Twin Lakes

We decided on a whim to take the littles to Twin lakes to paddle around for a bit.  The weather was gorgeous when we left home! We unloaded the canoes and life jackets and got everyone situated. The big kids wanted to go on their own while Daddy took Joe, Fin and Sawyer. I was a little bit nervous as Ollie and I watched them from the dock, but they all had life jackets on and the water was pretty calm. They all did a little bit of fishing, but no bites.

When they returned, I hopped in a canoe with Daddy, Finley and Sawyer. The big kids took Ollie, and Joe opted to stay on the dock and throw rocks. 

As the afternoon went on, dark clouds began rolling in. We could hear the quiet rumbles of thunder in the distance and it was soon accompanied by lightning. We paddled back to the shore speedy quick (along with everyone else) and began lugging the canoes and life jackets up to the van. It started spitting rain and the wind began picking up. Soon the rain turned to a huge dump of hail. We had loaded the canoes and were working on getting the hooks off the rods when I started coming down hard. We all took cover in the van and waited out the storm. When it had finally passed, the sunshine came out again. The ground was blanketed in white. We strapped everything in and made our way home.

Peace, Be Still

There have been so many thoughts swirling around in my mind this week. My heart has been heavy as I contemplate the new school year and how its differences will affect my children and their experiences. 

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Tonight as we were enjoying a fire and uplifting conversation with friends, my eyes were drawn to this birdhouse. It’s simplicity was beautiful, even in its run down state, and I admired it all night as the sun travelled across the sky and dipped lower on the horizon just behind it. 

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Even though the world feels broken right now there is so much hope and beauty. As I listened to the fire crackle, the children’s laughter, and the wind rustle the leaves, I was reminded of the importance of simple things. I was reminded how important it is to take time to be still. After struggling this week With family unity and grumpy moods, I was reminded how important it is to make sure our family is doing the basics. Serving others, gospel learning, and gathering in prayer. Because when we do these things there is more love and joy in our home. 

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Tonight I’m grateful for the peace I found in the sight of this little broken down birdhouse and for good conversations with friends. 

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“Keep it simple. It is in the simplicity that you find peace, joy, and happiness.” Russell M. Ballard

 

Canoe Trip Recap

Camilla is taking over the blog today to do a quick re-cap of the canoe trip. She always brings her journal and documents things well! Here's a little bit about what happened over three days....

Day 1.

This week was our annual canoe trip and it was different, fun, and a little crazy. It all began the morning of the canoe trip we packed everything up and we drove to our launch spot. When we got there we all stretched our legs and packed up the canoes and gave our goodbye hugs then we were off. I kept looking back as mom and the two younger boys got smaller and smaller until we could not see them any more. We took our time as we slowly floated down the river having snacks and pop and enjoying the sunshine. We did some fishing there was a few bites but nobody caught anything. The wind started to pick up so we thought we should try and find a good camp spot before the rain clouds got any closer. Then all the sudden behind us we heard a big boom of thunder! Then we all picked up our paddles and raced to a camp spot. First things first we set up the tent so we would have shelter but when we were trying to peg it down it started pouring rain then the whole tent started to blow away with us attached to it! Luckily dad and grandpa were strong enough to keep it on the ground. There was no time to set up the tent so we grabbed the fly of the tent wrapped it around a tree and hid under it. We had to stay under there for a long time and there was some tears but then we thought about how lucky we where to have this big tree here. The storm was not passing and it kept shinning the flash of light from the lightning. Then dad said a prayer that the storm would pass and we could have a warm night in our dry sleeping bags. A little while later we looked out behind the tree and we saw blue sky and no more clouds. We got out of our shelter and pegged in the tent but there was a big puddle of water right in the middle of the tent we tried to dump out the water but it kept coming back so grandpa took off his shirt and used it as a sponge and soon enough the tent was dry. Then we got our dry clothes on and grandpa made the dinner and we had a little fire to warm us up. Then when our bellies were full we got tucked in the tent and dad told us a story while we were falling asleep.

Day 2.

I woke up and the sun was shining. I woke up the boys and we all got dressed and sat around the fire pit with no fire. We were kind of cold but dad and grandpa told us that they needed to sleep in a little more. We were getting tired of just sitting there so I grabbed the lighter and tried to start the fire. I kept burning myself, so I decided to wait for the adults. When they finally came out of the tent we had sugar cereal and we loaded the canoes. Then we were back on the river for another sunny day. Today was a lot nicer than yesterday. We started to fish then somewhere down the river I heard someone yell " I got one! I got one!" We paddled towards them then I saw it was Joe who had caught a big brown fish with spikes on its fins. We stopped on the side of the river so we could all get a good look. Then dad got the hook out of its mouth then we released it. After we saw Joe's fish we were all eager to catch one too. Joe caught three more and the rest of us caught nothing. It was kind of strange but Joe was liking it. We kept paddling and we all decided we would camp at the bridge so we were all looking for that big land mark. When it got shallow Me and Hyrum were getting hot so we hopped out of the canoe and we pretended we were rocket boosters and we made the canoe go super fast. Then at the same time we quickly hopped back in so the canoe would not tip. When we got to the bridge we got out of the canoes and me and Hyrum played a game in the water. After we got the camp set up we all went in the river and got wet and we floated down on our backs. Then we made a fire and stayed up late playing games and telling story's. Finley was the best at telling story's. Then we all crawled in our warm sleeping bags and went to bed.

Day 3.

Today I woke up to the sound of cows mooing. When I got out of the tent I smelt bacon!!! I looked over and grandpa was already on breakfast. We ate and then loaded the canoes. Then we were off again. We started to fish and right away I caught a fish! It was a gold eye, they are not good for eating because they are tough and bony but they are cool. Then Hyrum caught a fish and Finley and pretty soon we had all caught a fish. On the way to buffalo jump where mom was going to meet us Grandpa told us a story about snakes. When we got there dad told us some bad news! He told us that the road was washed out and that mom had to walk for half an hour just to tell us that and she got to take Joe and Finley with her and me and Hyrum had to do an extra stretch. It took us extra long because the wind kept turning us backwards. It felt like we were paddling for hours then finally we came up to where we had to be!! I saw mom and hugged her then Sawyer then Ollie. I was sooo happy to see them. Then we had to wait a little bit for Hyrum and Grandpa. Then on the drive home we all slept.   

 

They're Home

Today is the day we went to pick up the crew from the river. We left early in the morning with a plan to meet them at Dry Island Buffalo Jump around noon. The last day is always nice and easy, they can take their time fishing and playing in the water and eat up the rest of the snacks. The drive was beautiful and I loved passing the bright yellow fields! 

 

Of course I had to make a pit stop on the side of the road to snag some pictures and let the boys stretch their legs. Neither of them slept the entire drive their! Sawyer was so excited about everything and loved being surrounded by the tall canola.

 

We pulled up to Dry Island right on schedule! I wasn't looking forward to the steep drive  down on the narrow gravel road with Big Red and the canoe trailer attached. As I pulled up to the top of the hill, I noticed the road was gated off and locked up.  With all of the rain we've had lately, the road had washed out and become unsafe to drive. We hadn't brought much for snacks and water, and I was wearing my sandals, but I had to make it down to the river's edge to let them know that I wouldn't be able to drive down and load them up here. Once you start down the hill there is zero cell reception, so calling them wasn't an option. Luckily I had the Ergo carrier in the van, so I strapped Sawyer on my back, pasted a smile on my face and told the boys we were going on an adventure. We carefully descended on the washed out road, watching out for the cracks and ruts that were as deep as my knees at some points. My slippery sandals weren't ideal, and the air was hot and dry.

 

 

 

When we finally made it to the bottom we saw Daddy, Joe and Fin waiting for us. When we told them the bad news, we had to come up with a plan B for getting the canoes out of the river. In previous years we had never gone past this pick up point, so we looked around for signs that would show us what was next and approximately how long it was. Turns out the next spot to pull out was Toleman Bridge, another 14KM down the slowest part of the river.

We visited with Daddy for a little while longer while we waited on Grampa and the two big kids. They were a little while behind, so it was then decided that I would walk up to the van with Joe and Fin (who were both tired of being on the river) and start driving to the next pick-up point. 

We grabbed two bottles of water from the cooler and a box of ritz crackers. I almost cried thinking about the grueling walk ahead with now four littles. I was already exhausted, and hungry, and my patience was worn. Thankfully, Joe stepped up the plate and carried Sawyer for part of the way. As we neared the top our legs were jelly and we could hardly put one foot in front of the other. After everyone was belted in, I swear they fell asleep in under a minute and I navigated my way to new territory in peace.

When we got to the bridge we weren't sure where to park. There are campgrounds on both sides of the river with boat launches, but they are a little ways away from the bridge. I wasn't sure if they'd see us all the way down stream. The littles continued their nap for a few more minutes and then we all headed out of the van, tired and grumpy, to play at the rivers edge until we could see them coming. It was a good 45 minutes before we saw them slowly making their way. The wind was brutal, and kept turning them backwards as they paddled. There was hardly a current to help them along, and their arms were sore and burnt by the time they pulled into shore. 

We were greeted by faint smiles, but I could tell they were exhausted! It was such a hard paddle and something none of us were expecting. I was proud of Camilla and Hyrum for stepping up to the plate and persevering. Camilla was so excited to see the little boys and wrapped them up in big hugs right away. Then we began unloading the gear from the canoes and stuffing it in the van. Each of the kids grabbed a pop and some left over chips for the drive home. I enjoyed hearing their stories (until they all fell asleep). It was such a long day for everyone, but we learned that we can do hard things!

Lunch Date

While the big kids are off on their canoe trip, I promised Ollie that we could go on a lunch date! So today, we put Sawyer for a nap and left him in the care of Gramma while we snuck away to DQ. He was so excited about his burger and sundae. He giggled and talked my ear off the entire time we were there. These one on one dates are so important to each child. We both left feeling pretty happy (and full!). 

Annual River trip

Today the crew left on their annual river trip! The kids have been looking forward to this trip since the end of the last one. They talk about it all year and have made such great memories on the river with their dad and grampa! This year we were a little better prepared! We had Big Red to fit all of the passengers and gear as well as tow the trailer. Everyone helped load up the van early in the morning and then we drove over an hour to the drop off point.

 

 

 This year instead of braving the steep slope on the west side of the river (just on the back side of that overpass), we opted to check out the boat launch prices on the East side of the river at the little camp ground. It was by far the best ten dollars we've ever spent! We didn't have to walk far to bring the gear to the river and there was no crazy hills to twist our ankles!

 

 

The littles were quick to get to work, hauling firewood, food, propane tanks, and gear. I mostly just made sure that Sawyer didn't decide to go swimming in the river. 

This cami-girl of mine is such a go-getter and I love that she is always up for a good adventure! One of these times I might be able to tag along so that she's not the only girl. 

 

 

 

Once we had all of the gear and the canoes on the bank, the fun began. Mr. Stannix and Grampa started fitting in coolers and such like a puzzle, making sure the canoes were balanced the weight evenly distributed. Also making sure that there was fun drinks and junk food on both canoes. I think the food is what the littles look forward to the most. They get spoiled when they go canoeing. While we waited for all of that to go down, each of the kids grabbed a pop. Sawyer happily chugged the last half of Hyrum's can and I probably shouldn't let him have that much sugar, but.... 

 

 

 

 Finally they were all loaded up and ready to go! We gave last hugs, I reminded them to be safe, and I took a group picture. 

 

 

Then I stood on the bank with the two little boys and waved them off into the distance. The drive home was quiet and uneventful until I reached the outskirts of town. Suddenly a massive hail storm blew in and my wipers were going like crazy and I could hardly see! 

 

The little boys and I pulled into Timmies for a dozen donuts (after our long morning away) and I quickly checked the weather radar to see if the storm had hit the river yet. It was close and I was hoping that since they had planned a shorter first day, they has already gotten off the river and set up camp. My Mum and I kept an eye on the weather for most of the evening, praying they would be safe and have fun!

 

 

Pause

I'm pausing my house work today to stare at this sweet face.

Still Waters

These last few days have been some of the nicest days we've had this Summer! The temperature has been close to 30 and the skies have been blue. We were planning on heading out to the lake in the morning, but we didn't end up making it out there until just before lunch. The water was glass and everything looked gorgeous!

The big kids were anxious to get on the knee board and enjoy the smooth water, so Daddy and Grampa sacrificed their ski time and let them go for a few runs. It is insane the amount of confidence they have gained just over this past week or so. Both of them are now jumping in and out of the wake with huge smiles on their faces! It's so fun to watch them learn new things and enjoy our lake time so much!

We even got to watch this plane land and take off again!

When we couldn't take the heat we stopped to swim. Pretty much all of the kids get in the water now without a problem and we have a good time.

Grampa took Mr. Stannix for a ride on the kneeboard since it was too choppy to ski. Sawyer had to sit with him and have his hands on the wheel. He loves learning how things work!

We finished off the afternoon with one last tube ride back to the dock. Ollie waited so so long to hop on the tube while everyone took turns kneeboarding. He was so excited to finally have a ride! We took it nice and easy and he giggled the entire way, putting his arms in the air and giving us the thumbs up to go faster.

Sawyer was pretty tired by the time the afternoon was through! I covered his head with a damp towel to keep him cool and the sound of the boat and the rushing wind put him to sleep. It was nice to cuddle him for an hour or so. It's been forever since I've snuggled him to sleep!

We got home just in time to make dinner for the littles and get everyone ready for bed. Sawyer and Ollie were ready to go to sleep an hour before bedtime. We left Camilla in charge (with Gramma right next door) and she put everyone to sleep and watched them for the evening so that we could enjoy a night out with friends. We swung through town and grabbed some KFC and then met up with our friends at the boat dock.

The water was INCREDIBLE! I couldn't stop admiring the beauty that surrounded us as we drove around the lake and watched the sun set. I've always wanted to go boating at dusk, and tonight was so perfect.

After enjoying our bucket of KFC, we each took turns boarding and skiing and it was so much fun! We laughed so hard! We've all been so busy with work and surviving this crazy pandemic with our littles that it was nice to take a break and relax for an evening.

I really loved being on the water with this guy sans littles. It was fun to laugh together and have adult conversation.

I also really enjoyed driving the boat and whipping the boys around on the lake!

We finished off the evening by taking our friends for a wild ride on the tube while the sun dipped lower on the horizon. We all laughed so hard!

When we left my heart was full of gratitude for this beautiful world, good friends and laughter.

I see many more evenings on the lake before this Summer is up!