Aug 2011 Camping trip

We went camping with some friends up one of the many beautiful canyons here.  The girls love to camp, but it is so much work for just an over night stay that I would prefer to stay a few nights.  That is exactly what we did.  It was so much fun!

Amber turned into some creature... she was super funny and was easily entertained.

 We went on several little hikes.  One of which Lindsey fell and really hurt her leg.  It was scraped up really ugly looking.  Poor thing.  She was pretty brave still though.

 Samantha had an addition to the flash lights and laterns.  She kept playing with them even when it was day time.

 Samantha had a little friend her very own size and age.... and they have the same hair too.  When we get together with this same family, I always mix the two girls up because they are alike in many ways.

 These are the earrings that one of the cute girls made me for my birthday.  Wasn't that so nice.  My birthday was the first day I think we got there.  It just so happened, they matched my shirt pErFeCtLy!  And this is the only way Samantha would nap, which wasn't very often while we camped.

 Amber is entertaining herself again, she found dirt, that was enough.  She even moved her camp chair to this little opening of trees.

 Lindsey was entertained too, her and a friend tried to make fire by using the magnifying glass.  They got it smoking a little.

 I think this was called the Devil's kitchen.  It was a hike, but it was super short.  I do love the red rocks though.

 Here is another part of the rock formations.

 One night Robert's parents came up to visit and have dinner with us.  It was fun to have them come visit.  They couldn't stay the night.  They looked and looked for a little camp trailer so they could camp with us, but it never really worked out.  Then they had a scheduling conflict.

 We drove and looked around a little bit up around the canyon.  It was beautiful, but you won't catch me looking too far over the edge or getting close even. 

 Gorgeous!!  I didn't have to get any closer to figure that out. 

 Emily was enjoying the scenery too.

 There was only a few boys compared to all the girls, but these young teenager was a very fun part of it all.  He was so good with the girls, was helpful, and the girls thought he was SOOO funny!  He was funny.  It was great to spend time with his family too. 

 Everyone is waiting around for some yummy dinner and desert too, dutch oven style.  YUM!

 Lindsey and her friend are getting smoked out... 

When we packed up from camp on our way home, we stopped to go fishing.  We saw a little deer across the way coming down for a drink.

 Lauren thought it was pretty fun to fish. 

 Lindsey was having a good time too. 

 We spotted a little chipmunk too.  He was looking for left over food.

 Samantha and Amber were okay with fishing, but since there was just one pole, and it was too big for them, they just played in the dirt.  That was fun enough.

 Emily was getting the hang of fishing too. 

 Here's a whole line up of fisherman, I don't remember anyone catching anything.  We did find a dead fish, but that one didn't really count.  Robert also accidently threw his phone in the water, he thought it was his knife.  It survived okay, luckily.

 One last time to fish before we go home.  Robert and Lindsey are trying out a different place, but still no luck. 

It was time to go home.  It was a fun camping trip, a good way to end the summer before school started back up.  The girls always ask when we can go camping again.

Rose Gardens Sept 2011

2011/2012 we had a membership to Thanksgiving Point.  I think the thing the girls liked the best was the Gardens.  They were beautiful.  Emily even took my phone around taking pictures and also getting names of different plants she would like to get for our own house.  The girls had a great time.  It was hardly even busy, we saw a few people but it wasn't bad.  The weather was nice and warm but not too hot.  It was perfect!

 Going into the Rose Garden.....

Amber is such a picture person, she is always saying "take a picture of this" or "now this picture" she is pretty funny with it.  Samantha likes it too but she isn't demanding or requesting pictures, she just smiles nicely when I tell her to.

 These two girls are great friends too.  There was a time that I felt really sad for Amber who was just a baby it seemed herself when we brought a new baby home from the hospital.  It has turned out great, but I felt really quilty not having that special time with her.  I guess as a mom, no matter how things work out, maybe not matter what, I would always feel bad that I didn't do something better. 

 Emily is getting to that age where she really doesn't want her picture taken.  I find also that because she kind of avoids the camera or doesn't ask for those pictures like some of the other girls do, I don't have as many pictures of her.  We will go some where and when I look through pictures later, I don't have any of Em or any good ones of her being happy looking.  She sure is a helper for me, and very thoughtful and considerate... when she chooses to be.  (I think that is the teenager in her getting ready to take over.)

 Lauren was smelling all the roses trying to see which ones smelled the best. 

 Lindsey was happy to get her picture taken in the Rose Garden.

 Isn't she so pretty!  That girl Emily is just a beauty, she has the best smile too, when you can catch her smiling and not rolling her eyes at you.  I miss that Emily in the picture here. 

 It looks like these girls were up to no good.  They can be a bit of trouble sometimes, they seem to find trouble easily. 

 Amber sure is lucky to have such wonderful sisters, Emily is so great with her, and Lindsey and Lauren are big helpers too.

 Emily is taking pictures in the Rose Garden.  This part of the garden reminded me so much of my mom, who LOVES roses.  Such wonderful varieties and colors.