Labor Day Fun

For Labor Day weekend we tried our best to enjoy the outdoors and the beauty around us. And I think we did a pretty good job! Along with my parents, Tami and her fam, and Kacy and her girls (Adam was out of town and Kacy braved the weekend in the great outdoors with her kiddos. She's good!) we went up Timpooneke and camped for 3 fantastic nights.
Because of my church calling (ward newsletter and sacrament programs) that always takes a lot of last minute work (my procrastination sure, buy also the procrastination of other people who contribute) we got a late start on Friday. Kevin had a dentist appointment at 2:30 so I was hoping to leave by 4:00. I think he didn't get home until after 4:00 but I wasn't even close to being ready. The car needed to be packed (purposely left that job for the hubby) I needed to finish up some packing and I still needed to copy and staple together the newsletter. I will be talking to the bishop about getting a ward account at the local copy place so I can just email it in and pick them up all put together! Of course Kevin helped a ton when he got home. We got the newsletters put together and delivered to the bishop, headed to the Wendy's drive thru and then debated on if we should go that night and set up our tent in the dark or just go in the morning after a good nights sleep and morning showers! Rylan had been waiting patiently all day to go to the mountains and when we brought up the possibility of waiting until the morning he wouldn't have it. Of course we gave in to his sweet little desires because he's so dang cute...and that was the original plan anyways! So of we went...was it after 7:00 at this point? We made it safely, found the rest of our party already partying and we joined in for a peaceful mountain sleep in our cozy tent.

Saturday morning we woke up to rain (which didn't last too long). My little fam and Tami and her fam headed out to hike to Timpanogos cave. I carried Asher in my wrap and Rylan refused to walk so he mostly rode on Kevin's shoulders. Whew...what a hike! I thought I was in better shape--I keep blaming my shortness of breath and sweaty armpits on the extra 20 lbs wrapped around me! It was worth it thought because the cave was just as incredible as I remember from my childhood. Rylan loved being inside the mountain and he didn't insist on being carried anymore. I no longer have trouble remembering which is a stalactite and which is a stalagmite but in case you do, I heard a girl in the cave say "you might trip over the stalagmite" and I thought that was cute. Anyways, the walk down the mountain was hard on my knees and they were sore the rest of the way. Kevin still had to carry Ry most of the way even though he tried taking turns with Rylan at each turn.

Doesn't Asher look HUGE?!!

What did we do the rest of the day? Ate lunch, relaxed, some people napped, played some Rage, ate dinner, relaxed...ahhh I love camping! Kevin and Garren left for the BYU game which they watched at Kacy's house. My dad sat in his truck and listened to it, jumping out after every play to give a us and update. Even when we were listening to the game in Tami's trailer he just had to tell us play by play what had just happened---I love my dad :) And of course I have to add "GO COUGARS!!!"

My grandparents were up there in the their trailer for Friday night and most of Saturday. My grandpa spent most of the day in his trailer sleeping and when he finally came out he said he was ready to go home. My grandma had already arranged to go home (in fact, when Kevin left for the BYU game he called my uncle Steve to come pick up my grandparents) but she asked "What are you going to do at home?" And I bet you'll never guess what my grandpa said: "I don't know, die"...yeah, that's my grandpa for ya. And my grandma's reply was almost just as shocking "You can do that up here". Wow. I just can't imagine talking so casually about death. My mom said they have conversations like that often!

Sunday morning we got up and left for Kacy's house to shower and go to her ward at 11:00. We were grateful for the shower and of course for the spiritual uplift :) I really wanted a nap so after sacrament meeting we hung out at Kacy's house until about 4:00 just resting. When we got to the campground my brother was there with his two girls. That night while the kids played and went to bed, the adults stayed up playing Big Booty and the animal game. HILARIOUS. I seriously love laughing with family. And how can we laugh so much at Big Booty even after playing it for 20+ years? So many memories of that game...

Monday morning I was crabby, my boys were both sick (Asher was sick before we even left) and I really didn't want our camping trip to be over. But I knew it was coming to an end and I was sad. We all packed up, I dished out the last of the peanut butter bars that Kacy continuosly reminded me of (she accused me of trying to keep them for myself. Okay, so what if I was?!) and we played some Hokie Six to end off our fun with a little too much competitive spirit.

I left really wanting a trailer and my hubby laughing at me :) I guess as long as we go camping with people who have those conveniences then I'm ok. I mean seriously, we don't even have sleeping bags! And as much as Kevin says enough blankets do the job, I still think we should get some sleeping bags before next summer--unless he has plans to buy me a trailer :)