Rasmania 101: A weekend in Flaming Gorge, a birthday party, and other summer stuff.

On the way to Flaming Gorge
Doyeon, Yuna, Ori and Hyeji. Those are kiddie cones!

Setting up camp with Effie and Dojin

For the 24th of July holiday, we spent a great weekend in Flaming Gorge. Our family is getting so big we can't fit everyone on the boat at the same time, so we decided to divide and conquer. We invited Nick and Dan and their families to join us. We'll take Adrienne and Crista and their families in a couple of weeks. We left Friday morning and stayed through Monday night.

We had a great time, and the kids were in heaven. They loved the campfire, sleeping in tents, and everything that goes along with camping in Flaming Gorge. However, some of the parents had a couple of hard nights with babies and didn't get much sleep. By the third and last night everyone slept pretty well.

Church in Dutch John is always entertaining. We got there early and got seats up front (which is a big deal when there are only about 30 of them). When Jieun took the baby out, she said there were so many people that they were even sitting on the floor. In the afternoon, Sara, Dan and Jieun took all the kids to Vernal to see some dinosaurs. Nick took a much needed nap in the tent, and Roy, Caitlyn and I napped in the trailer. Jennie joined us by dinner time on Sunday evening. She stayed behind for work, and also because she really wanted to go to Jacob's homecoming.

Monday we packed up camp before we went boating. We didn't get on the lake until nearly 11. After Nick, Dan, Crista and Jennie all wake boarded, we blew up the tube and had lunch. After a quick swim, it started raining (and hailing). We huddled in the boat and Roy drove around looking for possible breaks in the weather. It was worse by the dock, so we headed the other way. We were cold for about 30 minutes, and then the sun came out. By then most everyone had taken their boats off the water, so the lake was glassy and smooth. The kids tubed for another hour or so, then we took the boat off the lake and headed home. We didn't get home until 10:30.

This past week was fun, too. Friday night the chef from Mountain Land came and cooked a dinner for 10 in our home (a thank you for our appliance purchases). She made halibut in our steam oven, steamed it with lemon and dill and that was it. It was to die for. She also made a risotto with mushrooms and asparagus, which was as delicious as it was fattening. For dessert we had a peach and raspberry gallette (a sort of pie). We also had an appetizer and salad. It was all excellent. The best thing about the evening was that though I invited my kids, I didn't invite their children. Now, don't get me wrong, I adore my grandchildren, but it was amazing to be able to sit and visit with my kids for one evening without distractions. Sadly, I could only have 10 guests, so Jennie and Cait had to sit out. However, Caitlyn had to work, and Jennie babysat for Dan, so it all worked out.

We've celebrated a lot of birthdays this week-- My brother, Dave's on the 27th. (I called him on the 28th), and Nick's and Effie's on the 29th, and my dad's today, July 30. We were invited to Nick's and Effie's party on Saturday. It was a great afternoon with a pinata, and gifts and cake. Sara had made a delicious chocolate cake with cream cheese peanut butter frosting. I've never had anything like it (Roy and I will start our diet on Aug. 1--we need it after a summer of treats nearly every day).

1 year-old

Yuna and Ori looking at Nick's bunnies

Roy eating cake and holding Finn. We found out
Finn is allergic to bunnies :{

5 candles, 36 years old

A real bat for the pinata??? Nick didn't want anyone to get hurt
so he took the first swing and emptied out the pinata.
The kids all wanted a turn to hit it anyway.

Ruby had fun with grandma and grandpa this weekend. She, Greta and Crista and Matt stayed overnight Friday so they could have dinner with us, and go to the birthday party. Grandma and grandpa had fun with Ruby and Greta, too.

Ruby loves "Sofia the First"

Tonight is quiet (we didn't have our kids for dinner because we were together yesterday and Friday). I had to make another dessert as it's our turn to provide treats for ward prayer (single's ward). I made Banana Cake with cream cheese frosting out of Charlotte's cookbook. I didn't do it, but I wondered if adding chocolate chips would add or detract.

Of course, we didn't spend any time with Elise and family this week, but we spent a little time on the phone, and she sent pictures. They finally got Max home from grandma camp (he was gone 2 weeks), and they're very happy to have him back-- Maverick was especially happy. We miss them but we're looking forward to seeing them in November when their baby girl is born.