camping

Every summer we get together with family and head somewhere to camp out, but our favorite spot, and one that keeps bringing us back again & again, is Palisade State Park . There are so many things to do there: fishing, canoeing, golfing, four-wheeling, biking, hiking and Six Mile Canyon is close for off roading.

Jeff & Felicia brought their ATV's and we rented a paddle boat & brought our bikes. Gene went out on the lake with the kids while some of us hit an early tee-time on the golf course for 9 holes. Being only my second time on a professional golf course I was ridiculously over par, but I had fun and actually made quite a few impressive moves.

After that we went out on the trails with the four-wheelers for a couple hours and that was way more fun than I expected! Then after lunch we each took turns with the paddle boats and jumping off the floating platform or swimming around. What a blast & super fun day--and everyone slept well that night! The day before was spent checking out the little towns 15 minutes away and setting up camp, and on the last day we ate a big breakfast but then broke down camp early and headed home since the kids were coming down with a head-cold.

the girls helping daddy set up the tent

our campsite shared with family

grilling yummy corn on the cob & chicken

our golf-cart caravan: Felicia (my caddy), Jeff & Lysette, Alyssa & Jordan

me with my charming nephew, Jordan (who's not a half-bad golfer btw)

Lysette *smooch*

yeah, lovely

Jeff teeing off

Lysette, Sarah & Alyssa heading off to the dirt trails

Gene and Emma heading off to the trails

We let Morgan run around nekked to air out her diaper rash

Sarah loves the outdoors and is a fish in water

Gene with Sarah on our battery powered floaty/jet ski

Gene with Sarah and Emma heading out on the paddle boat

(I would love to take pics of us all on the floating platform, but I'm not wanting to jeopardize my camera. Next year I'll buy a disposable water camera.)

crazed fans

The days have been slipping through my fingers and suddenly we're upon September?! Where'd the summer go? I have about 4 posts brewing in my head that I've fully intended on writing for the longest time now & updating this poor, neglected blog, but I need to bust a move on some other things first. Maybe in the next day or two. That said, here's some pictures of our midnight run for Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn. I should've taken some shots of Lysette and I staying up until 7:00 am reading, munching & talking but forgot. (Thanks again Settie!)

Lysette storming out of the car at the suggestion that Bella & Edward might not get married.

The line to get inside Barnes & Noble wrapped around the entire complex and lasted until 2 am!

I ran into my cute niece, Hannah, in the crowd. (never saw Amanda, but later ran into Verle & Lori)

Crazed women hoping to catch Bella's bouquet and win a free copy of the book.

"Edward" and "Bella" (decent Edward, but I didn't care for the Bella)

"Alice" ran the show and walked around very fast like the pixie vampire she is.

After checking out the festivities at Barnes and Noble and getting our fill of a crazy party scene, we walked over to Walmart about 10 minutes to midnight because they were selling the book for only $13. While waiting they served "wedding" cake.

Felicia (practically being forced), Lysette & Amy (?) waiting in line

*squeal*

When we bought our copy we RAN home and stayed up all night reading! Fun!

*spoiler alert*

Breaking Dawn was overall enjoyable to read, but there was continuity missing--the style of writing Stephenie Meyer had with the first three books wasn't there. I really got annoyed with the details grasping to describe Renesmee growth "...she could even read." Ugh! Bella, only days old, having perfect control over her "bubble"? And that "fight" at the end could've been totally wicked awesome instead of fizzing out. Why build to a crescendo that doesn't happen? And where was the passion? I could not put down the first three books of this "saga", but there were times with Breaking Dawn that I actually ...fell asleep! What the...? That SO didn't happen to me in New Moon--which remains my favorite!

hiatus

I'm ignoring my computer, tv, phones, radio and you on purpose. Don't talk to me! And don't take it personally.