Family Camp #19 at Deer Haven Group Campsite at Cedar Mountain!

A     Deer Haven Group Campsite at Cedar Mountain (Moss & Christie) – camping with flush toilets and on-site water, tables already there to eat at, a fire ring for campfires, tables at campsites was really nice.  This was a great year/time to do this because of the late spring this year.  It was still cool (cold at night and when the wind blew), the mosquitos weren’t there and with the help of fly/wasp traps, the bugs were minimal.  We played lots of games every day and the kids had such a great time playing with their hammocks in the trees near the eating area.  The girls put on the cutest play of Sleeping Beauty on our little amphitheater stage! We took a hike to Cascade Falls on Friday.  It was going like crazy from the heavy run off.  We had planned to do some kayaking with the lake being SO full, but it was too windy and the water still very cold from the late snow melt.  The only thing that was a little hard was wind blowing pretty hard in camp sometimes, but it was manageable.  There was not a lot of shade in the eating/cooking area, but we did pretty well with some awnings and because the wind kept it pretty cool.  We were in jackets most of the time.  Also, people got some sunburns because they didn’t think about it because of how cool it was even when the sun was out. We had a couple of great campfires with Bryan's wood and Derek's S'more's sticks and ingredients. We had great food and plenty of it as always! We had a good turn out only missing Brynnli and Tavin and Bean. Brady could only come up one night with a friend for dinner.  Some people things that they needed to leave for on Friday.  Some people stayed in Brian Head at condos at night which was great because it was so close for them to come and join the fun during the day.  Derek's dad came up for dinner Friday night which was so nice.  Kelli couldn't stay long, but we enjoyed her while she was there.  We only had 3 dogs attending this year, Summer, Zelda and Roxy.  They did just fine.   The cost was minimal for everyone and could have been more, but the camp hosts realized that the site was very unclear as to what was included in the way of campsites and didn't charge us more when we found out the 2 of the campsites we used were not part of the group site reservation.  There was one other trailer there for part of the time, but it was just a couple there and they gave us no problems.  Thanks to Moss & Christie for heading this up for us.  Supe and Beacher, are you ready to take charge next year?  

Wednesday, July 5th - arrival, set up a let the games begin!

Thursday, July 6th - Breakfast, fun times and the Greatest Sleeping Beauty Play ever, more fun times!

Friday, July 7th - Birthday time! Hike time and more fun times!  

Saturday, July 8th - the Grand Cold Cereal breakfast buffet, cleaning up and calling it a Great Camp!

The Family Camp Group Shots!  (July 7th)

The Sisters get together #1!

We decided we were all getting older and had never had a sisters get together because of our busy lives...so we did it!  Janet flew down from Kennewick to Salt Lake City on Monday, June 26th, where Marilynne picked her up and they drove down here to St. George on Tuesday.  On Wednesday we had a really nice day just taking it easy and visiting.  We drove down so Janet could see the Juanita Brooks Statue and walked around the Town Square in the morning when it was fairly cool.  We also went up and walked around at the Desert Garden and saw the Red Hill Narrows.  Then after lunch we drove up to Cedar City and saw the play, Jane Austin's Emma, the musical.  It was absolutely wonderfully done.  Then we headed back down and had dinner and a visiting evening and we watched A Man Called Otto.  The next day we went down to see how the St. George Temple is coming along.  The Visitor's Center wasn't open yet, so we drove by the new Red Cliffs Temple and then came back to the Visitor's Center.  Janet's old stake president/wife are on a mission there as the directors and we were able to talk with them and learn more about the temple remodeling and the upcoming open house.  Then we drove down to see the work that Paul and Zade were doing at the renovation of the fireplace at Vernon Worthen Park.  Next we went to visit Willa Derick and her husband Thales.  Willa is Tony's older sister.  We had a nice visit there.  Then we got a birthday pie and some chicken pot pies at Crowshaw Pies.  It was Janet's 80th birthday that day, June 29th!  It was a birthday pie.  After lunch we took some naps and then visited more and then made dinner.  At 8:45 we went to see Tarzan at Tuacahn.  We had an extra ticket, so Ferf came along.  It was a little hard for Janet to handle the stairs with the dizziness she's struggling with right now, but we were able to use the elevator for most of it.  It was in a beautiful venue and was well done, but it just didn't charm us the way Emma did.  It was good, but not great.  Next morning it was time to call it a visit and they headed up to go to SLC with a stop off at Tara and Brian's in Meadow for lunch.  Marilynne got us the funniest Tee Shirts about sisters and we wore them to Tuacahn and got some laughs and pictures taken of them.  It was so good to be able to just relax and enjoy time together.  It kind of scares me to think how many more times we may be able to do this.  Janet has been having some significant health issues.  Marilynne just had knee surgery and I had my little cancer battle.  We are all getting older.  It's a good thing we did this little get together while we are all still able to.  I love my sisters!

June birthdays - Madi, Lance, Derek, Moss & me!

 Madi's birthday was first.  Brynn was wonderful to send me the cutest video of her opening is...but the screen shots didn't turn out to be great.  But here they are.  Madi turned 13!  A teenager at last.  She's a smartie and sweetie as well!  Hope she has fun with her hammock at Family Camp and any other time she decides to us it!  Happy #13 Madi!  We love you! (We loved the video because we were in Oregon at the time of her birthday!)

We took care of Lance's birthday before we left for Oregon and then he had to save it until the day!  We got both he and Juge's birthday presents then.  They are going on a backpacking trip and wanted  sleeping pads.  Supe was able to get me a deal on them from Deseret Rat.  They both kind of got them early, but it's just such a great gift that early was better than later!  Happy Birthday Lance #45 & Juge #42!  Love you both!  Happy lightweight, comfortable camping!!!

Derek's up next.  He's out of town at Skills USA with Tasia and his students that are competing, so we just had to send him a text for this one and he'll get his present when he gets back.  It's #46 for him.  He's getting some Big Foot socks I picked up at Cannon Beach and a gift card the the new Big Al's sporting goods store in town.  I was also able to find a funny Big Foot card to go with it!  We went over Sunday night and had such a nice visit with everyone!  They let us join them for Derek's special Veyo Pie Volcano Pie...so delicious!  It was so good to get caught up with them on every thing!  

Moss is having his birthday the day before mine as always!  It's #39 for him.  Got him a great card and a gift cert to a great dinner place.  He's an awesome son.  He's always willing to help us out however we need it.  Right now he's helping us get a new router for our internet.  It's always something.  He's a great husband and father and an amazing teacher at church and at work.   He's a great provider for his little family and always working hard at many things.  Couldn't be prouder of him nor  happier for him.

It's #68 for me this year!  Wow, I'm getting really old!  For my birthday I wanted to go up on Cedar Mountain and check out our Family Camp spot and just see how things were up there in general.  On Friday night before my birthday we went to dinner at Pica Rica with the gift cert+ that I got for Mother's Day.  The brisket was so good!  Paul had the pork and it was good, but not as good as the brisket.  Their house sauce was delicious, they were out of corn, so I got something else that wasn't great.  Their beans and mac 'n cheese was good as well.  It was pricey.  We ate on the patio which was much quieter than inside.  I'm glad we could use the gift card!  Cedar Mountain was wonderful!  We checked out the campsite and it looks green and  wonderful.  We hiked the little Bristlecone Pine trail which was lovely.  We tried to drive to our first Family Camp spot and couldn't get there because melting snow was creating such a muddy road in some places that we couldn't get through.  There are still lots of patches of snow everywhere.  We drove to Mammoth Springs and it was so full of water and so beautiful! And we went to Cedar Breaks and I got a really nice shirt and we went to a little Ranger program about the geology of the area.  That was all great too.  It was a wonderful day.  That evening we went to Moss and Christie's for cake and presents - they gave me mine from everyone and we gave Moss his a day late.  Supe and Jem were there too.  It was a really nice evening.  I loved my birthday and felt loved and spoiled!  

Good Bye Ms. Godfrey - Kindergarten won't be the same without you!

 

This year is the end of a long run (2004-2023) of me working in Kindergarten with Lynne Godfrey.  I did take one year off out of that time with some family concerns, but other than that, we were together.  Two other women were aides part of that time also, but for the last several years I have been the only one.  It has been a great job in nearly every way.  Lynne is a great teacher and a kind and understanding boss as well as a trusted and enjoyed friend.  She's been so appreciative and helpful and forgiving of my errors.  I so admire her as a teacher and a person.  I had hoped I would be retiring this year too, but Paul doesn't seem to be slowing down, and we can use the money, so I have decided to stay on and try another year with a different teacher.  our room moms put together such a cute camping themed "retirement" party for Lynne.  They were such an amazing group of moms.  It's been another great year with some a couple of very challenging kids.  Like always, I was ready for it to be over, but I'm always ready for a new group in the Fall!  Happy retirement Lynne!  Hope it's all you want it to be.  I'll miss you!  

May Birthdays...the Smiths have them!

 We started the month off with Kaebri's 21st birthday on the 1st of May!  I'm not sure what's so great about #21 for her after looking up the things that you can do then that you couldn't before.  Mostly it's about drinking, gambling, being able to rent a motel...not that great.  She can get an adult license if she wants to now.  That was about the only one I thought she might be interested in!  But we did like taking her out for concrete at Nielsen's Frozen Yogurt and then going to the park to eat it.  We also got to drive by the new apartment she's moving into soon is.  This will be her first, on her own, apartment.  She lived in our downstairs room before her mission and of course lived away on her mission, but this is a big step forward.  I hope it will work our well for her.  She likes that she will be able to see the new Red Cliffs temple from her bedroom window there.  Kaebri is a kind and sweet girl.  I hope the coming year will bring many wonderful things her way.  Happy Birthday Kaebri, we love you!!! (Kaebri helped us out with the bday shopping by giving us an Amazon wish list.  We were able to get her some stuff that we didn't even know what was that way! Computer stuff.)

Next up on the 11th was Trigg's 11th birthday.  We don't like to but in on the family celebration traditions, so I dropped off his gift and Tasia sent me a cute video of him opening it!  Bean picked out a really funny card with a skinny boy on the front flexing his non-muscular pecs and it said, "You didn't choose the stud life...it chose you!"  Whatever that means, but Trigg got a kick out of it.  And he liked his $20!  Love ya Trigger!  We will take he and Zade out for ice cream for some with us birthday celebration time.  

Zade's birthday is today, the 13th.  I took his card over and gave/got hugs.    It's #15 for him.  It's a big year coming up with the opportunity for him to get his driving permit and he may even be getting a job at the karate dojo he goes to.  Having him be able to drive will be a big help to his dad.  He's one handsome, very nice, very smart young man. Happy Birthday Zade!!! WE love you! (This is the only bday pic I have been able to get.  It's when we took him out for bday ice cream!)

Mother’s Day & Father's Day 2023

 Mother’s Day was a nice day for me. Paul cooked ribs on his smoker and we had potato salad, beans and watermelon to round out the summer picnic dinner. The day before we had my favorite lemon meringue pie and on Sunday we had angel food cake and strawberries with whipped cream. Kaebri and Zade and G’ma were there also. We took G’ma to dinner on Saturday for her present. Also on Saturday night Moss and Christie brought over the family presents for me. It was fun stuff!  A gift cert for a chocolate tasting tour and a dinner cert for a new BBQ place.  On Sunday most of the kids wished me a happy Mother’s Day one way or another. It was all nice!  I bought myself new shoes and got a pedicure as well (from Paul).  Juge gave me a darling statue for Mother’s Day when we were up seeing Noah’s play a few weeks ago and later on, after it arrived in the mail, she gave me the most beautiful lily necklace with Lenae written in the leaves.  It's so pretty.  Love it all and most of all the peoples!

We barely made it home from Oregon in time for Father's Day!  It was a nice day for Paul.  He smoked the meat for his dinner.  When we got home we found that our cherry tree was still filled with ripe cherries, so we picked them and we had just enough for me to make a wonderful cherry pie and also a batch of jam.  That made him very happy!  It's his favorite.  He bought his own Father's Day present up at the Japanese Garden in Portland - a sweet little knife made of special steel that he also loves!  The kids called him and loaded him up with nice gifts, so it turned out to be a very nice Father's Day for him I think!  

Tasia high school graduation pics!

 Tasia did it!  She graduated from Desert Hills High School on May 25th, 2023!  She's part of that great class of 2023!  She's a super smart, super sweet girl and we are so proud of her for her hard work and dedication to complete this life goal!  And, most unfortunately, we didn't get to go.  So sad that we missed it by a few days when we left for Oregon for a month.  It was a commitment we made and had to be.  I'm sure she graduated with plenty of honors.  She's on the Skills USA team for her high school and participates in the Quiz Bowl division.  She's one smart cookie!  And the only girl on the team.  Right now she's in Atlanta GA where they competed in National's and their team got 4th place in the nation!  Now that's pretty great!  Tasia has earned a nice scholarship to BYU that will pay for a lot of her schooling!  We are so excited for her to have this opportunity to spread her wings and go out on her own.  She deserves it!  Congratulations Tasia!  You are amazing!!!

Brady - Beacon Academy and Randall Family Home School Graduation!

 We attended this special graduation event for Brady. It was beautifully decorated and the food was delicious!  The youth speakers did a fine job. Brady was not too interested and didn’t participate in the speech portion of the program, but he and a one young woman were the event’s honorees as the seniors who had finished their course of study. The program leaders are a dedicated group. I’m don’t know how this compares to high school graduation which is all I’ve really ever been involved in. Brady has plans to enroll in a welding program offered the University technical college from what I’ve heard. We hope this will lead him to where he wants to go in his future. Congratulations on your accomplishment and success Brady!!!

Getting away from the Iron Man...to Gandy and the Crystal Ball Cave, etc.

 We had such a fun little trip!  It was a long drive, but we saw some really cool, out of the way stuff in the middle of nowhere at/around Gandy, Utah (population 12) over by the NV/UT border near Great Basin National Park.  I had heard about the Crystal Ball Cave a little while ago and have wanted to go and see it ever since.  A family discovered this cave years ago and took care of it let people come to see it.  They had a mining claim on the property it was on and one year they were late renewing it, so the BLM took it over, but eventually allowed them to become Stewards of the cave.  They continue to show it/take care of it and take donations for their time off from their cattle ranching operation to do it.  They also have a little campground for tents, RVs or you can stay in little mini cabins.  That's what we did.  They have a bathroom/shower place you can also use.  It was all very nice and we loved our time there.  The place is also covered with old farm equipment that is very interesting.  Nearby is Gandy Warm Springs which makes the place an oasis in the middle of the Great Basin area.  It runs all the time never differing in flow even if it's a dry year.  And also nearby is the Devil's Gate slot canyon.  We went to both of these places as well.  It was not warm there.  (We tried to go to Lexington Arch on the way, but got snowed out and the stream crossing the road didn't look like we'd make it there either.  We had rain, sleet, snow and sun weather on the trip, but luckily the day we saw the cave and the evening before when we went to the slot canyon and the springs it was cool, but good weather.)  We got in the springs, and because it was 81 degrees, you could be in it, but the limestone rocks on the bottom really hurt your feet too much to stay in long.  Wish I'd brought my old tennis shoes to wear in it.  Our cabin was cute and clean.  Bean slept in the loft.  It was too cold to eat outside for dinner/breakfast, so we did our cooking on the tailgate of the truck and then spread the tablecloth across our bed and ate inside.  It worked out very well!  The cabin had a little heater, so we were warm in the night.  The cave tour was fantastic.  I've never been in anything but paved trail caves before.  This one was natural, without lights.  You had to bring you headlamp/flashlight.  The guide was a niece of the family that found the cave and she gave a great talk along the way with lots of geological info and stories of the family's discovery and exploration of the cave.  It was fabulous actually!  Very casual and easy going compared to other tours we've been on.  They take good care of the cave, but make you feel very at home there.  On the way there we also stopped at Parowan Gap petroglyphs which are also very cool!  The 150 year old apples trees at the campground were all blooming while we were there!  It was so beautiful! Oh, they had a camp dog that was the cutest ever.  It would come and walk with you and "talk" to you when it wanted to be petted or for you to follow it.  They had peacocks!  The males were gorgeous, but so loud!!!  They got in the trees in the evening and made tons of noise!  The place was full of amazing birds since there were lots of trees in the middle of a treeless basin here in this oasis area.