Family Campout

WARNING! Be prepared for lots of pictures!
A couple of weeks ago, breaking a long-established rule, Bruce and I told our kids that we would be going on our ward camping trip. What rule did we break? Never tell the kids we are going to do something cool until we are just minutes away from actually doing it. Because then if for any reason we can't do it, they won't think we are cruel, lying tyrants and, in their frustration, make our lives miserable.

As the day of the campout approached (last Friday) we realized that, for various reasons, we wouldn't be able to go. Uh-oh! Well since we really are not cruel, lying tyrants, we tried to think of other things that would be fun to do with the family. Melanie helped out a lot. First of all, she called me last Thursday to ask if she and I could take our kids to Liberty Park. That sounded perfect! So on Friday morning we packed up the kids, packed up some lunch, and headed for the park. We stayed for about four or five hours while the kids played in the water.

Rachel and Kaylie climbing in the "canyons" (after I took a bunch of pictures I saw signs that said "Please do not climb on rocks". Oops!)

Lindsey and Emalee at Liberty Park's "Canyonlands"

Jessica, in the "Jordan River" (Canyonlands, Liberty Park)

Shannon and Ryan at Liberty Park

Kaylie, the supermodel

Some friends in the ward let us borrow their fire-pit so we could toast marshmallows in the backyard Friday night. When I told Melanie about that plan she said we could borrow her tent, too, and set it up in the backyard. So we had the perfect campout: We had a barbecue dinner, ate toasted marshmallows and s'mores around the campfire, and then we told stories and put the kids to bed in the tent. And, best of all, Bruce and I got to "camp" in the comfort of our own bed!

Setting up the tent--without any instructions! Can they build it?

Yes, they can!!

Lindsey does her fire dance.

Fire is serious business!

Around the campfire.

Mmmm! Tasty, toasty marshmallows!

The next day . . .

On Saturday morning we had a pancake breakfast before we broke camp. That afternoon we had a picnic in Big Cottonwood Canyon and then hiked up to Donut Falls. Some of the younger kids were really freaked-out about climbing up to the waterfall. But, cruel, tyrannical parents that we are, we made them do it anyway. The big people (Bruce & Michael, Jason, Lindsey and I) helped them go up, and once we were at the top they were pretty happy about it. We let each child pick up a "courage rock" to take home with them before we climbed back down. When we were home again everyone showered, had dinner and watched a movie before we went to bed.

Hiking up

We salute you!

You put your left foot in . . .

Happiness abounds in front of Donut Falls

We couldn't resist taking this picture: When we got back down to the van we looked up and saw that, on this tree we were parked next to, someone had carved "Brandon + Lindsey" . What have my kids been up to?

Sunday morning Bruce went to Las Vegas on his business trip. The kids and I went to church, and that evening I took them up to Temple Square for a concert and to tour the Conference Center. It was an action-packed weekend! A little tiring, but it was fun.

Dirty, but happy, little hands and faces

I like my family!!