Summer Fun

The kids had a lot of fun playing out in our backyard this summer.  They built forts on the grass and played on the swingset.

One night for Family home evening, they set up a "carnival" where we each got tickets to do different activities.   We had jumping on the trampoline, tag, lightsaber duel, and obstacle courses.

We loved seeing how creative the kids can be coming up with all of it on their own.  They even made a fancy ticket dispenser out of a capri sun box and homemade tickets.    Aaron and I laughed our heads off during the carnival, because we ended up doing most everything while the kids watched and payed our own "tickets" to do it!  It was hilarious!  

The kids love to swing on the swingset.  I usually only push them for a few minutes, but one evening I decided to just push them until they decided they wanted to stop.  Some of them went almost 30 min!   It is so fun to watch their excitement and love for life.  

Heidi fell asleep while reading.  She loves reading so much that
she would  read until we come down and turn off the light every night.  

Camping in Mantua

On August 13-15, we went camping at one of our new favorite places- Box Elder Campground near Mantua.  We have recently learned that it is a good idea to get reservations there before going.  Most of the sites are pretty good, but the best ones get taken fast.  Our kids love a couple of them that have a stream running to the side of our camp.  It is a beautiful site and conveniently close to home!  

This is what we consider "easy camping".  We slept in our camp at night and spent some time there during the day, but then also went out and did some fun activities around town, too.

Friday we went on a walk around the lake in Mantua.  It was really hot that morning with not much shade so I would probably do this in the evening the next time.

Later that evening, we headed over to Brigham City (which is only about 5 miles away) and went swimming in the pool and afterwards ate at Pizza hut.  

All 3 of my little ones loved the big water slide so much, I'd bet they each went on it 20 times!  They just kept wanting to go on it over and over again!  And, for the little ones who can't swim yet, that meant mom or dad was going with them.   It is fun to see how brave they have gotten.  Heidi has really caught on with swimming and Jared is trying really hard to learn.    It was a blast!  

Now, this is my kind of camping!  We spent some time at camp, but also had access to swimming, activities, and restaurants :)  

Jared showing off his collection of bugs.  

In Loving Memory- Oma Erika Michel

My daughter Erika with her great-Oma Erika

My sweet Oma- Erika Jutta Kreisel Michel, passed away on August 3, 2015.  It was a sad day for many but also a relief as she has spent many years suffering.  She will be greatly missed!  She went through many hard things in her live, the most significant one being her escape to America from Germany, where religious freedom was threatened.  She came to this land with practically nothing, knowing only a few people, and speaking no English.  She left behind her parents and family, never to see them again in this life.  She made this sacrifice with the intent to bless her posterity with a better life, for which I will be forever grateful.   She struggled for the remainder of her life to provide a good life for her children and to teach them the gospel.  She went through many health problems later in her life, but bore them up with dignity.  

At the care center a few months before she passed away.
  She was no longer speaking or responding to people.  

My Oma was a good woman.  

I feel very blessed to have been able to know her as long as I have, being one of the oldest grandchildren.  I have many sweet memories of her when she was still young.  She took the time to spend with me, even when it was not convenient for her.  I remember one day in particular- I had spent the night (just me) at my Oma and Opa's house and Oma was going to take me shopping for my birthday at ZCMI.  I'm sure I slept right in-between Oma and Opa as we children usually did when we spent the night.  I remember she made me her special German pancakes, my favorite.  I also remember that she wasn't feeling too well that day and I told her it was okay, we didn't have to go anywhere, but she insisted.  She took me to ZCMI and while we were there, we had to stop at the bathroom where she was throwing up and I sat and waited for her for quite a while.  People kept passing me and saying, "Are you with the woman in there?  Is she okay?"  I said yes and eventually we finished our shopping and went home.  This is just one example of how my Oma put others before herself.  She was constantly in the kitchen baking delicious things and she loved to create a beautiful flower garden.  I remember hearing her humming the same German tunes and holding and rocking me and my siblings.  

Oma holding Erika

I think my Oma had a special bond with my Erika, as she carried her name.  Fortunately, Erika has had the opportunity of knowing her and will remember her.

Oma holding Erika as an infant

Oma pushing Erika on her walker at Bear Lake

Oma holding Kyle as an infant

Oma with Heidi in her favorite chair and her dog Molly

All we really have after we leave this life are the memories that we leave behind.  I hope someday I can say that I was as good a woman as my Oma was.  She left a legacy behind for all of us to follow.  Knowing her makes me want to be a better person and to live in a way that would honor her.  

Camping in Blacksmith Fork

July 31st we took our family camping up in Blacksmith Fork Canyon.  We stayed at Pioneer Campground.  It is such a beautiful place!  Our site was right on the river and the kids had a lot of fun playing in the river.  Kyle caught a small gardner snake at the end of the trip and put it in a jar.  He wanted to take it home for a pet.  Well, we've let him keep a lot of his catches as pets, but snakes are where I draw the line.  Can't do snakes...  So, we took a picture and he had to let it go.  

Here is a picture Kyle drew of the snake he caught.
(He named the snake "vinegar")

On Friday, we took our boat and spent some time at Hyrum Reservoir.   It was a nice day and there were a lot of boats out.   How, you may ask, did we get a boat and a camping trailer over there?  Well,  Aaron drove the boat over the week before when he had some meetings over in Logan and left it at a friend's house.  That way we were able to use both.  Usually that's not an option.   We spent most of the day there playing at the beach, eating, and boating around.  

Poor little guy...  We've worn him right out!  

Saturday morning we decided to hike the Crimson trail.  It is in Logan canyon starting at the Spring Hollow Campground and ending up at Gunivah-Malibu.  I have heard about the Crimson trail but never done it before. There are quite a few very steep drop-offs along the way.  The hike is about 3 miles total so not too bad.  I definitely want to do it again, but next time I don't  think I will bring little kids, maybe 8 and older.  There were a few places that were quite scary with all 8 of us, the youngest 4 being not as sure-footed.  And, carrying a heavy baby backpack made me feel quite top-heavy, like I could just fall right off the cliff.  

But, I will say, the hike is very worth it!  You spend half the hike walking on the edge of a cliff and the views are breathtaking!!!

Our children are amazing little hikers!  One of our biggest challenges was just keeping our boys from running ahead.  We had each little child assigned to a bigger person and "attached" to them in some way.   I was joking that at least if we went off the cliff, we'd all go off together.  Eternal families, right?

Stopping for a snack break

I am so grateful for such beautiful places to visit so close by.  We are so blessed with the time and means to spend there with those we love!