FAMILY OUTING 2009

Another family outing has come and gone. This one makes four we have done. Cherry Hill in 2006, Lava hot Springs in 2007, Bear Lake 2008, and now for 2009, was the camping trip up American Fork Canyon. We had such a great time. Thanks to Jeff and Heather for the planning this year. No thanks to Skywest for taking Jeff away, except for Saturday night. We were happy that his family could be with us for at least few hours. Heather’s friend, Anneka, came up with them. She was an exchange student with their family years ago, and is happy to come again to America for two weeks. She is fun and happy , and we enjoyed having her come up with them. The kids had a ball with the "Bendaroos" and everyone enjoyed Brian playing his accordion. Braden danced on the table. There was lots of laughing going on.

Another funny moment was when for the very first time, I saw Randy with a camera in his hands. Not only that, but acting as a true photographer, he laid down on his back under the picnic table to catch a shot of a beautiful butterfly. It was only after this laborious task, that he discovered the butterfly was actually a magnet stuck under the table!

This is Rory Saturday night all delighted because she made a "bug"

(I have given up getting these pictures in order, so enjoy them in Random order)

Canoe fun on Sat afternoon

Saturday night around the fire

Cameron helping me make the lemonade for saturday night's dinner. He counted out all 32 scoops of powder to make the two gallons. Such a good helper!

I loved watching Livvy develop her relationship with her Uncle Randy. He had two of his dogs up there, and she was able to help with them. She walked Coda around on a leash and practiced giving him commands. Since she has an allergy to dogs, it was especially fun for her to be able to enjoy them outdoors, (with the help of her allergy meds).

Dan, Becca, and Livvy enjoying dinner Saturday night

A new use for grapes! Silly girls!

Rory, gathering pinecones

Rory and uncle Brian

Cam and Lance roasting marshmallows....are they just the cutest little boys or what?

Livvy with her butterfly that is almost finished. She wanted a picture to give to Cessna

Brian, and Braden helped all of the little children make glasses. Cam looks so cool!








Lance looks so grown up in his

bendaroo glasses

Braden in his glasses and then he got up on the table and danced to Brian's lively accordion music

















Braden with his Bendaroo drawing











Brian playing accordion while we all enjoyed the fun atmosphere around the camp fire

A funny moment between brothers, Randy, and Jeff


Livvy with her finished butterfly



The kids Lance, Cam and Cessna enjoying their private little accordion concert


Rory and Cameron, early Sunday morning at the water tap


Saturday afternoon game of Chess between Cam and Brian



Sunday morning breakfast on the grill......breakfast burritoes...YUM!





Braden and Livvy having some fun with packing peanuts. These are fun. Just dampen them, and they stick together to make all kinds of things





Or, you can eat them, as Randy did....or just stick them on your tongue as we see demonstrated here with Danielle and Cheri






Rory bonded even more with her Aunt Cheri. Cheri sang "The Wheels on The Bus" so many times while she lifted Rory high in the air.
Rory also went off on a lot of "owl hunts" with Grandpa. She was Whoo-whooing and looking for owls the entire time we camped.

Braden giving Cessna a little ride on his shoulders



Becca relaxing Sunday night by the fire

Becca, Danny, sleeping Cameron, and Livvy ......roasting a glob of "stuck together " marshmollows that mostly melted. Funny things!

There are many happy memories of this years trip. I loved talking and playing games with family around the campfire at nights. The beautiful area we were in was so peaceful without cell phones, doorbells or any other interruptions. I especially loved Sunday morning. I was the first one up, and I got pictures of 5 deer who came right through the camp. The Blue jays were flying from tree to tree, and little humming birds were right next to me. It was nice, out there in nature, to have a little while to ponder the blessings I have received and think about my family that I love so much.

One of the deer looking right at me

Strolling along enjoying the beautiful scenery

Ryan and Becky right before we started the walk through Cascade Sprngs

Randy's family on the walk

Our nature walk through Cascade Springs on Sunday, was beautiful. It was good family time. It was a little bit warm outside, and I was tired. Ralph and Brian had brought up the generator and an air conditioner which Brian set up on a table by my lounge chair. So, there, outside in natures wonderland, I had the at home comforts of air conditioning. Some others were anxious to take over my spot as soon as I got up. Brian took a photo of this funny set-up but he is out of town and I cannot get it right now.

Ralph and I just before he took out tent down.

Sunday night after Randy’s family and Becky’s family left, it was only Ralph and I with Brian, and Dan and Becca and the kids. We stayed up until midnight talking around the fire pit. Ralph found a dead TREE to keep the fire going.
3:45 Monday morning we were all awakened with animals fighting near our tent. We do not know what they were. One was screeching and one was growling, and that is all we know. We had breakfast, and cleaned up camp, and then Dan and Becca’s kids, Livvy and Cameron, enjoyed 4-wheeler rides with their Daddy and Grandpa.

Danny with the kids Monday morning

Goodbye empty campground :(

This is the lake as we left the area where we camped
It was kind of sad leaving the campground............everyone wished it had been longer. We are all anxious to hear what Brian will plan for 2010.