Monday's Memory--Our Camping Tent

I have realized for quite some time now that I will never go camping by myself again.  If I go camping now, it's with Amy and Todd.  Id love to go with Todd and Kathy, but since they do "doing" camping, Amy and Todd win!  anyway, I have wanted to clean out my camping closet for a while and it finally happened while everyone was here.  We took out our old, heavy, big, canvas tent and set it up in the back yard.  I remembered this old picture of Amy and Todd, camping in Yosemite, so I wanted to recreate it. 

I love these two...I love that they were willing to humor me... I love that they are good people...I love that they still can have fun together...I love that they love each other.

We did a lot of camping in this tent, Yosemite several times, Big Sur, Crestline, Zion, Sequoia, Hurst Castle, and many other places.  Some of my favorite memories...

--rafting down the river in Yosemite.  One time we were going under a low bridge and all leaned the same way.  All three of us toppled out of the raft.  Luckily, it was a slow currant and not too deep.  We just hopped back in and away we went.  Grandma would drive down to the end spot and pick us up and drive us back to camp.

--washing dishes all together, using big pots as our sink.

--cooking our camping donuts for breakfast

--bedtime was my favorite--we had a big metal suitcase that we used to set the lantern on when it got dark and we went into the tent.  We played games by that light.  When I was time to go to sleep, we would turn out the lantern and all watch as the gas bubble got smaller and smaller until it just "blipped" out.  And then we would say goodnight..."goodnight Jim Bob...goodnight Mary Ellen, goodnight Ben...goodnight John Boy" I miss those times.

I wonder how many people still have the original box some 35 years later?!

We bought a patch at many of the camp sites.

California Adventure

One last day before Todd and Kathy head back home...today's adventure...California Adventure!

Toy Story was so fun...Todd won by a landslide!!  Only went on this once.

Cars was a blast.  I lost all three times we rode this ride!

Screamin'  or I guess I should say Increcible Coaster--went on it 3 times!! 

Ferris Wheel--Tayson and I opted out as the rest all wanted to go in the swinging basket.  They were all sorry by the time it was over!!

The Tower of Terror--opps--Guardians of the Galaxy-- 

I wanted proof I went on this  not once, not twice, but three times!! What I do for my grandkids!!  It was so freaky and I screamed my lungs  out all three times! (I was actually hoarse the next day!)

Some fun family photos from the rest of the day.

Grook was outside the ride!

It was such a fun day, not too crowded or hot.  We actually got on more rides that this, but no pictures.  And I finally hit my 25,000 step mark!!! Yea for me!!!

Surf Camp Week

I love surf camp.  I love the Utah peeps coming down in the summer.  I love spending so much time at the beach.  I love watching the kids improve.  I love watching the kids have fun.  And I love all the extra stuff we get to do while everyone is together.

Surfing--

 Cookouts--

Beach time...

 Beach bike ride/run...

I love these last two pictures...