Bar T 5

Yesterday we realized that because I bought stain for the cabin we needed a different novel to use the air sprayer. Ugh. So, Mike and I drove to Idaho Falls today to buy one. We got back just in time for me to take Jorja and Ben to Jackson Hole. I wanted to go to Bar T 5 because my cousin's boy is working there for the summer. Nathan and Bobby's boy Tucker. Mike is too allergic to go. Maysen knew she wouldn't like the food. Preston had no interest. I didn't give Jorja and Ben a choice, but I think they would have gone anyway if I did. It was fun. We checked in and were assigned the front of wagon F. Our driver's name was Matt. He's from Utah and was super nice. He was a student body officer at Brighton High School a few years ago and was talking to Jorja about the fundraiser.

Ben and Jorja

Stephanie and Jorja

Ben and Jorja

We rode in the wagons about two miles to the dinner spot

Matt

The dinner was great. They had a show with four singers. Some played guitar and one played the violin. The violin player was amazing! She played The Devil Went Down to Georgia, but changed it to Jackson. We got to say hi to Tucker, which I was so glad about. It was a fun adventure.

Stephanie

Ben and Jorja

Jorja and Ben

Jorja and Ben recreating Ben's shirt

While we were gone Mike had fun on the sailboat. He sent me this picture and said, "Half way across the lake just on wind!" He likes his boat.

Mike loves cooking dinner on that little grill

Mike anchored the boat where he could see it from the cabin. Around 10:00 he looks outside and sees the light on the boat has moved. He panicked and bolted to go rescue the boat. Jorja wanted to go with him, but I wouldn't let her. It was raining. It also started lightning. I was scared. I went to our room and was praying for Mike. Soon Mike sent me a text that he made it to the boat. He loved the excitement of battling the waves in the lightning trying to get there. That is where he and I differ.

Ben's Here

Bear woke me up pretty early this morning. I went outside and played fetch with him for a LONG time. I could see Mike's boat. He seemed to have a great night. While I was playing with Bear, two other dogs came. I was outside playing fetch with three dogs for over an hour. Finally I woke the kids up to save me. One dog's name was Lincoln and the other was Mud. Mud loved fetch. He stayed here all day. Jorja called the owners. They came in the evening to get Mud. Lincoln had gone home. She said that if someone plays fetch with Mud he will stay there forever. That seemed to be true. Even when we left he waited for us.

Mike and Jorja went this morning and rented a paddleboat. That was a perfect way to get to the boat that was anchored a bit from the shore.

Maysen and Preston

Jorja's friend Ben came up to the cabin. She invited him because she invites everyone. Usually no one takes her up on the offer. Ben texted her and said his mom said yes. That was when she asked me if he could come. We decided it would be okay. I like Ben and trust Ben. Plus, our entire basement was free. Well, Ben's dad drove Ben all the way up here! He stayed for about five minutes before turning around and going home. Wow. Turns out Ben's dad is a truck driver, but still! Also, Ben's plan was to drive himself. His mom didn't like that idea; especially since Ben has only driven on the freeway once! Hahaha! I don't blame her one bit!

Jorja & Ben

We spent a lot of time on the boat today. It was Bear's first time on the boat. He didn't seem to mind it. The kids loved having him there.

Preston

Ben and Jorja

Bear and Maysen

We left Ben and Jorja in Edward's Cove for a little while

There are these cool little floating islands around Palisades. I think three of them.

Ben and Jorja

Bear

Preston and Bear

We went back and got Jorja and Ben. We towed them on the paddleboard behind the boat back to the boat dock.

Jorja & Ben

Jorja trying to drink the water like a crazy person

Maysen, Bear and Preston enjoying the cabin of the boat

Mike accidentally broke the propeller when we went off full speed with the anchor down. Live and learn.

Matt's Birthday

Today is Matt's birthday. He brought his three oldest kids up to the cabin so they could go on a boat ride. The boat isn't fast, but it is perfect for pulling the little kids on the tube. Jeff was so brave! He snuck forward so his feet would drag in the water as it was going. At first it was just Jeff and Greg. Soon Anne wanted a turn and all three of them rode. Greg liked standing up. After awhile it was just Anne and Jeff. Welp, they fell off. Jeff was not a fan of the water, but Anne LOVED it! Matt jumped in to get to Jeff. All in all I think they had a blast.

Jeff, Anne, Matt swimming to them

We ended the boat ride after that because Mike thought he broke the motor. We were pretty close to shore and called Jorja to come down on the four wheeler to bring us gas. Mike and I had bought some this morning, but forgot to bring it on the boat. One of the tanks ran out of gas while we were out and Mike wanted to fill up the backup tank. As soon as Jorja left and we were ready to go the boat wouldn't work. I can't remember what we thought the problem was. I think we thought we forgot to put up the ladder up. Anyway, Mike couldn't figure it out and we were near shore. Mike wanted to try jump starting it, but would need to be in deeper water. We decided the best plan was for the rest of us to get off the boat in case Mike couldn't figure it out. We called Jorja and asked her to bring the van. Jorja and Maysen came to pick us up. Anne and I got our feet STUCK in mud. It was funny. Mike wasn't able to find the problem for quite awhile. He called me when I was in Idaho Falls. Hahahahaha - it was so funny! He had forgotten to put the boat in neutral! Hahahahaha I'm glad that was the problem and not an expensive repair job.

Why was I in Idaho Falls? Well, we have this super awesome lawnmower at the cabin. It has taken a lot of the sagebrush out. Matt has a lot of tall weeks in his backyard. Once those are down his yard will be so much bigger. I drove the van with the lawnmower down to Matt's house. Then I drove to Lowes to get paint for the cabin. I ended up getting stain because they didn't have enough of the paint. Hopefully the color looks okay. I tried to get as close to the cabin as I could.

Right before I pulled into Lowes Stockton called. I talked to him for an hour in the parking lot. He said that one of the previous APs came up and talked to him and told him how much he admired him. He said that there are a lot of depressed missionaries right now, but not in Stockton's district. He is doing a great job of keeping everyone's spirits up. Stockton has been fantastic as a district leader. I always like to ask him what he did for district council. It is always super creative and fun. Stockton sure has thrived on his mission.

When I finished with the stain I hurried to Cabellas to get a rope for the knee board we borrowed. I got there ten minutes before closing time. I got it super quick and ran into Michaels. They were about to close too. Jorja needed paint for an art project for her summer class. She was on zoom calls a lot of the day today. So cool that she can still come with us and do her school at the same time. Next stop was back to Matt's house. He had accidentally run over the cord for the lawnmower. Not a fun thing to happen, especially on his birthday! He is going to call the people tomorrow and see if he can get a replacement cord. I left the lawnmower at his house.

Sam made Matt Shephard's Pie for his birthday. They had a piece left for me! They also saved me a piece of his ice-cream cake. Yummy! I headed back to the cabin pretty late, but made it back okay.

Matt and Stephanie

Mike cooked dinner for Jorja and Preston on the boat. Preston rode the tube while Jorja did homework. Maysen stayed at the cabin looking after Bear. Mike ended up sleeping on the boat tonight. He was so excited about it. He wanted to do it one day, so it looks like today was the day!

Broken Ice

I spent most of the morning trying to salvage the ice machine. I scrubbed and scrubbed. Too bad it looks like it is corroded. I think we will have to resort to a repair man. Hopefully we can get this back.

Once Mike and I were done dealing with the ice machine we finished getting things ready to go to Idaho. We had church before we left. Love home church! Mike and Bear towed the boat in the Pilot. They had no problems. Yay! I drove the van with the three other kids. We stopped at my dad's house to drop off some masks Jorja had made for Mike and his boys. My dad was supposed to fly to New Mexico while we were gone. When I got there I found out his plans had changed because of government regulations due to covid. He is now going to leave after we get back. Hopefully we will have time to finish the girls masks and get it to him. I talked to my dad down in the basement where Matt and Sam used to live. My dad said that when they left it about broke his heart. He is going to miss having them down there. Especially their five kids.

Anyway, we made it to the cabin just before midnight. The kids and I got there about thirty minutes before Mike did. Bear thought about sleeping with Preston, which Preston thought was great. Too bad he is so attached to Mike.

Bear

Preston and Bear

Spilled Milk

Jorja had a busy day. She hung out with her friend Ben in the morning. I can't remember what they did since I got behind on my blog AGAIN!

Ben and Jorja

Jorja spent the rest of the day with Ella. She took her to get ice-cream after Ella took the ACT test. Then they hung out the rest of the day. Jorja loved it. I loved it. I really like Ella.

Ella

Jorja

Jorja and Ella face timed Brenton. I thought this picture was so funny. You can see Jorja's reflection in Brenton's glasses.

Tiny Jorja in Brenton's glasses

Ella invited people over to play games. They had a lot more people come over than they expected. For a bit they were worried no one would show up. Riley was there. Jorja was surprised. She was so proud of herself when she got home. She said she wasn't sad when she was around him. She didn't cry and she feels like she is completely over him. Nicely done Porge.

Ryan on the couch

Ella, Jojra, Bode, Sadler, Kate, Black shirt girl, Dessa, Smiley boy

Three girls pretending to be dudes by Jorja's car

While Jorja was off having a great time, Mike and I went to Lowe's to buy paint. We want to paint the cabin next week. We ended up buying a paint sprayer, but they didn't have the paint we needed. The guy told us to try and buy the paint in Idaho Falls, so that is what our plan is. Also, in sad news... our ice machine keeps dropping black flecks. Mike took off the panel and it looks like this. Hopefully we can fix it. I love this machine!

Maysen and Bear

Maysen did such a great job taking care of Preston and Bear while we were gone. She didn't send us pictures of Preston, but these are the pictures she sent of Bear during the week. Maysen gave Bear a frozen banana, but he wasn't sure about it. She put it in his food dish and he growled until she took it out. Haha

Bear on the way to the dog park

Maysen and Preston stopped by Chick-Fil-A to get shakes and then ate them while Bear was at the dog park. Bear started whining as soon as he realized where they were. He was thrilled to get out of the car and had lots of fun. It was really hot, but Bear got some energy out. Although when he came home he aggressively wanted to tuggle/climb on Maysen/shove toys at her. He calmed down and was quiet after about 45 minutes.

Maysen was excited that she got Bear to 'chill on the bean bag'. Mike asked her what time Bear woke her up. He woke her up at 5:00. She threw a lot of tennis balls this morning and then Bear lay silently in the hall for a few hours. That made Mike laugh.

Maysen brought Bear with her to get Leatherby's take-out. She gave him a Frosty Paw. He loved that. Earlier in the week Preston called us because he couldn't figure out how to get the Frosty Paw lid opened. Maysen was asleep (after getting up so early with Bear) Mike tried to explain it to him, but then just told him to let Bear try to figure it out. Preston loved that!

I'm glad Maysen was able to handle everything while we were gone. She did a great job, but I'm sure she was glad when Mike was home to get up early with Bear!