4th of July Weekend

We were undecided on what to do for the long weekend, and our neighbor Angie suggested camping! Sounded like a good time, so we packed up some gear and headed up North for some nicer weather, and some outdoor fun!   

The ride up there was an adventure all it's own.  We had to stop a couple of times to tie down stuff on the trailer, Joss started throwing up, and as we approached Payson it started storming real good.  Lightning, thunder... the whole bit! The kids weren't all that thrilled about it either... as you can see.  Along with the weather came horrible traffic.  We sat in traffic FOREVER!  We finally got to Payson and things cleared up.  It took us a while to find somewhere to camp because most of the campgrounds were already full.  So, we found a nice secluded spot and pitched our tents. 

As the adults were setting up tents and getting everything settled, the kids were exploring the territory.  Here is a little frog that they caught.  YUCK!

It just so happened that in the spot we chose to camp there was a tire swing all rigged up.  The kids were excited about that!

The older kids could hardly wait to go to sleep, because they got to stay in a tent all by themselves!  Didn't think it would last long but it did... all night! 

After the kids went to sleep we enjoyed the campfire for a bit.  Here is the Blake's dog Rhino.  I think he enjoyed it more than the rest of us! 

Ahhh... Here is what we found when we finally went to our tent to go to sleep.  Joss & Fletch keeping each other warm!

Parker and Harper enjoying the morning by the fire.

Angie and I went for a little ride on the quad.  Then it was fun on the tire swing for a while!

Joss & Keiton were not liking the tire swing thing too much! 

Fletch... taking advantage of the good outdoors (something he does often!)

My cute little 4th of July girls!  Mommy Bapa made them these cute matching dresses!

Parker got to take Caden's quad for a spin... It was a little scary for Mom!

Ev & Marlie passing time with a good 'ol thumb war!

As Saturday wore on, we placed bets on what time the rain would roll in.  Trev won with a 12:30 guess.  Who doesn't love a nice afternoon shower while you're camping!?!   The Blake's decided to go for a drive, Trev put Joss and Fletch down for a nap, and Parker, Ev and I just hung out and enjoyed the rain.  And some more rain... and then more rain!

Dang... I love a nice nap in the tent when it is raining.  Wish it was me!

As you can see it rained PRETTY DANG hard and long.  So long that our camp was completely flooded.  Pretty much a camping nightmare.  Needless to say we decided to call it quits.  We started packing up everything in the rain, and wouldn't you know it, by the time we were set to leave, it was sunny and clear.  What a pain in the rear!  

It was kind of a good thing that we decided to leave early though, because Treven had forgotten his bag with his clothes at home.  And the ones he was wearing were completely SOAKED!  We decided to stop at WalMart in Payson so he could get some dry clothes, and decided to stay there for the fireworks.  Trev's bro. Chad and his family were there for the weekend so we thought we would try to find them... even though both of our cell phones were completely dead! The Blake's headed back to Mesa and we grabbed some food then headed to the park where the fireworks were gonna be at.  There were tons of people there and we just happened to go straight to the spot where Chad and fam was sitting.  So strange! 

I thought Harper would freak out when the fireworks started but to my amazement she just laid back and watched.  And by the end of them she was even asleep.  We enjoyed the firework show, then headed home.  It was the longest 2 days I have had in a LONG time, but well worth it!