One of the perks of my husband's job is that he's sometimes as far as Provo or Logan and pick me up some Skippers clam chowder! Haven't had some for years since they closed the one on 5600 w.

Having a mother that was born in the east naturally makes me a fish lover. Crab especially. I feel like a hoarder with all the cans of sardines I have stashed away in our food storage area. I only eat them when Steven isn't home (he can't stand the smell), and when I remember. I think I even have a crab leg in our freezer somewhere.  I feel like heading to the nearest pier, ordering some fish n' chips and building a sand castle.

Pulling out my swimsuit for our most recent trip has made me was to go swimming like crazy. I think I'm ready for summer! Bring on the BBQ's, Popsicles, farmer tan(already have that!), and capris!

Morbidity runs in the family

A conversation between me and Rachel today:

Just goes to show I wasn't the only one who inherited my mother's morbid humor.

Our first camping trip

In September we took a trip to Granite Flats to go camping!!! It rained as soon as we got to the campground. Actually, it POURED. We spent two hours setting up camp while getting soaked in the process. Of course, the second everything was up, it stopped raining. Go figure. Here is our makeshift clothes line, most of our soaking clothes trying to dry off.

I was taking a picture of the Steven when I noticed something on the tent.

Turned out to be a giant tree slug. And when I say giant, I mean giant!!! See how BIG that sucker is?!?! Yuck!!!

He left a nasty slime trail all over our tent.

 He stuck around all morning (little did we know he would be coming home with us.)

We slept in the next day after a rough night (LOTS more rain, enough that it soaked THROUGH the tent fabric) but thankfully it was sunny for our first full day :)

These furry little caterpillars were all over the place. You can't really tell where the head is unless they are squirming around.

Our campsite was well secluded and right next to a river. We had it all to ourselves and got to play around in it all day.

Such a beautiful area.

Our campsite from the river.

 

 Our tree slug friend ended up on our picnic table later that evening. Nasty little bugger.

 We went on a hike and found a mountain that had had a giant mudslide. Half of the mountain was washed away.

Some gorgeous views in Granite flats

 

Well, we came home from our trip and had lots of dirty muddy clothing that needed to be washed. While pulling out a load, the detached, washed, TAIL of our friend the tree slug was on a hoodie. I screamed, chucked the hoodie and bolted out of the laundry room. Apparently the slug crawled into our drying clothes on the clothesline and came home with us. He was then washed, decapitated and almost dried. I called Steven and told him he would have to do the rest of the laundry and also fish out the head of the slug from our washing machine. It was way more traumatic than I can type, but I'm over now. I think.

All in all it was a successful camping trip and we had lots of fun!

Thanksgiving and Eli's Birthday

Without "the wall" we can now fit a bunch of tables to hold everyone at once for a meal!

Michelle made little nut cups, so cute!

You'd think it was spring for how mild the weather was! We had to cool down outside.

Mom making her perfect gravy.

Eli turned one!

He looks like dopey from Snow white!!!! Look at those ears!