The Nelson family reunion is scheduled for tonight at Mt. Charleston. After loading way too much stuff in the truck we are on our way. We arrive to cooler than expected temperatures which become quite chilly as the sun bids farewell. So with a plan in place, I am resolved to become friendly with a warm glowing fire. We hit it off and were inseparable for the rest of the evening. Dinner was a make your own tin foil meal. Lauren and Jace were hesitant with their choices of just meat and veggies, but when the final project was revealed and they ate every bite. The best part for them soon followed....... DESSERT! Big surprise on a camp out- it was s'mores. I eventually had to cut them off, especially the roasting of marshmallows. So Jace resorted to just burning sticks in the fire. What is it with boys and fire?
Then it was time for bed. For me this is probably the worst part of camping. Forget being dirty or dealing with bugs, that's easy compared to trying to get a good nights sleep. Sleep is very important to me, I love it and it loves me. We work well together. As suspected I tossed and turned all night even with the comfy sleeping bag and air mattress. My arms and legs kept falling asleep, why couldn't I?? Well the night ended and the sun shone again. Jason had a scout hike to attend around the bend so he went to that while I went to visit with my new friend the fire once more. We had a breakfast of campfire pancakes and eggs and boiled water for hot chocolate. Jace and his boy cousins were busy on adventures, they found sticks, looked for bugs and hiked all around our campsite. We played a couple of fun games and sat around and talked. Jason returned around 11 and it was time for us to head out(Lauren's dance performance was at 3pm). Jace, under no circumstances wanted to go. He was happy as can be roaming free in this dirt and wilderness. Our adventure was over and we returned again to civilization. All we had remaining were our memories of a fun night and the overwhelming smell of the campfire that saturated our whole being and all of our belongings.
Staying warm round the campfire
Lauren roasting a marshmallowSheridan and Crystal cheesin' in the background!
Jace roastin' a marshmallow
Chick, Larry and Chris cooking pancakes
Jake, Clark, Caleb and JaceThursday, June 18th-
Tonight is our enrichment activity and we are going to attend "The Buddy Holly Story" at Spring Mountain Ranch. Kirsten and I are leaving early to secure a good spot on the grass where we can all sit together. The drive isn't bad and we are there about an hour before they open the gates- and yep we are first in line. Gates finally open and we book it down the trail and lay out a couple of humongous tarps- SPACE SECURED! The rest of our group eventually shows up. We all brought a dinner and some snacks, so we eat and talk until showtime. The play is fabulous! The guy who played Buddy Holly is Kirsten's brother-in-law, so we get a group photo with the star. We arrive back home around 11pm. What a fun night- hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did!!
Friday, June 19th-
Finally a weekend away. It seems like forever since we've been to the cabin. We arrived in Cedar City about 6pm and had dinner at Wingers. The theatre is across the way so we checked movie times. Perfect! The kids saw "UP" and we saw "The Proposal". Everyone enjoyed their movie, although I think my ending for The Proposal would have been better...... but it was good. Saturday morning is when our real adventure started. We took the road less traveled over the mountain and drove on the old 89 highway. We stopped in the city of Panguitch for lunch and continued on our journey. Our next stop was Big Rock Candy Mountain. Somehow I recall there being a little candy store there but evidently there is not. They did, however have a little motel and cafe and a gas station with candy and little treasures. Jace got a bag of rock magnets and Lauren got a lollipop and a peacock rock. The kids climbed the "candy" mountain and we checked out the river. Thunderstorms were brewing as we got back in the car and continued on our way. The rain began falling harder and harder and soon it was falling in sheets. We trekked onward and soon arrived at our destination- Manti. I have only been there once before, not long after Jason and I were married, and it pretty much has remained the same. I haven't seen every temple in real life, and though every one I have seen is beautiful, there is just something exemplary about the Manti temple. I don't know if it's because it's nestled in that small town or because it rises up on the grassy knoll, perhaps because of the architecture, but what I do know is that it is beyond words. We decided we would take on the whole experience of the Manti Pageant and eat the turkey dinner at the old tabernacle. Next we drove to find a parking spot and by now the storm clouds could hold the rain no longer and it began to pour. The kids and I stayed in the car while Jason braved the elements and took a blanket and saved us a few seats. He returned and we waited out the storm in the car. It soon blew over and we were out to explore this little town. We got some pictures, honey butter scones, snow cones and hot chocolate(remember we were going for the whole experience). The pageant started around 9:30pm and the rain continued to stay away, which we were grateful for. They have really added a lot since we had last seen it and it was really good, even some pyrotechnics. After it was over we we loaded up and began the dreaded 2 hour drive back to Cedar. The kids fell asleep, but I stayed awake to make sure Jason didn't fall asleep. We got back safely about 1:30 am.
Famous vacation house in Marysvale(I think)
Big Rock Candy Mountain
Gazing at the river
Famous turkey dinner time!!
Manti temple
Jason, Lauren and Jace
Lauren and Jace with the statue of Moroni
Doesn't get prettier than this!
All lit up after the pageant
Jace & his daddy waiting in line at Disneyland (5months)
Playing in the ocean- Run! SHARK!!! (4yrs. 3months)
Looking good! (5yrs)
This is a hold up! (5yrs. 2months)
TOOTHLESS! (7yrs. 5months)