June - Parade of Homes and Lagoon

Jason was very busy with work in June. He was working long days. It’s a blessing and a curse. We are glad that business has been going well.

The boys and I visited our first splash pad of the season. We went to the one in Highland with Kylie and her girls. Charlie was very apprehensive about getting in the water. I guess we are back to square one.

Remember that crazy waxing experience from a couple months ago? Well, I was crazy enough to try again. This time I went to a girl who owns her own shop and specializes in those kinds of waxes. She came highly recommended by my friend, Amy. Boy, I am so glad I did! She is amazing! She works in Pleasant Grove, she is greatly priced, and she is so fast! You would be crazy not to go to her if you live in the area. I love her!

We really enjoyed doing the Utah Valley Parade of Homes this year. Jason had two homes that he did shower doors for, one in Lehi and one in Spanish Fork. Any evening we got, we were off touring the homes. Sadly, that was only like three nights worth, but we really made good use of our time and visited as many as we could. (Charlie shocked us and did great with the little booties we had to wear, unlike the Payson Temple experience.) There were some gorgeous homes with lots of fun and unique things. Some day we will have a house like one of those, right? Jason’s showers looked amazing! It was so fun to see some of his work in person.

The Lehi House for the Erskins

The house in Spanish Fork

The two houses we absolutely loved this year were in Mapleton and Highland. This picture of me at the Mapleton house pretty much sums up my wonder, awe, and appreciation:

June is the month of birthdays for our families. For Kim’s birthday, everyone surprised her and showed up in Draper for dinner. It was also the exact day that Kyle (Kim’s high school boyfriend) got home from his mission. It was cool to be able to see him for a minute. For Mom’s birthday, the plan was to have a picnic up the canyon. We picked up Subway on our way up, but just moments after sitting on the park bench, it started raining...and hard. We sat it out for a bit and finished our sandwiches, but we could tell it wasn’t going to let up anytime soon. We were also getting pretty cold. We decided to take the party to our place. We had cookies and played Catch Phrase. For Elsa’s birthday, we had dinner at the Riverton Grubers. Charlie was climbing up the ladder on their playset and sliding down the slide all on his own. That was a first! We were all shocked, impressed, and slightly nervous! But he kept doing it again and again. He loved it!

Charlie and Alex looking like twinners with their buzzed hair

The Wingers moved back to California. We are so sad! It all happened so fast, so we didn’t even get to have a farewell date night, but I did take their kids for a few hours so they could pack or do whatever they needed to get done (it actually ended up being Kaari’s birthday, so I was glad I could help). That proved to be so much more difficult than I anticipated. With four small kids ages two and under, I went to the park. Ten minutes or so after arriving, it started to rain! It was madness trying to huddle them in under a pavilion and keep them there. Once I realized it wasn’t going to let up, we marched through the rain back to the car. I looked like a camel: Colson in the body wrap, Boston on my hip, Georgia holding my hand, and Charlie holding her hand. It was stressful. Since we were up in Draper, we took the party over to my parents house. Thankfully, my mom and Bryan were there to help and entertain the kids. Four small kids is definitely hard work!

Boston

Charlie and Georgia

Jason’s cousin, Spencer, came into town. He works for Disney as an Imagineer (what a dream job, right?) and so he gets paid to visit other parks to research and get ideas on new rides. Lagoon was opening a new ride called the Cannibal that he wanted to check out, so he flew in from California and invited us to come along. Jason and I were really excited to go. We love amusement parks. Spencer arrived Friday evening, and that night we celebrated Karl’s birthday with a BBQ. The next day was our Lagoon Day. My parents watched the boys, and Spencer, Karl, Jason and I spent the whole day at Lagoon. We had a blast! It was great weather and not too overly crowded. We were able to ride every ride we wanted (even the Samurai was open...which is a miracle. That ride hasn’t been open when I have been there for ten years or so), EXCEPT for the Cannibal! You would think with all their advertising for it, it would be open! We were quite disappointed, but we still made the best of it and enjoyed the day. Spencer was a good sport and found ways to compliment Lagoon, even though he is used to much bigger and better rides and parks.

They had a personalized Coke stand...pretty cool...and free!

Why is it so hard for strangers to take a clear picture!?!

Such a fun and exhausting day!

Pics from Elsa's birthday:

Twinner buzz cuts

Another fun day at Grandma and Grandpa Grubers:

While Jason Was Gone

While Jason was away, I was home with the boys. This was my first weekend completely alone with two kids. I have done a night here and there, but to go several days alone slightly stressed me. I tried to think of fun things to do to fill the time (like I did when it was just Charlie and I), but things are a lot more complicated with two in tow.

The day before Jason left, Colson had been gagging on a blade of grass. I tried to scoop it out with my finger, but couldn’t get it. The next day, I found a blade of grass in his orange, poopy diaper. It was hilarious!

That night, Camry came over. We went through the drive thru at Sweeto Burrito for dinner. It was a first for both of us and we both thought it was really good. While I put the boys to bed, Camry started watching The Proposal. Amy Stallings also came over. It was quite the fun girls night! We picked up some ice cream and finished the movie. Kim also stopped by for a minute. Very fun!

On Friday, we went to visit Aunt Erin. We watched The DUFF and visited. Charlie loved playing with the dogs, as usual.

Throughout the weekend, we took several walks up the canyon. We explored several of the parks at the opening of the canyon.

I definitely kept myself busy. Each night, after putting the boys to bed, I would rush to work on several projects. I was planting more flowers, cleaning the new car, cleaning the car mats on the old car to get ready to sell, sanding and priming an old black bookcase from Ikea to transform into a window seat/bench, spray painting curtain holders, and the list goes on. I was busy, busy! But it felt great!

before

middle

after

another look at the flowers under the bay windows

black ikea book case: before

painted white: after many coats of primer and paint

several weeks later (mid June) I finally chose the fabric and put the seat part together

with cubbies from Target...they fit perfectly!

With the light coming from behind the window, it is hard to give the color of the seat justice. It was way harder and took way longer than I intended, but I am happy with the result!

On Saturday, I visited my parents in the morning/early afternoon. The plan was to hit up a LulaRoe party that my friend, Amy, was hosting, but that ended up being canceled. It was a good excuse though to head up that way and visit the family. That night, I took the boys on another canyon walk.

Jason arrived home on Sunday, and then we headed to a birthday dinner for George. It was a fun celebration, and it was so great to have the husband home safe and sound with some fun stories! We sure do miss him when he is gone!

Jason's Boulder Trip

(written by Jason)

It was time for the annual Boulder trip, and this time we actually wanted to make it to the Boulders - rather than get stuck at the bottom of the trail.  We planned accordingly, and thanks to Parker's new truck, we wouldn't have a problem getting up the trail.  We planned it around the same time we had been up there two years previously.  

Parker, Trevor and I headed up Wednesday after work, and T's dad and brother were going to join us Thursday night.  The drive down there is always fun with all the anticipation of the promising fishing for the next few days.  When we got to the trail head I was a little nervous as last time the vehicle we were in couldn't make it up the trail - and the trail is VERY rocky and VERY steep in sections!  By the time we got to the top of the mountain (about an hour or so drive up the rocky trail), it was dark.  We were grateful to get the camping spot that we wanted - right next to Beaver Dam Lake.  It is basically the only camping spot that is right next to that particular lake, so it offers a little exclusion, and it offers a perfect set up. 

We set up camp, rummaged for some dry wood and started a fire.  There was still a 1.5 foot deep snow drift next to camp, but within the few days of us being there it would almost disappear. 

The plan was to fish at Beaver Dam the next morning.  We woke up, after a good nights rest, and began fishing pretty early - although not as early as I would have preferred.  We had to get our rods set up as well as our float tubes, and not before too long we were kicking our way towards the middle of the lake.  Only twenty yards off shore I spotted a fish as I was kicking. It was about 3 feet deep - I cast to it and BAM - first fish of the trip.  It was a brookie with a crazy looking head.  Let the fishing begin!  We had a great first day and caught a lot of fish and some good sized ones - We mainly caught splake and brooke trout, with some cutthroat in between.  Shockingly - the green and brown damsel with a very slow retrieve was the money maker - the fish couldn't get enough.  Oh, and I forgot to mention it was a little chilly and rain clouds would come in fast and leave fast - but we were properly prepared. We stayed out on Beaver Dam most of the morning and early afternoon, and then went in for a late lunch.  After lunch we headed up towards Fish Creek Lake - generally my favorite lake of the area.  We quickly discovered the fishing was not like it was two years ago.  We could not get in to the fish!  It was very frustrating and we caught a couple very small fish.  Discouraged, we packed up and head back down to camp after a few hours.  

Trevor's dad and brother would be joining us sometime later that night.  Around 10 or so they finally showed up, and T had already given up on them, thinking something happened and they wouldn't be making it up there (obviously, there is no cell service).  They showed up and got there camp stuff ready, while Parker and I enjoyed some sloppy joe's (we were in charge of our food, and the Cook's were doing their own thing with meals). Parker tied up some more damsel flies to be sure we had plenty for the next day. 

Friday, we decided to fish Beaver Dam, as it was producing well the day before.  We did great again!  Generally I prefer fishing on rivers over lakes, but the Boulders is a special exception.  Being on small, high elevation lakes in the middle of no where with absolutely amazing surroundings is hard to beat.  It is fun to be in the middle of the lake on a float tube just cruising around "trolling" for fat brooke trout.  For lunch, we had the typical bratwursts.  Well, the Cooks also had some brats, but they were jalapeno and cheddar filled brats - but it didn't end there.  With their brats they put cut up jalapenos AND jalapeno mustard!  I was in awe and shock, and thought so much jalapenos was a dangerous craving up in the woods without any proper indoor plumbing.  Oh, and I shouldn't forget that soon after that, they pulled out jalapeno and cheddar popcorn! WOW!

We decided to head up to Fish Creek again with T's dad and brother to give it another shot.  Long story short, his dad and brother killed by dragging a black caddis - we couldn't believe it!  Parker and I got skunked!  We went back out at Beaver Dam and killed again later that night. 

Saturday - The Cooks decided to head up to Blind Lake - the biggest natural lake on the Boulder Mountains.  Parker and I decided to hit up Pear Lake, which is right below Blind.  You have to hike up to both lakes, but the hike is only around 40 to 60 minutes.  I had never fished Pear, so I was up for the challenge and supposedly it has Grayling fish - a species I've never caught.  We got up to the lake, and within a few minutes saw fish rising.  Parker and I quickly set up our rigs appropriately and started catching Grayling - and boy did we catch Grayling.  I had the hope of just catching one - yet I had landed five within the first 20 minutes.  It wasn't too long before I had landed 20 Grayling. This was some of the fastest fishing I have ever had!

We headed back to camp - it was now early afternoon, and it began to rain and didn't stop for two hours.  Parker and I decided to relax in the truck and wait until the rain stopped.  The Cooks finally returned from their longer trek. They said they had a great time fishing up at Blind Lake (my previous experience up there was very slow).  They all caught a lot, and some good ones too.  They were eager to hear how our quest for Grayling went, and couldn't believe how quick the fishing was for us!  

Not wanting to waste any of my precious fishing time, I quickly got back in my float tube and kicked out.  Cooks were exhausted from their longer hike and settled in for an early dinner and relaxing evening.  Parker quickly joined me out on the Lake, and we continued to have great success - after all it was our last evening of fishing.  For dinner, we had some good steaks and potatoes!

Overall, the trip went really well, and we caught a good amount of fish with some pretty ones as well. We had good food and good company.  We had a fun last night, and T's dad had lots of fun fishing stories!  We were glad they could join us. Sunday morning we had breakfast and packed up everything.  It was a great trip, but an exhausting ride home!  The Boulders is always such an amazing place to go fishing and enjoy nature.