Utah Lake

Wednesday night we had a blast on Utah Lake with our BFF the Knoxes. They were so kind as to invite us to go wave running with them. Ben and Rich are speed demons, while I usually get called "Grandma Kelly" out on the water. It was a beautiful night to be out at the lake---there were many boaters, fishers, water skiers, and of course, the beautiful murky slime-green water. But the sunset was amazing! We had a dock all to ourselves as we dined on pizza and soda and tried to keep Garrett and Seth from falling in. Garrett even like riding the Wave Runners---until Rich and I accidently flipped our runner with Garrett on it! In all seriousness it was probably the most scary moment of my life. The runner flipped, Rich and I were thrown from it, and poor little G hung on to the handle bars and went under the water, with the huge machine on top of him! I totally freaked out--the water was so murky we couldn't see anything---and even though Garrett had a life-vest on he couldn't float to the top because he was under the runner! Fortunatley Rich was able to get under and grab him--I'm sure the whole thing only lasted a few seconds--but it put me on edge the entire night. He came up smiling, though, and in a little while got right back on for another ride. We really did have a great time, and we're really glad Garrett (and everyone else) is just fine. As for his mother.......

Balsam Campground

Whew! We spent three fun-filled (and bug-filled) days at Balsam Campground up Hobble Creek Canyon. We had a blast playing in the creek that runs right through camp. The water was frigid but that didn't stop us from falling in (accidently, of course) as we jumped rocks and logs and got our feet stuck in "stinking mud", as the kids called it! We also took a great hike in the backcountry to a beautiful waterfall. We saw many snakes this trip, but (alas) no bears or mountain lions. I think the kids' favorite part of any camping trip is A)giggling in the tent as they try to fall asleep and B)having their own cans of soda for every meal and C)finding "fire sticks" to light on fire every night around the campfire. What will we remember most about this trip? ..............Garrett "accidently" dropping his finger splint in the pit toilet.......Cassidy getting her hair stuck in the tent zipper and not being able to get it out......Dad and Grandpa being gone for 5 hours in the jeep on "back" roads........Feeding Alvin,Simon, and Theodore Cheetos everyday after lunch.

Wanted: Your Camping Ideas

Hey friends! We are going camping this week and I am interested to hear everyone's favorite camping RECIPES or ACTIVITIES/TRADITIONS. We usually cook over an open fire or on our camp stove and grill, so no dutch oven recipes, please. I love to hear about different foods people eat while camping, especially because we are kind of in a rut for camping food. So please share your ideas with me! Also, anyone have any great camping games or activities that your family enjoys? Thanks in advance, Kelly.

A Few King Family Rules to Live by.....

1. King children love to go to Classic Skating! If you go with them, plan on A) running back and forth for 3 hours between the skate rink, bounce toys, and video games to keep an eye on them and B)being sucked into buying oh-so-yummy food from the snack bar because they are literally dying of hunger and C)helping them put on and take off shoes/skates/blades about 1000 times per hour. Good times for Mom!

2. If you are planning on breaking your finger (Garrett) by propping a board against the side of the house and climbing up it while holding on to it and it falls, please do this before 8:00pm, when InstaCare closes. Just a word to the wise.

3. When you do break your finger and the doctor puts a splint on it that you have to wear for 4 weeks, please do not continually take off the splint and hide it in various locations throughout the house and then tell your mom you've lost it (again). Moms do not like this.

4. If you have to go to the hospital to pick up your grandma after she has minor same-day surgery, please do not push any buttons or pull on any cords. Also, climbing the IV pole is out.

5. Never ever play with toys. Instead, find everything else possible to play with, especially those things that will most annoy your mom, such as A) her cell phone and B)her camera and C)her glue dots and D)best of all she likes it when you swing her MP3 player by the headphone strings around like a laso.

6. Please, please practice fighting all day long with your siblings! Go ahead and invent things to tattle about and make sure to never ever play together! This is afterall why we chose to give you siblings!

July 4th

We enjoyed a simple but fun Independence Day at Rich's parents' house this year. Their neighbors were gone and invited us to use their pool in their absence so the kids had a blast swimming and screaming, the two things they do best at a pool. We had a yummy BBQ and watched Pleasant Grove fireworks from the mountain behind Grandma and Grandpa's house. Uncle Dennis and Rich's cousin and cousin's wife (what is the correct term there?) were also visiting from Colorado so it was nice to have a few more added to our numbers. Sparklers and Poppers were also big hits with the kids. Let Freedom Ring!

Mile Rock

For many years now our family has enjoyed a special place up American Fork Canyon called Mile Rock. It is just a day-use, picnic area on the road to Tibble Fork but for some reason we always end up there. We LOVE to take hot dogs and all the trimmings including stuff for s'mores and build a huge fire and cook and eat all night long. The kids love climbing the trees and rocks, running across the bridge, and especially playing in the American Fork River. Sometimes the river is overflowing its banks and swiftly rushing past, and sometimes it is calmer and just perfect for wading in. It is a child's endless playground, filled with natural wonders that occupy B, C, and G for hours! The favorite activity (besides getting dirty) seems to be finding the perfect "fire stick", the stick they use all night long to poke the fire and light the end on fire! I love living so close to such natural beauty, and I love spending time in the great outdoors with my family! (The s'mores aren't bad, either!)