Oscar Stew

G’mornin’ kids, what’s up? Today’s our last day on Tour de Utah: Part 1 You guys have been troopers while we hustled around to all things we’ve had to do. Go ahead and give yourselves a pat on the back. Or a PB&J for breakfast. Darn you resourceful & early-waking children!

Today is a very special day for your parents. We’re remembering old times! You see, Mommy & Daddy both spent many childhood years living in California; years that are filled with fond memories. There is a symbol of that time that just so happens to have made its way into Utah, and there is no way we are going to miss it. Dig in! Aww, nice teamwork you two!   

Whaddya think Eleanor? Cool hats, fresh ingredients, delicious fries, cold drinks, ain’t it the best?!

Ok, we may have rushed you into this. While Animal Style is the only way to go, I don’t think onions are on your favorite’s list just yet!

This isn’t Rowan’s 1st time to the criss-crossed-palm-tree-land-of-deliciousness. She once enjoyed a thick strawberry shake while still in the womb. Oh, is that a surprise Ro-dog?

Brinley may have finished her burger sooner than her colleagues. No matter, there was plenty of take-home work to be done while she waited on the others…

Excellent sticker-puzzle-solving skills Binnie! Please notify the manager of that location you are displaying that there are serious flood control problems to be dealt with immediately!

Speaking of flood control, are you actually stealing my fries? I am flooding with anger!

Hey Drew, can you show me how delicious your burger is? Ok, that’s not exactly what I meant, but we’ll go with that!

Lookin’ good Ellie, but remember to savor it!

When I said savor it, I definitely meant putting that chunk of lettuce on your chin for later. Yup.

You might recall taking a later nap than usual today Ellie. As a matter of fact, right now is your regular bedtime. So what does that mean? Party time, and a burger to-go! All the necessary ingredients for a late night disaster! And no judging the ghetto-dirty carseat, cause I know!!  Thats what happens when you give a 17 month old her own ice-cream cone!

Now we can’t include all the super-secret details of our most excellent West Fest party, but we will admit to cruising around the way we used to. Oh yeah!

If it wasn’t for Ryan’s cousin Mike, we never would have found a spot this good to enjoy the show!

Ooh. Aah. And Happy Birthday West Valley City!

How was the finale? Excellent! Usually kids are quick to complain that the show is over, but this time they’re excited! Because it means another ride around the ‘hood in the back of Mike’s truck! Hold on!

Early the next morning we blasted our way back to Planet Denver to enjoy some precious time off before our next leg on the Tour de Utah began. No, Drew & Brinley aren’t gettin’ down to the YMCA song; they’re just imitating the most scenic view of the drive across Wyoming…

In case you haven’t noticed, we’ve been telling stories about our letterboxing adventures for a while now. During a blazing hot afternoon on part 1 of our Tour de Utah we mustered up the desire to find concealed rubber stamps. We set out to find boxes close to where we were staying and even managed to convince Amy’s family to go with us! That’s it, you guys are officially freaks too. Ha!

We discovered on our strenuous march that letterboxing is not just a Colorado thing. There are bazillions of them all over the universe! No way!

What would an outdoor adventure be if we didn’t stop to pose for pictures and admire the scenic views? Hey Ellie, is the grass really that scenic?

Aw, just forget it. Thanks anyway Drew, but no amount of force is gonna make her smile for the camera.

Well at least somebody is a willing subject! Right next to where we found a letterbox was a creek and an artesian spring. Did I mention it was super hot that day? The shade and cool water were a lifesaver!

As fun as some of us (Ryan) think it is to find as many stamps as possible, it wouldn’t be a pleasant memory for others (the rest of us) if there wasn’t some really cool fun like this:

Don’t you want to remember your childhood by looking at pictures of your wet butt?

Drew claims that this forest is enchanted and that this is his magic wand of power. Your magic wand is peeing on you Scoobie!

Rowan says she sees diamonds in the water. Yup! Is that Daddy sneaking up behind to “help” Rowan take a dip? Daddy don’t you dare!

Hey Ellie, does this natural spring have any healing qualities? Because I noticed you were screaming earlier and now you’re not. Hallelujah!

Maybe the secret to happiness is naturally exfoliated toes…

Because now that it’s time to quit, the youngin’s are a protestin’!

Mission accomplished, smile for the camera, and enjoy the breeze…

Drew found some treasures that he could take with him from our hike. What a ladies’ man!

Grandpa bought some treasure for the rest of us to enjoy. Now that’s what I call a complete letterboxing adventure!

So, we got dirty. We’ve established that. But was that all? Of course not! There was A LOT of planning and effort that went into making our mountain adventure a week to remember. Everyone contributed in different ways and we all had a great time. Here’s to us! ha! Just a warning…if you ain’t blood, this post might not be for you.

Did an occasional rain shower dampen our spirits? Naw, we had Ro-witchie to scare the clouds away. You can literally see the lightning bolts coming out of her fingertips! Mommeeeee!

The fam would like to thank this guy for making the trip a screaming success. He brought everything we could possibly need, even the kitchen sink! literally!!

Dancing With The Stars ain’t got nothin’ on Dancing With Babies. Now that’s a hot show! Especially when your trainer is a former Prom Queen!

Ok, I couldn’t resist. One more pic of the mud bath couldn’t hurt, right? what a bunch of crazies…

Run Rowan run! Queenie is gonna get ‘cha!!

Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it. Tag you’re it…

Blondes really do have more fun…

Brinley spent some quality time climbing trees. One tree turned out to be Uncle Aric. Watch out Brinley, he bites!

Two E’s keeping each other warm & toasty.

This is Brinley’s quarter-staff. Actually, it’s a buck and a quarter quarter-staff, but she’s not admitting to anything. What?

 

We slaved for hours to create this perfect cake to celebrate Aric’s quarter-centennial. Do you think his wish will come true?

Here’s the mess hall at Camp David. This is where it all went down…the hatch, that is.

Drew demonstrated his vast knowledge of geothermal physics and re-created the “Old Faithful” geyser right in our campsite. Kapow!

There maybe some geothermal physics going on in Ella’s pants too, but she’s not telling. Did you really think we’d miss out on a poop joke?

What?! No recycle bin? What kind of heathens are you people?!

Apparently heathen enough eat the forbidden fruit! Now she knows the difference between sugar and A LOT of sugar.

Livestrong? You wanna live strong? Try a diet consisting of Twinkies and bananas. And try wearing half of it…

True to our hippie-color-loving selves we tie-dyed our way into the highest echelons of high (mountain) fashion.

While Brinley strolled through the forest she came across the enchanted Fountain of Caffeine…

Then she took a swig and discovered the secret to limitless power! Wowowowowowww…

 

Glub glub…

What the? This potion doesn’t have any special powers! It’s just another Mentos ‘n’ Coke! Glub glub urrrrrp…

Of course there were dirt cups! You don’t vacation with D&B without dirt cups, it’s tradition.

Hey guys, are you gonna finish those worms?

Mission keep Rowan’s-hair-from-gluing-itself-to-her-sticky-face complete. Where’s the parade?

Welcome to the World Series of Go Fish, Utah Hold’Em! Entry fee is 25 skittles and a punch mustache. Looks like Aunt Hwenna will be sittin’ out this game.

 

This itch is brought to you by the word “disposable”. But cloth diapering for a week in the mountains? I don’t think so!

5 Aces?! Check her sleeves!

Here’s Drew, caught in the act of swiping a sucker from the “secret” stash. What did he have to say for himself? “Yummy!”

Ella-wooo!! Getting her insides rearranged by her “doting” big sister. Now she’s ready for a nap, thanks Rowan!

Have you ever tasted the rain? My suggestion is to do it without the filter!

No nap for this tent monkey, which is kinda devastating when you’ve been playing as hard as we were.

Stubborn doesn’t even begin to cover it… Thanks Kelz for snapping this pic!

Ella-weee!!! This could quite possibly be my favorite picture of the year. love that little girl…

Not quite the same as a Mentos ‘n’ Coke, but we might be able to get an official nap out of you this way!

Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’…into the future…

Is that the iCorn 3000? Yeah, I’d like a double-double on wheat with fries & a coke…and don’t forget the fry sauce!

It’s a .44 Magmallow, the world’s most powerful mallow gun…

So I’ve got to ask you one question: Do ya feel lucky?

Well, do ya? What a bunch of punks. I had a mallow stuck to my lens after this shot, not cool guys! (although I did ask for it…)

Luck had a little hiccup as Drew rode the wheels off this 4-wheeler, but Grandpa had it fixed before Ryan could find someone to pass Eleanor to so he could give it a shot…

As soon the glitch was fixed, Drew hit the trail again and made up for lost time. The boy and the machine have become one!

 

When it was time to retire the beast Drew had no qualms about putting it away himself. Grandpa was just there to supervise!

Sunset, the best time of the day. The kids are winding down & getting ready for bed. The fire is roaring…ahhh, yes.

 

This mountain adventure is winding down, and it couldn’t come any sooner. All of our kids are wandering around with a punch drunk look on their face!

We saved the homemade vanilla-bean mallows for our last night on the mountain.

The homemade variety is trickier to roast, but the taste is unparalleled. Amazing barely covers it…

This rugged gentleman wasn’t cooking for himself; he shared his kill with us lowly scrubs. Thanks dude!

Here’s one lowly scrub displaying his finesse and professionalism like no one else can…or would.

 

In the event that Rowan wasn’t exhausted enough to sleep most of the drive home, she got to stay up with the big kids for the late night premiere.

Is this movie in 3D? Why is there a campfire in the theater? And where are my Raisinettes?

We ended the trip with a bang, that’s for sure!