Backpack trip to Shepard Lake July 2009

We are ready to hike! Can't wait to see Shepard Lake with Kelly and the Pettey's!

Cute shot of Greg & Joseph!

What a great dad for planning these activities!

Mom and Marissa enjoying some peaceful times together away from phones and schedules!

This is the beautiful waterfall we camped by. It is so amazing to me that all around us in Utah there are beautiful spots like this if you take the time to get off the beaten path!

Marissa at her favorite pastime, dreaming of hiking more! No, she enjoyed not getting up at 5 am for a few days!

Madison could be a model for a hiking magazine. Picture perfect, even after camping out!

Austy loves it out here!

The wildflowers were gorgeous from all the rain this spring...love it!

This is Janene. She is kinda like Trudy on "The Facts of Life", if any of you remember that show from the dark ages. My mom didn't allow me to watch it but a few times I was a sinner and sneaked off to my friends and watched it. Then I watched re-runs as a yearling rebel when I moved away from home. Still don't get what made her ban it from my empty youth. Anyway, Janene is obviously not black, but she is like Trudy in that, she takes care of and worries over everyone but seldom takes her own advice. She's not a hypocrite in any way, don't get me wrong. She just kinda puts herself last and is selfless. She is also like the aunt in my kids' life who isn't genetically related. Shows up to stuff and loves them and all that.

Anyway, this stash you see so lovingly photographed is her "extras" she sent up for us to eat. Here we have a HUGE jar of Prego (original, my favorite from my days at Delany's Sandwich Villa ((think Italian chicken on sourdough bread)), 2 fresh bags of buns, a bag of homemade meatballs and 2 unopened packages of provolone cheese ((think Delany's again)) all just "extras").

Who does she think she is dealing with here? I am not an amateur to her fake "extras". I must remember to take my "extras" of my gourmet meals to her in return. Unfortunately, as of late, this would be large quantities of milk and honey bunches of oats. Sad but true. I am a failure as a homemaker these days. But when I come back, it will be with a cooking vengeance. I plan to make my dear, sweet red-headed Trudy a macaroni dish and extra crispy fried chicken that will make her wish I were her chef. I saw this demonstrated on "country kitchen" on KBYU during my 8 hour TV marathon yesterday. I was productive, to say the least. Yes, I learned a lot.
I love Janene and so do my kids. And Kelly only wishes he were here for dinner tonight.

My boy, the piano man!

I don't know a mother on earth who would complain about the hours her kid is spending ont he piano, and believe me, I'm not. But his sisters tell a different tale. Marissa because Austin starts playing the minute he awakes and Madison because she doesn't want anyone to expect her to practice at all! Seriously, I may have the next Jim Brickman on my hands! Or Billy Joel...

I can't decide who has the better puppy do eyes, the pup or the boy!
Pretty sure this pup is a bull, do ya think so?

REDFISH LAKE ADVENTURE AUGUST 2008

"To see a WORLD in a GRAIN of sand and HEAVEN in a WILDFLOWER, hold INFINITY in the palm of your hand and ETERNITY in an hour."
- William Blake
We are back from our Redfish Lake adventure and ready for the school year to begin. I wanted to document some memories before they fade from my memory! We had an awesome time with the Burningham family this year. We were joined by Amber & Tyler, Kaylee, Trevor and baby Ashley. Thanks for the memories guys and for putting up with us as we showed off our treasure in the Sawtooth mountains of Idaho. Everyone got along beautifully and we couldn't have had a better time(unless we had more time!)


Amber & Ashley happy to be out of the car finally

Madison at the Lake front with her awesome, happy grin!


Here we are at the Redfish Lake Lodge waterfront the first evening

Kaylee & Madison waiting patiently for their dinner in the Lodge.

Tyler & Amber are awaiting their awesome food (gotta have the salmon chowder).
Kelly is always giddy when good food is on the way. We love this rustic lodge and have ambitions to be campground hosts here in about 20 years. Then he can have all the salmon chowder and Idaho potatoes he can manage to eat!







Kelly couldn't wait to get Tyler out on the lake in the canoe. Apparently Tyler was excited because he shouted "I gotta call Greg Pettey and then my mom" as they paddled away!


Katie &MJ joined us on Friday with Samantha, PJ, Bella and the latest addition, Lucy the dog, who stole the show. The kids had so much fun playing with her and with the chipmunks. They had chipmunks eating out of their hands!






My beautiful sister, Katie, relaxing while MJ babysists Lucy and the kids play

Madison is in love with the new puppy and doesn't want to share. This is her last day with this smile, as she lost a tooth the next day!
Katie & Kelly are off to an intense tetherball tournament inspired by the Olympics.

I had to take pictures of the guys doing the dishes to remind myself it DID actually happen once upon a time. It was even Kelly's idea, good job, honey. I found them laughing at a joke which I can't remember, but they sure thought it was funny!

I have to agree with the person who said there are few things as sweet as puppy breath on your face. Passed that one on to my sweet Madi.

Madison lost her tooth and we didn't even know it was loose! One of the greatest experiences of childhood- she was told if you put salt & pepper with your tooth under your pillow you will get twice as much money...

Here is MJ trying to look like a GQ model and being almost successful




Kaylee on top of the world!
Kelly & I in front of the Indian dwelling on our way out of the camp