Housing Secured!

We got up early this morning and made it to Steve & Sharon's cabin by 7:45. Sharon got us all geared up and we headed to the river. We had two great runs. Two rafts on the first one and one on the second. Mike was able to go on the first one. We both used our wetsuits and I ended up being so grateful for that! Sharon had Tage and Dallin each have a turn on the stick. That was great! Mike went back to the cabin after the first run. Sherry was going to be there before the second run was over. I decided to keep my wetsuit on for the second run even though multiple people told me I would be too hot. Usually the second run is pretty hot and I just wasn't sure what I should do. Well, it wasn't today. It was colder than the first run. (That rarely happens!) I was very thankful I kept it on because I was cozy the entire time! We hit some good waves the second run and we were covered! It was also fun to see Sharon enjoying the raft. The second run had a lot of people since we only had one boat and only two less people from the previous run. Sharon just got to ride and she enjoyed every second of it!

When we finished the runs and finished cleaning up, Tage, Dallin and I watched a video with Steve, Sharon and Ruby. (Ruby is a 12 year old girl that was at the cabin with Sharon's brother and sis-in-law. They were planning on staying until Friday, but their daughter called early in the morning to tell them that her water broke and she would be having her baby, five weeks early. Stockton style.) Ruby also LOVED Tage. She thought Tage was the coolest person she ever met. Tage was also super nice to her. It was really cute. After the rafting video, Steve took us back to our cabin. I ran in and got rafting pictures that had my mom in it. This was taken on her birthday in 1993. The last birthday she had before she got cancer. She probably had cancer in these pictures and just didn't know it. I snapped some pictures before handing them to Steve. It is hard giving up pieces of my mom, even though giving them to Steve & Sharon will be so much better than having them stuffed in a drawer. One of my favorite things about these pictures is my mom's handwriting on the back. It's awesome. I love looking at her name. She wrote the best cursive rs. Anyway, I gave them to Steve and Sharon for their collection. Crazy this was her birthday. I miss her. 

Mike was gone when we got back. He was at the lake with the Hardys. They had fun playing with the jet ski. Xander and Miah loved it! The Hardys also brought their dog Nagi. Bear and Nagi had fun playing on the beach. Luckily they are getting along.

Scoop and Cori arrived shortly after Mike got back from the beach. Perfect timing. This is the first time Mike's dad has been here and Mike loved showing him around.

We had hamburgers and played games. We had a giant Canadian Salad game. I thought I had tied Mike with 20 points (which is an excellent score on that game) but I missed a trick and ended up taking second with 30 points. Everyone else was in the 100s I think, but I still lost by 10. Fun that Mike won that though.

The best thing that happened today was Stockton and Alyssa secured housing! Alyssa noticed that housing was being opened again on July 6th at 9:00. Ten spots were available. They got everything ready and decided to send two emails. Stockton sent his right at 9:00 and Alyssa sent hers at 9:00 and 20 seconds. Stockton got an email saying he got in if the forms were filled out and the deposit paid in the next 24 hours. Alyssa got one saying that they were sorry, they got over 100 applications in 10 minutes. Wow! So thankful they will have a place to stay in the fall! They put a 1 bedroom as their first choice and a 2 bedroom as their second. They will find out in a couple of weeks which one they get. So relieved and thankful they were able to get in!!!!!

Shower at the Inn

Today was really fun. We had a nice relaxing morning at the cabin. Mike was able to do a few things he wanted to do before winter. Maysen was able to zoom into work for her meeting and then finish up at the cabin. Preston was able to do his school online today. We grabbed four more sleds at the store. Mike worked on Grinch advertisement posters. Notice the space after December 3rd. We don't know the time yet. We are meeting with the ward council on Sunday. Probably will figure it out then.

Delicious time of year.... this picture was for my brothers

Stephanie

We packed up and headed to the lodge for the night. We got there about 5:30. Steve and Sharon let us stay in the moose cabin, where we were able to bring Bear. Super nice of them. I was able to attend Tamara's baby shower. Fun to see lots of cousins and family. Matt and Tamara have been trying for 12 years to have kids. They have been trying to have kids longer than Matt and Sam have been married. Matt and Sam have five kids. Wild. Tamara talked about all the different things they have tried. That would be so hard. IVF is what finally worked for them. They are going to have a boy in December and his name is going to be Tryfan. His name is pronounced 'Trevan', but kind of more complicated than that. Tamara said she let Matt pick the name. She wanted it to be a Welsh name, after Matt's ancestors and a Hebrew name after her ancestors. Matt picked Benjamin for the Hebrew name. Tamara wanted that for a middle name. Matt searched for a Welch name and settled on Tryfan. Tryfan is a mountain in Wales. I think his name means very high peak. Anyway, listening to Tamara talk about it was pretty cool.

Tamara & Sharon

While Maysen and I were at the baby shower, Mike was at the wood carving demonstration. There is a guy that is amazing that lives in the motorhome part of the lodge. He is Steve and Sharon's longest tenant. They let him use their workshop back there. Not sure if he rents it out or what. He carved a bear with a chainsaw. Mike loved it and told me he had so many ideas. Oh boy! Hahahaha 

Rafting and Jackson and Dipping

We went river rafting today! It was so much fun. We met at Steve and Sharon's cabin. The other group ended up only having one couple show up. A 14 year old boy and his mom. We went in one raft. It was super fun. The girls loved Steve and Sharon. They thought they were hilarious and awesome. Sharon was explaining something before we went, Kate turned around and said, "I like her." Haha. Dessa said she felt much safer than when she went last week with her family. Steve and Sharon are amazing.

Jorja, Janelle, Jake, Lucas, Kate, Dessa

Stephanie & Jorja

We only took one run this time. The kids wanted to go to Jackson Hole today as well. I took my group and headed to Steve and Sharon's while they went and got the car from the drop off spot. Our plan was to help them unload. We waited for a long time. I hiked around the property and talked to my cousin Terry for awhile. (They are doing their best Uncle George impression and putting in a water slide at their cabin.) Anyway, turns out that Steve and Sharon didn't know we were waiting for them and they had gone to lunch. Haha.

Jorja

The kids still had plenty of time in Jackson. I know they got pizza, but I'm not sure what else they did. They seemed to enjoy themselves though. Meanwhile Mike took Bear out on the boat and I watched the Jazz lose in double overtime to the Nuggets. Weird game with some crazy clock mismanagement in the final seconds of the first overtime.

Kate, Dessa, Jorja

Jorja, Dessa, Kate, Janelle, Lucas, Jake

Dessa, Janelle, Jorja

Jorja and her friends wanted to have a bonfire at the beach. We got the 4-wheelers ready for them and Mike loaded one up with wood and fire making goodies. Once they left Mike and I drove to the boat launch place to pick up the car. It was crazy crowded down there. We filled the cars with gas and Mike switched the towing to go from the van to the pilot. Anyway, after awhile Jorja and her friends were back. Jorja had a mischievous gleam in her eye. I asked her what she did. She laughed and whispered she went skinny dipping. Yep, the four girls all did. Jorja said she has always wanted to go skinny dipping in that lake. I knew it was on her summer bucket list, but I thought she could just use our pool and be by herself! Jorja said the boys were down the beach, but then I saw a picture of the girls. They were all in the water and you could just see their heads. I talked to Jorja about it. She said that they called Lucas to take the picture once they were in the water. He grabbed Janelle's phone from the 4-wheeler, covered his eyes, took the picture and ran away. Sooooo, as you can clearly see, Jorja has more faith in teenage boys than I do. We will let her believe there was no peaking involved, but I highly doubt it. I just hope there wasn't any picture taking while they girls were getting out... I mean Lucas and Jake are really good kids, but they are still teenage boys.

Jorja, Janelle, Kate, Lucas, Jake, Dessa

Jake and Jorja

Christmas Eve with the Parrys

We spent a lot of the day outside. The sledding was perfect. Jorja drove the 4-wheeler a lot. She gets tired easily, so driving the 4-wheeler helped her be able to participate in the fun.

Amelia, Jorja, Stockton

 Stockton

 Jorja ~ It is soooooo beautiful up here!

Mike and I went penguin sledding

Abby & Ella at the Springs ~ Haha! Ella's hair

Ella was so good helping Amelia get up to the Springs. She wanted to hang on behind like the big kids, but the powder we were going over was getting in her face. Ella had her turn around and then she held onto her the entire way up. Such a great big sister.

Amelia

 Jorja

 Mike

 Jorja

 Stephanie

We were planning on driving to Idaho Falls tonight to go bowling with the rest of the family. We were a bit nervous about the roads. Not really driving down there, but driving back. The roads have closed on us before. Once we took Lincoln up to the cabin when he was a baby. Bubs, Ange and Ella went to the Rexburg Temple dedication. We were supposed to watch Lincoln for a few hours. The roads closed after we passed. They were closed for several days. Lincoln was great. The diaper situation was not, but we survived. Anyway, Sharon texted us to see if we wanted to have a Christmas Eve dinner with them at their cabin. Their cabin is a short 4-wheeler drive away. We decided to do that instead. Matt and Tamara and Tamara's mom were there too. It was nice to be there with them. My kids had fun watching Clue the movie. Stockton thinks that movie is hilarious. After a few hours Mike took the kids back to our cabin. Bubs, Ange, Amelia and I stayed longer with Steve and Sharon. Steve drove us to the bottom of the hill and we walked up. It was a great night. Too bad these are the only pictures I got.

Maysen, Sharon hugging Jorja, Preston's back

 Sharon's arm, Mike, Jorja, Ella

Jump Rock on the Snake

Today was an early day. We were supposed to meet Steve and Sharon at their cabin this morning. We realized that we couldn't drive the motorhome there. We were worried about being able to turn around. Mike hooked up a trailer to a 4-wheeler and loaded it with a mattress and bean bags. We had about four kids ride that way. I failed at getting a picture on the way there. We spent the day on the river. This was Preston's and Gage's first time white water rafting. Preston wasn't sure he wanted to come, but Stockton convinced him to come this morning. Preston LOVED it! He didn't complain once. Mike had him wear the GoPro and he took that job seriously. The second run down he had full control of it. It was great. These next pictures are from the GoPro. We stopped at Jump Rock and the divers had a great time! They had to change their dives. First, they are diving in a life vest, so spinning is different. Second, they have to go in feet first. Third, and this is one I told Steve and Sharon after they saw Connor do a back dive extremely close to the rocks, they are trained to dive close to the board. They had to adjust and do their dives as they were jumping out, not up. Steve mentioned many times how much fun he had at Jump Rock. The boats would float by and see the kids up there. They would yell, "Do a flip!" or sometimes they would count down. The divers were waiting for Steve and Sharon to give them the signal that the rope was ready. Then when they finally dove the boats would be stunned. It was really funny. I might have these labeled wrong, so Stockton will have to tell me what to fix when he gets home. I will do my best though. There are so many videos!

This is how you have to climb up to jump rock. I hate it. It is scarier than jumping!

Stockton double

Gavin backflip

Stockton reverse

This is now the second run, but still filmed with the GoPro. Mike convinced me to put my phone in a waterproof pouch he had bought awhile ago so I could take some pictures. I was a bit nervous, but it worked great. My phone stayed bone dry. When Preston looks back you can see the paddlers in the boat. It looks ridiculous because it looks like I am on my phone in the middle of this grand adventure. I promise I was just taking pictures! It was hard to do through the plastic.

There are some big rapids, but most of the trip is like this. It is great.

Big Kahuna ~ this video does not do this rapid justice!

I wish Preston or I would have videoed going through the Ropes. It seemed bigger than Kahuna or Lunch Counter. It was crazy! And fun! Okay, now to pictures from my phone. The kids had a chance to eat lunch and rest during the two runs. The motorhome was great for this.

Dani, Connor, Stockton

Gavin, Preston

 Mike walking to the river for the second run. I was practicing taking pictures with the plastic on.

I don't really have an order for the pictures. There was too many and I just wanted to get them up here. I was impressed that they turned out so well considering there was plastic over the lens!

Gage, Preston, Gavin

 Steve & Mike

 Gage, Preston, Gavin

 With Noelle and Dani

 Stockton on the stick ~ he is guiding the boat at this moment

 Preston is in ready position.

I was not a paddler. My job was to relay Sharon's instructions in the hope that the paddlers in front will understand what is needed to be done. I was not just yelling for no reason. Like Mike said, "I have one job. It might be stupid but I'm going to do it." That was a Galaxy Quest or Spaceballs quote. I'm not sure.

I think this is Big Kahuna ~ Preston's videos are much better!

I think this is Lunch Counter

I had one percent on my battery, but it took videos for a long time. The divers decided to do just one jump. Well, they couldn't stop themselves, they were having such a great time. It was a lot of fun watching them. It was also warmer this time too. That made a huge difference! Also, another funny thing. Noelle and Connor loved to say, "I boys!" in this sing song voice to ever boat that passed. One boat was confused and said, "Did they just say 'hi boys?'" I think the boat was full of girls. We also found a paddle on the way down. Sharon would ask the different boats if they lost a paddle when we were stopped at Jump Rock. Preston was the one who found the correct boat. Good eyes Preston!

Gavin back double with a boat counting . . . up?

Gavin double half twist

Gavin back double

Stockton back double

Gage front flip

Gage back flip

Stockton double

Connor backflip

Connor front flip half twist

Gavin backflip

Stockton back double half twist

Dani full twist

Noelle full twist

Preston, Gavin, Stockton, Dani, Noelle, Connor, Gage

 Preston, Stockton, Dani, Noelle, Gavin, Connor, Gage

What a fun day! We parked the motorhome back at the cabin and took the 4 wheelers to Steve and Sharon's cabin. Stockton is the only one riding the mattress this time! Still, I'm glad I have Mike's invention documented.

Gage, Dani, Gavin

 Stockton

Steve and Sharon took Mike and I to Alpine Market. We got pizzas. Steve and Sharon came over and ate with us. They brought salad and ice-cream. They also had a cool Snake River rafting crashes video. The kids watched it on the projector downstairs. That was fun. Steve and Sharon are going rafting with a new group tomorrow, they took a group down yesterday. I can't believe how much time they spend letting people have this great experience. And all for free. For us, it costs them a ton! So very kind of them. Mike and I got Maysen and Preston tucked into bed. (Maysen stayed at the cabin and worked on her writing. She had no interest in being on the river.) Stockton and his friends watched a movie. I think it was Hutch. Not sure though. I don't know what time they got to bed, but we didn't need to get up early so yay!

Day on the River

Sharon is super nice.  She lets us stay at their new lodge, lets Bubs and his family stay at their cabin, then spends all day on the river so we could have a day to remember.  Steve and Sharon are so selfless.  Today was so fun!  I did both runs today.  I don't know if I have ever done that before.  The first one I got to just sit and enjoy.  Christen and I took turns being the hood ornament.  Wow!  Water sure goes up your nose doing that!  I went throughout the first few, but Christen really got pummeled going through Kahuna and Lunch Counter!  I kept telling her the big waves were over, but she kept getting hit again and again. She secretly loved it though.  John and Sam were in the ducky.  John fell out at Kahuna.  We pulled off to the side and threw him a rope.  I think.  Anyways, I know we docked there because Mike (Smith) and Stockton scaled the rock ledge where the photographers were then walked down a tiny cliff and went through Kahuna again.  As swimmers.  No boats or anything.  Mike said it felt like going through a dishwasher.  When they came back Mike (Millburn) and Bubs went and did the same thing.  That was fun to watch.  We then made our way to jump rock.  Brett did a silly looking dive.  It looked like he was going to belly flop, but he dove right at the end.  Stockton did a reverse and it looked awesome.  Stockton said it is hard to spin wearing a life jacket. Yep, hard to spin, but I'm glad he had it on!

Brett, John, Mike, Christen, Stockton

Stephanie, Mike, Sam, Bubs, Ange

Mike and Christen had to start heading home after the first run was over.  They weren't with us long, but I'm glad they travelled so far to be here!  School starts for them this Thursday.  Sam and Ange also headed back.  Brett was planning on switching with Rachel, but she decided to stay and help Cassie with the kids.  The transition took longer than we expected, so that was helpful to have Rachel stay.  Maysen and Jorja were also there watching the kids.

The second run was smaller.  Bubs and John were in the ducky. Stockton and Brett were lead paddlers.  My dad and Matt were next with Sharon and I behind.  Steve was guiding the boat.  That was fun!  I haven't been down the river with him in a long time.  Steve let Stockton 'be on the stick' two different times.  Stockton did great!  I tried that last year.  It is a lot of pressure!  We hit the first big rapid straight on. Double Draw.  My dad and Sharon were thrown from the boat.  Sharon said my dad went bowling and knocked her out.  They were under the raft for awhile.  Steve did not like that at all.  Sharon had a great time, but felt bad for worrying Steve.  Sharon said it was her first time under the raft.  I remember a giant wall of water hitting me from the side.  I saw Sharon go over out of the corner of my eye.  I think I threw my paddle at Steve.  He needed one because his was gone.  I was yelling "Swimmer!" while fumbling for the throw rope.  At least I remembered everything and was able to get the bag ready and hand it to Steve so he could throw it at Sharon.  It didn't last long but was extremely intense! My dad was pulled in first, but it took awhile to get to Sharon.  She came in with one paddle, but the guide paddle was lost down the river. I tried to make a grab for it once, but I couldn't reach it and I remembered being told not to go in after equipment.  Anyways, that was crazy!  We were able to finish the run just fine.  My dad got to sit in the middle and enjoy the journey because we were short one paddle.

Kahuna was fun.  We hit it great, then turned around and watched Bubs and John go through it.  They hit the first wave straight on.  The second wave they hit perfect as well, but the ducky folded over like a taco and John was washed out.  It was the craziest thing!  Bubs found a picture of it online.  John had no chance on that one.  He got back in the ducky super quick though and we just headed on down.  We stopped at Jump Rock again.  Brett went off and did swimming strokes in the air while he was diving.  Funny!  Stockton did another reverse for Steve.  It looked amazing!  There were a lot of people stopped there, so we didn't go up again.  While we were in a calm part of the river we heard sirens.  Awhile later we saw a life flight helicopter.  That's not good.  We watched the helicopter land on the road right above us. Traffic was stopped in both directions.  Later we found out that two people died in the accident.  One was a seven year old boy from Virginia.  Now that is devastating. n I'm glad we were able to have a safe trip this year.  People got hurt, but nothing permanent.

While we were on the river, Mike (Smith) and Jorja were busy making dinner.  Jorja got this recipe from Oakcrest and wanted to make it at the cabin.  She did a fantastic job.  We had ice cream and cones for dessert.  Luckily Sam had already bought ice cream Anne could have, and the cones didn't have any dairy in them.  Yay!

Stephanie and Anne

John and Cassie got packed up tonight.  They are planning on leaving super early.  Everyone is splitting up again.  This trip went by super fast.  I hope we can get together more often.  I loved every second of being with my family!