GOOD or BAD you decide

So for the 4th of July this year we went camping. (I know most of you are suprised, we went camping.)

We went up to Springville Crossing's. Somewhere up between Diamond Fork and Springville.

Since we got up early Fri morning and went up. I know early for me is like 8 but I did it. We got up to the campground and set up everything. Then I had a brilliant idea. Let's hike to the Utah's valley's famous hot pots........

These are known for the gay and lesbian hang out. I know I am telling you brillant idea right?


Well I was thinking that if we went up early in the day we wouldn't see any naked people or gay and lesbians hanging out. Well 2 out of 3 isnt bad right.


No gay and lesbians just one naked man. Who was kind enough to "tuck it" when we went by.



This is the beginning of the trip when the kids still liked me. Yes we have an extra its Camden Jake and Teresa's little girl.

Right as we where leaving the camp to go hike. They really liked me here.

Kelty trying to stick her head out of the water fall. It was to cold for her. But she did more than me so hey she is one trooper of a kid.

Since we where camping with Joel and Brenda. Gene's aunt and uncle we made them go on the hike with us.

For the record they didn't really like me at this point. We are at the hot pots.

Gene and James soaking thier feet in the stream when we got back from the hike. It is about 3miles give or take each way.

Joel back at camp trying to decide if he likes me anymore.

So here is the bad part of the story. Sorry no pictures to go with this part of the story.
On the way up we passed a family and James is ahead talking to a kid. Pretty soon I hear him yell something cant tell what it is. I mumble my response and keep going. Then the kid James was talking to passes me. I scream and yell for Gene who is about 20 yards away from me. The kid that James is talking to has a freaking snake wrapped around his arms. I panic turn my head and the kid and his mom and dad make him hurry down the hill and get it away from me. Nice parents.
I am like ok we saw our one snake we are good. Just to be sure I make Gene go ahead of me and Joel goes behind the group. See my logic protector in front and one in back. Pretty soon Gene says stay where you are. I do but James goes up to see what is going on. The stupid thing hisses at Gene and scares James. So Joel goes up to see if he can help Gene out. Next thing I know is I see Joel flick a snake into the river. So I am like ok we are good. Oh no Gene is like stay thier. Pretty soon another one goes flying into the river. Its safe you can come up know.

So we pass the snake area. We get to the hot pots and start playing and having fun. Just for the record we are up to 3 snakes in like 10 min on the trip.
Pretty soon Joel says to brenda lets go sit over their in the shade. He walks through the water and comes right back never mind he says.
Another snake but this one is dead but this is the girl who doesnt care if its dead or not.
So 4 is the total. I get Jesse and Cam playing in the warmer water and go take pictures of kelty and Gene. Joel and brenda are watching the little kids.
Pretty soon Brenda sees Joel get up just slow like no big deal picks up a stick and flicks another one down the river.
5 is know the total. By this time Brenda and I are trying to grab the kids and get them out of here we are done. Just one snake to many. So as I am trying to get the kids dressed and shoes on and stuff. James again says mom don't look, seriously why do they tell me that. So I look. Not 10 feet from is another stupid snake. I am freaking out. Just get me of this stupid mountain what a dumb idea this was.
Some girl hears me scream comes and picks up the snake and moves it down the trail. The trail mind you is right where I have to walk. I am like oh my gosh.
So again I pull out my protectors Gene in front Joel in back. We get passed this snake and head down. So the count is 6 snakes.
We get about half way down and Gene says stop. @^%&$@^(@*$*#$&($(*$^($^($&0.
You can only wonder what came out of my mouth at this point. This time though it was just a water snake and only like 6inches long. I dont care if it was as long as a nite crawler I HATE SNAKES. No matter how big or small they are.

So Here I am trying to create fun memories for my family and do something besides ride 4 wheelers and all I proceeding in doing is now terrifing my 3 kids of snakes and my poor neice.

Thier is more to this story but I will have to add it later since I have already writtten about the first 4 chapter of a book.






In this picture is David Cope, Ray Cope, Gene Cope, Kelty Cope. How many people can say thier 86 year old grandpa rode a 4-wheeler on a 20 mile ride.












If you make it this far in my writing. This is one awesome picture. It is a 4 generation Picture on top of Strawberry ridge.
Grandma Na, Papa Ray, David and Janet rode up to our camp on sat and they talked grandpa into going on a ride.

Gene sticking his head out from behind the waterfall. He said it is awesome. I am a wuss. I like the heated water of 7peaks. Or the hot water at the hot pots.

Kelty and Cam in some of the colder water up thier. Trying to be brave and get in the cold water.

Happy Birthday

Yesterday was Gene's birthday. So I went and bought the stuff you write on windows with and took the kids and we went and decorated his truck. The kids loved it. If you know me you know I can't stand a surprise. Well this time it worked out for the best for me.

After we got done decorating it. I went and got a Coke. But then I couldn't handle it. So I called Gene and just said "come out side." He was like whats wrong? I said nothing just come outside.

So when he walked out he saw this.....

He just started to laugh. I say it was a good thing we called him cause it down poured at about 11:50. By the time he got outside to his truck he said it was all washed of. Just some white marks here and thier.

The 29+6 is because he says he is only 29 years old. He says he never hit 30. So anytime one of the kids ask him how old he is he always says 29.

Tonight was also the Open House for the new Fire Station up town. So after dinner we went up to help with that. It was fun. This year we all got new shirts so I had to have our picture taken in front of a fire truck right?

The drive home.

This is what happens when you spent the last 5 days with friends.

You crash big time. This ride home was defiantly much calmer than the ride to Roosevelt. This time we only had 3 kids not 5 and Gene had some much needed rest.

Kelty never crashed but when your brothers are asleep their is not much to do. So the 2 hour ride home was pretty quiet.

Gene just driving, I think I need to hire me a driver. Since in all my post this is what Gene is mainly doing.

The drive home was made so much better by having these along for the ride.

So just to get things straight on this drive we had 3 very tired kids, 1 not sleep deprived dad, 2 very full diet Dr. Pepper/Dr. Peppers =1 very happy mom.

1 peaceful drive ahhh my life is grand.

4-Wheeling with the Rohrer's

This is what our day started out like on sat. So beautiful, so much better than yesterday since Gene was able to get a good uninterrupted nights sleep.

Eating lunch before the ride. Oh yeah and pounding down the Diet Coke/Dr.Pepper.

We rode in this beautiful country. Not really sure where we where but it was gorgeous. This is Makell and Kelty. Can really be old enough to have kids that can ride their own machines wow. What a nice phase of life.

Jesse and Raegan just waiting for the riding to begin.

James and Easton riding around waiting for us to get everything ready. They are on their own machines to just smaller ones.

This is what it looked like when we ended the ride. All in all this was a good day. Not to hot not to cold. The rain seriously came as soon as we got in the truck it started to down pour.

Fun times with the Rohrers

So this past weekend was Art City Days. I love Art City Days, Gene hates it. So for the last 12 years of marriage he has been trying to get me to leave town for Art City Days. This year I take him up on his offer. I had my friends kids from wed to fri. Makell and Easton, then on Fri when Gene got of work the plan was for us to take the kids back to Roosevelt with 4-wheelers so we could ride. Well the plan didn't include a fire at 2:30 in the morning. Not at my house. When you are married to a fireman this is what happens. So Gene started his Fri at 2:30 a.m. By the time 6ish rolls around to go he is wiped out. But because we are taking 4-wheelers with us he wont let me drive.

So we have 5 kids in the truck with Gene and I. So for those of you keeping count we have 7 people in a 6 person truck. 2 extremely giggly girls, 2 hyper boys, I 3 year old who wants to be in the back. With all the kids. 1 extremely ornery Dad, 1 mom who is trying to please everyone.

This picture doesn't even do it justice to how loud it was in here. Not to mention how stinky. Not sure what I fed these kids but man for 2 hours they stunk

Easton and Makell. Not sure why my pictures are so blurry?

Can you see how happy Jesse is. Can you see how happy Gene is?

Then to top it all of. We got behind this truck in a no passing zone. This was almost Gene deal breaker when we got behind this truck. He nearly lost it.

I know it blurry but that is 20 mph we where going. Gene was getting ticked. I was laughing cause this is how my life goes. Thankfully we where able to pass this truck after about 5 miles. But it was 5 long miles for me. Thinking my husband was going to blow his cork.

We had to have 3 bathroom stops on the way up. Thankfully it was the boys who needed to go so we just pulled over to the side of the road.

Just another picture of the craziness that was going on in the back of the truck.

SUNDAY FAMILY FUN

So tonight for a little fun we rode our bikes to Gene's Grandma Na's. This is about 1.3 miles from our house. Not that far really unless you are a 3 year old just learning how to ride a bike. With training wheels. Jesse did so good. A little slow and scary at some points, ie riding in the road, cutting in front of a car. You know just the usual stuff for Jesse.

I did pull the empty stroller in case he couldn't make it, who was I kidding this is Jesse we are talking about. No is not an option with this kid.

Us in front of Grandma Na's. James was pouting so he is not in the picture.

Notice the only one with a helmet on?????

Jesse did this himself. He wanted it on, at one point he took it of and then went about 20 feet and we had to stop again so he could put it back on.

Such a good kid. Such a bad mom for not making my other 2 kids wear theirs.

(I don't think Kelty even has a helmet.)

Ok now that my hand hurts cause I just slapped it.

James just loving life.

Kelty yelling at me cause I was using her camera and she didn't want me to drop it.

Who does she think I am????

(I put spazzy Camille away for today, I think.)

Gene and Jesse, aren't they cute. Sorry the pictures are blurry but I was trying to ride and take pictures at the same time. I know, I know I have you all impressed now huh!

Jesse, Gene, Kelty and way up their is James. So fun!

I am sad and happy at the same time.

The other day at 7-peaks I got to hold my friend Steph's new baby (like 2 weeks old). I was thinking oh I want one of these.

Then I got to go on this awesome family bike ride with everyone on their own bikes. Who would have thought.

Just different seasons of life I know. I am glad to have these little moments when I can look back and realize that while I will never have another baby, I am enjoying these moments with my kids.

I am loving this new season for me. My kids are getting so old. This is good and bad.
I am liking the independent stage but I guess it is just the feel of being needed. Who would have thought, my kids are independent.

I loved having the newborns, the new smell new everything.

But as I write this I am realizing my kids are just in a new phase. Not newborn but new adventures await us. Who knows what they will be, good I hope. Bad we will deal with. In between ahhhhh sigh we would love but we will take whatever is thrown at us right??????

Look what I got.

So I forgot to add this picture of our last camping trip. I just came across it tonight.

So the post before this I was saying how bad it was camping. Muddy and everything but I mean really who can complain with a kitchen floor that looks like this.

Yes folks you can see that right. I had my own stone kitchen. Let me tell you this is not the fake stuff either. This is the real deal. I mean who wouldnt want to camp when you can have your very own stone kitchen. My husband is the best he takes such good care of me.