California Part 2

 After Ben's house we headed to Jan and Lou's. It was so nice to visit them and Grandma Brown. Again I didn't take hardly any pictures. So frustrating. Jan is an excellent host and makes it so easy to stay with her. We played lots of games and did lots of visiting. Joel and Michelle also came over and joined in on the fun. 

Sam's family, my mom, Dan and myself spent a day in Fort Bragg. It was heaven. The temperature was cooler. The weather was perfect. We played so so hard. I love Fort Bragg. It is maybe my favorite place ever.

This was Audrey's first time at the ocean. I think she LOVED it!!!!!

Audrey was in the water all morning. It is so fun to watch kids at the beach. There were some giant crabs in the water. Sam and I chased them for a long time. It was the longest I have been in Fort Bragg weather in forever.

Moki was in heaven.

The fog rolled in and out all morning.

After lunch I snuck in a bike ride on the trail by the ocean. They have recently made the path longer. It was a perfect ride. I got 13 miles and it felt great. The views were the best.

I didn't wear a helmet. Biking selfie:)

While I was biking everyone else explored glass beach. I caught up with them when I finished. I got some cute pictures of everyone.

Emerson gave me the best smile.

Sam and Amanda's cute family!

 Moki living her best life

 

Dan carrying Audrey. They have the same dimple when they make crazy faces.

We ended our day in Fort Bragg at Cowlicks Ice Cream . . . . the best black forest ice cream ever!!!!

It was a lot of driving to get over to the coast but I am so glad we did. Jan and Lou were great hosts. It was so fun to see so much family. The only picture I took at Jan's was of her dog Robbie. Seriously??? He is super cute but I am so mad I didn't get more pictures.

California Part 1

 The day after girls camp I headed to California, probably not the best choice. I was pretty wiped out from such a busy week. Looking back I wish I would have stayed home and relaxed a couple days before I headed out. It was still a great trip I was just extra worn out. Dan and I drove together and we drove straight to Ben's house. Aaron and Jacklyn were already there and Sam's family and my mom joined us the next day. 

Ben and Katie have an awesome house. It can host people really well. They have three bathrooms and a huge living room and kitchen. It is really nice. They also put a little pool in their backyard. We hung out there and did a lake day. It was fun to play games and chill.

Katelyn looked so cute in her lemon dress for church on Sunday!

Monday the 28th was Braxton's birthday. We headed up to White Pine Lake to celebrate. It was a hot but very fun day. We paddle boarded, kayaked, swam, ate yummy food and played really hard.

I put Braxton's hair in a pony tail for 2 seconds:)

I wish I had gotten a group picture . . . LAME! We had lots of fun. Poor Katelyn had been sick and Katie woke up with a sore throat so they stayed home and slept for the day.

When we returned to Lodi we had pizza for dinner, cookies and ice cream, spanking train and opening presents. It was a fun night.

Braxton on the quilt I made. Quilts aren't the most exciting birthday present but his quilt is one of my favorites I have ever made. I just love how it came together.

I brought some leftover stuff from camp for the kids. They loved it!

It is so fun to watch the cousins play together. They had so much fun. They were in the pool pretty much all day everyday. It was awesome! Ia m so mad I never got a group picture. . . so annoying. Sure wish I got to spend more time with these guys.

Girls Camp

 Girls camp was the last full week of June. Due to COVID we did a day camp instead of going to girls camp. We did four days where we met somewhere close to home and then had activities planned. IT WAS AWESOME!!!! I think the girls thought so too. It was fun to take advantage of the many cool places so close to home. Sleeping in our own beds at night was for sure a highlight. The girls all got along really well, I think because they went home at night. Everyone was more rested. It was a lot of work setting up and taking down everyday but considering the year we have had it was amazing. I did not take very many pictures I was too busy at camp. Being a stake leader is no joke. I was so exhausted each night, but it was worth it.

I took a couple pictures of us buying food at COSTCO before camp. We filled six full carts, two more at Sams club and then some more from grocery stores. So much food!

The only other pictures I took were the day we were at Maple Lake. I went on a hike with half the girls in the morning to Red Fish Lake. In the afternoon I manned the water. It was such a beautiful day.

Tuesday we were at a ward building for games, devotionals and crafts.

Wednesday we were up at Maple Lake for hiking, mountain painting, and paddle boarding.

Thursday we were at Big Springs for solo hike, commitment walk, more crafts and games.

Friday we were in Provo at the ropes course and Utah lake. We cleaned up trash, canoed, biked and did the ropes course.

It was a fun week. I met so may amazing young women and leaders that aren't in my ward. It was a blessing. A lot of work but I am grateful I got to be a small part of it.

Summer Fun

 It's finally summer!!!!! The first two days of summer break I had to do work stuff. After those two days were out of the way I have been able to have a lot of down time. Hiking, biking, visiting friends and family and anything else that sounds interesting and fun.

One afternoon Amanda and I took her kids to the park. It was sooooo hot and because Utah (and the entire west coast) is in a horrible drought the water didn't turn on until 11. We played at the playground and hung out until the splash pad had water. I got the cutest pictures of Audrey.

My favorite one that I need to print.

Andrew got to be interviewed on the news about the heat wave:) That was a highlight for him.

I did a lot of sewing. I made a quilt for Aaron and Jacklyn's baby Tyla, one for Braxton for his birthday and I am still trying to complete small ones for my siblings out of my dad's old shirts.

I love how the quilt for Braxton turned out.

I tried a new pattern for the quilt for Tyla. I love the material I found. It is so darling. Hopefully Aaron and Jacklyn like it too.

Moki and I hiked up Rock Canyon one morning and we saw a Rubber Boa snake. I had never seen one before. It moved so slowly. Moki stepped right on it and it didn't even react.

One Sunday evening I helped Audrey ride her bike. She is so cute and so big.

She is at the best age right now.

Erica and I hiked Silver Lake one morning. This is from the parking lot. It was an amazing morning. I never get sick of this view.

Memorial Day Hike

 I had a fun hike planned for Memorial Day. Jacquie and Eriuc Carter and myself have been hiking on Tuesday and Thursdays all spring. Jacquie and I have hiked for years. This year Eric, her husband, started to join us. It has been really fun. We decided to do a longer hike on Memorial day. We hiked from Slate Canyon on the Bonneville shoreline trail to the Y trailhead, then up the Y and beyond until we ran into the Slate Canyon trail, then we came down Slate canyon. We started at 6am. I am glad we did because it was hot when we were finishing. Eric led the way with a fast pace. I was feeling a little off that day. I appreciated having people in front of me to keep me moving. I felt awful for the first hour or so uphill. I think I had a little sickness that Sam and Amanda's kids had. I wasn't full on sick but I did not feel great. The hike was great though.

I am so glad we did it! We ended up hiking 9 miles in just about 4 hours. It was a great way to start Memorial Day!

Kodachrome Basin

 For Memorial Day weekend I was able to reserve camping at Kodachrome Basin State Park. It was a miracle since I reserved the camp spot so late. Sam's family came too. We were able to hike some, bike some and play lots of games.

I took my road bike, Mountain bike and Andrew and Emersons bike. It was my first time hauling four bikes on my rack. It made my car seem long and HUGE!

Moki and I got there Thursday evening. Sam's family wasn't coming until Friday afternoon. We had time to set up camp, hike and then I mountain biked before we went to bed. It was warm enough to sleep with the rain fly off. It was awesome!

Friday I slept in. Later than I should have because it was so hot when Moki and I hiked. We snuck in a morning hike and then set up another tent in camp. I spent the afternoon reading while we were waiting for Sam's family to come. 

We got their tent all set up with sleeping gear, played card games and had dinner. Sam and Amanda made some yummy pizza. I spent the evening on a Mt. bike ride. It was five miles in the sand. It was really fun but the sand made it harder than I anticipated.

It was so pretty

The next morning we got up and after breakfast we went on a hike. We hiked the Shakespeare arch loop. It's about a 3 mile loop. The kids did great. Lots of pretty views.

At the start of the hike Audrey spotted a snake (in the background). She was obsessed with it. We had to pry her away to actually do the hike.

The views did not disappoint.

Hey, I know those guys!

Resting the shade.

This girl is so cute.

Cute little hiking family

The hike was great. The kids made it without too many complaints:)

We headed into  Cannonville to hang out at the park for the afternoon. We had lunch, played Kanjam, played card games and rested during the heat of the day.

Then we attempted to hike Willis Creek. That was not successful. Andrew was done hiking and making sure we all knew it. We hiked a little ways but not too far. I was bummed because the walls are so cool as you get into the slot canyon but we didn't get to see much of that.

We made it about 1/2 a mile or so. We had some snacks then headed back to camp.

We made dinner. Hot dogs. I did a chocolate cake in the dutch oven. Sam and Amanda went on an evening hike while I hung out with the kids. Then they came back and I went biking as the sun was going down!

Sunday was our last day. Moki and I got up and hiked Angel's Palace. We were the only two on the trail all morning. So nice!

 

After our morning hike we cam back to camp. We all packed everything up. Then we decided to hike the nature trail. That was fun because there were rocks the kids could climb on.

After that short walk we went back to Cannonville for lunch. I headed back to Provo after lunch. I was tired and was driving by myself, with Moki. Overall it was a really fun trip. I forget how much harder it is to do things like camping and hiking with kids. It takes a lot more time and so much PATIENCE. I love doing things like this with my nephews and nieces, even if they say they hate it:)