Water Fire

In Columbus, during the summer, there is a show on the water every weekend.

There is music and then little bonfires on the water.

It sounds cool but it was actually kinda boring.

The company was better than the show.

Thanks Nate for making this picture even BETTER!

Music = Kamden dancing like Elaine on Seinfield.
Columbus at night.

Cowan Lake

We had to get one last camping trip in before it got cold. We went with our friends, the Udink's, to Cowan Lake. It was so fun...minus the skunk!

The first night, we were all sitting around the campfire before bed. Monica and I decided to take the kidlets to the bathroom before bed. On the way, I noticed something moving in the campsite next to us. As we got closer, we saw 2 skunks! Ahh! So we hurried back and when we got there, Jeff and Ryan asked us if we were doing something over by the food. No, we were not! They had heard something moving over there. I had pulled the pack of hot dog buns out so they wouldn't get smushed. (A 12 pack mind you.) The DIRTY, STINKY skunk had made off with them. We were on high alert. No more action to report for that night. The next night, it was just Jeff, me, and the boys. The boys were asleep and Jeff and I were sitting by the fire. I had my eyes closed and was almost asleep when Jeff whispered as loudly as he could, "Lyndzi...Lyndzi...LYNDZI!" There was a skunk not even 5 yards away, under our picnic table. Freaked out, we moved away slowly and out onto the road. Now what? If that skunk decides to get all crazy and spray or whatever else he might do, he's going to stink up all of our camping stuff AND our sleeping children. Well, after about 15 minutes of standing there, watching the skunk circle our campsite, looking for any remnants of food, we'd had enough. I saw a garbage bag within reach and we realized that the skunk only came when we were really quiet. I started to rattle the bag. He perked his little head up. I rattled some more. He ran away. Well, that was easy. He was gone...for the time being. We decided to go right to bed after that. I woke up several times in the middle of the night (a little paranoid maybe) to the sound of critters circling the outside of our tent. That's the end of the skunk adventure. I'm glad we weren't sprayed and we aren't going back to Cowan Lake anytime soon.

We have a Camp Chef to actually put our griddle on but forgot propane. We had the griddle over the fire but it got too HOT so we moved it onto the grass. The food always tastes better when you're camping. McKay, Kylie, Kamden, & Hunter

Fishing on the Lake

This look describes Mac's opinion of the camping trip. He really wanted out of the stroller, which for some of the time he was but he was still getting the walking thing down.

We love camping and can't wait to find a fun new place to go next year!

The Zoo followed us home!

Columbus has the BEST Zoo! We love to go. Jeff went with us a few weeks ago on Labor Day.

We went on a little boat ride that goes through some of the animal exhibits.

We only saw 1 bird on the ride! However, Mac loved every minute of it and did the ole "point and grunt". He's adorable.
Oh wait, we saw this wild creature.
We thought this Mandrill Baboon was friendly...until it hit the glass. It shocked Kam a little then he thought it was cool. I think Jeff had more fun than the rest of us...and the rest of us had a great time.

It just kept getting better. I believe the conversation went like this.

Me: "K, I got it."

Jeff: "Wait, I have a better idea. Take this one."

Me: "K, I got it."

Jeff: "Last one."

What a weirdo.

But, he's my weirdo.

WICKED

Niether Jeff or I had ever been to a broadway play. I have wanted to see WICKED for so long and it came to Columbus! How lucky are we?
It was way more than we expected it to be.
Jeff loved it. I loved it. We loved it.

It was clever, funny, and the music was AMAZING!
I haven't listened to anything else for the past 2 weeks but the sound track.
Kamden's favorite song is Popular and he sings along with me.

Did I mention that I loved it and that I want to see it again?
Well, until then...You Tube clips will have to do.

How did I miss this?

Sorry Kamden. I took these pictures of the cutest 3 year old around and forgot to post them!

These are his 3 year pictures.

Kamden is such a funny kid. He LOVES attention and loves seeing his picture on the camera, it's the taking part that he stuggles with. We did happen to catch a few smiles though.

I love this boy!

I Guess This Is The Sequel

There are times when the pictures are better at telling the story than all that nonsensical dialog, blah, blah, blah.

I have such a wonderful family and it was so great to see them all. We had a wonderful trip and the proof is in the pictures!

GG with the boys in Park City Oh Raife, there was once a time, not in your lifetime of course, but there was once a time when grandchildren got to open gifts on their own, play with their new toys first, and taste their own birthday cake before any other children.

Like I said, not in your lifetime.
Maybe you can ask your older sisters what it was like.
Kamden, Paisley, & Hinkley
They were threatened with words similar to these, "HOLD STILL SO I CAN GET A STINKIN PICTURE!"

I ran my first 5k. Simple and slow but ya gotta start somewhere.

My 10 year class reunion.

Now before yall go makin fun of it...it was really fun.

All 13 of us, and then some spouses, had a really great time.

Mac

Grace Fish Hatchery

The Barthlome Cousins

These 3 had so much fun together. I think the highlights were having their 1st sleepover with the 3 of them and the trampoline!

We went to Bear Lake.

Between McKay and Raife, I think they ate enough sand to fill a diaper!

So beautiful and we love it there but it was SO cold and windy. :(

You can tell from the sky that a storm was moving in.

Storm has arrived.

Snap a picture and let's get outta here!

Yep, that's Kamden playing barbies with Paisley. I'm not too worried because he pulled off one of their heads. He's all boy.

Barthlome Family Reunion

We had a little carnival and our family made the cotton.

Kamden had a blast. I think the doughtnut eating and face painting were by far his favorite. Right after this picture he just grabbed it and shoved it in his mouth. No wasting time trying to eat it off the string with no hands.

Favorite

Taylor chopped her hair! It was so fun cause all of our family was there to watch the event go down and to see 17 inches come off!

Until next time...

We love you all!

You can have a prequel. You can have a sequel. But what's in the middle?

Either way...this is the first part of our summer trip west.

Jeff's parents got a tramp! He was lucky enough to set it up his first full day there. :)

Even though it gave him and his mom a lot of stress, they are now professionals and hope to never do it again! We got to see everybody! In a nutshell, it was much fun!

Amy is getting pretty good at having twins.

Look! No hands.

We stopped in at my old work and Kam hit up the treasure chest.
Ya think he likes snakes?

I love this pic cause the girls are ready to have their picture taken and the boys, well, they're being boys. Kamden is hilarious.

Cutest Baby Award

After many attempts to go up the canyon, we finally decided we just had to do it, rain or shine.

It was a little cold and a little wet but we had smores so that seemed to make it all worth it.

Jeff flew out after me and went home before me. We really did miss him but overall, the boys did really well. They missed Jeff and so did I. Especially all of his help with the boys.
But...we managed. :)

No matter who we were with it was like, "Where's Kamden?" "Where's Abby?"

"Has anybody seen Chase or Cortney?"
Those kids are...active.

Mapleton Canyon

Mac was such a momma's boy but for about 30 seconds he sat with Katelyn let me take pictures.

G & G Johnson

We had so much fun in Utah and miss EVERYONE already.

Kam has been wandering around the past week asking when his cousins are coming over.

We LOVE living in Columbus and then we go home for a visit and remember just how much we love the west and our FAMILY.

Did I mention that I love blogs, FB, cell phones, etc. and the connectivication that it provides?

The documentation of the rest of our trip will follow shortly.

To be continued...