Spur of the Moment Camping Trip!

It is so great to live close to the Canyon! Jenny and Nate decided to get a camping spot on Wednesday...and so Hal and I ran up and got the last spot that was left and luckily it was right next to Jenny and Nate's. We left on Thursday night after work and on the way up realized that we had left the trailer keys in Hal's truck... so he thought he would drop me off with Jenny and Nate and then go back and get the keys. When we got there...they had loaded up the kids and were about to leave to go home and get a good nights sleep. The racoon's had kept them up the night before. So we left and went home to sleep! We went up again on Friday afternoon and most of the kids showed up for dinner! It was a fun night. I found a new dutch oven dessert recipe and thought I would give it a try to celebrate Ryan's birthday. It was chocolate cake with marshmallows and carmels and the batter was really yummy! Well it said to cook it for 20 mins... with low heat... after 20 mins... Batter... hmmm? Ok so I added a bunch of coals and upped the heat... after about 2 hours of that I finally gave up. It was yummy goop...but that was about it! I guess I should stick to the recipes that I know! Thanks for trying it Oakley! You are a good sport! (He always has such great faith in me.)

The camping trip ended up being so much fun! We loved every minute! Wish we could have had the whole family with us... we sure miss Amy and Brett's family and Lizzy and Dallas!
Below are some pictures of our adventure!

Here is the sweetest kid ever...Eating Grandma's Goop!

Grandpa's tall tales around the campfire
An intense game of Killer Bunnies!

Hanging around the campfire! Oakley is still eating the goop!
Here are some more of my favorite memories! I can't find one pic of Angie...but she was there! Where were you hiding my girl?

Magic Camping Hike!

Here is the crew... off on another goofy Grannie adventure!

Hiking over the hills and through the "Forest" and the "Wilderness"

These two just tried to keep up...

On the verge of a great discovery! Can you smell Chocolate?

It's getting dark... we better hurry! I can smell chocolate!

HOLY COW! It's the magic CANDY BAR TREE!

Take your pick! We've got CANDY!

YUMMY!

Camping Projects

Such a fun day to paint! Something to keep the kids busy!

Ed turns 53!

We had a fun get together for Ed tonight to celebrate his birthday! He loves a party!

Trey turns 4!

Trey wanted a scooter for his birthday! Ya gotta love it...when we don't have to think of it! Hope you had fun Treyman! We love you!

Make up is a Girls Best Friend!

Abby loves Makeup!

Saturday Breakfast up the Canyon!

What a great way to beat the HEAT! Head up the canyon for a leisurely breakfast! Yummy!

How blessed are we to live close to this? Amazing!

Here is a butterfly that joined us!

Oakley and Jen

The "BOYS" with their Scooters!

Creative drinking! (or soaking)

Right by the river!

Grandpa's little buddy... cleaning the campground..where is that broom?!

Naughty Naughty Naughty!

Amy introduced us to a yummy treat that you can only get at Bear Lake...CHOCOLATE COVERED RASPBERRIES!
Holy Moley.. they were tasty! Add to that Chocolate covered cinnamon bears.. Big Trouble! We all hid our bags in a secret places...so no one would find them!
Heather enjoying her raspberries!



Stay Away from my Raspberries!

Bear Lake Fun!

Bear Lake For Sure!

Brett and Amy

Grannie and Taylor Anne... that kid can get me to do anything!

Taylor Dallas and Lizzy

A short ride and they are OUT!

Yes...This hottie is my grandson!

Here are some more fun pictures of the trip! What a great time we had! It couldn't have been more fun! We loved every minute! The wave runners were so fun Matt...Thanks to you too!

Pickleville Playhouse!

What a great time we had at Bear Lake's Pickleville Playhouse! We enjoyed every single minute of the evening! It was an old time melodrama...with a character strangely like "Nacho Libra....but a Mexican Villain! He was hilarious! His name was "Juanito Bandido". He was worth the price of the show! He needs to be on Saturday Night Live! What a riot he was! We would highly recommend it to anyone. It would be worth the drive up to Bear Lake! On Sunday morning we ran into him at church... the little kids were thrilled and although they couldn't get his name right...they were all excited to see him! We sure enjoyed it!

Here is everyone waiting for the show to start!

The kids loved every minute - they didn't want to leave!

Amy found herself a new guy! Juanito Bandido!

Family Time Is Treasured Time!

This year for our Family Reunion... we went to Bear Lake! What a beautiful place! Amy and Brett shared their "Winterberry Cottage" with us and we enjoyed every minute of being together! We had such a great time! They are close to the beach...so we spent just about every waking minute down there waking boarding, tubing and just relaxing! The water was really refreshing and shallow for the kids quite a way out.... Brett would bring the boat in and pick everyone up and head out again! Thanks so much for the wonderful time Brett and Amy! You are the perfect hosts! We loved being together and enjoying each other's company! What a fun way to spend the holiday!
Amy and Brett's house at Bear Lake

Cousin Time is the Best!

Yummy meals and lots of fun!

Yummy food...

Snakes Snakes and More Snakes!

Sadie

Oaks

Preston

Summertime Fun!

Summer is so fun... floating down the stream at Grandpa and Grandma's! What a way to spend an afternoon. That little Audrey is as brave as the bigger kids! She would cry when it wasn't her turn!

Miss Utah Week

One of my guilty pleasures is working with the Miss Pleasant Grove Pageant. I love the program and the growth our young women have throughout the process of preparing to compete. This year has been so fun to work with Whitney and help with her preparation for Miss Utah This past week has been so exciting and out of 50 incredibly talented and beautiful contestants ... Whitney was named 1st runner up. She was a fraction away from being Miss Utah! Her piano piece was amazing and the audience went crazy when she was done! Her on-stage question was so inspiring and she was beautiful on stage. I always knew she was special...but this week Utah found out! What a joy it has been to work with her in her preparation and to see her achieve her goals! Thanks Whit for representing Pleasant Grove so well! We love YOU!!
Here are some pictures of the week.

Freedom in America!

I love the 4th of July! It is one of my favorite holidays! I am so grateful to live in a country where we can celebrate the freedom's we all share! Thanks to Nate's family for sharing this fun day with us! We sure love you!
Here are some pictures of the day!

Mac and Janel McGruder

The best part of Hal's birthday...My wonderful brother Mac McGruder and his beautiful wife Janel came up to surprise Hal! It was the best ever! Thanks so much for being here with us to celebrate it meant so much to all of us!! Everyone of us love you both so much!

Hal's Surprise Party!