{Snow Much Fun}

FINALLY! I get to blog about recent events!

A few weekends ago, we headed to Beaver for our annual snowmobiling weekend...... I can officially call it an annual event since we've done it twice now, and plan to go next year too, right?

James and Kami were planning to come with us, but unfortunately they all got influenza, so they couldn't join us. We had invited our friends, the Cummings family to come and lined up 2 condos (from generous friends). Derrick took the day off on Friday, and after sleeping in a bit, we loaded up and headed down.

After unloading everything, and getting semi-settled, we decided to head out for some snowmobiling fun. We headed over to a flat area to play a bit. Derrick and I kicked the kids off to play in the snow, while we played on the sleds. I was feeling like a pretty good driver, until I made a turn and tipped the sled on it's side and sunk it! When we finally got it unstuck I jumped on with Derrick to play for a minute. I had just thought to myself how much I liked riding with my honey every once in a while, when he started carving and threw me right off the back of the sled! We headed back and I ducked to miss a branch and ended up tipping the sled over again..... I guess that's what I get for thinking I had snowmobiling skills...... 3 times in 2 hours!

Brandon and Christy and 3 of their cute kids got there that night, they left their baby with Brandon's mom. We spent Saturday playing in the snow and eating!

My cute Brock!

Kabers
Carlie Girl

Monica, Colby, Carlie, Paige, Brock, Kaleb, Derrick, Brandon, Christie, and Kyle

My man hanging out watching the sledding action!

He can only hang out for so long before he needs to move on to something else. I think he took the girls up and down the hill 30 times. I love the grins on their faces (Derrick included)....they were having some much fun!

Kaleb decided he wanted in on the fun too...... I not even sure how he stayed on!?!

Can you find Kaleb in this picture? He's way down at the bottom to the left of the truck on the mound of snow. So, the sledding hill by the condo was a pretty long hill. The kids really never made it quite all the way to the bottom. Brock kept begging me to go with him. You should all know I'm not a sporty/athletic girl, but I sucked it up and decided I better be a good mom and go with him...... next time, I'll just stick with being the mean mommy! We hopped on the tube and headed down. I guess the extra weight added speed. Somehow we ended up backwards, then we bounced off the side of the shed (with the pile of snow on the top) and dropped off a 6-7 foot drop to the ROAD! My head smacked the road, my glasses flew, Brock dropped on top of me, we broke the snow depth marker in half and we popped the tube! Laugh, come on I know you want to! Even better, there were 2 guys walking their dog.... imagine their surprise when we dropped out of nowhere!

This would be the ledge we dropped off...... someone stuck the marker stick back together. I think Brock must have cracked or broken one of my ribs when he fell on top of me..... It's been 20 days and I'm still hurting!

The Eagle Point Ski resort (formerly Elk Meadows) just opened back up this year. We decided to go check out their sledding hill. Paige, Colby and Kaleb were all sorts of excited about going and the dad's got voted into going with them!

Kaleb's first time on the lift!

Carlie and Kyle watching.

Brock decided after watching for a bit that he wanted to go too!

Brock on the lift with dad!

In the end Carlie was the only kid that didn't end up going, even little Kyle tried it. Not me..... I'm pretty sure sledding will forevermore be a spectator sport for me!

{The Best-est Bloggy Girls Weekend EVER}

A few weeks ago, ok, really it was almost a month ago, but a few weeks sounds better, so I'm goin' with it... I had the chance to go on a little girls getaway weekend to Bear Lake. I have to be honest, of course I was excited, but I was more nervous, like so nervous I really wasn't sure I wanted to go. Why? Well, out of the 10 gals going I really only knew two in real life. The rest I knew through their blogs, but lets face it, how many of us put the real us out there on blogs? I'm not saying we completely mis-represent ourselves, but there is a LOT that gets left out. A lot you aren't willing to share with the world. So, I was a bit apprehensive about the whole trip. Not to mention that it fell during Derrick's elk hunt, so I had to have other people helping with my kids.

Anyhow, I picked up Ann (my BFF, who made everything much more comfortable) and Heather (a friend, I worked with at the airport years ago) and we headed off to Garden City. The drive up Logan Canyon was beautiful and of course we had to stop and take a few pictures.

Me, Heather and Ann
We were the first ones to pull into the cabin, and I was impressed! Isn't it nice? But as we sat and waited for some of the others to get there, I was having a bit of a panic moment! Cherie, Katie (Cherie's daughter), Keely and Melissa all arrived at the same time, and the fun and laughter started. From then on I knew it would all be ok....there was no awkward minute, it was just fun! The rest of the group, Tauna, Kimmie, and Brittany (Cherie's other daughter) arrived a bit later.
(I've linked to all their blog post about the weekend. You should check them out. They all have some great pictures and different takes on everything. Really you should just check them all out period. They are each just plain fantastic.....who knows you may end up being real life friends someday too!)

Cherie planned the whole weekend- from the cabin to the food assignments, it was all great and come to find out.... it was her birthday the day we got there! Talented Heather made a cake and yea, we made her blow out a candle for each fabulous year of her fantastic life! We stayed up late and visited and laughed and talked about an assortment of things from Brazil to crafting, hehe!

If you are lucky enough to celebrate a birthday with Cherie, you get the honor of joining her "Big Lips Club". Don't we all look Fan-tab-ulous?

Melissa, aka-MCat, had to head home Friday morning darn it.... so we all posed for a few pictures before she left (minus Katie, she was snoozing away still)

Top to bottom, Ann, Mo, Heather, Keeley, Kimmie, Cherie, Tauna, & Melissa

and one more with Brittany and minus Kimmie who took this picture!

Ann, Kimmie and Tauna

The views of the lake were beautiful and we decided to take advantage of a break in the damp weather to enjoy the sun peaking out and drive down to the lake!

Katie and Brittany were SO stinkin' cute and reminded me so much of my sister and I . They were just happy to be together and enjoyed every minute!

Pretty scenery and fun friends.... what more could a mama ask for on her break from reality?

Keely, Tauna, Katie, Brittney, Cherie, Heather, Monica and Kimmie

JUMP!

Keely, Tauna, Monica, Cherie and Kimmie

The Fantastic Bakow Girlies

The last night we were there, Ann, Heather, Keely, Katie and I stayed up way too late and had a great talk. I can't even begin to tell you how much I learned from these girls and how much their stories and testimonies touched me.

I wish I would have taken more pictures of the cabin itself, and honestly I could steal some from the other girls blogs, but that would take time and this post is a month past due, so I'm not going to. Anyhow, take my word for it, the cabin was nice, really nice, and there was plenty of room for all of us!

My roomie and I!

Mo, Ann, Keely & Heather

One of the last few pictures we took before leaving.

Can I tell you how sad I was to leave these fantastic women? I left with a heavy heart, and I missed them all before I even made it home. I doubt they will ever know how much each of them touched my life! I loved that we could all laugh together, cry together, share things that were really important to us and feel safe, not judged. These were truly spectacular women and I honestly love each of them!

And just as an added bonus, Ann and I stopped at Kneaders Bakery for lunch before I headed the rest of the way home for dessert I had my favorite fruit tart (ok, I actually bought 6... yes 6 or maybe 7? But I did give 4 of them away to all the people who helped me with my kiddos, so don't judge, they are yummers and you'd eat more than one too!) The perfect ending to a fantastic weekend! How long till we do this again girls?

{Catch Up #6- Annual Friends Camping Trip at the Lake}

Evey year (OK in all honesty we just started this last year, but I really hope we do this every year, because I love it) we plan a camp out at Yuba Lake with a group of friends. The guys (Brandon, Brett, Derrick and James) have been buddies forever, but luckily all the wives and kiddos get a long great too!

Carlie is my little water baby. She loves being at the lake....she was sure we needed to celebrate her birthday at Lake Powell.

Mr. Brock.... quit growing up so fast, would ya?
(Love the crazy boat hair)
Isn't she just cute?
Baby Callie, with Uncle Brett....ummm, yummo SAND!

Carlie, Kady and Paige

Derrick and Brock just chillaxin!

SO, Brandon and Christie brought Kami's brothers water weenie (call it a banana if you will, but to me it will always be a water weenie). Are you impressed I got on it? Yea, well Christie and Ronni basically gave me no choice. Yes, I was terrified. Yes, I may have said a few not nice words. Yes, I did have fun!

All the kiddo's lined up (minus Callie).... Brock, Carlie, Damon, Tyce, Kaleb, Kady, Kyle, Paige and Colby. Yep-we have 10 kids all together, how did that happen?

Most of the kids took a turn!
While we chilled in the boat.
Kaleb of course had to surf on the weenie!
Then the Cummings Clan took a turn!

and Derrick wasn't the nicest driver, in fact he may be fired!

Sorry, Christie I had to add this one.... it cracks me up every time I see it!

Good times! I can't wait till next year, and hopefully James and Kami won't have to go home early!

{Catch Up #5- Four Weelin' Fun}

We've been on some fun four wheelin' adventures the past few months, and though each one deserves it's own post, I'm really trying to get through my catch ups, so I'm just lumping them all together... just think of it as smorgasbord o' four wheeling fun- K thanxs! The first little venture we took, we drug along my mama and my papa and headed to Beaver and then up the mountain. We had no destination in mind and randomly picked a trail and took off.

(not sure why that random Much better is floating there? Oh well, WHATEV)
Mom and I agreed that we defiantly like the trails rated "more difficult" than the trails rated "most difficult". Don't get me wrong, it's not that I can't drive it, I just would rather not.... but if I must, I'll suck it up and hit the gas (if we're going up) or ride my breaks if we're heading down, cause I'm a good sport like that. Also, a word to the wise, if you happen to be following my hubby and there are two trails, and one is a short cut.... for the love of all that's holy, take the long way! THERE USUALLY IS A LONG WAY FOR A REASON. (This I learned as we're heading almost straight up and bouncing over rocks, with kids riding with us?!?) Carlie got so tired, she fell asleep and Derrick put her in the little back section of his bike, where she promptly woke up, of course!

A few weeks later we planned at trip with our fantastic friends, Jason and Misti and their cute boys. ( I know this picture is random, be patient- you'll see why I took a Pizza Hut pic) So in case you didn't know, there is no Pizza Hut round these parts. So, we jumped on the four wheelers and headed over the top of the mountain and into Richfield for some pizza. It was a great little jaunt, that we defiantly should have started earlier, seein' as how we were still on the very top of the mountain when it got dark! Let's just say it's a much different experience to drive down the mountain in the darkness! Would I do it again.... Heck ya!
A few weeks later, we headed back to Beaver with Jason and Misti and all the kids. This time Derrick knew just where he wanted to go. He wanted to check out all the places he snowmobiles, minus the snow! (Twilight Girls, notice the Cullen Creek Road sign that I took a picture of just for all of you!)
Derrick and I chillin' while the kiddo's explore!
Derrick, Kamdyn, Kaleb and Carlie

(Hmmm, I must have missed taking pictures of Brock and Kadyn? They were there!)

We had a great time, and definitely need to go again soon before it's too cold!