Trip to Denver

We took a family vacation to Denver a week ago. We had tons of fun! We left early on a Saturday morning and got to Denver Saturday afternoon. Kendall and the boys immediately headed down to Coors Field to watch the Rockies and the Padres play. While they were there they got their picture taken with Ubaldo Jimenez. He is the Rockies star pitcher that started the All-Star game this year. They loved it! They also won that night.

The next day the whole family went downtown early and walked around the 16th street outdoor mall. They had tons of stores. Ten blocks worth to be exact. We then all headed back over to Coors field to watch a second Rockies game. They didn't win this one, but it was still a blast.

On Monday, we headed over to Elitch Gardens. This is Denver's Amusement Park. It's an Amusement Park and Water Park all in one. They had some very fun roller coasters that we all loved. Late in the day as the temperatures were around 95 degrees, we rode a ride that got you soaked. It generates this gigantic wave that no matter where you are sitting, you get swamped. Avery, Maddy, Mindy and I were the only ones that braved it. Aushlynn and Dyllon chickened out. We rode it twice. It felt good because it was so hot.

On Tuesday, we headed over to Water World. This waterpark is huge and has been featured on the Travel Channel as one of the top ten in America. We loved the raft rides that your family can all ride together. They had Journey to the center of the earth, Storm, and Pharohs Revenge. They also have this huge wave pool that generates a 15 foot wave that demolishes everybody in it's path. So FUN! We got there when it opened and stayed until it closed. We were having so much fun.

On Wednesday, we left Denver and headed back to Utah via I-70. When we got back into Utah, we headed over to Arches National Park. We bought a National Park Pass earlier in the year when we went to Bryce Canyon and Zion's National Park, so we thought this would be a great opportunity to see another National Park. We decided to Camp overnight just outside of Arches. It was HOT!!! At Ten O Clock it was still 100 degrees outside. We camped right next to the Colorado River which we thought would be cooler. Nope it was still very hot. Everyone had a hard time sleeping. Still the night sky was fantastic with the bright stars.

The next morning we got up and headed into Arches early. The rock formations there are unbelievable. God has blessed us with some very neat things on this earth. I am glad that I am able to live in a place that gives me the opportunity to witness them. After Arches, we headed home. We had a great time as a family and was glad that we could spend the time together.

Camping

There are a few things in life that I dislike. Most of them include either onions, mushrooms or peppers, (no fajitas for me....ew..) traveling in the car or camping. We went on a family vacation to Denver and on our way back we stayed at Arches...........CAMPING!!!

Now, don't get me wrong. Nature can be beautiful when viewed from afar or in pictures. I just don't like to be in it. Especially when I have to sleep in it. It is dirty, full of bugs and HOT as 50 hecks!

And it smells super bad at times. Have you ever had to use one of these at 3:00 a.m. in the night with a flashlight? NOT FUN! I guess that I should not have drank 3 water bottles in the night. But, honestly I thought that I was going to die of dehydration because of the heat. I had.....I mean really had to go........I had no choice. I really did think about a bush.....but then I scratched that idea. Did you know that bugs in the night are attracted to light. They were attacking me! Assaulting me really!

We were right on the Colorado river. It was pretty and sounded nice. (that was until I had to go then it sounded like torture)

This is one of the pictures that I took from the campsite.

This is where I slept.......or at least attempted it. A tent.........I know! I am super brave. It was seriously at least 90 degrees. I don't know how Kendall fell asleep so fast. He was like......I am tired.....I am going to sleep now and then..........ZZZZ.....SNORE.....HONK...(insert semi's shifting down the highway noise here!) It was pretty much the worst night of my life! The kids complained for hours and then finally fell asleep........How they did it I don't know?? I think I finally passed out of heat exhaustion around 4:30 am.

I think that I have camped enough for my lifetime!

I think that I will stick to the Hiltons next time around! Now that is my kind of camping......with a bed and a pool!

Happy 17th Birthday Dyllon!

Dyllon turned 17 years old today. Does this make me old? Dyllon does not like his picture taken, so I have to post shots like this one here. He is a happy child for the most part. So, about Dyllon: He likes sports. He enjoys wrestling, football and an occasional game of dodge ball. He has what I call useless sports knowledge. The boy, for some reason, has a file of sports knowledge in his head that stores information from before he even existed. He can pull stats out of nowhere. To bad that he can't use this skill in school. Dyllon has a job, he is a umpire for the Utah Union. He LOVES umping the younger kids! It's pretty much his FAV! He enjoys playing video games. He is fantastic at texting, I do not know how he can type so fast on such a small keyboard. Dyllon does not like school or mowing the lawn. I would say that he is a typical teenager.

Happy Birthday Dyllon!

All About Aushh(:

Alright.. Hey Everyone, This Is Aushlynn I Am Pretty Bored So I Am Gonna Upload Some Photos Of Me And Maddy(:



Me & Maddy(:

Me & Maddy(:

PeAcE(:

AUSHH(:

CRASH

Last night, I was coming home from school. It was about 8:30. I was kinda depressed because I did not do as well on a test as I wanted to. I was traveling on Bangeter highway. I looked down at the speed odometer and thought what am I doing? I was driving at 45 miles per hour on a 55 mph road. This is not typical for me. I usually am pushing the speed limit. I started to speed up...... Right in front of me about 50 yards ahead a car started rolling on the freeway and it clipped the rear end of the car that was in front of me. I was shaking.....who wants to witness that. I pulled over and I called 911. I just sat there after talking to 911. I was thinking. Oh my heck....what if I would have been going the speed limit? I would have been right behind the car that go hit in the back. That car would have smashed into me. I guess I can now say that it was a blessing that I did not do well on my test. I get to drop one test anyway and I know what one it will be now. I am glad that I am safe.

By the light of our ipods..........

This morning was bad.............the power went out at about 6:55 a.m. We are a family that does not function well without light. It was funny to see Dyllon brush his teeth by the light of the mini computer. He had to be able to see the water hit his toothbrush. Aushlynn and Avery were combing their hair and brushing their teeth to the soft glow of their ipod touch.

A good mom would have broken out the flashlights or the candles. A great mom would have fired up the generator. Well, I am neither of those. I guess that I am not ready for a emergency. So................ it looks like I need to stock up on some batteries, buy some flashlights that we can actually find, get candles, maybe look into getting a generator and fuel, and probably stock up on propane.

I did assure the kids that they would be having school. The schools have generators, they are better prepared then me. (please.... oh... please.... don't let them cancel school!)

I was thinking about the earthquake in Haiti while the power was out. I felt really ungrateful for what I have. I was having a pity party that I have no power while these folks pretty much have nothing. It kinda put having no power in perspective.

Gingerbread houses.....not of gingerbread!

Last week for Family Home Evening we made gingerbreadless gingerbread houses! A fun time was had by all, except maybe Dyllon. He had a hard time getting his graham crackers to stand up. Mindy's is the first on the left. (it is the best of course!) Kendall's is the next one. (he kept chewing down the graham crackers to get the right size!) Dyllon's is the Sears tower. ( the tallest of the bunch!) Madison's is next. (there is absolutely no more room for candy. She cover the whole thing!) Aushlynn's is roofless. (she took all the gumdrops!) And last but not least is Avery's. (he put a cannon on his!)