Camping memorial weekend

The Holmes bunch got together and camped up in the Holmes campground that we call the "Lower Eighty" in Stockton. We had so much fun. It was a great weekend. After we were all done loading everything up we went over and picked up Jamie from school on her last day. The kids were all really excited to go. We didn't want to make two trips, or take two separate vehicles so we had the trailer and the four wheeler trailer all hooked up to the truck. It was an interesting drive. We picked up Little Ceasers Pizza on the way up since it was lunch time and we had a heck of a time getting out of the parking lot. lol.

We stayed up there Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and half of Monday. It's probably the longest camping trip we've had with the kids. The kids were busy and DIRTY all weekend. They always had something to do. Four wheeler rides, playing with bow and arrows, nature hikes, playing with the rocks in the river bed, coloring, eating, making up games. They were busy busy and didn't complain once about being bored. One evening Nancy brought out some glow sticks and the kids where throwing them in the air and chasing them, it was really fun with it being dark and all. There getting old enough that we don't have to worry about them as much, and the older girls were such great helpers. One evening we even put all the girls in one trailer watching a movie and coloring while we played cards in another trailer. We told Abbie and Jamie they were the babysitters and they threatened time out and they cleaned up after the little ones. lol. It was great. All of the kids got along really well. On Sunday it was just our little family for most of the day and we had mostly wind and rain but that just meant we got to hang out together in the trailer. When the weather got better we went on a nature hike and then a pretty good four wheeler ride. I thought it was great. Time inside and time outside. I think by Monday we were all feeling a little dirty and tired, but us adults got the best shooting in on Monday. We played a game where we shot from 10 yards, 20 yards, 30 yards, and 40 yards. Who ever got the closest won. I have to brag a little. I won once on the 40 yards. lol. It skipped off the group and nailed the target. lol. It was pretty fun since all the adults were able to play. I got to sight in my bow finally after having it a few years. It was SO much fun. Monday was memorial day and I couldn't help but think that it would have been so great to have my sister Jamie there with us since we were having so much fun. I know she would have loved it too. She probably WAS there with us. Giggling at our jokes and laughing at the kids. All in all I thought it was a great weekend. I really enjoyed myself, and I know the kids did too. I love my family to pieces and am so glad we get to make these memories together.

Abbie and Jamie shot ALL weekend. I think this was probably their favorite part of the trip.

Grandpa brought out some flippers to flip rocks at the targets with.

Even though the flippers were meant for the little kids the big kids, Colby and Zach, probably had the most fun with them. They were flipping balls up in the air and letting the air carry them.  I had SO much fun watching. I was laughing so hard. They were so funny. Like little boys with new toys. They even shot them and had the girls running out to get them. So funny. They played with those things for probably a good half hour.

Hunter had a rough night the first night, but every night after that was fine. It got a little cold Saturday night when our little heater turned off, but Colby got it figured out and warmed it back up. The kids didn't even notice.

Packing it up. Getting ready to go.

All the Holmes kids. Abby, Jamie, Hunter, Camrie, Kiptyn, Lilly, & Logan.

My DIRTY kiddo's on the last day. Jamie, Hunter, Camrie.

This was our long haul. I'm thankful to have a trailer that we can camp in and have the chance to make such wonderful memories. We wouldn't have the four wheeler without Ron and Nancy, and I'm thankful for that enjoyment as well.

Camrie's preschool graduation.

Camrie had a cute little preschool graduation. She recited the nursery rhyme Peas Porridge Hot, and they did a few songs, showed how well they'd learned they're letters and the sounds they make. I'm so proud of Cam, she did so well this year and is learning so fast. She's just a little smarty pants. Good job Sis!

Hopefully you can hear her. She did such a great job!

Miss Heidi told us everything that Camrie loved about her time in Preschool.

Pledge of allegiance.

Camries class. A very rambunctious group.

Lake Powell 2012

We took a two day trip to Lake Powell with Ron and Nancy so that we could have one last joy ride on the house boat.  I was full of anxiety before we left since we'd be around so much water and the kids are so young, but it ended up being a really nice trip.  I was really nervous when we were trying the life jackets on Hunter and he freaked out and didn't want one on. I didn't think we'd be able to keep it on him with out a huge fight, but when we got to the lake and he saw the water and we told him he had to have a life jacket on if he wanted to be anywhere near it he obeyed with a smile. Was more then happy to. (Thank Goodness). Nancy, Colby, the kids and I all stayed in a cozy little hotel room during the night, and Ron slept on the house boat. Unfortunately I was sick the whole time, even took a trip to the local doctors office. My throat was covered in white and pretty sore,  my body was achy all over, my joints felt like they were going to pop apart at any moment and I kept getting hot and cold, sweaty and clammy. Not too much fun. But at least I could just relax and watch the kids play. Much better then being home trying to take care of my daily tasks.  Nancy and Colby helped out a lot, so that I could just rest. The kids had so much fun on the beach and playing in the water. Camrie was on a hunt to collect as many shells as she could, Hunter was in pure heaven throwing every rock on the beach into the water, and Jamie had the idea to build a wall of mud and make a little river going into the lake. Ron and Nancy sold the houseboat this weekend and I'm sure it's bitter sweet for them. I'm glad that we got a chance to enjoy it before it was gone. We were able to do some fishing which even though I wasn't feeling well was pretty fun, and entertaining. There were fish swimming around the house boat (dumb fish). Colby saw them and immediately set up a pole and threw it out with some bread on it and sure enough one of them chomped it up. He handed the pole to Jamie to real it in and she got a kick out of it. Loved it! I went over to take a look and hold a pole for a second and a big ole fish came by checking out the bread when it took a little nibble I jerked up on the line and this is probably going to totally gross people out, but I snagged it right in the bum hole. lol. Ron said it would make a pretty good camp fire story. We were making all kinds of jokes after that. It was funny for us, but that poor fish probably won't be able to poop for a week. lol. Colby even caught a cat fish. Made some great memories this weekend!

88 degrees with my sweat shirt on. Pretty sure I had a fever.  My good boy kept his life jacket on, he only complained once and when we told him again that he had to keep it on to be by the water we never said another word about it.

Here's the house boat, and Rons little boat that took us around the lake.

Yay! A nap!

Colby's trying to decide how to get the catfish off the hook.

Jamie swore she'd sit there until she caught another fish. I don't think she did.

I think because of the spot I caught the fish in he was able to swim a lot harder. Took a bit to get him reeled in.

Everyone got a chance to hold the pole with the fish on it until we finally let them go.

The fish weren't small. They were pretty good sized.

The girls said their favorite part was being in the water and on the beach.

Jamie was getting pretty good at skipping the rocks.

Grandma getting ready to make some sandwiches.

Grandpa finally sitting down. He was pretty busy getting the houseboat ready to sell.

Daddy playing with Cam.  You can see my car in the back. We found a spot that you could drive down to and have the houseboat and boat all in the same place. It was perfect, and not to far from our lodge.