Camping in Mantua

With such a busy summer, we managed to take our trailer out on ONE camping trip just a couple weeks before school would start.  Where did the summer go??

The kids showing off the "fort" they made in the trees.

  It it always a fun adventure for us to explore a new place.  I like to travel.  I was blessed with a wonderful childhood and the opportunity to travel to many places with my family.  I have fond memories of road trips across the country both ways, and lots of camping.   I look forward to many vacations with my own family- road trips and also a lot of camping!
      And, I guess now that we are "trailer people" and own a camping trailer, we probably will never go back to tent camping if we don't have to.  I have to admit, it really is nicer!  And, I guess some would call it "not TRUE camping" in a trailer, but, hey-  it's still out of your element with 5 kids.  So, anything that will make it a little easier for me and more comfortable, I'M IN!   The only disadvantage to going with a trailer is that depending on the size of your trailer there are some sites you can't fit into.  But, you still get to pack up everyone and go somewhere new together, make new memories and get out into nature.

So, August 14th we decided to try a new campground and went to a place in Mantua.   (Strangely enough, it is pronounced "Mannoway", and I don't know why...)  Mantua is just up the canyon from Brigham City, so it is actually pretty close to home.  We headed up on a Wednesday so there weren't many people there that first night and we got to pick a nice spot.  One fun thing about the campground is the little stream running through, in-between the campsites.  We picked a spot by the stream and the kids had a great time exploring it.   The kids also like to make "forts" in the trees where they each have their own pretend "bedroom" and they can do this for hours!  

Jared helping hold the frog that Kyle caught.  We took 
him home and he put him in an aquarium in his room.  

I had a hard time keeping this kiddo out of the water.
He just loves it!

About 5 min. from the campground is the reservoir in Mantua.  I'm pretty sure it is man-made and there aren't a lot of beaches.  The one spot we found was pretty barren with coarse sand, but it was still fun.  The kids swam in the lake and we had a picnic lunch there.  Then, they relaxed in the sun for a little while.  

We brought our bikes camping and had a lot of fun riding them around.   I pulled the two little ones in the bike trailer around the loop over and over.  We got Heidi a tricycle for her birthday in hopes that it would be easier for her to learn the pedals.  One of my happiest moments of the trip was watching her finally figure out how to pedal a bike!!  We have been trying and trying all summer to help her learn.  Aaron even put a bike in the garage up on planks so she could just practice moving the pedals around.  For some reason it just wasn't making sense for her.  She has struggled her whole life with coordination and motor skills so it wasn't a surprise this would be a challenge.  So, for us this was a very exciting milestone!!  Once she figured it out, she LOVED it and wanted to ride and ride.  One fun thing was that the loop by our trailer kind of sloped down so she would ride the tricycle down and then I would hook her on to the back of my bike at the bottom and "pull" her up the uphill side.  

I know there is not much to see in this picture, but that is ME back there.  Aaron had challenged me to swim to that buoy and I DID IT!!  Amazing what you'll do for a swedish fish, huh?  (It felt like it was in the middle of the lake but I know it wasn't)  I was pretty proud of myself.  It was harder than it looks because there was some pretty creepy seaweed all over that really grossed me out so I basically just got to the buoy and then swam back as quick as I could!  

 

Michel Cabin August 2013

We had a lot of fun up at the cabin on August 9th with Candice and Cory's family and Oma and Opa. The kids spent their time fishing and catching crawdads.  It was a little too cold for swimming in the lake this year, but there were still plenty of things to do!  

Jared and Lincoln, playing in any water they could find...  a foot bath.  

Watch out- they might pinch you!!

A good day of fishing on the boat

Jared had a lot of fun catching crawdads with his cousins!

The Return of the Glass Slipper

Right after school let out, Erika and Kyle had the opportinity of trying out for the play "The Return of the Glass Slipper" with the Garland Children's Charity Theatre.  This would be Erika's FOURTH time performing with them.  I was really happy that Kyle decided to try out and see how he liked it.  He and Erika both ended up being townspeople this year and it actually worked out really well that way.  I was glad they got to be together most of the time.  The practices were pretty intensive throughout the summer, I guess because the townspeople were in most of the scenes.  They practiced twice a week from 9-12 almost every week!  It was good for them to have something productive to do during the summer and with the nice weather they were able to ride their bikes to and from practices. 

What a great experience!  I really enjoyed watching the two of them perform.  They were fantastic! 

I signed up to help with the cast party this year, and that was fun! 
I got to play some games with the kids and hang out with them backstage. 

Boise Parkinson Reunion

We had a great time up in Boise from July 24th-28th with the Parkinson family!  This was quite a big deal having all of Aaron's family together.  It had been 3 years since we'd all been together.  The kids were so excited to see their cousins!  We stayed in a hotel and did some fun things around Boise.

Opening presents on Erika's birthday morning

After settling in the hotel, Aaron took Kyle, Heidi, and Jared swimming in the pool while I went to the mall with Erika and Jared.  We were also accompanied by Grandma and Erika's cousin Taylor.  We got to watch Erika get her ears pierced!  That was exciting for her.  We also went to the Build-A-Bear Workshop where grandma paid for Erika to make her own bear.  (something she's always wanted to do).   After that, we met up with everyone and went out to dinner at the restaurant of Erika's choice- Sizzler.  

HAPPY  10TH BIRTHDAY, ERIKA!  WE LOVE YOU!!

Thursday morning we met up with everyone and went and got some nice family pictures at the Boise Train Depot.  It is such a pretty place!  We got some great pictures of everyone! 

Jared and Aaron having a "moment".  I think this picture
captures what a sweet and patient father Aaron is.  

That afternoon, we all headed to Lucky Peak.  What an amazing place!  I never even knew it existed until this trip!  It was the perfect weather, too.  It is a man-made beach up the canyon from Boise with a grassy area and picnic tables and then a beach with fairly shallow water.  (An adult can walk all the way to the deepest part).  The kids had a great time playing in the water and just relaxing!  We flied kites, played ball and just visited.  Jared had a traumatic moment when he got stung by a bee after drimking some soda pop that dripped on his neck, a bee thought it was a sweet spot.  Luckily we were just about ready to leave at that point.  That was his first encounter with a bee and he still talks about it if reminded.   

Taylor, Erika, and Kyle basking in the sun

Looking for little fish with uncle Ryan

A perfect day for kite flying!

On Friday morning, while the guys went golfing, we brave women loaded up all the kids and took them to the zoo.  That was a lot of fun, but exhausting too.  Look at these animals!!   As you can see, they were having so much fun there, so it was worth it.   

As you can see, my little animals love to pose for the camera. 

This one looks like he needs to go back into the egg
until he's ready to hatch, don't you think?

After the zoo, we walked over to the Julia Davis park where mom had rented a pavilion.  We had lunch, played games, did a piñata, and rode the paddle boats on the duck pond.

Kyle and Kaidynce at the park

On Friday evening after the park, we all met up at the chinese buffet we like to frequent whenever we come to Boise.  The next morning, Saturday, we went to the aquarium in Boise.  I was also really impressed with this place, too!  There were a lot of animals that the kids could touch there, including many friendly rays, some starfish and an iguana.   

Jared loved touching the rays!  

After the aquarium we had to say goodbye to Marisa and Sam as they were heading back home.  We then went out to a really fun splash park out in Meridian.  The kids loved it there and played for hours!  I wish I would've gotten a few pictures of Kyle because he was a hoot.  He just got himself drenched!   

Jordan had fun splashing in the puddles by all the drains. 

Aaron trying to take a nap with Jordan- how sweet!  
(Good luck!  We know he's tired, but I don't think he wants to be. )

Thanks everyone for the fun times!  Great memories...

San Diego with the Michels

So, I am finally getting around to posting my pictures from our San Diego trip in June.  This was our reunion with the Michel family.  It was such a great trip!  We headed down to California on Saturday, June 18th.  Our family drove the whole thing straight through and it took us 13 hours!  We only took a couple of stops and it was very long, so we were SO EXCITED when we finally arrived!

The first day after our drive was a Sunday, so after church we took a trip over to the San Diego Mormon Battalion visitor's center.  I was so impressed with this place!  The missionaries and the beautiful building made me feel like I was walking back in time.  They had such touching movies and messages.  At the end, there was an area where the kids could "mine" for gold in a little river and pun the water out.  Close by the visitor center, there are markets where people are selling all kinds of mexican food and souvenirs.

I loved this picture-  My mom, Candice, and Amanda, all walked into the visitor center  with a sleeping child on their shoulder.  Crazy, huh?  Worn out on the first day?!

On Monday of our trip we went to Lego land.  This was a new experience for all of us, as none of us have ever been there before.  I really liked it.  We had 2 days there, and definitely needed both of them to see it all.  Our kids are CRAZY about legos so it was fun for them to see amazing things built completely out of legos all over the park.  We had to get pictures with a few of them.

Kyle, Logan, and Lucy by Darth Vader

One of the rides at Lego- land.  Looks like fun!!

Heidi was having a blast on the rides at Lego land!
The last time she went to a theme park, she was 1 year old!  

Heidi's very most favorite ride was this one.  She absolutely loves lego horses and hordes them at home.  She loves to play with them.  So, when she saw she could actually ride one, she was in heaven!!

Jared cried and cried when all the other kids went on the Lego horses.   He was not quite tall enough and was devastated.   He went on every ride he was tall enough for, though!!

Jared had a blast driving the lego car.  He couldn't really
figure out how to control it, but didn't seem to mind.  

Uh, oh.. Just a little too much for Jared...

Nuts and bolts teacups with Oma

Heidi was having the time of her life on the airplane ride!

This was one of the only rides Jordan got to go on, just a little train.
I don't think he really knew what he was missing, anyway.  

 A quick review:  We really enjoyed Lego land.  I would say it compares more to Lagoon to me than Disneyland, though.  In size, it is more like Lagoon although I think it had more "kiddie" rides that Lagoon does.  Lego seems to be much more for younger kids and Lagoon caters to older kids and teenagers.  One nice thing compared to Disneyland is that lego land also has a water park and an aquarium, to mix things up.   You can pay for them separately, or get a package deal.  One fun thing is that at most of the rides with longer lines, they have a lego building area for the kids to play while their adults wait in the line.    Overall, though,  I would say that Disneyland is still a personal favorite.  There is just something magical about that place that is unique.  While I think Disneyland is a place everyone should go at least once in their lifetime,  Legoland was fun, but may just be a one-timer.

And then there was the BEACH!

It was so beautiful, almost like we were stepping into a magazine!  My parents rented a beach house right on the bay, so we could just step out on the balcony and look out at it.  WOW!

We spent two days just relaxing there, going out to the water whenever we wanted.  Our older kids got a new experience going out to the ocean and jumping in the waves.  They were in their clothes and got completely drenched!   One thing about being by the beach-  we had sand EVERYWHERE!  It was great.  I had the opportunity of jogging by the ocean two of the mornings we were there and it was so therapeutic!  

Heidi and Jared buried in the sand

Erika and Lucy playing in the sand

Everyone wants to see the sand crabs the kids caught

On Wednesday we went to the Safari park.  It was really neat!   It is similar to a zoo, but many of the animals are roaming free.  They have tried to make it more like their natural habitat.  They have different packages where you can get up closer to the animals.  We rode in a tram/bus and got a tour around the park.  It was really neat!  

I had Jared and Jordan dressed in their little safari outfits that day and I
just had to get their pictures because  they looked so adorable!!

Heidi found a spot to hide!

Erika, Lucy, Kyle, and Logan- glad to be together.

Don't worry- this is not a real rhinoceros, although it certainly looks very real.
Jared was so excited to climb up on its back.  

Add caption

Jordan didn't like the water much,
but I got him to smile for this picture

Ahh, he's finally sleeping- now I can take a rest, too!

Kyle was a pro at catching sand crabs!

Jared and Opa paddling around in the bay on a canoe.  

Heidi's favorite thing was just playing in the sand.  

It was a great trip with a lot of fun memories!  I really liked staying in the beach house with all my siblings and parents.  At night we got to visit, play games and relax.  Aaron and I got to take a nice walk on the beach alone together.  It was really a nice vacation!  Thanks to those who made it happen for us!  

At the end we were able to go to my sister's house and see Lucy get baptized.  That was a really special day!   We're glad that we could be there for it.  

Havin' a great time on the road!