Roughin' It

Summer time musts include just a few of the following:
1. Eat as much watermelon as you can! CHECK
2. Sit out on the porch and talk the night away CHECK CHECK
3. ice-cream cones...need I say more? CHECKY CHECK
4. Get away from "it all" in the great outdoors. CHECKITY CHECK CHECK CHECK (family joke)

Being almost the end of July and still no camp out we headed for the mountains. Nothing is better than the smell of pine, the cool mountain breeze, the clear water of Tony's lake, and who could forget the dirty huge snowbanks! We knew to expect snow still in the shadows but I didn't expect snowbank after snowbank of the brown/white stuff. We set up camp and Logan quickly went to explore this mound right across the road from our campsite.

Aaron and Logan had so much fun that they wanted to share this snow with others. Good thing we had a plan already in the works.

SURPRISE NICOLE

About a month ago, Aaron and I were talking with Nicole on the phone. She was telling us the woe's of being the only child left at home. Mainly, she was bummed that she probably wouldn't be camping anytime soon. You see with six kids, Mom and Dad went on their fair share of camp outs and now deserve some comfortable sleep in a hotel bed. The thought of sleeping on the hard, cold ground really doesn't appeal to them anymore. Back to Nicole's woe's...as she was telling us this problem, I got a brilliant plan. We would take her camping for her birthday present from us! Yes, I am a genius. So a few secret phone calls later we had the weekend picked out. We checked online to see what would be available at a favorite campsite. Just our luck the campground opened the very day we wanted to camp. It was closed due to snow. Colby called me as we were making the reservation and I thought,"What the heck, let's have them come camping too." Colby and Kayla were game. My parents agreed to come for dinner but not stay the night.

The secret camp out birthday bash was a go! Here was the plan: Nicole thought Aaron and I were coming up on Saturday to go with them to Bear Lake. We always just told her we would see her on Saturday. Little did she know we were actually there on Friday. hee hee

Aaron, Taylor, Logan, and I set up camp early and let Logan run wild to his little hearts content. Colby and Kayla were suppose to arrive an hour before Nicole did but they got delay and came a half hour later than planned. Nicole rode up with Mom and Dad who told her a story about Laura needing the kayaks and a promise of dinner upon delivery to the cabin. She bought the story. The surprise moment wasn't quite what we planned but it still work. You see Nicole's tennis camp got done 30 min early. Nicole, Mom, and Dad got to the campsite before we were ready for them and before Colby and Kayla arrived. Nicole was really confused when she saw Logan and Aaron in the road. Aaron didn't know what to do so he jumped out in front of the Truck and yelled SURPRISE!

How many people does it take to light candles on a cake? One to make sure there are 15 candles, one to provide medical treatment if needs be, one to try to eat the cake, one to light the candles, and one to supervise the whole operation.

One of my goals is to make amazing cakes like my mother!

Taylor was fascinated by the flickering flames.

Logan was "helping" us clean up camp. He wanted to sweep up the dirt inside the tent AND outside the tent.

We used the kayaks and spent the next morning on the lake.

Happy Birthday Little Problem! We love you.