Monday, September 28, 2009

Snake River ~~~~~~(:)-->

This past weekend we headed to Jackson Hole with 80% of the Barker Family to visit the Hyllested Family. Dave works with a guy that has been guiding and running the Snake River for the past 15 years....He says that he can even do it in the dark. So we had a unique opportunity to go for our own little 8 mile run. ( It took 2 1/2 hours ) At first the kids were all a little hesitant and I admit I was too but I am trying to be a little more adventurous, We really didn't give the kids a choice..besides he wasn't going to take us through anything too scary!! Or so we thought :)Each of the kids took turns pumping up the raft. They thought it was so cool seeing in inflate. Then they were each fitted with a life jacket. By this time they were all so excited...they kept saying when are we going to go?
While waiting for the raft to cool down and for Andrea, Dave and Krista to get back from parking the cars at the end of where were going to be getting out of the kids played in the river and played try to sink the pine cone or knock the rock tower over. Both were clever ideas and helped with the time to go by.

After one last adjustment to our life jackets and some rules on this is what you do if this happens oh and a few posses for the camera, we jumped on in the raft and started to row like a team.
The weather and scenery were beautiful. The wind stopped a while later but the water wasn't really cold until just before we were done. The kids were enjoying it until they all got splashed. Poor little Wyatt puked off the side of the raft and we had a few bawl-babies and all the while the adults laughed and laughed ( I might of even peed a little ). I know the Adults had a good time at the expense of the kids getting drenched. I know the guide had it out for me, I should of never said that I didn't want to get my hair wet!! It seemed that every little white water part was intended for me :) My butt is still a little sore from sitting too long and I know Andrea's cheeks were sore from smiling and laughing too much. I just can't get over how much fun it was!!!

This is a trip that will be noted as one of the best. Next time I will leave the kids home. They were pretty good for the most part. It is always hard to be couped up in a car for 7 hours but over all really good sports. I just know that I can party harder with out them. Thanks again to Andrea for being so good to us and for Krista and Dave having such nice accommodations and great entertainment. I can't wait to go again!!


American National Jiu Jitsu 2009

It barely even looks like Jason...He needs to eat something!!!
While I was off in Jackson Hole with the kids and the Barker's, Jason drove down to Vegas to be in the American National Jiu Jitsu 2009 No-Gi Championship ( say that 3 times fast!! ) with his Brother Jake and a friend Paul from class. He didn't have any one else sign up in his division so he automatically won Gold but he did compete in the open division and STILL took Gold. Too bad I missed but at least he had some support. I am so proud of him and the kids couldn't wait to get home to see his Gold medals. Woo hoo, way to go JASON!!!
His next one is in November out in California and it will be for the Worlds Championship....Can't wait!!

Sunday, September 27, 2009

My favorite time of year!!!


My favorite time of year is...the State Fair!!! I love it!! It means that Fall is right around the corner....which then means Halloween is coming...which means it will be jacket weather soon!!
For Jason is means that Christmas and SNOW is around the corner..yuck! I don't though..we still have several days until then.
Our first attempt of attending the fair, we got rained out. We were going to go when KSL had their Family appreciation night...but NO! At least we made it even though it was a couple of days later. We went with my Mom, Tami & Paiton. We later met up with some friends and closed the place down. The night went by really fast but I am so glad we made it.
The last couple of years the baby pigs haven't been so baby, but they are still cute to look at. This one below had to be the Daddy. I have never seen a hog so big in my life!!! Just after I took this picture he plopped himself on to the ground and layed across the entire cage he was in. The picture just doesn't make him look as big as he really was!!

Tyler's face when ever he go too close to the animals..well if they came out at him. Yes, we did it on purpose just to get this reaction out of him.

It was funny watching the little goats play. I was getting a head ache just watching them bash each other.....OUCH!!
I was surprised that Tyler didn't get scared when I put him on the pony, I thought that he would reach out to me and want to get off as soon as he was placed on one. The only reason( okay two, he is too little to ride one without some one standing next to him ) I stood beside him was to make sure he would stay on since he did rock back and forth saying wee and yeehaw.


The kids love doing the Little hands on the farm. We have to go do this activity first. I am hoping that one day when I finally get around to having a garden that they will be just as anxious to help out with that as they like to do this.
I already can't wait for next year's State Fair!!!