Birthdays & Dutch Oven Cake

Since we went camping the 2nd weekend

in April,

we got to include a celebration for

my brother Dave's birthday (the 13th)

and Ben's birthday (the 15th)

Instead of the usual birthday cake,

we enjoyed Dutch Oven Chocolate Chip Cake!

Ad you can see by Anna's face,

it was YUMMY!

I also got to redeem myself for years
of bad gifts to my husband...
gifts that he "needed"
gifts that were "practical"
gifts that were really for the whole family,
like a tie organizer,
a camping stove,
clothes he never wears...


I surprised him with something
he really wanted and didn't expect.


It was fun.


What was it? I don't really know...
some cool thing for his diesel truck!!!


All that matters is he loved it!

It is about time.

PART C: Green River State Park

Green River State Park

was the annual Easter camping

spot for the ol' Kaysville group

We were 4 families who camped together often

when we were kids:

The Bains, Jensens, Weidhauers, & McEntires

(Dansies & Bowmans began to join us later)

We are keeping the tradition going

(week after Easter)

With some frisbee on the nice lawns

(now that is camping!)

Enjoying the sun!

The kids playing golf while the guys

were on the real Green River State Park Golf Course

The best part is that it is right in between

Moab & Goblin Valley.

After golf, a few of us went and mountain-biked

Gemini Bridges
a great first ride of the year

Anna with Aunt Becky

while mommy was out riding.

Thanks to family,

moms still get to do stuff every once in a while.

PART B: Wild Horse Canyon

After Goblin Valley,

we took the 12 Adults,

1 Teenager,

6 Kids,

1 New Baby,

and 4 Dogs

hiking into Wild Horse Canyon

a slot canyon outside
of Goblin Valley

Anna hiked almost the entire way,

except for the parts she was too small to climb over.

She was carried.

So was Atlas.

Mother Nature is amazing

and slot canyons show off her power

All kinds of crevices

and caves to hide in

Cru

Nate & Becky & Kids

Dave & Carli, Lilly & Jewie II

The whole fam - we made quite a train of hikers

with our 4 dogs and ALL those kids.

Camping Trip #1-Part A: Goblin Valley - The Giant Sandbox

For those who have never heard of

Goblin Valley,

this post is for you.

Colton climbed to the top of this hill

to overlook "Goblin Valley"

and said

"You gotta get up here! This is awesome!"

And what is so great, is it is one of the few places left
that isn't just for "lookin'"

Anna with her "Daisy-do"

One ear up, one ear down.

One pony tail up, One pony tail down.

(Miracle that the hair is still in pig tails)

This valley is a climbing, hiking, exploring...

Giant Playground

For the kids

And the adults

We went every year as kids and LOVED it!

It was time to take our own kids

(and dogs) back to our childhood playground

Carter & Anna - LOVING the dirt!

Colton climbing and climbing...

Pop & Bryson are on top of the "Blue Whale."

That is what we called it when we were kids.

Bryce, Adrey, Lilly, Cru & Becky

Ben & Daisy

Atlas - lookin' skinnier with all that hikin'

don't you think?

The whole family on top of the "Blue Whale"

(missing- me & Anna & Nana)

Couldn't get Anna away from the sand

And Nana is camera-woman

Lilly getting help from her Dad & Uncle Jake

Nana & Lilly
(Yes, her granddaughter is already taller!)

New Mama Shay with Baby London

I discovered Anna had no fear--she would climb anything

and slide down anything.

We both fell here and slid down.

She laughed the whole time and wanted to do it again.

Dirt. Dirt. More Dirt.

Heaven for her.

Great day!

Stay tuned for Part B & C!

Beautiful Easter

We spent a beautiful Easter weekend in Boise

with Ben's family

John & Raquel's yard was host

for the annual Easter Egg Hunt

9 cousins

10 Eggs each

Bryson is still looking for 1 missing egg

Colton? What are you doing?

No eggs, yet...

Anna totally got it this year!

She loved it,

as much as she loved Raquel's fancy

bracelet she wore all day

She figured out how to shake

the egg to make sure there was candy in it

My sweet tooth girl was very possessive

of HER eggs

She didn't want anyone stealing her candy

More candy! Yeah!

Lincoln and Anna diggin' in

Lincoln & Anna chillin' after the fun

Thanks John & Raquel for hosting

Happy Easter!