Camping at Jack's Creek

The last weekend before school started, we went camping with the Schmutz's and the Andersons, at Jack's Creek.    It was beautiful and we had such a fabulous time!

We spent most of Friday playing at the River.

A snake the Steve caught.  Bobby was the only one brave enough to hold it. 

Arthur found this worm that was as fas as a gummy worm!  He was too big to fit on the fishing hook, so he got to live.  But first we took some disgusting pictures.

Bobby and Dallin fishing.

It didn't take long for the little boys to fall in the water, so I told them they could take their pants off to let them dry on a rock.

They ended up like this. I'm sure everyone who saw all those little boys runnin' around in their underwear thought we were a bunch of white trash.  And maybe we are.  But at least we are white trash who enjoy themselves.

It was so peaceful just sitting there on the rocks by the river and enjoying the sounds of the water, the wind in the trees, and the thunder as the storm was rolling in.

Sydney LOVES the Schmutz's dogs.  (unless they are barking, which makes her very sad indeed.)

What is it with boys and taking clothes off? 

We called this crew the shirtless wonders, and they shouted songs at us from on top of that drainage pipe until it wasn't cute anymore.

Cute Lilly with a little purple flower she found.

The prize winning fish!  

Arthur and Steve caught these fish Friday night.

They were this big.

Tasted pretty good though!

A beautiful sunset 

We were all packed up and ready to go, but before leaving, we had to get some group pictures.

(The Andersons left before we got our act together which is why Lilly isn't in here, and Sydney was already strapped in her carseat sleeping.)

We loved being up in the mountains and spending time with our family and friends!  I agree with Sean who suggested, "Can we come to this exact camping spot with these exact friends again?"  

I sure hope so!

Turkey Creek Backpacking Trip

This is a little bit of catch-up.  (This was the weekend before CMT started, so I didn't get a chance to blog it when it happened.)  Arthur took Dallin on a backpacking trip up to Turkey Creek near Pagosa Springs in Colorado.  They went with our friends the Brienholts and had a really great time.  (Okay, I'm turning this  over to Arthur for blogging completion, because I wasn't even there!!!) 

Hayden is always bummed when he has to stay behind on any trip, so we let him join in on our "headin out photo".

Note to self...carrying backpacking gear for two means that your pack weighs in at 58 lbs....ouch!

Chuck and his son Charles.

I've never seen such weird clouds like this.  We all thought that since this was opening day for Harry Potter 7 part 2 that this was obviously a sign that Lord Voldemort had won the wizarding battle and was sending a sign to us mere muggles...(sorry to those non-Harry Potter fans out there who have no idea what I'm talking about)  

This was proof of our time in "the wilderness" (say like Nacho Libre for full effect)

Here's a cool waterfall on Eagle creek about 5 miles in.  If you look closely in this picture you'll see a little dude in his whitey-tighties down there by the waterfall.  Yes, Charles swam over there, and no, he did not want to swim back because it was SO cold!!!  But we managed to convince him to come back before one of the adults had to strip down too.

Fishing on Turkey Creek.  We caught one fish that we ate at dinner.  It was a brook trout that refused to die.  So Dallin and Charles nicknamed him "Invincy".  Invincy was very tasty with some oil and lemon pepper.

Leaving our campsite along the river about 4 miles in.

The turkey creek trail has some beautiful meadows...views of the surrounding mountains...

passes through plenty of Aspen and Fir trees...and even Fern forests. 

No trip to Pagosa Springs is complete without a trip to Boss Hogs for a meal.  After eating backpacking food for 3 days, this was mighty tasty.

Hard to Top this One

For my birthday this year, Arthur signed me up for the BYU Choral Academy which I attended last week.  I spent 4 days learning about conducting, analyzing music, rehearsal techniques, tips to achieve choral vocal beauty, etc.  It was fabulous!  It was fun to be back "in school" at the school I graduated from 10 years ago!  I hadn't been back since Arthur graduated in 2003.  I got to learn about something I love from some of the best in the field (the BYU choral conductors) and I got to go with my "cousin-in-law" Marianne, who was also a music major, and we had so much fun together!  We stayed with my Grandpa Packard and it was fun to visit with him in the morning and evening when we were home with him.  

Outside the HFAC (Harris Fine Arts Center) our old stomping ground.

Outside the Conference Center in SLC, 

where we got to observe a Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearsal in action.  

The Tabernacle Choir, with associate conductor, Ryan Murphy

My Aunt Ruth is on the very front row wearing the purple dress

After their warm-up, we were led up into the choir loft where we sat directly behind them and got to see the rehearsal from their seats.  This was a cool experience for a lot of reasons, but I'll just name a couple.  I loved that we got to see how normal the choir members are.  We only ever see them all dressed up in their concert attire and it seems like they might be these incredibly flawless musicians, but they are pretty normal.  In fact, they had to be reminded of some of the same stuff I tell my ward choir.  (Not to diminish their musicality at all--they are of course, very good.  It's amazing that they prepare the music for their weekly broadcasts in just 2 rehearsals each week!)  

The other thing I loved about the rehearsal was just sitting up there with them and being completely immersed in their sound.  What a feeling!  I can't really find words to describe it.

SLC Temple 

Our last day on campus, we met Aubrey, one of our Packard cousins, for lunch.   We ate at the BYU Creamery on 9th, which sadly, I don't remember patronizing when I lived within walking distance from it.  What an atrocity!  I can't believe I missed all those opportunities to eat there!  Above is Aubrey's Grasshopper Sundae.  Oh, it looked SOOO good!

But I wasn't jealous, because I got "Earnestly Chocolate" with butterfinger crumbs on top, and I have been thinking about that ice cream ever since I ate it.  Wow, it was amazing!  I'm sitting here trying to think how to describe it, but words are failing me.  That ice cream might have been the most perfect ice cream I've ever eaten.  So creamy and smooth, with ribbons of marshmallow cream and caramel.  Heaven in a cup! 

Here are Marianne and I with our instructors, Rosalind Hall, Ron Staheli (Dad, he says, to tell you hi!) and Jean Applonie.  (not sure on that spelling.)  What a privilege to learn from these guys.

Before we left campus for good, we meandered through the Museum of Art for one last "blast-o-culture".  I loved these giant pieces of popcorn that were featured right at the entrance.  

Here I am standing in front of a giant "House of Learning."  This is the bottom wall of a house-shaped structure built entirely out of books.  It was really cool!

Friday night, I started part 2 of my adventure.   I rented a car and drove up to Rexburg, ID where I stayed the night with my Aunt Esther.  The next morning I left early to drive up to West Yellowstone to spend the day with my sister, Melanie, who is an actress at the Playmill Theater this summer.  I got up there about 8:30 in the morning and we headed straight into Yellowstone Park to enjoy what we could before she had call at noon.

Melanie

Me

Spasm Geyser

a waterfall

There's Melanie, (2nd one from the right on the bottom) on the wall of fame.

Sharing lunch at a cute little diner, can't remember the name, but it was very tasty.

The cute little Playmill Theater

Melanie starred as Gabriella in High School Musical.  

There she is on a giant poster outside the theater.

I had to refrain from telling everyone around me, "Hey! That girl right there is my sister!!!"

After her first show--She did GREAT!  

She had a 30 minute break after her matinee so we had some chocolate chip pancakes at her apartment.  :) Then she had to run back to get ready for her "Joseph" performance at 6.  So I hung out, checked out some of the cute shops on the street, and then went to see her in "Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."  It was super funny.  Below are some "illegal" pictures I took (no flash of course) of her in her role as "Potipher's Wife."  She was very convincing.  :)

I had such a fun day spending time with Melanie.   I'm so glad Arthur had the idea for me to go up and see her as part of that trip.  It meant two more days of watching the kids for him, including getting everyone ready for church on Sunday by himself.  Arthur picked me up from the airport and we headed directly to church.  I had such a great week, but boy, I was ready to be home and be a mom again when Sunday rolled around.  All that independence really wiped me out!  Thanks, Arthur, for the greatest birthday present ever--it'll be hard to top that one.