Jackson Hole Camping

At the end of June, we went camping with my family around Jackson Hole. The boys were so excited and loved camping. We went hiking up to Granite Falls and spent an afternoon in Jackson. Our Durango Battery also died several times while camping, which was not fun. But we had a fun time, and the boys are asking if we can go again.

Hiking to Granite Falls

Jackson Hole

This Year I took the Kids up to Jackson Hole camping with my family the end of June.  I was a little worried about a 5 hour drive with 2 kids and camping with 2 kids by myself, but we survived.  And we had a great time:)  Gavin talks about going Camping all the time now.

We arrived Thursday about 11 and off we went getting dirty, hanging with family and going to Jackson Hole for some Fun.  We stayed in the tent with Aunt Cathy and the boys slept so good.  Because of Camping we stopped the morning nurse with Greyson and put the boys in the same room!

Jackson Hole was fun.  Gavin was tired but he loved running in the park and looking at the stuff in all the shops there.  I hope that we get to go camping more often in the future!

Jackson Hole

I just wanted to update the blog really quick before I hit the sack. Gavin & I went to Jackson Hole last weekend. All by ourselves...Friday morning we woke up at 5am, I feed Gavin & we were off. Mike got home from work just in time to see us off. I still can't believe that Home Depot wouldn't let him go with us, but we had a great time & he got to sleep without having to worry about taking care of Gavin.

We got up to McCammon in Idaho at 9am & I feed Gavin there & then we made it the rest of the way to the camp site by 11:30am. When we got there it was Raining & yucky but by noon, it had turned into a beautiful day. We had decided to go into Jackson that afternoon & piddle around there. After we got back to Camp, it had started to rain again, but only rained for about 30 minutes or so...nothing bad at all...that is when Gavin got his best sleep. There was a group of rafters across the camp site from us & the rangers were there on Friday talking to them. We saw them packing up & thought that the rangers were kicking them out because they had a ton of people in there site, so we went down to the camp hosts to buy that camp site for the night so I could park my car. We got talking to the camp hosts & they said that they had an accident & a leader fell in the river & didn't come back up in time. We stopped at there camp site on the way back & asked what happened, they said that they went through a rapid & 4 fell out. The leader didn't come back up in time & when he did, wasn't breathing. They rushed him to the hospital, but it didn't look it! It broke my heart...If you are going to to White Water Rafting on the Snake River, please know what you are doing. A friend of mine said he fell out on the Rapid "Three Ordeal" which is not a safe rapid it all. It has the saying..."If it's high, you die, if it's low, no go!" We looked over the weekend to see if there was anything reported, but couldn't find anything.

Saturday no one wanted to go on the river...we had all had our fear level taken up a notch to hear about the leader in that group, so we played around camp & had nice family time & packed up to go home. It was a rough ride home...one that I don't plan on doing again without someone. Thanks so much to my mommy for riding with me from Brigham City to Lehi...I don't know what I would have done without you. Love you & thanks for the great weekend! Enjoy the pictures.

Playing Cards around Camp

Ben playing in the fire

Jason & Gavin

Kammi & I in all my baby fat glory

Love this picture of Gavin! What a cutie!

One of the souvenirs I bought in Jackson for Gavin - His hat says, My First Vacation, Jackson Hole

Gavin sleeping in his huge warm sleeper & BYU Comforter

Gavin in Jackson

White Water Rafting

Where do I begin? Lets see, lets start with a couple weekends ago...this will be a long post!

Friday Night (the 20th) My sisters finally got here...we stayed up for a while & chatted it up until we went to bed.

Saturday morning, Mike had to work, Cathy went to hang out with some friends, so Wendy & I shopped & hung out for the day. Saturday night, we went to Springville to pick up Jason so that he could hang out with us. What a fun weekend...Hangin out with my family!

Sunday we went to Church & then had My parents & Grandma over for dindin...What a great day! I miss my family!

Monday I had to go to work, & when I got off work, we discovered a problem with my car...the Wheel barring had gone out on it which meant that I couldn't drive it to Jackson Hole! BUMMER! Good thing Cathy stayed behind to go with me. We packed up the car Monday night in preparation for the drive Tuesday morning (early).

The is a pix of Lunch Counter (the BIG waves this year)

Now comes the fun stuff...Tuesday we left the house about 6am & drove up to the East Table campground along the Snake River (in between Hoback & Alpine) We stopped at the Big Kahuna & Lunch Counter pull out to watch our boat go through the rapids...it was great. Tuesday afternoon we (Cathy & I) were on our first run of the week. Those Lunch Counter waves are bigger when you are going through them in the boat, as opposed to looking at them from the rocks! What a difference.

Wednesday was more river running & going to Granite Falls & Jackson Hole. It isn't letting me upload pictures, so I will try again later.

It is so beautiful up there!

Thursday is when it really gets good. The boys (Mike, Ben, Tyler & Sarah - she can be a boy, right?) Arrived the night before so it was there first run. The first run of the day was great, but we missed Lunch Counter a little to the left...oh well, we always have the afternoon run, right? The afternoon run, we were all nervous, well at least I was! We got into Lunch Counter & we hit it PERFECT, but by the end of the rapids, there wasn't anyone left in the boat! It had kicked us all out! So to my near death experience. The 3-4 Wave got us & knocked me out first. As soon as I was in the water things kept bumping into me whether it was someone or a paddle, but I was running into things. All I kept thinking about in the water was the last thing my mom said to my dad before we left "I have 4 kids on that boat." I didn't think I would ever take a breath of air again. I finally came up & was away from the boat, choking on the air because I was just "breathing water." I saw my dad & yelled for him. I lost my contacts, bandanna & paddle & was trying to remember what we tell the "newbies" to do when they fall out! They had EMT's sitting on the rocks that were throwing ropes, but they didn't throw them far enough for my dad or I to catch them, so we still just floating in the water, trying to be rescued! I started swimming to the other boat that was with us & they finally got me. As soon as I was on there boat they said "Alicia, you have a big knot on your head" that is when it started to hurt! They got my dad & our boat finally got up to them & we headed down the river the rest of the way...This story isn't over...there is more!

The is the bump on my head after we had were back to camp

After we got back in the boat, we were all EXHAUSTED! We still had 3 rapids left before we were done! We went through Champagne fine, then Cottonwoods alright (we were still a little shaken up) Then the McNasty (that is what I call it) It has a bad back curl, not fun. We really were not paying attention to my dad guiding & calling out orders, so we hit it & knocked Sarah & Cathy out & Wendy was halfway out/in. I was ready to get off the ride then! Needless to say we were all really scared after that & took the rest of the week slowly!

I couldn't go on any other runs because I lost my contacts & couldn't see, but all in all it was a really entertaining week. We laughed, we cried & we got out butts kicked! We got home Saturday night & had a lot of Laundry & cleaning to do, but what a great vacation...I will try to upload photos later...if it will let me. Let me know what you think of my near death experience!

Bear slept all the way home...he was tired!

Wendy & Jason, if you read this, leave me a comment! Love you!

This is my bump on Saturday evening after we had gotten home & showered.

BORING Weekend Update

This is be an EXTREMELY BORING weekend update...because we didn't do ANYTHING!

Friday I got off work early, so I went home & we watched about 10 episodes of Army Wives (Love that show!!) Then we went to bed.

Saturday morning we got up & cleaned the house, went to Walmart for some groceries & to finish off Father's Day shopping. Then I went home & Mike went to work.

Sunday I got up early & made Breakfast for Mike for Father's day. We then went to church & Mike had to leave early because he had to go to work...of coarse. After Church I took a much needed Nap...I was invited to go with Mike's family to there "Father's Day" celebration up at Provo Canyon...but decided against it because Ben was coming over for dinner. Ben came over for dinner & we hung out for a while. As soon as Mike came home, I was tired & ready for bed. That was our EXTREMELY BORING weekend.

This weekend will be a good one. My family is coming into town...& we are going to Jackson Hole next week to do some White Water Rafting on the Snake River...It is a family tradition & we go every year...I can't wait!

Memorial Day Weekend Update

Our Memorial Day Weekend was not anything to write home about (as my mom would say) ha! Friday night Mike & I just chilled at home.

Saturday Mike had to work, so I cleaned the house & got stuff ready for my family to come over. Mike got home about 5:30pm & we drove to my Grandma's house in Springville to visit with her & my family that came up to visit (My momma & brother Jason) I talked Jason to come stay with me because Mike had to work Sunday & Monday & I would be by myself. He did.

Sunday we went to church & Jason helped me with our Nursery Kids. My mom & other brother came over for dindin & we just chilled together & chatted.

Monday was a very rainy Memorial Day. We drove to my Grandma's house & had lunch with some other family (Aunts, Uncles & Cousins) & sat & enjoyed a nice relaxing day. I was great to see my mom & brother & also my other extended family as well as my Grandma. I can't wait to see my whole family next month for Jackson Hole!

This weekend will be a good one filled with a Movie & Girls day out! I can't wait!