Stockton on the Snake

Rafting day! I love, love, love rafting on the snake river. Luckily, I have an aunt and uncle who introduced us to this, and luckily I have an aunt and uncle who will take us down the river every year. To top it all off, we are staying at their cabin. The cabin I grew up going to was being used.

This year, Stockton got to come! Usually they don't want anyone under 12 coming. Sharon called a week before and said the river was running lower then she anticipated, so Stockton could come. He was very happy about that and decided to take them up on their offer.

Bubs, Stephanie & Stockton, Grandpa

Matt, Brett & Marie (Marie didn't go), Rachel

John, Sharon & Steve

Stephanie & Stockton

Stockton loved it! He got to ride in the front of the raft on his knees. I asked Sharon if I should tell him to crouch down. She said not to worry because instinct would take over. Nope. He hit every wave full force. It was like he was taunting the river, "Is that all you got?" It was great! Brett & Rachel went in the ducky, Rachel fell out at Lunch Counter. They went over the Big Kahuna backwards. We were paddling to Rachel as fast as we could, but Brett got to her first. He held onto her until we could get there. Once there, Steve pulled her into the raft pretty quickly. Steve & Sharon are pretty amazing. I remember falling in at Kahuna last year. I was surprised how I wasn't scared at all. Bubs told me that they were more worried in the raft because Lunch Counter was coming up. I probably made them miss that. Too bad. Anyway, my point is Steve & Sharon make you feel pretty safe . . . even in a raging river.

Stockton only wanted to take one run down the river, so Rachel took him back to the cabin. My dad and Matt also had to leave back to Utah. Steve, Sharon, Bubs, Brett, John and I all went once more. It was so windy, but I was pretty warm. I am now in love with wet suits. Right before the main rapids started, Sharon had me sit where Stockton was the first run. It was AMAZING! We almost tipped at Big Kahuna. Bubs fell on my leg and that hurt! I yanked myself with the rope to the other side. Steve & Sharon said that we would have gone over if I hadn't been in the front. Even with how little I am, the extra weight helped us stay in. I am now giving my extra who knows how many pounds the credit. It was for a good cause.

The entire ride down was just great. We hit so many waves perfectly. I was pretty cold when we finished and discovered why Stockton was good with just one run. While we were docking, I noticed a ladies raft floating away. Bubs, Sharon and I all ran toward it. Her cooler knocked over and everything was in the river. One of us held the raft, one the cooler, and I grabbed everything and threw it inside the cooler. The lady came back while we were doing this and seemed to be a little annoyed that we were huddled around her raft. John informed her that we were saving her bacon...then she was less annoyed.

The rest of the day was spent playing with the kids. Marie is obsessed with Cassie & John (mostly Cassie). She did not like it when I was around. Pretty funny. Rachel cooked the most delicious steak I have had in ages. We finished the night playing games, of course. Too bad Mike had to miss today. He would have loved it!

Brett & Marie

Preston & his pretty flower

Sunday at the Cabin

I made the worst decision of my life today. What was I thinking starting a game of Trivial Pursuit? Especially from 1981. We played all day long. Seriously. Stockton and I had our pie piece finished, but we couldn’t get the last question right. My Grandma & Grandpa Parry came up later, if they had been there from the beginning it would have been a quick game. Grandpa knew everything. It was so awesome to have them come up! They stayed until Brett & Rachel & Marie arrived. We had dinner together outside along with Steve & Sharon. It was a nice, nice.

Grandpa & Stockton

Grandma Parry & Preston Marie & Cassie

Jorja & Matt
Leaving the cabin
Steve, Grandma & Grandpa

Bubs' Birthday

Happy Birthday Bubs! We are up at the cabin celebrating Bubs’ birthday. Well, that is just a nice side effect. I made him a cake of dirt and it was delicious. My brothers went with Lauren on the river. They had quite the stories to tell. Long story short, Matt and John are heroes. They save lives. Just ask Matt.

Tonight we played Apples to Apples with the Couchs. That was a lot of fun. Brad, Rozie, Rob, Stacie, Camille, and Tanner were all there. It was really nice. Jorja and Stockton thought it was great that they got to stay up late.

We finished the night playing Ticket to Ride and I choked at the end per usual. If Bubs hadn’t taken a yellow train, I would have won. Just a 60 point difference, no biggie.

John & Preston ~ I love it!

Guess how old Bubs is?

Yummy
Bubs
Ella ~ the kids loved serving themselves
Lincoln a.k.a. Mini~Bubs

Playground

This morning, Lisa brought Andrew, Madison and Anna over to play. They went to the school playground out my grandma's backyard. I walked with Preston, but we were a little slow. I got to the fence and asked how we get through (thinking there was a gate or pathway nearby). All the kids yelled at the same time, "Climb the fence!" It was pretty funny. The kids loved the playground and said it was so much better then the one at their school. They were right.

Stockton

Maysen, Preston, Stockton

We are now at the cabin! We are staying at Steve & Sharon’s cabin this trip. The other cabin was already booked. Rozie said that there has been water damage and the basement is unusable. That is so sad. I love that place. Rozie, Brad, Robert, Stacie, Camille and Tanner all came over for a quick visit. It was nice to see them. Cassie gave Robert a hard time for choosing University of Michigan for law school. She is a HUGE Ohio State fan.

Bubs made dinner and Bubs, Matt and I played several games of Dominion. It was fun. We stayed up until 1:30 waiting for John and my dad to get here. They made it safe and sound and now it is time for bed.

Jorja & Ella

Jack's Pack

This morning, I went to get Preston out of bed, and I couldn't find him. He was asleep on the floor. I am so glad I had blankets and pillows down there. It must not have hurt him too bad since he didn't wake up! He even has his blanket still on top of him.

Preston

We packed up this morning and made a quick stop at Steve & Shannon's house (we lost Shiver and think it's there....but still no luck). After a quick stop at Arctic Circle, we headed down to IDAHO!!!!! I love Idaho! We are staying at my Grandma & Grandpa's house. Preston went straight for the puzzles. I remember playing with these magnetic puzzles when I was little. I wish I could find some like it. I can't believe Grandma hasn't lost any pieces in all these years.

Stockton & Grandma

Maysen, Grandpa

Stockton, Grandma, Preston, Jorja

I was really excited when Grandpa told me Jack's Pack had a game tonight! I gave the kids a choice - 1) Stay up late and go to the softball game or 2) Go to bed. They chose go to bed! Even Stockton! I guess the only thing he hates worse than bed is baseball. John told me I have failed as a mother.

Anyway, it was so fun to be at the ballpark! Jack's Pack won on an amazing through by Scott from the right field fence to home plate where Justin made a great catch and tagged the runner out. The runner would have tied the game. Not only was the game fun to watch, but it was nice to talk to my cousins, aunts, uncles, cousin-in-laws and new little babies. Missy and Jacoby were there. Jacoby is so stinkin' cute! He had on a Jack's Pack shirt and was adorable. He's moving to Arizona next week. Skye and Larkin are going to love him!

Jacoby

After the Jack's Pack game we went and saw Jackson play in a Legion game. The game was almost over, but we got to see Jackson hit and make and RBI to win the game (10 run rule). After leaving the ball park, my grandpa showed me the house where my mom use to live. She lived here until 4th grade, I think. I have never seen it before.

1st house

Then we drove by the house I remember. The tree in the front yard is so huge! I tried to get a picture, but it didn't turn out. I also didn't realize that I could see into their house when the flash went off.

Maplewood house

Snow Cones and Sack Races

I made it to the Sprint store by 9:00. I ended up spending almost 2 hours there. But, now the wireless internet works, which is why I am able to blog up at Mike's house right now. The workers set up everything from Maysen's laptop. They must have changed something because now she can't connect to the wireless internet at Steve & Shannon's. I was so frustrated. If I had any idea I would spend this long dealing with the little black box, I never would have waisted my precious time in Utah! Mike tried to help me over the phone, but because I am dumber than a rock - he could not.

Steve and Shannon's ward has a fourth of July party every year. Well, I guess just a party in July. Jorja spent a couple of hours filling popcorn bags for Shannon. She loved that! Brandon and Jorja had quite the system down. It was cute to see them working together. The pictures sure don't do it justice.

Brandon & Jorja

Jorja & Brandon
Weston & Jorja

They have a mini parade down the street to the park. There is a big firetruck that the kids can ride on. They drive really slow and have the sirens blaring. Preston and Jorja both rode on the firetruck. Preston loved it, Jorja did not.

Erica, Maysen, Jorja & Preston

Getting ready for the parade

Jorja & Preston climbing the firetruck

Once at the park, after all the kids are unloaded, the firetruck douses the grassy area while the kids go nuts dancing in the water. Luckily none of the kids were mine. They stayed nice and dry.

Besides popcorn, they had snowcones, hot dogs, lots of treats, a fishing booth, sack races, a watermelon eating contest . . . you get the idea.

Preston ~ rainbow snowcone

Jorja ~ rainbow snowcone

Maysen ~ just ice

Preston fishing ~ he got a yo-yo

Preston at the park

Weston

Jacob

Stockton ~ I LOVE this picture!!!

We are now up at Mike's house. Preston fell asleep on the way here. I had Maysen, Stockton and Jorja all walk down the driveway with me to get the garbage can. I was so proud of myself this morning. When I took the garbage can down, the sprinklers were going. There were five sprinklers that I had to get through, but there was no safe spot. I timed it perfectly and ran down the driveway with the garbage can and didn't get wet! Anyway, while we were at the bottom of the driveway, right by the Smith posts, Maysen decided she wanted to run up the dirt. On her second try, she fell and cut her arm open. She got a pretty long scrape, but thank goodness it isn't too deep. That's about all from here, so now I will end.

Handprints and Hardys

It is 2:30 in the morning and I am now sitting on The Shelf. This morning I met Bubs & Ange at Sherry's house. Sherry did Abigail's handprints. We stayed for awhile and played. Their back yard is pretty cool. I haven't been there for so long.

Jorja & Jackson ~ fresh back from Doggie Jail

Tage's horse corner Play stuff

Fancy shed

I have been really impressed this week with Connor and Tage. They are such good kids. Connor was always watching the little ones for his parents at the dude ranch. Tage was so good helping Preston and Lincoln jump on the trampoline They are really sweet.

I was taking to Sherry in the kitchen and Connor was trying to make a slit in his Dr. Pepper bottle with a knife. Sherry told him not to do that, it was ruining her knife. If he wanted to do that, he should use this knife . . . . she then handed him a gigantic knife. She took it away real fast It was pretty funny.

Connor with the small knife

While Sherry was teaching a pottery class in the basement, Connor was busy lighting fireworks on the stove. (Just the kind that smoke) I cant' believe he is going to be in 9th grade next year.

After we left Sherry's house, I took the kids back to Mike's house. We just relaxed, had lunch, read scriptures, I read them their books (they were thrilled I brought them), and practiced the piano (thrilled I brought those books as well). Shannon called and we decided that the kids would sleep over her house tonight. I told her I had one stop on the way. I thought it would be a 15 minute stop at most. It ended up being almost 2 hours. The kids were not happy about that!

I stopped by the Sprint store to buy a box that would let me get internet up here. I walked into the store, told the guy what I wanted, paid $100, signed a contract. It should have been the easiest sell ever. Problem was, the guy couldn't get my box activated. I'm thinking, if you can't activate it at the store, what chance do I have in figuring it out? I finally left and said I would be back (he was trying to activate it on Maysen's laptop while I was gone). I dropped the kids off at Shannon's house, then went back to the store. he decided the box was faulty, but they won't get a new one in until tomorrow. I talked him into having it at the store by 9:00. now that it is almost 3, I am regretting that decision.

After the Sprint store, I picked up Cafe Rio and went to the ball park to watch my brothers play. They won both games. my dad came and we shared dinner. I was really excited to see Phil and Kathy Leatherwood. They came to see Brian play (it was his birthday). The Leatherwood's were my second family growing up. Last week, they were in a roll over accident. The car rolled three times. They are so lucky. Kathy has some bruises and scratches . . . . I am so thankful it wasn't worse.

After the game, Matt, John, Brian & Megan (Brian's girlfriend) went to my dad's house to play games. My dad made tapioca while we played Ticket to Ride and Sequence. It was really fun just to play and play. I'm sure I'll be feeling it in the morning. I think I'm going to call Mike. I think his alarm is going to go off in one minute. Wow. I got to get to sleep. It is pretty weird being in this big house by myself. Oh well, I'm practically too tired to notice. At least I noticed and avoided the skunk in the driveway!

Utah Lake

It is now about midnight Utah time. I just got back from dropping Mike off at the airport. He is taking the red eye home tonight and will go straight to work tomorrow. We will get to stay an extra two weeks out west. I'm excited, but I miss Mike already.

This morning started with a bang. Well, a crash. Preston fell out of bed. The beds we are sleeping in are so tall. Mike nicknamed the one in his bedroom The Shelf. When I was saying my prayers, the top of the bed is at my forehead. The bed Jorja and Preston are sleeping on is just as tall. I was worried about this. I had put two blankets around the wood baseboard and onto the floor, as well as the extra pillows from the bed. Glad I did. Mike went and picked him up and put him back into bed. He went right to sleep. He does remember it though, because he was talking about it this morning. I checked on him after I came back from the airport. He is sleeping horizontal. his toes are off the bed, but his head is at Jorja's stomach. Hopefully that will work better for him.

Today we went to Utah Lake with Steve & Shannon & their family. It was pretty cold and choppy, but the kids had a great time. Preston, Jorja and I went on the tube first. Steve was being extra careful, but because he was going too slow the tube got swamped and a giant wave attacked us. Jorja and Preston were done after that. They did try at the end of the day and Preston loved it! Mike was out there with them giving them all sorts of crazy ideas. Preston thought he was so cool when he would stand up. Their turn ended when Jorja's life jacket got caught in her braces.

Jorja, Mike, Preston

The older kids loved going crazy on the tube. Maysen said to Steve that when we went boating with the Shepherds, their dad drove crazy . . . so now Steve has some competition. I never did ask her if she considered Paul the craziest driver, or Steve . . . . Maysen and Stockton also got to do the knee board.

Erica, Brandon, Maysen

Weston, Stockton, Jacob

After boating, we went to Chuck-a-rama and stuffed ourselves silly. We then went to Mike's house where Steve's family was waiting for us. We played an old/weird game until Mike had to hurry and pack. mike and I got the kids all tucked in. Once again I am so grateful for a twelve year old. Mike should be boarding the plane right now. Hope he sleeps well.

Abigail Angela

We got up at 6:00 this morning and started packing. Breakfast isn't until 8:00, but I had asked if I could borrow some milk. We were able to have poptarts and Carnation instant breakfast, and then we hit the road at 7:30. Three and a half hours later, we arrived at Bubs & Ange's church. We got there right on time and were able to watch baby Abigail be blessed. My grandma Millburn, Grandpa Parry, Matt, John & Cassie, and my dad and Cathy were all there. Along with Ange's family of course. It was really nice and cute to watch Lincoln walk down the hall with his primary class. He looks so grown up!

After sacrament meeting, we went up to Mike's house to do some laundry. I'm trying to wash all the horse smell out of everything so Mike can breathe again. While I was busy doing that, Matt, John & Cassie came up. Mike helped resurrect Cassie's lap top. In between laundry and laptop reincarnation, we played Ticket to Ride.

We had dinner at Bubs & Ange's house, and I continued the tradition of eating way too much. It was nice to sit and chat with everybody. Baby Abigail didn't come out to play too long, but she sure was cute when she did. Stockton got a laugh when Abigail spit up on him the second he started holding her. I told him it was pay back and I put her up to it.

Stephanie, Abigail, Stockton

Bubs & Abigail
Great-Gandma Millburn, Bubs, Abigail, Grandpa Millburn

Now it is late once again. The kids are all sleeping, but the laundry is still going. Soon I'll be sleeping too. Happy Fourth of July everyone!