Family Camp 2017 - Johnson Hills Camp

We had another wonderful Family Camp this year.  We went to Johnson-Hills Camp, which belongs to a family in our ward.  We knew we needed to go early because Christie is very pregnant and due in early July and it needed to be low so it wouldn't still be too cold.  And it needed to be comfortable too since she's not really up to sleeping out in a tent when she's very pregnant either.  So the Johnson's place filled the bill and at an affordable rate to boot.  We went May31st - June 3rd (Wednesday-Saturday).  We had everyone there except Kaebri (on Trek), Supe and Beacher (starting business at Veryo Pool/Crawdad Canyon), and Bean.  Some people couldn't stay the whole time, but it was still a pretty good showing.  We had 36 some of the time.  This year was different because Juge, Lou, Ferf and Derek all had camp trailers.  Lou was in a tent and Moss, Jay and us were inside the "grand hotel".  The camp had bathrooms, showers, water and electricity.  It had awnings and a big gathering area and toys for the kids to play on.  It was like a developed camp ground but private for us.  It was very nice and close to Red Canyon and Bryce Canyon for some fun outings.  We had good weather pretty much all of the time.  We did have one little rain/wind storm that nearly took out Lou's tent, but thankfully that was the only real bad spell.

Here's the entry and layout of the camp spots for everyone.

The toys were a big hit with the younger set.  Lots of forts were also built our in the "boonies" of the camp.  

 As always, eating was a big hit too.  The food was plentiful and tasty!  

 Clara Lenae was the youngest in camp this year...and oh so cute!  

Thursday evening we celebrated with Madi #7 and Lance #39.  We also had a talent show that night.

Thursday morning everyone got ready as quickly as possible and we took the big "family shot" and then left for a hike to Mossy Cave and the Waterfall which are a part of Bryce Canyon.  It was a really pretty, family friendly hike.  

 Friday morning Jay got bikes ready, Brynnli got hair ready and then we went over by Red Canyon to ride 5.29 miles along the paved bike path that runs by it.  We went in two different heats so that everyone could have a turn on the bikes.  Some of us toured the Red Canyon Visitor's center while some rode.  It took much longer to get ready and loaded up and drive over than it did to do the ride, but it was fun and worth the trouble.  Zade learned to use his coaster brake thanks to Lance and Lance also saved Madi from an unfamiliar bike she was riding on the second  ride.  Many thanks go to him for his patient, helpful ways.  

We also found time to just have fun around the camp - playing table games, Capture the Flag, hanging out with the cousins, etc.  It's so fun seeing the kids and dogs enjoying each other...and the adults too.

 The last morning the Smiths were in charge of an easy, let's get things cleaned up and ready to go breakfast.  There was a vast array of cold cereal and Pop Tarts to choose from.  The kids thought it was the best meal ever! (I thought every meal was wonderful!)

So glad we are trying to continue the chance to spend time together every year in this organized fashion.  Supe and Beacher were going to be in charge this time, but at the last minute the job at Veyo Pool came up and they couldn't, so Paul and Bonnie took it on.  So Supe and Beacher are up for 2018!  

Memorial Day Weekend at Pine Valley

We were trying to think of some place close to do some camping for Memorial day and then remembered the Stucki's had offered their cabin.  We decided to take them up on it for a week end at Pine Valley.  We got there Friday evening and came home Monday morning. What a fun time it was!
We stopped in at Baker Lake to see the water cascading over the dam. Heavy snows this year have made the water abundant.  The water hasn't gone over the dam in years.  So pretty!

Saturday we hiked the waterfalls trail and found it covered in downed tree debris, but made it through to see that favorite beautiful place.  The water is very high this year and it was lovely to see the stream so full.  

We also took another hike down "upper Crawdad Canyon".  We have talked about doing it for a long time and it did not disappoint.  We went as far as we could downstream and then went upstream until the canyon ended in a cow pasture in Pine Valley.  We wanted to go further down, but it became to much of a bushwhack and you couldn't cross to the other side because of the dangerously high water...another adventure.  

We pretty much filled Saturday with short hikes.  This one was to "Bridge Camp", and old scout/family camping spot.  Such a pretty spot .

Sunday we took a walk before church and spotted this pretty old house we had never seen before.

Then we attended church at the Pine Valley branch which was overflowing for the holiday and we got to sit outside and participate via TV/speakers.  We chose a shady spot and nearly froze, but it was fun to be out there and made us think of Jesus and early saints who met outside much of the time for their meetings. 

We took a walk later Sunday afternoon and discovered the confluence of 3 streams in Pine Valley - something we had never noticed before.

Late that evening we took dinner down and ate with Supe and Beacher at Veyo Pool/Crawdad Canyon.  We walked down canyon for a bit until they were ready and then enjoyed visiting/eating with them.  Monday morning it was time to clean the cabin and head home.  It was a great week end and we got the very most we could out of it!  

Dancing with Eliza - recital and grand "edventure"!

Eliza has worked very hard to stay with dance even after her little cousins quit.  When it was time for her recital we had the night available and got to go and enjoy her performance.  She did an awesome, darling job!  Then a few weeks later I heard about a children's dance performance at a dance company a friend works for.  She had offered me tickets many times before and we jumped on it this time to make for a fun Christmas grand "edventure" date for her!  We added in a happy meal at McDonald's afterwards to make it a total hit!  It was a fun time to spend with our Eliza!

West Canyon bike and Pine Valley

We enjoyed a beautiful May Saturday thoroughly.  We took a morning bike ride up the West Canyon road and then for the afternoon we took Grandma Kurtz and went to Pine Valley for a KFC picnic and then a walk along the trail to enjoy all of the beautiful water flowing high because of the heavy snows this year.  We added more goodness to the day by stopping in at Veyo Pie for a slice on the way home!

SCORPIONS AND BOYS - FUN TIMES!

It was time for another "Christmas grand edventure date" redemption.  I saw that Snow Canyon was offering their Scorpion Search program once again and decided it would be a perfect date for our four 8/9 year olds:  Zade, Koen, Noah and Brenden.  I have always wanted to do it myself and it turned out to be a fun thing to share with them.  Paul and I didn't tell them what we were doing until the last minute.  We picked them all up and enjoyed listening to their fun jabbering in the backseat on the way there.  They are such a cute bunch, we enjoy seeing them grow up having a fun time sharing experiences together...especially now that they are old enough to enjoy each other instead of babies fighting over toys!  When we got to Snow Canyon we ate Klondike bars while we waited for the crowd to gather and the program to start.  After we learned  about scorpions we went out with black light flash lights to search for the little critters.  We were not disappointed and found some! 

Red Canyon, Mossy Cave, etc.

I'm playing catch up as usual and these posts aren't completely in the order they occurred, but hey, no matter.  So one weekend in May Paul and I went over to check out the upcoming Family Camp site and the fun things to do in the area.  It was such a fun trip!  We camped in the "grand hotel" in a real bed thank goodness because it was pretty cold and pretty windy Friday night.  Saturday morning we headed over to Red Canyon and did several little hikes in that beautiful area.  Then we went over to the Mossy Cave trail which is part of, but outside of Bryce Canyon proper.  We hiked the regular trial and then kept going upstream to find some beautiful things we decided would be fun for everyone for Family Camp.  After that we checked out the Arches Trail - another little trail in Red Canyon area.  It was so fun to discover these beautiful, new, never before visited places together!  We had driven up through Zion, so on the way home we went over Cedar Mountain - both of these are beautiful places to revisit!

Rock trip fun

One thing I love about having summer off is the chance to ride with Paul on some of his trips to get stone.  Got to ride over to Fredonia and spend a little time at Sliver Arrow's stone yard the other day.  I guess I have "rocks in my blood" from living with Paul all these years! 

School's out...again!

It's that time again...that happy/sad time when we say our good-byes to our ready for 1st Grad kindergartners.  It was another year of watching them learn so mucy more than, reading, writing and 'rithmatic.  It's a bitter/sweet thing every time.  Good luck tou our little class of 2016-17!  They are ready! 

This is one of my favorite yearly bulletin boards with many sea creatures made from the children's hand prints.  

Above:  OEK (optional extended-day kindergartners) that I help with for lunch, computers and recess.  Below:  the morning and afternoon classes all dressed up and ready to perform their end of year program for their parents.