Camping

Soap Stone

In July Charles and I got a few friends together and went on a camping trip to Soap Stone. It was a lot of fun. I haven't gotten to go camping as much as i would like this year so each time i get to go i am in heaven.

I was able to bring my four-wheeler which was a ton of fun. Craig and Kelsi came and brought their little boy Brayden. He was in love with the four-wheeler. We all took him on rides and he couldn't get enough. Craig took Brayden on a ride and came back with flowers for Kelsi. It was super cute!



Brayden was too little to hold on so we made a little seat belt for him. It worked out great. We just borrowed Kelsi's belt and put it around him and through our belt loops on our pants. We weren't going fast enough for him to get thrown too far. We are safe and responsible :)

Since Craig and Kelsi were taking their kid for rides, i had to take mine. I am sure Lucky doesn't appreciate it too much but he humors me.

Craig and Kelsi took a ride and i kept Brayden. We went on a little hike and took some pictures.

He is so cute!

When they got back Kelsi wanted to do a hike too. We didn't get too far when Brayden showed us that he was ready for a nap. Here is Kelsi carrying him back for some much needed sleep.

Once Brayden was asleep (which was NOT easy) we all got together and played some Killer Bunnies!

Precious!

Later that night once Brayden was in bed for the night and we had a few drinks in us, we heard a group of people across the road yell. So we yelled back. Then they yelled back to us again. We took that as an invitation to come and party with them. Jen and I jumped at the opportunity being that we were the only 2 single girls there. We walked off with a flashlight and Charles and Joe thought it was a bad idea for two girls to be walking alone in the dark towards a bunch of guys at another camp. So they followed us but were still a little ways behind us. On our little hike to meet the potential single and of course hot guys we saw a truck. I immediately turned off our flashlight thinking it was a good idea to hide from whoever was in the car. Jen and i tried our best to keep quiet but we all know that didn't happen. The truck came closer and closer to us. Being sober i would have been afraid. But since i wasn't, i didn't have a care in the world. As the truck got closer to us we realized it was a cop car. He pulled next to us and asked if we were alright. We said we were wonderful. The i notices that the side of his truck said K-9. I asked if he had a dog in there. He said "maybe". I told him i loved dogs. Like he cares right? So he asked how old we were because we were obviously intoxicated. I said i was 26 and Jen said she was 24. He was not convinced. We said we would be more than willing to take him back to camp to show him our ID. They he asked where we were going. We said that we heard a party going on and were going to say hello. He asked of we knew the people and we said no but they were up on the hill. He said that he was going to go check them out. Then we panicked! What if they were doing illegal things...Drugs...underage drinking...orgy's? So he drove up to the camp and we hurried up there. When we got there the cop was out of the car talking to the guys around a huge campfire. And then we noticed...Some of them were in their underwear! The cop asked them if they knew us and they said no. They we told him again that we were coming to say hi cuz we heard them. So at that point Charles and Joe show up and they of course don't know them either. The cop is satisfied that there is nothing illegal going on and leaves. Then the group asks us to join them. A girl on the other side of the camp fire asks what our orientation is. We were immediately a little confused...Then we realized she wanted to know if we were gay or straight. We said we were all straight. She yelled to the group "Four more hedero's here" It was funny. They got us chairs and we fit right into the group.

There was a guy there that looked just like House! So much so that i couldn't stop talking about it! I had to take his pic to show you....

Crazy lookalike huh? Except this House is into guys and doesn't need a cane :)

Jen and i had to use the potty and they let us use one of their campers. And can we say NICE! Holy crap! I think it was nicer than my house! And he had a cute little doggy that Jen and i loved.

This group apparently always comes camping once a year and takes a pic in their underwear. Charles decided to be "that guy" and got in his underwear too. Then just to make him uncomfortable and to have some blackmail pictures "House" grabbed his butt!

So much fun! Craig, Kelsi and Joe stayed at the camp with sleeping Brayden and Charles, Jen and I stayed mostly at this camp but Jen and I kept going back and forth. At one point on the way back to our camp we took the wrong trail. We were out of control!

Eventually we came back to camp and went to bed. Unfortunately we were very loud and woke everyone up (Sorry about that guys)

After we were up and moving we drove up to a higher spot to take a group picture

It was so pretty up there!

We saw a really pretty moth thing. I loved the pink!

Finally on the way home, Craig said we had to stop at the Nudist Ranch. So we all showed a little skin, snapped a picture and headed home!

What a great weekend!

The Westerner (For real this time)

We finally made it to the Westerner with a valid ID :) And can we say FUN!!!! We got a good group together and headed out. We of course got started at my house to save on the price of alcohol. When we got there we got a drink and saw that they had the mechanical bull set up. I have always wanted to do it but was always too scared of what people around me would think. Luckily for me (And everyone around me) I didnt care! And not only because of the alcohol. That helped of course but even before when i had the opportunity, there was no way i was going to get on that bull. I did it though! And i sang keroke and that was a first for me as well. Such fun though!!!

Surprise 30th Anniversary Party!

My parents married each other June 28, 1980. That was 30 years ago!! Now days, that is just not normal and I figured it was cause for celebration. Now let me say this...Planning a SURPRISE party is NOT easy. It is pretty much the hardest thing I have ever done! But it was SOOOO worth it!

Lets start at the beginning...

I have been waiting for the 30th anniversary for a long time. About 4 years to be exact. I wanted to do something special. My original plan was to buy them new wedding rings but I figured it would be too expensive as it got closer and i realized that i hadn't found my husband and made the millions i was planning on. So i went for a party instead. Not just a small get together. I wanted something big. So i decided to make it a surprise party and invite everyone we have ever known!

It took me weeks to figure out what kind of invitation i wanted to make. I knew i wanted to make it myself with pictures of them through the years. I had to scan the copy of their wedding picture which was like pulling teeth getting it out of the house and back in. But I did it. And thanks to Tawnya i was able to get it scanned and on the computer. Then i had to decide where the party was going to be for sure. I made reservations at Sugar House Park in SLC, UT in March for a June party. Best idea ever!

Here is the final product...

I am not going to lie..Im pretty proud of it :)

So once i got the invitations done i had to decide how many to print. I made list after list of people trying to not forget anyone. I had others help me (Thank you BTW) and i finally got a list together of about 140 people! I didnt realize we knew that many people. Luckily they dont all live at different addresses so i only had to print out 80 invitations. Now i had to get the addresses. That was the hardest part of it all. Normally i would just have my Mom tell me peoples currant address but that would have spoiled everything so i had to do it through family friends and it took a long time but i got almost everyone.

After the decorations and food and planning...I decided it would have been cheaper and less stressful to buy wedding rings! :)

Now was the hard part...Getting them to the park without them knowing what was going on. It took a lot of brain storming but we finally came up with a plan. In the middle of all the brain storming, my Mother was trying to plan a trip to Pennsylvania for the same weekend of the party! Then she was trying to go camping! I basically had to tell her to stay home because Charles and I wanted to take them to dinner to celebrate their anniversary and it was very important to me. She acted like she was suspicious but played along.

So i was safe for now.

The days came faster and faster and finally, it was time. I told her i had to babysit all day before "dinner". I had to help set up and get the last minute food and things. Luckily i had my 2 good friends helping me every step of the way and i dont think this would have been possible without their help so THANK YOU!!!

I told them that Charles was working but was going to meet us at the restaurant. So i got home, showered and got ready to go. We get in the car and i insist on driving. We get on the freeway and they ask where we are going to eat. I tell them its a surprise and they keep pestering but i of course dont tell them.

As we drive farther and farther on the freeway i say..."Actually, we are going to give you your present before dinner"

"Huh?" they say

Me: "We have a present for you and we want to give it to you now. But you will have to do me one little favor...Close your eyes"

Dad: "Are you serious? No way"

Me: "Come on...Please!"

Dad: "No"

Mon: "Are you serious?"

Me: "Yes im serious. You dont understand, i REALLY need you to close your eyes as soon as we get off the freeway. Please!!!!"

Dad: "There is no way i am closing my eyes"

Leave it to my dad to be difficult. I didnt take into consideration how much he would reject this idea.

Mom: "Come on honey, just humor her"

Dad: (Sigh) "Fine"

So they both put their hands over their eyes. My dad of course is still looking out the window.

Dad: "Why are you going into Sugarhouse Park?"

Me: "Dad!! Why are you looking??"

Dad: "I am just looking out the window so i know where i am"

Me: "Well stop, you are going to ruin it. When we get there, Charles will come out and get you because we have to walk you to the present because it wouldt fit at the house"

Again protest from my dad but he kept his eyes closed (Thank goodness)

We pull up to the park and Charles comes out and takes my Dads hand and I take my moms and we walk them across the grass and over a blue bridge.

Open your eyes!!!

They had NO idea! I pulled off a total surprise party!! Go me!

Now they went to greet all of their friends

In order to keep all the little ones entertained while the adults socialized we rented a Bounce House (Best Idea ever!!!) The kids LOVED it!

We of course had a TON of food for everyone as well. Thanks again to everyone who brought something!

Present time!!!!

One of my favorite things...

The Cake!

I "hired" my good friend Tawnya to take all of the pictures because i knew i would be way too busy to focus on that. She did a great job and took a few family pictures as well.

Happy Anniversary!

We love you!!!

Rainbow

So pretty!

Expired??

So Charles and I tried to get a bunch of our friends together and go out to the Westerner. It is a country bar here in Utah :) We all get dressed up and head out there just to find out that they wont let me in because my stupid license is expired. Can we say LAME! So we didn't go in and we went back to my house to have some fun. We got soooo hungry and went to Belgian Waffle to get some breakfast in the wee hours of the morning. It was a lot of fun even though I ruined our Westerner adventure. There is always next time :)