The Hardy Pardy: August 2009

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Camping and Seven Peaks

Starting a blog post is so hard. I've been sitting here for almost an hour and can't even come up with a catchy title. Maybe it's because I'm grumpy and I have a headache. But I really want to write. So here goes. Eric and I, Josh, Jeff, Jordan, Justin and Jed all went to Provo. We met Jarah and Kalab and Ava and Halley at a K.O.A camp ground early Friday afternoon. The girls have grown so much.

They are very cute!

So good to see them, lots of hugs and kisses! We got camp all set up, right next to the Provo River,

had some yummy sandwiches then went to D.I. It was the biggest one we've ever been too. We found lots of good stuff, Justin found an awesome backpack so he was really happy. Jeff found some cool speaker boxes and Jed found a scooter.

Later we all met Jaycie and Dallas and Ashton at their new house.

The guys helped Dallas and Grant unload the big Penske truck. They had four different families packed in it so they had to unload everything to get to all Jaycie's and Dallas's stuff. They worked really hard. Some of the stuff had to be moved twice thanks to the nosey neighbor across the way who decided that her lawn needed to be mowed at that very minute. (A lawn shared by everyone in the apartment complex!) Jarah and I bought chicken for dinner while Jordan helped with the babies, Jaycie was helping unload too and directing which room the boxes went in. By dark everything was unloaded and everyone was exhausted! Then it came down to one room and two couches and a T.V. Jaycie and Jarah must have moved them around 15 times trying to decide where to put them. We finely gave up! And it was time to go back to camp.

We worried that someone would go through our stuff at camp but all was good when we got back. We stayed up and talked for awhile but it was late and time to get some sleep.

Jordan and I woke up early the next morning. We took a walk around the camp site. It was a beautiful morning and Jordan and I had some one on one. I treasure these moments!

We had a yummy breakfast, pancakes, hash browns, breakfast burritos and eggs. We stuffed ourselves then began breaking down camp. We really need to learn not to bring so much stuff! It took the rest of the morning packing and loading. Then finally it was off to seven peaks water park! When we drove in front of the water park and I saw that first slide I was shocked! I said coming off that slide you'd be free falling! It gave me the heebie jeebies! I can't believe anyone would be that brave! Then after we got in the park the half pipe was closed because a guy hit his head and was unconscious. It seemed to be a little hush hush and people waited in line for him to be scooped up and hauled away. Like it was nothing! Everyday occurrence. As soon as he was gone the line opened up and the fun began again. Although none of us attempted it!

The first thing we did was the waves. It was like being at the ocean, the waves were stronger than I anticipated and I was knocked over and swallowed my share of water. But the kids loved it! I think this was Jeds favorite. Ashton and Ava loved it too!

Soon everyone separated and went to try out the slides. Grandpa was awesome with the grand babies! He didn't want to play in the water so he got baby duty, even feeding Ashton his bananas. Jeff couldn't get his ears wet so he helped with the babies alot too. He took them in the kiddie park and let them play. We couldn't get over how much the babies loved the water. They were so happy and content.

We had one little fright when Ava got outta Grandma's site for awhile. She's way too fast for me! Josh saved the moment and knew just what to do and all was good again. I grew 14 new grey hairs though!

Afterwards Jarah bought us all ice cream. She's awesome!

ice cream break!

hey Jaycie, take a real big bite of smoothie!

brain freeze!

all better now!

Then it was off to play again. We loved going down the lazy river! I think this one was my very favorite. Just my speed! I loved when we all went together, it was fun making sure someone unexpectedly went under the water falls or dropped down from the drop offs. We must have went down the lazy river a million times!

The high light was when Dallas, Kalab and Jordan went down the ( Free Falling slides ). They looked crazy! And Jordan was heard screaming across the park! I still can't believe they braved those slides!

I kept looking at the slides and I really wanted to go down one, I told Eric I was going to go down the green one. It wasn't very high at all. But then Jaycie found me and they desperately needed someone to go down on the triple tube with them. Down the PINK slide. I kept telling her no no no! But she managed to get me 3/4 of the way up! If I hadn't of looked down I might have been able to do it. But I ended up doing the "walk of shame", instead. It was OK though. I just didn't look at anyone on my way down. But after they came down the slide they told me I would have died anyway. They got dumped and Jaycie came down the slide without the tube and Josh came tumbling down after her. It was hilarious to hear them tell us about it!

I can't think of anytime I've had more fun in 8 hours. I loved the water park and I loved seeing all the kids so happy! It was great!

But it was time for the park to close and time for us to head to Jaycie's.

Ashton's so hungry, he tried to eat Halley's toes!

All tuckered out!

We got pizza to hold us over until we got the taco's made. Then it was time to make beds and get some sleep. Jaycie's house was wall to wall beds and people! I can't believe I forgot to take pictures of us.

Sunday morning was hectic as usual for us. Making breakfast, getting the truck re-loaded, getting out the door! Our goal was to go to the mall and do some birthday shopping for Jaycie. But the mall was closed dang it! We ended up going to walmart then McDonald's for ice cream. It was a little lame compared to the day before. But oh well. We needed to get on our way home anyway. And Jaycie and Dallas needed to get settled into their new home. So it was time to say good bye and we all left our separate ways.

We love getting together with our kids! It was alot of fun and we can't wait until we can meet up again. We love you all so much!

Monday, August 17, 2009

The Hardy Pardy goes camping

So we did it. We finally went camping. I can't figure out why we put it off so long when we love it so much! We headed out Friday around 5:30 p.m. We knew it was late and we probably wouldn't be able to find a camp spot at Pine Valley Utah but we tried anyway. And we were right, the camp ground was full. Panic struck but we didn't lose hope. We turned around and headed back to St George hoping maybe Snow Canyon had camp sites. Then on the way we passed a sign, I couldn't tell what it said so I told Eric we should go back and just see what it was. And to our surprise it was a camp ground. Baker Dam reservoir.

We pulled in and met some very nice camp hosts who were very excited to see us. They showed us the perfect camp site. Whalaa camping! We had a very nice night. Jed was climbing a tree though and ripped out his pants.

We got a good laugh outta that. We fixed a yummy dinner then called it a night. We slept in a little late and realized it was pretty hot. ( Because we came along ways down the mountain from Pine Valley.) So after Justin made us breakfast we headed back up the mountain to see if we could get a camp site.

And by the hair on our chinney chin chin we came up just as someone was leaving and snagged us a site. And ironically it was the exact one we got 2 years before. Happy day! It was right on the creek that runs through camp, and Justin managed to catch a water snake out of it!

So Eric and I left the boy's there while we went back down the mountain to get all our stuff. And while we were there I got a text from Josh saying that he wanted to hang out with us so we told him where we were and he and Jeff came up to meet us that evening. To our surprise they drove the Jeep.

The Jeep hasn't left the valley in over two years! But now that Eric and Jeff changed out the engine and transmission they gave it a try. And when they got there they looked like they had a ton of fun. Their hair was crazy but they were so excited! We spent the night listening to Josh talk about school and his roommates. Justin and Jed got a stern lecture on how important good grades are!

Then he started on Jeff about getting scholarships filled out and deciding what to do after graduation. Josh is such an awesome big brother!

It was getting late and we were being considerate of other campers by keeping it down until Jed saw a BIG spider on Josh's shoulder. Of course Josh went wild as would anyone who was told they had a huge spider crawling on them would! He jumped up and leaped over the fire frantically brushing at his whole body, and yeah he yelled a little. Well we never saw the spider but we woke up the grizzly bears in a nearby tent. Yikes! She gave us an ear full. So that put out the mood as Josh said, and we quietly slipped into our tents and went to sleep.

Then sometime during the night we heard noises. All I could think about was the bear sign I had read when we came into camp. "You are in Bear country!" I was so scarred! Whatever it was was scrounging around in our trash. I was kicking myself for not taking it to the dumpster. But too late to think about that now. I asked Eric if he heard it too and he said yes. Then he just layed there. "well what are you going to do?" I asked. So he got the flash light and unzipped the tent a tiny bit to see if he could see anything. Well of course he couldn't so I got the flashlight and looked. It was a skunk! Almost as bad as a bear. I kept the light on him hoping it would scare him off. And it did for awhile. But then we kept hearing noises and I convinced myself this time it was a bear. I was sure I could hear snorting and scuffing sounds. The darkness can sure play games with your mind. But the longer we listened we finely decided it was a nearby camper snoring. And it was the skunk again. Eventually it went away and we fell asleep again. Then like 2 hours later we were awoke by our nearby camping non-friends again. They were breaking down their camp to leave. OMGoodness! they were so noisy! They were the ones who yelled at us the night before. The nerve. We chose not to retaliate even though they were being mean to their dogs and they even complained about us to the camp hosts. Let by-gones be by-gone! I stewed about it for half the morning then realized I was wasting my precious time with the boys over worthless nothing.

We all got up and Josh told us about how he thought he heard bears and that he realized he was gift wrapped for them snug in his sleeping bag. He would have been first choice because he would be easiest for them to get. He said he was listening for foot steps just like we had. Then there was Jeff who was oblivious to the whole thing. He slept in the car and didn't hear a thing. Neither did Jed and Justin. Well thank goodness we had a nice breakfast and we weren't breakfast for a bear!

Then it was time for us to pack up and get gone. Of course I took a shower first. I love this thing!

In St. George we stopped at Pizza Hut. A good end to a fun camping trip. Then we stopped and got Jordan a pizza from Little Ceasars.

All was good at home, Jordan baked cookies and was very glad to see us. The house was so clean. Guess she got really bored!

Next Friday we meet Jarah and her family in Provo to camp for a night then Saturday we meet Jaycie and her family to go to 7 peaks water park. I can't wait! It will be so much fun to see everyone.