Old MacDonald had a CAMPGROUND!

Warning: Picture overload!

~What a WEEKEND~

It was my little Brothers Birthday last week, and he has been DYING for a German Shepard, so my parents surprised him by saying "yes you can own a dog at my house... and we will buy it for you for your Birthday!"

He is now the proud owner of Zeus... half German Shepard half Husky.

Me, Myself and I are not dog fans... but he is really cute.

Old MacDonald had a farm

Ei Ei EI OOOO

and on that farm he had a

OH NEVER MIND

So we drove up to spend the weekend with Karla and Cyril at Old MacDonald's Campground. It is 450 km away... after 5 hours in the car A was really really done!

As we got there we realized A had soaked all the way through and K had a major accident 25 min from OMC. So you cant tell in this photo, but hopefully Karla will email the one she shot... but she is wearing just coveralls and a jacket. It was so funny she looked like quite the hillbilly!


We arrived at the campground at 7:30ish and the girls were so excited to be out we just spend the next couple of hours walking around the site.

The girls did not get to bed till 10:30pm!

That's right folks.... I let my children MISS bedtime.

For those of you who know me this is a big huge deal!

Unfortunately this made no difference to wake up time!

No time like 7:00am to wake up and do hair!

Start off the morning with a little Baseball!

K and H played together so well this weekend.. only a few minor arguments.

That first day, Saturday was spent at the beach. We found out that A does not enjoy the feeling of sand on her feet. For the first 45 mins she walked around like a prissy... it was rather cute.

And of course beaching includes snacks... sandy snacks but snacks nonetheless.

Karla and I got to talking... and 2 years ago when we just had K I would have gone back to the tent and put her down for a nap. Now with my second child... if she cant sleep on the beach.... I will force her to sleep on the the beach!

M (10) and J (8) were so good to my girls.

They spend the day playing with her.. they even made her a mermaid!

Although to do so a big bag of chips was sacrificed to keep her still!

Justin spent the day making a boat with M.

That night after a delightful dinner out of the sun we tramped around doing the other fun things OMC had to offer.

Like the Merry go Round. Where you try and toss your shoes into a box to win another round!

We also played at the park and toured the other camp sites available.

This family picture is funny because look at my sunglasses line!!

HA HA HA

Half my face is tanned... and other half well... is not! LOL

Sunday morning we took it easy and just hung around the campsite till 10:00.....

Then it was off to catch the TRAIN!!

And off to the Petting Zoo!

With a Donkey, Pigs, Chickens, Heifer, sheep and even Goats.

On the way home Sunday afternoon we stopped and saw Sherilyn and Jay who recently got back from Victoria! It was nice to get out of the van for a bit and visit!

We then stopped in High River for dinner and Ice cream cake....

K LOVED it... but A preferred...

PEAS?!?!?!

It was a fun weekend... and we only drove 950 KM!!!

Well Loved!

Happy Birthday James!

We got to attend James 7th Birthday Party as a family tonight!

We had a fun times swimming at the Raymond Pool first and then a winer roast!

Thanks for the fun times.... and I think James was super well loved!

Starting Chirstmas!

Looking forward to a homemade Christmas this year!

I started today with ordering fabric for some play mattes.

Boy Version

When we draw names this might be a gift or I might just keep it for a few years!

Girl Version.

I will gift it with some pony's and possibly some princess figurines.

Do you think K will like it?

Bubbles

Baking cookies with 12 children.... well its kinda hard.

The dough part was easy, they were all outside.

Then they came inside.

So I pulled out my secret weapon....

BUBBLES!

THUNDER

Thunder in the Valley... was fantastic.

The girls and I traveled up on Friday afternoon to Blairmore (aka Billings) to spend the weekend with lots of Martins at Thunder in the Valley. We drove up with Scott and Taralyn and had a rather nice drive with sleeping children.

We arrived late Friday afternoon and spent a couple hours negotiating with the camp ground officials... or whatever they themselves. Have you ever camped for Thunder in the Valley? Well the campground is NOT a campground... a field. RIGHT BESIDE the train. It drives pretty much in between trailers. K was terrified every time it went by. Which was a good thing I guess!
Saturday was a LARGE Breakfast (like only the Martins can do), a parade with ridiculous amounts of candy, walking the show and shine, playing games, and to finish off the spectacular fireworks. Pretty much a mini family reunion!

K and A watched the parade with no other little children around and as a result got showered (literally) with candy.

A was so cute, she would run to pick up candy and then more would get thrown. So she would drop the candy she was holding to try and pick up more! It was so cute, then she got so overwhelmed she threw a fit because she couldn't pick it all up. LOL What a character.

It was K and A first time camping as well. And it proved to be a challenge to get them to sleep. Grandma has the touch of sleep, Friday they were up till 10:00pm which is ludicrous for my children and only went to sleep with Grandma.

Daddy was sure delighted with the candy the girls got!

After playing all day Saturday outside in the dust and dirt we called "campgrounds" they were filthy! Camping baths are in dish bins!

The fireworks were fantastic as I said. Although the wind came up and it got rather cold. Pretty soon we were all bundled up in blankets trying to stay warm. Now my mom has not been feeling so hot lately and has been taking Percocet. But she still came up and enjoyed the fun!

She even brought her new fancy-dancy hat!

I think the Martin family should deem the Thunder in the Valley as our reunion from now on... but that's just me!

Do we have all 11 children??

What to do with 11 children??!?! 

FREE SPRAY PARK!!

Scott and Taralyn are up from Utah for a couple of days and no better time to hang with family then the middle of summer! So to deal with the heat we heading over the the spray park..

K is loving having her cousins hear to play, her favorite saying is "where my cousins at ? "
My kids and I are sure enjoying them staying with us and playing all day!

The girls played really well together, even K!!
Here's my tidbit: K is a happy child, playing with children, being happy, EXCEPT when she comes back to me. She will be playing and she turns around to come back to me and she turns into a sour puss. Its like she thinks I WANT her to be grumpy.

We have also decided K wins the best sulker award. She can hold a grumpy better then anyone, Lisa sat her on  lap for 15 min's Lisa said you can get down when you smile.  Lisa tickled and laughed and teased.... nothing... she can hold a grump face I tell you!

She finally smiled, and got back to playing.

As we were leaving I asked do we have all 11 children?? A couple of ladies heard me and burst out laughing... thinking I was joking.

Thanks for the fun times!

Did someone swap with me???

For the last 2 months... my beautiful baby A has looked something like this.

 Generally a grump.

 No one could touch her with her screaming, except Mommy or Daddy.

Grandparents could hardly get near her, unless they waited like 2 hours till she warmed up to them.

Aunt Lisa could hardly look at her let alone touch her. Aunt Dianne could if mommy ran out the door like a crazy-I-need-BREAK person.Other Aunts.. it depended on her mood, but generally don't touch me.

BUT THEN....

I left her for 5 days

and now

I cant believe the difference?!?!?!

My HAPPY is BACK!!!

We used to call her Happy when K couldn't say her name,

but that nickname got dropped...

But shes back!!!

Yesterday Aunt Lisa held her!!

Uncle Ron touched her AND picked her up!

Aunt Dianne took her next door,with out so much as a whimper!!

She is happy ALL DAY and is CONTENT!
Thank you Happy for coming back!

Martins Cove 2010

Justin and I just got back from Martins Cove, Wyoming.

We had the privilege of being a “Ma and Pa” for our 5th Wards Young Men's and Young Women's

Martins Cove Trek. It was amazing. We left Tuesday at 330 am and drove for 13 hours.  Below is the bus dropping us off at 4:30 p.m. We pulled into camp with blowing rain. Lucky the advanced crew had set up the leaders tents and the kitchen. The kids set up their tents fast that night in the rain.

Martins Cove is done different then just a regular camp. Everyone is divided into families and given a name of a pioneer that crossed with the Martin or the Willie Handcart company in 1856.

Justin and I were Charles and Sarah Wilkinson.

For 3 days we walk with handcarts, dressed as pioneers, sand pioneer songs, saw the area and thought about what they did for us

That first night we all went to learn how to Square Dance. The kids LOVED it, even though they were shivering (ok I was shivering, they were resilient).

This is our "family" at Devils Gate, the end of the first day. The first day we walked from camp to the visitors center and visited the museum and the fort, watched a video of the storm that drove the handcart company in to Martins cove and did the information center. I wish we could have spend 5 more hours in the museum and the visitors center.  I was able to find my Great Great Great Grandmother's (on the Chipman side) name on the wall in the visitors center, Jane Ann Stewart. Later I found that my 4th Great Grandfather also crossed with in the Martin Handcart Company, Henry Hamilton. We had so much to do that time just flew by. We then walked to Devils gate and hear about the Natives Legend about how it came to be

Here is everyone who came to Martins Cove. Except Dale Martin who was taking the photo!

Don't you just LOVE Justin's hat? It was his Grandfathers Lloyd Moxley's.

He was one handsome pioneer, I would have married him back then too!

Our family did so well with the Handcart. By the end of the second day, I admit, I was getting a little weary. So to keep up with the kids I was holding on the cart, just keep going!

We got back to camp with a little bit of play time before dinner. Justin got going on the stick pull and was rather impressive.

I just want to say a special thank you to Grandma Martin. Thank you for the beautiful skirts you made for me!

That night we had a special visitor come for our fireside. Ephraim Knowlton Hanks.

One of the missionary's came and did a amazing 1st hand history. Ephraim was a amazing man, Justin was really touched by his story and sacrifice for the Church.

The nest day we left camp and walked to Martins Cove.

We walked through Martin Cove in silence, what a spiritual place, I could feel the spirit so strong, I knew that God was there with those pioneers.

I knew that they suffered not for their benefit but for mine. It made me so grateful for the trials that were mine. I do not have to deal with hunger, freezing temperatures and dieing family members instead I deal with media, strengthening family and selfish wants not needs. I thank those pioneers for being a example to me of pure obedience, faith and sacrifice.

I want to have the faith the pioneers had to help me withstand adversity, keep my sacred covenants I made it the temple and assist in building and strengthening the kingdom.

I want to triumph over evil and gain eternal life, by obeying the Lord always.

I want to be willing to sacrifice, whatever it may be, to strengthen my home, my family and my testimony.

Martins Cove was a beautiful experience one to not be forgotten.

President Gordon B. Hinckley Said this

“It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before, to gain strength for whatever lies ahead. It is good to reflect upon the work of those who labored so hard and gained so little in this work but out of whose dreams and early plans so well nurtured has come a great harvest of which we are the beneficiaries. Their tremendous example can become a compelling motivation for each of us. For each of us is a pioneer in his own life, often in his own family and many of us pioneer daily in seeking to do God's will and lift and serve those around us.

The group also did the Sweetwater crossing and did the Women's pull. Justin was able to be there for those to events unfortunately after the cove we stopped for lunch and I ate some rotten Cauliflower and got food poisoning. The next 5 hours of my day was spent in the outhouse with horrible back lash I was sad I missed the women's pull this was the second most spiritual part of the trip but ya know it was better me then one of the youth. It also made it very real how it would feel to be sick walking with handcarts.

The girls did a amazing job at the Women's Pull. It was said by those who attended that you could feel when the angles came and pushed for the girls.

We learned the song that was written for The pioneers by the stake that takes in Martins Cove called God Was There, and we practiced Come Come ye saints and few other pioneer songs.. Singing them before we left held little meaning. But after our uplifting trip I will never listen to another pioneer song the same way

God Was There

No we never walked alone across the mountains. Even with the blizzard blowing strong. No we never felt abandoned by the Mighty Lord above. For he filled our hearts with deep and purest love.

No we never crossed a river that was frozen. Never faced the windy snows alone No we never felt abandoned by the Mighty Lord above For in our trials we learned of endless love.

We felt him near us, as we knelt in prayer, Knowing He was there, gave us hope to carry on. We felt him near us, as we froze in sleep, Knowing he could keep, gave us hope to carry on. Our Lord and Savior, heard each crying plea, Answered tenderly, to carry on, to carry on!

No we never thought that God had really left us, Never dream to see the things we saw. No we never felt abandoned by the Mighty Lord above, For he filled our hearts with courage deep and strong.

No we never ventured onward without knowing, Truly God was watching over all. Thought our weary bones and dying, can only testify. He watched as we pushed for Zions Home.

We felt him near us, as we forged the trail, Knowing oh so well, gave us life to carry on. We felt him near us, clearly God could see, Knowing He, with love filled our hearts eternally.

We testify now. Let it ring in ear. Everyone must hear. Know this that God was there. That God was there. So carry on for God was there

All in all we ended up walking 13 miles in 2 days and had a experience never to be forgotten.