The Rest of August

We took a fun family camping trip in the Manti La Sal National Forest. It took us a while to gather up all our camping gear, but had a great time once we got there. I thought I would be cold sleeping at night because we only had blankets (which, if anyone knows which sleeping bags are good, let us know). I was actually really warm. I was colder when I camped in Nebraska in August; not even in the mountains. It was fun and we are looking forward to our next trip (we're looking at the end of September, early October, if anyone wants to come).

The cute breakfast chef.

Doesn't Claire just look like the typical camper?

This was the view out our front door.

Eli took the girls for a hike, and I got to take nice naps.

Just enjoying the scenery.

This is as close to tree hugging as our family will probably get (Eli brought a chainsaw to cut firewood easier with.)

Eli thought he'd teach the girls the proper way to use his tools. They had a great time.

Sydney only fell asleep once at the dinner table, and it was right around this same age. Claire was quietly sitting, eating her banana, and the next thing we know, she's got her head down and is totally out.
After a few minutes, her head slipped down, which made it easier for Sydney to clean up around her. Not to worry, I picked her up right after this picture was taken.

So Eli has been telling me that he would make me a flag post. I've had a flag for awhile, but nowhere to hang it. So finally he tells me that he's going to set up my flag pole. I'm thinking a 5 foot post or something of that nature. What he brought home was a 32 foot flag pole. He had made it himself with stuff my dad had lying around. He had to dig a deep hole to get it in, and then it took 4 guys and me driving the truck to get it in the ground. We put it in while a thunderstorm was brewing; not the smartest thing, but Eli wanted it in, so in it went. It looks really good. When you first turn onto our street, you can see the flag pole with just the mountains behind it. It's really beautiful. Every morning, Eli and the girls have a flag ceremony and they do the Pledge of Allegiance. It's very cute.

The hole for our flag pole.

We have a little dirt spot in the back of our house where I want to put roses, but we haven't done it yet. One morning, while I was in the shower, and Eli had left, the girls got a hold of the hoses, and watered down the dirt. Sydney doesn't like mud, but I guess with the right company, she can really get into it. I can't even tell you how much fun they had. They were filthy, but happy as little piglets. It was really hard to be upset with them. I remember how much fun playing in mud was when I was little, so I let them have their fun.

Yes Andrea, she was in her cute blue dress, but rest assured, I got both of their outfits totally clean.

Sydney decided that since she is 4 now, she needs to learn how to ride a two wheeler. Eli's giving her a little pep talk. Notice her cute pink gloves. She has a pink helmet to go with them.

This is Eli's great storm shot; if we had a fancier camera, I'm sure it would have looked even better. It looks pretty good as it is.