Camping... Camping... and more Camping!

The twins taking Jack for a walk.

Erin roasting the perfect marshmallow for the perfect s'more.

Best friends

The boys enjoying their baggie ice cream. Yum!

As I looked at the calendar for July I realized there was a common theme, camping! We had planned a friend camp out this year and wanted there to be lots of friends and neighbors that came. We realized that summer is busy and it was just the Madsen's and us but it was so much fun! The boys were in heaven in the DIRT, because they are boys. They rode on the 4-wheelers and motorcycle and took Jack on walks. He was a very happy dog and loved the mountains! We made baggie ice cream which was so easy and fast. It tasted like a frosty from Wendy's. Mmmmmm. Erin also showed her stuff making the world's greatest s'mores. We had so much fun laughing and hanging out and going on late night 4-wheeler rides. You have to watch out for random things popping out of the bushes up there! (Jason tried to scare Erin and I while we were on a 4-wheeler ride. She screamed, and I almost got the Heimlich.)

The boys brought their air soft guns that they had waited 7 months (since Christmas) to play with. They were in heaven until Nathan dumped aprox. 3,000 of the air soft bb's on the ground within minutes of opening them. Oh, boys. Thanks Madsen's for such a fun camp out! We need to make it a tradition.

Nathan and C.J. pulling funny faces

The cousins eating dinner

Morgyn and Aaron making baggie ice cream

Dell and me painting

The boys playing in the lake

The next week was my family's camp out. We had a really nice spot up Fairview Canyon. The first thing we did when we got there was back the truck into a tree stump. I was helping Jas back up the trailer (which I hate) and was keeping my eye on the huge pine boughs that were scratching the one side of the trailer and had already said, "Watch out for the stump." The next thing I know, the truck is stopped and there is a very mad Jas getting out. Oh yes we did, We hit the stump. Ugh. I hate doing damage to vehicles. I also had a stupid cold that had lasted for seriously 3 weeks already and then the dust from our campsite was making things worse and let's just say I wasn't the "happiest camper". Sorry family. The kids had fun riding their bikes, playing airsoft guns and being with their cousins. Nathan and C.J. were the best of buddies. We made baggie ice cream again and it was fun. It's so good when it's so hot out. Delly and I set out to do a watercolor this year. It was fun and I love this tradition with my sis. The boys went on an extreme mountian bike ride and rode around on their motorcycles. I think one of the best things about the camp out was when we went to the lake to get our feet wet. The boys were so funny playing in the mud and water and Moose (Dell's dog) could not get enough of the stick being thrown to him. Jon was even able to fly a kite after some modifications and lots of duct tape. We love spending time together and I love that my family loves me anyway, even if I am a grump. Thanks everyone for everything. Next year, Disney cruise right? No more dirt and bugs. Sounds good to me.

MUD. My poor washing machine better be ready for this...

The boys just lovin' it

Scott, Charles and Jas lovin' it. Big boys and their toys

All the girls

Davin rock climbing

Jas helping Collin rock climb

The beauties of the canyon

Arizona Pretty Wood

So after laundry, clean the trailer, pack the trailer, laundry, laundry, and more laundry and we were ready for yet another camp out. We were in charge of the camp out this year for Jason's family. It was a really beautiful place down Wagon Road. It was a little sketchy getting in there because of the recent downpour, but we did it. There wasn't even a "stump incident" to speak of on this trip. (Yea!) The boys were excited to play with more cousins and yes, get in more DIRT. Wait, change that to MUD. The boys chopped wood and shot air soft guns and had a blast getting muddy. (Refer to picture above) I was just glad to relax in a camp chair when I could. My niece Maren got some oil paints for Christmas and wanted me to show her how to use them so one day the girls rode to these gorgeous waterfalls and had a painting session. It was so fun to see how the paintings turned out so different and fun. Jason amazed the crowd with his "Arizona Pretty Wood" that a friend told him about. It makes the fire different colors like blue and teal and purple. It was so pretty! We roasted marshmallows and the big boys pelted each other with paint balls. One day we drove to Maple Canyon to do some rock climbing. Aaron and Collin even tried it and did really well. Aunt Shannon did great too. It was so fun! We hiked Box Canyon afterward and it had just rained and it was gorgeous. It was a really fun trip but I'd have to say that after cleaning the trailer and doing 18 loads of laundry, I am DONE camping... at least until next year.