gavin sharing a frog for a second.
Gavin needed to show and tell us all about the Meerkat Habitat that he has been studying in school.
Photo Op.
Barbie, Hailey, Carter and Colby on the train.
Colby crashed on the couch shortly after our arrival home.
End of School Year Activities
Field Day at Neil Armstrong. Grade K competing against grade 5? Who said life was fair?
Gavin dropped the egg a few times.
He did pretty well on the obstacle course.
Gavin does not enjoy getting wet when it is cold outside.
He actually doesn't have a wedgie he is trying to pull his pants out of the water.
Focus Group Field trip to Hap Magee!
Mazzy got a ride on a big ball!
Grade K against 3rd Graders is a little more even.
Obviously it worked out!
Gavin and Mrs. Dulle at Kindergarten Graduation!
