Happy 40th Birthday Scott!!!!

TUESDAY
Today I took Scott some doughnuts to work for his birthday (I took plenty so he could share with everyone). I have been warned and forewarned on several occasions to NEVER, I repeat NEVER, to make a big deal of Scott's birthday to anyone. One year I teased him that I would go to work and decorate his toolbox with lots of balloons and streamers for his birthday and I totally got the look and lecture of death--so I have never done anything at work for his birthday. So, this year, being his 40th Birthday, I thought I should do SOMETHING. I came up with the doughnut idea and I didn't receive the LOOK or LECTURE OF DEATH (so far so good--maybe next year I can do a little more--hum???).

Scott decided he wanted to go camping one last time this year for his birthday. We repacked the trailer and had everything ready (that I could do) when Scott got home from work. We made reservations at Crystal Hot Springs up in Honeyville and it took us about an hour and 15 minutes or so to get there--we didn't arrive until 10:30 p.m. Unfortunately, I hadn't really studied the campground map very well on-line before we left so it took us about 20 minutes to find the camp site we had reserved (this search involved Scott getting out of the truck, hiking around the premises with a little dinky flashlight). Scott wasn't a very happy camper when we finally drove to our campsite (there were two or three other trailers in the whole 115 site campground)!!!


Mallory, Hayley, Brittney and I did the final preparations of a little birthday party for Scott when we arrived at our campsite while Scott was out stablizing the trailer (or whatever he has to do). We hid balloons in the shower and a chocolate cake in the oven before leaving home and we strung a "Happy Birthday" banner in the trailer. (If you look at the clock on the wall, it was really 11:20 p.m. when we were setting up the Birthday Party!!)

Decorating

Scott getting ready to open his birthday present.

Opening Present #1--a new flashlight set (this really would have come in handy about 45 minutes earlier!!!) (A little side note: about one week ago Scott was trying to fix something in the dark and made a quick comment about how all he wanted for his birthday was a flashlight that #1 Worked and #2 One he could find--I did hear the comment and I got the hint--we found a Maglit set with a big flashlight and a small one with a mounting bracket so he can hang it in the garage so he can ALWAYS find it--as long as he puts it back!!!!)

Scott was grateful for such a USEFUL gift!!!

Scott also received some new Levi's (he gets new Levi's every year--Sorry for such a boring gift--but they are always so needed!!)

Hayley and the balloons

WEDNESDAY
We went for a walk/bike ride/wagon ride around the campground after breakfast and had some fun picture taking moments and a lot of good laughs!

Mallory and Hayley dancing on the tables

Erin, Brittney, Scott and Hayley (picture taken by Mallory--I cut out all the grass on the hill)

Hayley riding down the steep hill on her bike

Mallory cruisin down the hill

Hayley--HERE SHE COMES!!

Scott and Brittney coastin down the hill (Notice the look of sheer terror in Brittney's eyes and the knuckle white grip on the wagon!!)

After our walk, we went down to the Hot Pools. We stayed in the pool that was about 96 degrees--we poked our hands in the hotter pools and they were way too hot!! Here's Mallory drinking her juice (I was really worried about dehydration so I made everyone drink ALOT!)

Hayley and her RED cheeks

Brittney playing "Peek-A-Boo" with Scott

We had a great, relaxing day!! All was going so well until WEDNESDAY NIGHT! At around 10:45 Hayley woke up and was sick and throwing up. Then about 30 minutes later I was up and sick! We had the STOMACH FLU and it was not good! I haven't felt that sick in a LONG, LONG time. We headed home Thursday morning (as planned) at 8:15 a.m. so we could get Mallory to her Preschool Halloween party.

This summer we went on a few Camping Trips and had a great time seeing the countryside. We spent time with friends and family and enjoyed thier company very much. We have hundreds of pictures and as many stories, and yes, the fish we caught were much bigger than they look in the pictures. We thought we would share just a bit of our summer with every one. Scott hiked into Hayden lake In the Uintahs. These little lakes are everywhere and usually you are the only one there. Some of the lakes are just a 15 or 20 minute hike from each other and range in all differant sizes and scenery.

Scott hiked into Ruth lake one evening by himself to do some fishing and stayed until dark and then hiked out, it was a little spooky-CAN YOU SAY BEARS. Once it was dark he noticed people were climbing and repelling the cliffs shown in the background with lights on there helmets. They were crazy, the cliffs are much larger than they look.

We were catching tadpoles and other bugs in a Meadow in the Uintahs.

A great view of Ferh Lake in the Uintahs. This is just shy of 10,000 ft elevation.

Taking a rest at Ferh lake.

I think this is about the only lake that Hayley did not fall into this summer.

It's funny how it works-the more the kids fish the less dad fishes.

Fishing with friends at Mirror Lake.

Brittney loved being pulled around in her wagon. She never did figure out the reason we put her in it was so she would stay in one spot.

The hammocks were a big hit with the kids, they would swing for hours.

Just relaxing in the Uintahs.

FUN IN THE SUN

at Bear Lake

I think it's sand, or has there been a cat here?

Brittney begging someone to come help her dig at Bear Lake.

The Peterson family invading the beach at Bear Lake. It's never the same afterwards.

The Cousins had a great time at Bear Lake.

MOM is GREAT at multi tasking.

I think Dinner is cooking also.

They love playing on the Turtle. We get to go back to this spot next week to try and find Scott's wedding ring now that the water has gone down.

Erin and Hayley were great at Charades at RockPort Resevoir.

The lady's did great catching dinner at Mirror Lake, Erin caught the biggest and the most. Someone has to watch Brittney.

Hayley realy had fun reeling in the fish at Mirror Lake in the High Uintahs.

Mallory had a great time catching these little Brook Trout at Bourbon lake. This was the last week of June and as you can see there was still alot of Snow. We thought the hike to this lake was about 1/2 mile but I messed up and it was about 2 miles each way. It snowed for a few minutes about 45 minutes prior to this picture.

As the Troopers we are, we continued on and it was certainly worth it.

Erin and Hayley catching a Brook Trout at Bourbon Lake while Brittney spills all the food.

This was at the start of a hike to a Bourbon lake in the High Uintahs that we thought was only a 1/2 mile, with all the snow melting there was water everywhere, it was neat.

Hayley had a great time trying to catch this chipmunk at Christmas Meadows in the High Uintahs.

Erin & Brittney loving the aroma of sage brush at East Canyon while the rest of us fish.

The Girls love playing with the PowerBait & Worms at East Canyon.

Mallory & Hayley teaching Dad how to cook Hot Dogs at Clear Creek.

It's cool to raise your arms for a picture.

SEE I TOLD YOU IT WAS COOL.

Scott, Mallory & Hayley standing on slabs of rock that are as big as buildings that just shoot up out of the ground at "City of Rocks"

"City of Rocks" in Idaho.

This place is just kinda weird the way the rocks just stick up.

Erin, Mallory & Hayley at "City of Rocks"

This is all solid Rock.

Mallory and Hayley throwing rocks in Clear Creek.