.Mikesell Family Blog: September 2012

Boston made this shield at Mother and Son Date Knight. He wrote "Dear Mom, I like you." He said he didn't want to write I love you because that is "embarrassing"

These were the pictures posted on Chick-Fil-A's website...so they're a little late being posted to the blog.

Brock was embarrassed to show his shield cause he just scribbled.

The boys went to the Dollar store with Grandpa Kim and Brock bought these rings...he told me "Don't worry Mom, they're not real."

Jennifer came into town for a couple days for her brother in laws wedding...so naturally she wanted to eat every meal at Chick.

Boston bought this headstone at the Dollar Store with Grandpa Kim. So Gentry helped him make a grave.

Gentry and the boys went to the BYU game with the Bullock's. The boys LOVED it. And the best part...BYU WON!!!

Saturday Christa invited us to go with her to the Governor's Day at Camp Williams. It was really cool. All of the National Guard were there. There were like 7,000 soldiers all in uniform.

The plane flew over head.

It's hard to tell but this is Tim Kelly (our neighbor) the second row and the third one over from the left.

The kids got to pretend to be firemen.

And they got to shoot BB guns. Which they loved.

Alyssa didn't join us cause she went fishing with the Bullock's.

Today while cleaning I noticed these pictures on the inside of our pantry. Brock made them. I love that he wrote "shower with sope" and "Drik water" and "Brush teeth" as his "Helth habits" (for scouts)

Gentry and I have been talking about the fact that we need to enjoy Utah a little more, every time we think about vacation we want to go outside of Utah...but there is so much to do here. So we decided that since the kids were off track in September, and they are finally getting old enough to go on hikes etc. that it would be fun to take the kids to Moab.

My friend Angie has kids the same age and that are on the same track and after talking to her about Moab we decided to go together as families. Our kids get along really well, so it made it even more fun. I don't think we really even heard the kids complain at all. (Then again maybe I'm just getting better at tuning them out.) But we all had a great time. And I'm even learning to love the outdoors...who knew??? (Don't worry, I don't know if I'll ever get to the point where camping in a tent will work...baby steps.)

The first night we got there, we basically just checked in and went to bed. The next morning Angie and I went for a jog (I love having my running partner vacation with me.) We stopped by a visitor center to find out what to plan for the day. We found a company that does river rafting trips. They also had a package that included a 3 hour horseback ride. We thought that sounded fun, so we booked it.

The tour guide stopped and let the kids get out and swim. We didn't have the boys wear their swimsuits, so rather than get their clothes wet, they opted to go in their underwear.

It was pretty darn cold water, so this is the kids helping Boston back in.

Even Gentry decided to jump in.

We stopped at this beach for lunch. When we signed up the flyer said they served lunch...it wasn't too bad, but we really could have used some water bottles. I was dying of thirst but I didn't want to drink out of the sand filled cups they provided. I wasn't sure if it was the water that was dirty or the cups that were dirty...either way I thought I was safer to wait til we got back.

We roasted marshmallows, luckily Greg and Angie come prepared and provided the wood...and everything else you need to make a fire.

Saturday morning we took the kids horseback riding. We all agreed that this was our favorite part of the trip. Brock Boston and Gentry all rode on mules. The mules kept trying to eat the whole time and so I was always laughing looking at them trying to control them.

After we got back from the horse ride, we all limped around for a bit...we couldn't believe how sore we were...then they let the kids pick out a horse shoe. Apparently the way they are holding them is good luck....if you turn them upside down then it is bad luck.

Boston and Brock loved the cabin...They slept together on the top bunk, but the first night Brock kept waking up crying. We think he was sleep walking because we couldn't understand him and he didn't remember any of it the next morning.

We went on a couple hikes. This one was to Negro Bills. It was beautiful the whole way. We actually had shade the whole time, and it followed a little creek so it felt pretty cool.

With the new iphone update there is a panoramic feature. We decided to try it and Greg ran to the other side so it looked like we found his long lost twin.

We almost didn't make it to the end. We were told at the beginning that it took almost 4 hours, but we were sure we could make it quicker...the kids were speedy and we did it in 2 hours. So we made it back before it got dark.

The guides were trying to take a picture of the White family and Gentry's mule just decided to walk right in front of the camera and stay there.

We let the kids swim at the campground we stayed at. You'd think they would be sick of it since we have a pool, but they played for a couple hours. I tried to get a pic of them and this is what I get...they try to torture me.

Gentry and his mule. It became a joke with all of us, saying things like "get your a** out of the picture, or nice a** etc." I guess we are like little kids thinking we are so funny.

The second hike we went on was to Delicate Arch. I was so excited but about halfway I started panicking and my the last little stretch I realized I couldn't do it. I know I'm a wimp, but I can't handle heights...so I waited for everyone else. Luckily Greg took this of Gentry and the kids.

I loved this pic of the group...Gentry was taking it, so he didn't get to be in it. The two families couldn't have gotten along better. We had a blast.

After looking at this picture Boston said "Mom, I'm literally not even off the ground." I think he jumped before the rest of us.

I was able to crawl (literally on my hands and knees) to this point were you could see the Delicate Arch in the background. I am sitting, because I literally couldn't get myself to stand that close to the edge.....I'm a wimp!