Summer Backpacking Trip 2014

 

All of the boys and Todd went backpacking over the 4th of July weekend.  I was alone for 48 HOURS!  It was so quiet and heavenly!  (Can I say that?) 

 

 This is a backpacking trip that Todd went on each year when he was younger with his brothers and his Dad.  Eric, Brandon, and Dallin have been a couple of times, but because of Todd's "hip injury," they haven't been able to go the last several years, so this was Kyle and Jacob's first time.  Jacob likes this kind of thing...hiking, camping.  Kyle? Not so much!  He was seriously considering staying home and I was about to lose my 48 hours of solitude, so I came up with a plan.  First I threatened him and told him that he HAD to go.  (That didn't go over too well.)  Then I told him how much fun he would have.  This conversation went on for awhile with very little  success, by the way, so I made a deal with Kyle.  I told him I'd pay him $20 if he went and tried it this first time.  For real!  And that's all it took.  Yes, I bribed my son to go backpacking!  I'm not ashamed to admit it either!  It was the best $20 I ever spent!  :)

 

(Actually, Kyle tried to get $50 out of me at first, but that was not happening.  He settled with $20 and I was okay with that too.  Remember...48 HOURS!!) 

 

 

Here are some pictures of their adventure...

First of all, the backpacks are filled and ready to go!

 

 

Here they are on the trail, although I think this was taken on the way down...not the way up.

  Oh well, still fun (for me...and them)!

 



The scenery was beautiful!  They went to Twin Lakes, by the way.  It is about 1/2 hour past Kamas.

 



 

 

 

It looks like the hammock got used quite a bit...

 

Jacob

 



 

 

Kyle

 



 

 

Brandon and Jacob.  Do you see Kyle in the back trying to photo bomb the picture?  HA!  (We see you Kyle!)

 



I love this picture of Jacob.  He reminds me of Eric the way he is posing like that.  Maybe Jacob is going to be a drama kid too.  It wouldn't surprise me.  Eric stands like this a lot.  They both look like Peter Pan! 

 



 

And this is Dallin.  The hat he is wearing is one of Todd's old hats from high school.  At least, I remember it from high school.  I don't know if he had it earlier than that.  Dallin looks just like Todd did at that age, especially with that hat on.  Crazy flashback for me!

 



More scenery...

 



 

 

The Walls went backpacking too.  Here is Zach, Dallin, Jacob, and Aubrey.

 



Apparently the mosquitos were terrible!  See that "green-screen-thing" Dallin is wearing?  While it did protect the bugs from their faces, it didn't help with the rest of their bodies.  Poor Kyle ended up with 56 mosquito bites.  And he must be a little allergic because he swelled up pretty good on his legs and arms. (He earned that $20, don't you think?)  :) 

 



 

This is a hill where they all went "rock bowling."  It's a smooth cement strip that slopes downward.  Apparently this activity is an annual event.

 



 

On Saturday morning when they were packing up to leave, several goats wandered into their camp.  Todd was so excited and he took tons of pictures.  I think there were 4 or 5 adults and a couple baby goats.  Pretty cool, eh?

 



 

 They all survived the trip (barely).  I survived just fine!  :)  I hope this is an annual thing from here on out.  Just saying...(even if I have to pay for it)!

 

 

 I love you guys!  Now, let's plan next year!  HA!

 

Kyle Jones and Spencer Bigelow

Our good friends, the Bigelows, were called to be a Mission President (and wife) in the Brazil, Recife mission.  They left for Brazil on Thursday, June 26th.  The day before they left, Kyle was able to spend some time with Spencer.  Here are a few pictures of their last day together (for the next 3 years)...

These kids are like two little peas in a pod!

And here's a picture of Spencer and his Grandma driving away.  

Oh, that is so sad.  :(  (But we are happy for them!)

We will miss the Bigelow family tremendously.  It has been a wonderful opportunity and an amazing experience to raise our families together.  Good luck you guys!  You're going to be great!  :)  See you in 3 years!

An evening at Oakcrest

Because Todd is the new Stake President, we had the opportunity to go up to Oakcrest on the stake Leadership night and meet with the girls from our stake.  I couldn't wait to go.  It's been years since I've been there.

 

This is the picture hanging above the stage.  It is beautiful!

 



And here's the old Trading Post!  Oh man, I bought a lot of  "ice cream nut sundaes" from that place.  They were my favorite.  YUM!

 



 

 

This picture was on the wall behind the stage.  This is their theme this summer:  Walk Beside Me.

  I love it!

 



And here's the wall (well, one of them) where all of the pictures of each years' staff hangs.  They are proudly hung on the walls in the lodge.  Such memories!  (Yes, I'm in there somewhere...twice!) 

 



Oh man, I just love this place.  I really wanted to go up to this place called "Aspen Grove" and take a picture, but it was under construction, so Todd wouldn't let me.  grrr...I would have been careful.  :)

 

So, I settled for the Lodge.

 



 

Todd had to speak for a few minutes with the young women in our stake.  He did a great job.  The young women were a little rowdy in the beginning, and I could tell that Todd wasn't quite sure what to do.  But they eventually settled down and he delivered a sweet message.  (Think about it....we don't have any girls in our family, so this was a totally different experience than what he's used to with the boy scouts.)  HA! 

 

I'll see you sometime again Oakcrest!  :)  I love you!

 



Activities, Concerts, and Recitals! Oh My!

 

Our May pack meeting for cub scouts was spent fishing at a nearby pond.  Here's Jacob with his pole and his smile!  :)  He is such a cutie!

 

Quietly and patiently waiting for a "bite!"

 



 

I don't think Jacob caught anything....but did that ruin his spirit?  Nope, it didn't.  Keep smiling, Jacob!

 



 

Brandon had another concert for the end of the year.  He had a Saxophone solo, which of course, he rocked!  He always does!  I can't believe I only have 1 more year of Brandon's concerts.  That seems weird to think about...

 



He's going through his music....

 



Warming up....

 



And then how about a little smile for the camera?  I'll take it!  :)

 



 

The Jazz Band was totally awesome!  They sounded great and they've had an amazing teacher, Amber Tuckness.  Way to go you guys!  Only one more year....

 



Brandon ROCKED his solo!!!  (even though the picture is blurry--oh wait, it's probably because he was jamming out to the music).  HA!

 



This concert was also a fundraiser for Cottonwood High School.  So in between songs, they auctioned off a variety of items.  (Brandon is standing, the 2nd from the right.)

 



 

After each concert, we always have to go find Brandon.  The kid always has tons of clean up and other things to get ready for, it seems.  So I went and found Brandon in the band room and made him come out and take a picture with me...Oh yeah, and to greet the family.  :) 

You did great, Brandon!  Way to go!

 



And here is Dallin at his piano recital.  His teacher, Maevonne Whitaker, decided to have her students' Summer concert be performed at The Golden Living Center, which is a home for the elderly.  Everybody did amazing!

 

Dallin and Maevonne

 

I know you can't see the notes on his pages real well, but trust me, it's impressive that he can play it!

 



 

Dallin is such an awesome piano player and performer!  He loves it and he's really good at it too.

 



Way to go Dallin!  We love you and you ROCKED it as well!  :)



The Joneses Memorial Day Party

We had a big Jones party on Memorial Day.  It was so much fun.  Everyone was able to be there (except Eric, of course--we missed you son.)  We had the party at Grandpa Jones' house and it was wonderful.

Kristin, Grandpa, and Malissa

Todd, Shauna, Mike, and Ryan.  "C'mon you guys, smile already!" Ha

What a good looking bunch!

Aaron and Rob

Grandpa Jones has this really cool tree in his backyard, which just happens to be perfect for climbing high!  That's Sierra on the left, Sophie in the middle, Alexis on the right, and Aubrey is at the bottom of the tree..  I was a little nervous about these crazy monkeys!

Same kids, but Aubrey is in the tree this time

Alexis is such a good climber...she was making me quite nervous.  (Well, they all were!)

Dallin, Matthew, Zach, and Brandon...eating.  What else would they be doing?

Parker, Owen, and Makenna.

/

Shauna braded Sophie's hair with these beauiful clips...so cute!

 

Another picture of most everyone (except the kids)

This is Grandpa Jones' sister, Aunt Pat, Mike, and Anissa

 



 

The "four" Musketeers!  There could be some serious damage accomplished by these little creatures.  But it was so fun to see them play together! 

 

Jacob, Spencer, Kyle, and AJ

 



Emma and Alice, (and Kyle trying to "photo bomb" in the back.)  HA!  We see you Kyle!  :)

 

This is Mike and Shauna's dog, Charlie.  He's a little neurotic (like our Ziggy), so he had to stay in the kennel in the back room.  He's so cute though!!

 



 

Sweet Annie, who is growing up WAY TOO FAST!!  Look how beautiful she is!  (You'd better stay hidden in your bedroom for awhile, so the boys will leave you alone!)

 



 

We celebrated Parker's birthday too.  Malissa made a cute Mario cake!  He turned 4 years old!

 

 

Parker and his Dad, Ryan

 



 

"Blow out your candle!"  Sweet Parker!  (And that's Owen on the left.)

 



 

Malissa, Ryan, Parker, and Makenna (in front)...

 



 

Hey, there's even a picture of me and Todd.  Ah, how sweet!  :)

 

It was a very fun and successful party with the Jones family!  The weekend after Memorial day, our little family went up to Grandma Jones' grave and put a few roses on her tombstone.  Roses were her very favorite and these actually came from our own front yard!

 

We love and miss you Grandma Jones! 

 



 

 

It's a good thing we are making memories to last a lifetime!!