The one when grandma saved the day

What a trip! We came again to Mantua Campground because we love it so much and  it was quite the trip! So our truck had been in the shop for most of June. We learned early in the month, after Chad had worked for weeks on it already, that it would need a new engine. OUCH! $5,000 bucks, gone just like that. It was in and out of the shop the whole month because once we got the truck back it was still leaking, or other problems surfaced. Such a pain! We were supposed to leave camping on Thursday but we decided to push our trip back one more day in hopes we would have our truck and be able to take our boat. Like clockwork, the truck was done at noon, we picked it up, attached the boat, loaded up and hit the road. We decided to take 2 cars mostly to have more room and not be so loaded down. And it was a good thing!!

The truck ran perfectly the whole way there. And we made it to our site! As Chad was backing the boat it, he all of a sudden lost the gears in the truck. He could only go forward, not backwards. He turned off the truck after a few tries, only to find out the truck then would not start! We panicked for a minute, and called the mechanic. He was able to walk Chad perfectly through what was wrong. The cable that switches gears was either broke or had come off. But Chad was able to climb under the truck and change gears manually while I stood on the breaks hoping the truck wouldn't roll! Once he got it back into park, it started right up. We were able to get the boat backed in but we didn't dare take it to the boat ramp with how we had to change gears. 

All of us were bummed and felt defeated. We tried to come up with things to do and I tried to keep things positive but we all wanted to boat so bad! After a while, Chad called his parents to chat with them and tell them what happened. Evelyn later told us that she prayed for as after we got off the phone. On a whim, she text Mason and asked if they were available to help us at all. Because we have AWESOME nephews, they dropped what they were doing and came to our rescue! They let us borrow their truck and we were in the water within the hour!! And the saved the weekend!

This place is just so beautiful with all the trees and we love the beach and the water. The kids love to ride bikes all around too.

Carter was interested in learning a few cooking things at camp so Chad let him help!

We successfully hung a hammock this time and all enjoyed swinging in it. 

Once camp was set up and my feet were up with a cold drink, all was well!

Carter was a good sport and let Mollie do his ever growing hair into a pony. It didn't last long. 

Cute girls on a log.

While we were trying to make the most of our trip, we did get some beach time but it was just sort of torture watching all the boats out there!

Carter was most bummed about the boating situation and just sort of pouted on the beach. Luckily after getting him a little wet, he started to come out of it. 

But man, once we got the boat in the water, the smiles were plentiful! Look at these happy faces!

The water was so perfect and even Rylee jumped in a few times. She is gaining some confidence in the water!

More smiles!

I always tell the kids to remember their mom young and remember that I could wakeboard when I'm an old decrepit lady!

And after a full day of boating we ran into get Wendy's because it was too late to cook, we made our first ever DUTCH OVEN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE!! This has now become a staple for when we go camping. It was SOOO yummy. We had cool whip but it really needed ice cream! It was SO good but we barely put a dent in it. It made quite a bit!

And these 2 awesome guys came back the last day of camp, helped us pack up after breakfast and drove our boat home clear to Tooele so our truck wouldn't have anymore problems. We were so so grateful for their generosity and kindness. They were our vacation heroes this weekend! 

 And we are even more grateful for a caring grandma from Indiana who is close to the spirit and took it upon herself to help save our boating trip and call Mason. We have such a good family and we are so grateful for their help.

The Romper

Just because this photo needs to be in this book. Chad's romper came. Yes it has cats rolled in tacos....yes he plans to wear this along with my brothers in their rompers in Myrtle Beach. Oh Boy!

 

The 4th in the 'hood

We decided this year with all the corona and cancellations of things we would make our own fun with our neighbors! We started the morning right with LOTS of patriotism on our block. Chad went and hung flags in everyone's yards to make it feel like a special day. We got lots of love from passerby's (and a few haters) but we all thought the block looked awesome!

There was no parade or anywhere to go but the kids still got decked out in their red white and blue. 

In the early afternoon, we started setting up our yards for a BBQ, Volleyball, popcorn, fireworks, and then it was time for dinner! Hot dogs, hamburgers, and carne asada was served with so many other things! 

Chad was being called into work all day and I was really bummed out but he went in for a few hours and got home just in time for dinner and the festivities to start! Everyone was happy he showed up!

Sven may have been most happy to see Chad. He fed him a hot dog FROM HIS MOUTH! EW! Look at that awesome patriotic dog! He's so great!

It can't be a neighbor party without some shenanigans! Look at this funny picture of the kids getting ready to attack Tripp!

But then there's always payback when Kaycee has cupcakes!

These neighbors are seriously so great to us. All the kids get along and they have lots of fun playdates with all their kids. And my kids are so spoiled by them all giving them treats all the time and surprises! We sure love them. And what is even more awesome, is that we all come from many different backgrounds..religion, race, beliefs are all set aside to form a trusting friendship and feeling of community on our street. We seriously are so blessed. I honestly was worried because many of them drink and cuss more than I care for my kids to hear. But they knew my feelings before we did this and they were all so very respectful of our desires. 

And it's not the 4th with out Fruit pizza!!!!

Before it even got dark, fireworks were flying around our house. I think sales must have been up this year with all the ruined plans from covid! Our kids couldn't wait to get the fun started so we let them do a few smoke bombs to get the party started. From there we ate, played volleyball, re-enacted old history scenes, danced,had water fights,  rode bikes, ate popcorn, and just had so much fun hanging out.

Then it was finally time for fireworks! It was amazing to see the sky so lit up with all of them all around us. And all the neighbors contributed to the firework pot and so we had plenty of our own to do!

If I can't ever find my kids I go outside and find them in this exact spot, next to Alex just talking up a storm. She is BEYOND good to my kids and so kind and loving. 

We busted some glow sticks and just enjoyed the evening. 

And at the end of the night, I couldn't help but notice how bright the moon was! It was lighting up the whole sky just like the fireworks. Freedom this year has taken on a new meaning. Freedom to not wear a mask, freedom to go to church, freedom to go anywhere I want without a second thought...We are so FREE. Even with a pandemic, where things are so restricted, I still have my freedom. And I'm even more grateful for the men and women in uniform who keep my neighborhood safe and fight for our safety and freedom. We are blessed beyond measure. 

And all these guys are a huge part of those blessings. We seriously had SO much fun with all of them. So many people these days dislike their neighbors for one reason or another but not this group. We are so grateful for their kindness and the way the make us always feel included. 

They can get a little crazy sometimes though!!!!!!!

 LET FREEDOM RING!

Goodbye Rowleys!

I was so sad when Steph told me that her and her sweet family would be moving! And not just moving, but going across the country to Virginia!!!! I was her visiting teacher when they moved in and got to know her after she had her twin boys! 

So to send them off, we planned a dutch oven dinner up the canyon with some friends. We did country style ribs and raspberry cobbler with ice cream! It was SO yummy.

Mol and Bodey have been friends since day 1 too. She's just as bummed as I am they are moving. 

And these twinners! I've known Jackson and Stettson from day 1 just about. I used to help Steph with baby things alot when she was adjusting. They'd come over and I would swaddle them up and snuggle them! Jackson developed stranger danger and always took a while to warm up to me. But Stettson called me his girlfriend. He always came and snuck up to sit by me in church. I think it was just for my markers, but he was so cute to me!

And he is such a ham!

Some friends came for the dinner. Eashs, Barneys, and Fullmers all came. 

It was so hard to say goodbye on the final day! I cried and cried! She has been such a good friend to me. But I know they will move on to greater things and I look forward to their visits!!