Camping Weekend

This weekend we enjoyed camping and boating with our friends. It was a blast! Thanks to my BIL for letting us borrow the boat.

Here is the boat. The graphics are my BIL's idea - we got many compliments on it... mostly from teenage boys.

Here is fancy Nancy.

Even Dixie found some courage and peaked out.

Matthew and Nancy.

Love this picture of Syd.

I think this has to be my favorite picture from the trip. As you all know it takes Dixie a little to warm up to people. She finally warmed up to Matthew on the last day.

Our hunky hubbies.

Dixie hanging out with her new friend.

We found this white thing in the boat. We thought it was a tube, so Nancy and Matthew blew it up with the air out of their own lungs. Then we realized it was not indeed a tube but a large ball.

Dixie hated the fire so she preferred to be in the tent, however, she liked to see us. As soon as I opened the screen she was content.

Nancy's delicious dessert the Bella Donna. We made homemade ice cream to go along with it - divine.

It was a terrific weekend. I was a little nervous about the weather and being that far north, but it was beautiful. The lake was still chilly, but we all jumped in. What a great way to relax and enjoy the great outdoors.

Proof

Proof, that she isn't always a nut case. And really can be sweet around new people, and not just any new people... kids. She had her moments don't get me wrong, but the majority of the time she did wonderful, and even during her "moments" they were not bad. I have to give major props to the kids, they were great with - and only one of them had a dog! However, she still didn't seem to catch on to the concept that when she acted like a nut case she did not receive they thing she desired most... attention. We're working on that.

And this cutie, well we can just say she is one of my future babysitters (we are lucky to have a great selection in this area). She loved Dixie and Dixie loved her. She even had the ability to calm Dixie down when she got anxious and a little flustered by the quick movements of the other kids. Amazing.

The B Team Celebrations

If anyone knows Brad they know this, the man LOVES candy. So this is one of the birthday "cakes" I made for him.

Even the dogs got in on the festivities.

The real cake

What is wrong with me???

I usually hate jell-o, hate it. The texture of jiggly food is one I don't care for. But I've turned into a jell-o fiend. My personal favorite is to make lime jell-o but instead of using 2 cups of water to mix in I do 2 cups of pear juice, then add cool whip on top.

I think this means I've lived in Utah for too long.

(For those of you who don't get that, like my Eastern friends and family, jell-o is a stapled food here. For example, at a BBQ everyone brings some sort of pasta salad - well, here people usually bring a jell-o salad).

I want to be here!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

I'm a complete fanatical nerd when it comes to Potter. And I really should not admit this but I am - there is something about the thought of being able to see a real live version of Hogwartz that makes me absolutely giddy inside. I want to go [sigh].

There is Beauty All Around

We have had some very odd weather this spring - odd even for this area. It has been rainy and cool. It will go from 80 degrees and sunny one morning and by the afternoon it's down to 70 gray and windy. However, something remarkable has occurred due to such finicky weather...

it's green.

I have never seen this place so green. And it's beautiful.

So we have been enjoying the great outdoors even more so.

The day we hiked this trail it was hot - very hot. Especially on the ground where the sun had been beating down all day - but our little troopers are amazing. Sydney's paws were getting to her though. I'm beginning to think we may need to get her some doggie shoes.

I'm not sure if this picture can truly make you appreciate this obstacle we crossed. Due to the all of a sudden hot weather, the spring run off came all at once and very quickly. Here is a stream we came across with a very fast current. The rock was about 4 feet away from the log - you can image the plan we devised to get us and two dogs across. But B was amazing, as always, and we did it.

It was so hot especially on the ground. If you look closely you will see the spot Dixie chose to lay in - mud.

And here we are at the top.

Picture This:

Yeah, this is how my morning started - not even a mile out of my drive way!

Here is the step by step scenario:
1: Pulled out of drive way at the crack of dawn (okay not really but you get the picture)
2. Exiting neighborhood - did a rolling stop at the stop sign.
3. I saw the cop.
4. I knew what he was there for I pulled over before he even put his lights on, however, he still proceeded to turn on his lights so I could be fully embarrassed (really, he was a nice guy pretty sure the lights thing is protocol - it still sucked).
5. I have my license, registration AND insurance by the time he gets to my window.
6. Takes the info and goes back to car
7. Comes back and starts filling out a ticket!! A ticket!! I was shocked. I thought he would just give me a warning!

Best part: I actually talked him out of it!!! I didn't think it was possible. I feel victorious.

Or maybe he was NOT planning on giving me a ticket all along and just wanted to see my reaction or make me feel good about myself, no?

Whatever the reason, thank you Mr. Officer for being kind.

Conspiracy Theory

We Went on Holiday

"On holiday" as they say in St. Lucia. It was beautiful, it was relaxing, it was remote (the Internet and phone connections were hard to come by) and it was much needed. The people of St. Lucia were kind and genuine - something I could get used to.

Here is the view from our balcony

We went on a dolphin and whale watching cruise. This is our crew. The captain, Captain Jack, would look out the whole and steer the boat with his feet.

P.S. Brad's shirt says, "For a minute there you bored me to death." Captures Brad pretty well, huh? Yeah, that's why I bought it.

This is Brad with our new 5 year old friend from Dartmouth, UK. There is nothing more entertaining then a talkative 5 year old British girl. She sat right next to Brad and just chatted away. To be honest, she had us at: "You mean a submarine?" (But think of a little girl with a British accent saying that). We saw one whale and it dove down so Brad mentioned isn't there a boat that can dive down after it (joking of course) and she replied, "You mean a submarine?" And then if we already didn't find her cute enough, she one upped her cuteness when she used British sayings such as "rubbish". She said to me, "My mom told me there would be balls here" -I could not understand her word for balls. I kept asking her to repeat it until exasperated she said, "BALLS - You know music, dancing, frilly dresses. But it was all rubbish there aren't any balls here." Anyway, she was one of the highlights of our trip. I could have packed her up and brought her home, but her mom said no - I can't blame her really.

Us at the Diamond Falls. These are the falls in the Superman 2 Movie when Super Man flies down the waterfall to collect a flower for Louis Lane. I've never seen the movie but I heard this a million times on our trip. Now, I will have to watch it. Also I learned all about Jake on the bachelor and the episode in St. Lucia - the first time was one too many.

This was my view when I would lounge by the pool with my Pina Colada (virgin).

They had a cotton candy machine.

We stayed at in All-inclusive resort and I LOVED it. Really, it was the way to go - we were spoiled.

Their version of Home Depot.

Anyway, it was fabulous. Just fabulous.