Summer Camping Extravaganza!

Out little camper

 I didn't grow up in a family that went camping.  My dad hated it, so we were more of a picnic and a hike sort of family.  Mr. H's family went all the time, and so he wanted to carry on that tradition this summer.  At the beginning of the summer we picked 4 spots, and then decided we would go on our ward's camp out.  We just got back from our final 5th camping trip of the summer.  I have to say, camping is a lot of work, but Mr. H makes it a lot of fun.  It was fun to have five mini vacations.

#1: Smith and Morehouse

For our first trip, we were really excited.  We had packed a ton of stuff, and we were hoping to go to the Spruce's campground up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  We got up there and it was full.  So we drove for another hour and a half and there was a little spot open up at Smith and Morehouse.  It was so pretty! Kyle wanted a spot in the trees, so we set up camp, ate dinner, built a fire and put C to bed.  Kyle let us buy a guitar for the summer so we could bring it camping.  We enjoyed playing songs, reading our books, playing cards and playing with C when he woke up in the morning.  I loved this campground!  It was so fun to do a little trip just our little family. 

C (after a nap where he got roasted in the tent)

Father and Son's first camping trip :)

#2 Ward Campout (Pineview Resevoir)

This is such a fun tradition in the ward we live in.  Every summer, they rent a spot and people can go up, camp and go boating.  Mr. H had a lot of fun boating and it was fun to get to know some more people in the ward.  C, unfortunately was not cooperating very well and come to find out was pushing a tooth through, so it was a litle more stressful with him this time.  But the area up by Pineview is beautiful.  Thanks to all the people who worked hard to do this trip!

*no pictures :(

#3 Spruces Campground

This time we went up with my family.  My mom and brothers came up with me early with C so we could snag a spot. It was threatening to rain and lighting and thunder, but we decided to chance it.  We set up camp, set up a tarp for just in case.  Luckily, it didn't rain or storm at all.  Mr. H and my dad arrived and we ate dinner and then went on a hike at Donut Falls.  It was so fun!  We had such a good time with my family and it was fun to relax together.  We played the 'sausages' game, roasted marshmellows and chatted.  They went home that night, and we slept over.  I loved this campground.  It was so pretty.  

By the Falls

The boys by the donut 

C and Mr. H

Tired baby boy

The boys making the fire :)

#4 Currant Creek Campground

On this trip, we went with two other couples and their kids.  We didn't realize how far of a drive it was, and we got lost, and then ended up being on a dirt road for about 45 minutes.  It took about 3 hours total. :)  But this spot was incrediably beautiful.  There was a lot of red rock in the trees, and we saw a lot of wildlife, including a baby deer and a porcupine!  Once we got all the kids to bed, we roasted marshmellows and then just laughed and told stories around the fire.  The stars were magnificent.  The next morning we just hung out, went on little walks and let the kids play.  It was such a fun time and fun to chat with our friends. 

*Disclaimer: This was my favorite camp spot.  It was so removed, and you literally felt alone on top of the mountain.  I loved it.

#5 Sulpher Campground

For our final trip, we wanted to go to Mirror Lake with Mr. H's family.  His little sister just got her wisdom teeth out, but came too. (What a good sport!)  We got up the canyon, but all the spots were taken so we headed down to Sulpher.  (about 10 ish minutes down from Mirror Lake).  It was a nice spot, and we had a great time with Mr. H's family.  It was fun to chat, and C had a lot of fun with all the attention he received.  We played games, and then chatted.  They made us a really great apple crisp.  Then they went home, and we went to bed and woke up, made breakfast and came home.  We came home through Evanston, Wyoming, and it was beautiful.

The Boys

Dad and C

The Crew

Grandma and C

C trying to be patient while dinner is being made

It was so fun to see more of Utah this summer!!!  C did great camping, and it was so nice to get into the outdoors. 

Book Review Thursday

Book Review Thursday:

I am an avid reader.   I think I have my parents to thank for this, as both had a love for books and read to us all the time.  I still remember my dad reading to us C.S. Lewis, The Princess Bride, and other classics.  He has a natural gift for reading aloud.

anyway---

I thought it would be fun every Thursday to write a little review on the books I've just finished this week.  

Book #1

A Father First: How My Life Became Bigger Than Basketball

by Dwyane Wade

So Mr. H actually picked out this book.  Go figure, I guess Dwyane Wade is a famous basketball star or something.  I had no idea.  But, one afternoon I was bored, so I picked it up.  What a great book!!!  I have been having some qualms with the way men are being treated lately that we don't need them, we're better off without them etc.  So I loved that Mr. Wade :)  made a case for all fathers and husbands out there.  His early story is remarkable, and it was eye opening for me at all the sacrifices that were made for him by his family.  I loved how he realized, that when he had his two boys, they needed him. They needed a father.  The custody battle was very, very long and his ex-wife did not want him in their lives.  But he knew how important it was that they saw him often.  I loved that he put so much on the line to be a DAD.  This was a very inspirational read.  

****

#2

Hunchback of Notre Dame

by Victor Hugo

This book has been recommended to me by my sister for a long time.  It's Victor Hugo, so you know the story will be good.  This was also my challenge read of the week: I got the unabridged version and it was very long, and a lot of it was in french.  As I was struggling to get through it, I ended up reading the plot synopsis on wikipedia to help me get a handle on characters and plot development.  First suggestion: Get the abridged version!!!  At least if you are like me, I did not care for the pages after pages of descriptions of Paris.  He really wanted to paint a picture, but some of it was way too long for me, and had nothing to do with the storyline.  Also: warning-very depressing book.  Unlike the Disney version, which I still felt was very dark, the book does not have a happy ending, or sweet themes through out.  It deals with some dark, heavy stuff and it made me very sad.  The story is really good though, and it makes you think.  I walked away with "How do I view people?  What do I value in my relationships?"  

***

#3

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

by: Rebecca Skloot

This book is for a book club in my neighborhood.  I thought it was really, really good.  It seemed like it was half and half---half story, half science.  I personally enjoyed the story, narrative part more than the science, but I felt I learned a lot.  I liked that I could read a fun, historical piece and learn about tissues, cancer and vaccinations.  I loved the truth and honesty that the author portrayed in the novel.  It made me think about ethics in medicine, and also the American plight.  It was a really good informational/fun read.  

****

*=not worth your time

**=ok, not recommendable

***=I'll recommend it, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I wished

****=I really enjoyed it

*****=Loved it! Everyone should read it!!!

This is the Place

   C and I were able to volunteer this summer at "This is the Place" park with my mom and two little brothers.  I spent two summers growing up volunteering with my best friend and her family.  This time around was a lot different, but it was still wonderful.  We volunteered eight times during the summer, and had a four hour shift.  They supplied us with authentic pioneer clothing, and we are assigned a home.  This year, we were assigned to the Charles C. Rich home.  It was pretty removed from the rest of the village, and so we were able to relax, chat and ride the train.

Chilling in the shade...it got to be so hot this summer!  How did the pioneers do it?

Charles C. Rich cabin (1st home in the valley w/ closets!)

C playing in the cabin

C and I

I was an American Studies major, and I love learning about the great men and women who settled the Salt Lake Valley.  Their courage and faith still amaze me.  They sacrificed so much to build up a beautiful home for their future generations.  It was so great to be there with my mom and brothers, as well as some of our family friends.  C loved hanging out with Grandma and enjoyed running around. Thanks mom for the awesome oppurtunity this summer!!!!

Birthday Parties!!!

We were not sure how to go about doing C's birthday,

so we decided to do it in three parts.

On his actual day, we made him a cake and his favorite food (pizza!) and played with him and his new toys.  *note to self: do not bake a pizza on wax paper, unless you want to spend the rest of the night peeling it off. :)

C was not a huge fan of the cake, maybe being that it was a huge chunk of something on his tray. 

It had been a rough day...with falls that come with learning to walk and some tummy aches.  But handing him presents cheered him right up.  

Overall, the day was fine, and I'm glad C won't be able to remember all the tumbles and tears.

Fast forward to Saturday:

Part with Mr. H's family!!!

I didn't get that many pictures, but it was so nice of everyone to come out.  We enjoyed seeing Mr. H's grandma, and it was fun to see C feel so important and special.

Sunday we had my family over.  Again, it was so nice for everyone to come out.  Everyone always shows such love and support.  It was fun for C to see some of his 2nd cousins :) and great aunt and uncles, as well as his grandparents and great grandparents.  It was a nice night.  

Thank you all for making it such a great first birthday for C.  He is a lucky little boy to be loved by so many.  

One.

 This baby boy is one today.

I can hardly believe how time has flown by.  One year ago, Mr. H and I were hanging out in the hospital, playing phase 10 over and over again. (In fact, one of the nurses commented she had never seen people play the game so many times in a row. )  We were really excited, but oh so nervous.  C was born at 11:10 p.m.  It was such a surreal experience.  He was the cutest baby.  We could not get over this little person that had appeared in our lives.  

 

It took us a long time to get adjusted to this little boy.  I in particular had a very hard time, especially the first two weeks.  I was in such darkness, and I was so worried that I would not be able to take care of this baby and be the mother he deserved.  I remember a blessing I received during that time, in which I was promised that great blessings would come from little C, and that the darkness would open into light.   Being C's mom is the best and greatest gift I have ever received.  He is an amazing little boy, and has taught me to be more like my Savior.  Mr. H and I are constantly telling each other how we are so blessed to have a sweet little boy in our lives.  

1 month

2 month

3 month

4 month

5 month

6 month

7 month

8 month

9 month

10 month

11 month

1 year!!!

Happy Birthday C!!! We love you!

Introduction part I.

I've wanted to do a little photo story to document for myself (I get sentimental) how time does fly.  Sorry for the picture overload. :)

Mr. H. and I met in elementary school and were friends all through high school.

Then Mr. H came home from serving an LDS mission, and we started to date and fall in love.

Mr. H proposed January 22, 2011

About a month before our wedding, Mr. H got sick.  With faith and prayer, we decided to move our wedding up and go through the scare together.

Our friends and families gave us the most beautiful wedding two people could ask for.  

 

Our little brand new family was blessed, and Mr. H got to be on the mend.

A couple of months passed, and soon, to our delight, we found that I was expecting!

We found it was a baby boy!

We went on a trip to North Carolina, where Mr. H. had served his mission.

We celebrated our 1st anniversary!