Tappana Times: Yearly Camp Out

We want to be campers so bad. But we just don't seem to be able to make it out more than once a year. And Brigham and I aren't super experienced with equipment and cooking, having left it to our superiors for so long. So we keep piggybacking off my parents and go when they go. One of these days we're going to get our crap together and go camping. A lot. Like with dutch ovens and stuff. That's terrifying. As for now, we are happy with our one camping trip of the year.

This year we left the newborn behind with Aunt Sandy - HUZZAH! Never made a better decision - and we camped at Kanaskat Palmer, which is about fifteen minutes from our house. It's the same place we've explored, hiked, and partied at, but we decided to give the campground a go this time.

Our spot was pretty good for our two tents and we quickly settled in.

Unfortunately, a fire-ban prevented us from having a TRUE camping experience and we turned in pretty early the first night because it's pretty lame to sit in the dark around a lantern in the cold. However, the second night we borrowed a propane campfire from some friends and had a moment in flames. No marshmallows and such, but still a little fire is better than no fire.

It was probably a good thing we turned in early the first night because Kendrick woke up screaming around midnight and it took me a good half hour to get him to calm down. I think he was just cold and uncomfortable and his poor, tired, two-year-old body didn't know what to do except cry out in frustration. However, you know how sound carries in a campground...

Also, Ammon woke up and really needed to go to the bathroom around three am and was scared to go by himself. So I got up and took him to the bathroom, which was not a short walk away. We taught him the convenience of being a boy the next time he found himself in the same situation.

A train passed nearby about every two hours, sounding a ghostly horn and loud clackity on the tracks walking most everyone up in. Needless to say, we were good and tired when we awoke our first full day.

Pushing our yawns away, we headed up to Mount Rainer and finally, succesfully attempted Naches Peak Loop. In past attempts, the area was still covered in snow.

We discovered why so many people love this hike as we made our way around Naches Peak. The views were gorgeous!

We could see Mount Ranier in the distance, we picked fresh Huckleberries all along the way (the only thing that kept Kendrick going), and we played with purple/bluish butterflies.

Ammon even caught a butterfly on his finger.

As you get around the loop, there are a couple of small lakes that you can explore. At the second one, we took our time with a frog Brigham caught.

We realized next time we need to do the loop in the opposite direction so that we are facing the view of Mount Rainier the whole time, instead of having it at our backs. But even with that mistake, I marveled at the nature around us. It reminded me a little bit of Glacier and I was in my happy place.

Back at camp, it was naptime, the kids did a scavenger hunt, we played scramball, hide-and-go-seek, and general camping activities that included getting nice and dirty.

Our second night went much smoother due to some bedding adjustments, and the next morning we went and checked out a different part of the river close to our campsite.

The first night we set up camp, the adults walked to the river. There we watched a baby river otter play in the rocks and water, and met a man who told us about a swimming hole if we continued down the hiking path. Our last morning we set out to find the swimming hole.

And boy were we glad we did! It was the perfect spot! You can jump in from high rocks, or wade in a shallow area that rocks/cliffs naturally separate from the river. The kids had the time of their lives exploring.

Look at those cool orange fungi growing on the log!

Brigham even stripped down to his underwear and jumped in from the rocks.

That last adventure wrapped up our morning and then we finished cleaning up camp and headed home. It was a grand camping trip. Short, sweet, and fun. Camping and hiking are my favorite. Can't wait to do it again!

Ivy and I in Utah

My sister-in-law recently had her second baby. And before she had said second baby, my brother planned a trip to Europe that had him absent when the baby was only a few weeks old. After the baby, Eloise, arrived, Kyle and Katrina realized it maybe wouldn't be such a good idea to leave Katrina alone with the baby and a toddler for an entire week.

Here Ivy and I enter.

Kyle asked if I would fly down to Utah with Ivy and help out Katrina while he was gone. Brigham and my parents agreed to cover the care of my other children while I was gone, so we were off! I've missed Katrina while we've lived states apart and looked forward to hanging out again.

It was special to be together and chatting as sisters about raising kids, cooking, and life in general. I treasured being able to help her with a high-maintenance toddler and demanding newborn. Two babies and toddler wasn't always fun, but it was entertaining for the most part. And that Amelia girl, she's special in so many ways. I love that I got to know her and love her for all her spunkiness.

I love how Amelia adored Ivy. She was a great helper.

Another benefit of a Utah visit is being able to see my other siblings who live there. They got to spend more time with Ivy too, and I just ate up the time together.

We got together for games and dinner at Cubby's.

We had an evening up the mountains together, and family dinner at Scott's house.

One of the best parts was seeing the three youngest babies together, side-by-side.

They were born weeks apart from each other and are the newest generation of Nelson offspring.

Three babies with distinct and different personalities, looks, and demeanors, and yet loved all the same. It's going to be fun to see these cousins grow up.

And that's basically our time in Utah. Katrina and I cooked together, worked out together, and passed babies around together. I worked on church lessons and strolled through the BYU bookstore in my downtime. We ate lots of ice cream as a family, played games, and laughed - the things we do best.

I was sad to leave the fun and family in Utah, but excited to get home to my other kiddos and get off an air mattress and back to my bed.

Tappana Times: Grandma Turns 90

This year my grandma turns ninety years old! Her birthday is actually in October, but we had a big family birthday party for her in August. People flew or drove in from all over the country to celebrate the life of this wonderful woman.

It was a gorgeous, sunny day in Washington, and people started to arrive at Kanaskat Palmer where we had a reserved pavilion to eat and play and talk together.

First we had family updates from all of my Grandmother's children. We talked over some family history and I was able to read a speech for my grandma where she gave some advice and thanked everyone for coming.

Next, we ate, chatted, and painted rocks to give to Grandma to look at and remember us by.

The area was a gorgeous state park where we were able to play in the river and explore the beautiful surrounding nature.

The kids loved playing frisbee and games with cousins and second cousins who they hadn't hardly seen or even met before.

My favorite part was wheeling Grandma around to talk to different family members. Grandma has been a widow for forty years and all of her posterity tried to make it to celebrate with the matriarch of this wonderful family. We had a five generation picture taken that I don't have, but seeing Grandma with her first great-great-grandchild was awesome.

I'm blessed to have lived with or close by Grandma for most of my life. She truly is a second mom to me and I find her ninety years truly inspiring. Grandma leads a life that is full of generosity, love, faith, and family. And she's pretty much my favorite.

We were worried that all of the action of the day would wear her out and that it would take a couple weeks for her to recover, but instead she felt rejuvenated from all of the family and love. I'm missing many of the videos and pictures taken this day, but to sum it all up, it was touching.

Grandma, I love you. You are amazing and wonderful and it is truly my pleasure to serve you. Happy Birthday!