Oscar Stew

Oh the pain! This is (almost) the last post of the summer 2010. Wait, didn’t summer end 5 days ago? Well yes, but this is a summer-vacation-recap post.  And if, in some small way, these stories prevent snow on Halloween, you’ll know who to thank.

In July we headed to Vernal so we could spend a week camping in Ashley National Forest. Are we there yet?

Yup! Looks like we have arrived! Pine tree aroma, beautiful mountain meadows…

…and plenty of wildlife! Let’s get this party started!

911 what’s your emergency?

Ro-chuck thought that she’d lend a hand in the gathering of firewood. That’s a nice stem of grass she’s got there!

It looks like the stem is what did the trick. Nice blaze!

Drew & Brinley, snug as bugs in rugs. More like snug with bugs…

Welcome to the Uinta Arena Octagon for UFC 2¼! In the polka dot corner is Rowan “Rampage…” ok nevermind. You’re cute Rowan but it’s time to go to sleep. Nigh-Night!

So E, how was your first night in the outdoor woods? Lookin’ bright-eyed, not so sure about bushy-tailed. Quit yer loungin’, we got a big day planned!

Time to get the blood flowing. Nothing warms you up like pumping some plastic buoys, eh Emily?

Looks like the Scoob is on the receiving end of this vigorous workout. Don’t get scared Drew, it’s just a game!

Your aim is all off man! Try opening your eyes!

Drew can do it, he’s our man, if he can’t do it, make him try again! Gooooo Drew!

He’s still closing his eyes, but looks like he’s got it down now. Is a helmet really required to play this game?

Bin-bob wasn’t interested in games, she was too busy exercising the mind.

Just kiddin’. By the afternoon this princess had messed up her hair and gotten all dirty…on purpose!

Naptime wasn’t happenin’ in the hot tent. But there were way too many distractions outside too…

So when Uncle Aric rolled into camp Rowan got to enjoy chillin’ with Daddy while he and Aric had an Ipod battle in the car. Rock on! 

No trick photography here; nature knows teeter-totters.

Nature also knows bruises and broken bones. Hold on tight! That’s a rodeo totter!

Ok Rowan’s not looking let’s jump on the 4-wheelers and hit the trail!

The girls are back and as dirty as they can get. The boys in the middle don’t look so convinced…

After a hard day’s fun it’s time to bundle up for the night. Hey Aric this would be a lot easier if you would stop distracting Eleanor! I mean Ryan. Who we talkin’ about?

Let’s see, are we on step 3 or step 5? Men…

So you might assume that Drew wanted a chance to drive a 4-wheeler. You’d be right, but how much training do you think he needed?

This boy is a natural born offroader! He was the princess’ personal chauffeur that same afternoon!

Mallow en fuego! It’s the only way to dine…

Look ma no hands! Drew & Brinley rode around the campsite area for over an hour on the biggest power-wheels ever!

Hey Drew, I dare you to eat him!

C’mon dude, you can do it. Just hork it down like Roastie eats pretzels.

Get your game face on! You may also want to wear a faceshield, as Ole Cheesemaker is throwin’ it down today!

So remember that part where I said we got really dirty? Yeah…no. It rained once or twice while we were up there. Ok it rained everyday. But on one of our adventures we managed to find a lot of puddles…

And then Kristy, Emily, Aric, and Kelsey went to the spa.

They got the “helmet to toe” treatment…

Rowan wanted to go for a mud bath too. Eleanor doesn’t look excited about this…

Sorry Rowan, no amount of kisses will change her mind…

But those sure look like some happy campers to me! What this really looks like is an Orbit gum commercial…Fabulous!

Hurry quick, Rowan isn’t looking! Let’s go do that again!

In a world where thousands of letterboxes are hidden, dedicated special agents seek them out in a relentless fury. Some letterboxes are very difficult to find; others are hidden in plain sight. Each box hunt presents a different challenge, but these soldiers are armed to the teeth!

Agent 007 has no issue with creeping through the darkest parts of the jungle in pursuit of this elusive treasure.

Here’s a photo of myself and some of 007’s henchmen. A word of caution: They are mercenaries who will stop at nothing to locate the cache, especially that one with the horns!

This is a top secret photo of 005 reaching for her sidearm, or her armpit…not really sure. But we do know that these are the current marks that these operatives make at each of their hits.

Agent 005 has even been so bold as to sign and date her finds…

Doctoring personnel files is a walk in the park for this spook.

We followed 007 & 005 into perilous terrain but were unable to locate their stronghold.

 

 

While 007 & 005 had us lost in the rock swamp this investigator was going rogue. Agent Ro-gue…Ha!

You might expect that with a trail so well worn that these two spies would steer clear. But you’d be wrong, because even spies like the “easy way”.

Just because a letterbox is easy to find doesn’t mean it gets special treatment. Just look at 007 pressing that stamp for more intel! Vee hav vayz ov makeen yu tok!

Now spies are not known for working up a sweat. But maybe a little perspiration is necessary to enjoy all the comforts of a spy lifestyle?

Spy Convention 2010 group photo. Yes, spies have conventions too. Agents 007 and Red Deforestation were still using their cover ID’s to avoid detection by mob queen Hot Mamasita.

It appears that Agent Zero has successfully infiltrated this heinous group as an informant to the Company. Little does Wind In Her Hair know about Zero’s mischievous plans! And 007 and Red Desert are really working those disguises!

Back in the field the master sleuths were hot on the trail. Seriously, it was like 100 that day! This operative stayed cool and collected and continued to feed us with valuable liquid gold intel…

There wasn’t enough room for everyone on the OR-V. Red Moon tried to console 005 as they made their way through the jungle, and it seems that she has put off her plans to defect to the North.  Huh???

Another mission accomplished. I spy muscles….little ones…

Looks like the gang has settled in for a stake-out. I don’t know that the middle of the road is the most inconspicuous spot to do this…

If these spies were concerned about becoming known as local thugs, a road trip was the cure. There will be more about our mountain adventure in the next spew, but suffice it to say there are plenty of letterboxes along I-70 to keep these agents happy.

Once or five times Red Twig had to give a little assistance in the search for the boxes. It seems that Rogue was able to make do…

As a letterbox spy, make sure you always carry your piece. 005 is a crack shot with the AK-H2Omelon.

The location of this letterbox remains a mystery. The agents only said that it has No Name.

How can these agents be so carefree when those battleships have them in their crosshairs? Oh yes I forgot, the watermelon forcefield of course!

As they retreated from their mission in the wilderness, Rogue made sure to show off her new tattoos while getting juiced up for her next assignment.

007 & 005 took to the sea onboard the Flagship Denver and located yet another treasure on the upper deck of the outdoorsman’s schooner…It takes talent to go unnoticed while discovering a letterbox indoors!

The senior agents returned back to port and enjoyed shore leave with Captain Redfuzz.

While processing this find, some toxic waste was located near the letterbox. Fortunately these are our top agents and are well-versed in many words of wisdom…

As if fresh, delicious, organic raspberries and strawberries weren’t enough, there so happens to be reason for a letterbox spy to roam around the patch as well. But now I’ve said too much, and must now endure punishment from Agent Rogue….hiiiiiiiiiiiyah!

This is the last post from the vacation files. Promise! We will get back to posting about our regular old humdrum lives soon enough!

During our Tour De Utah, we stopped at the JJ&B Acres reunion site on Cedar Mountain. The fam gathers here every July for a good old fashioned family reunion.

Like all family reunions, this one involved many different kinds of torture. Like this…

And this… Yeah, we had it rough – I know!

At least we made the kids work for food. Cornhusk airplanes are fun, and good for the environment. Double points!

The main purpose of the trip was to insulate and sheet-rock this building that will become a Grand Hotel. Ryan didn’t enjoy it at all. Nope! Saws, drills, hammers and screws are just not his thing.

Rowan had it pretty easy. She took a sizzling hot bath in the boiler…don’t let that face fool you! She was one dirty little rugrat!

Brinley stayed pretty close to camp while Drew wandered to unbeknownst locations. The camera wasn’t brave enough to follow Drew, so Brinley bore the brunt of the mamarazzi.

The hardworking kids were rewarded with smores and the privilege of staying up WAY too late.

How do you say snarf in Utahnese? mmmmmm…

Are your humdrum campfire treats always the same? Feel like trying something exotic? Try roasted starbursts!

Two Sheldons bonded near the warm campfire. My Grandpa and my boy…awesome!

Then Great Grandpa busted out the big guns…Its no wonder he is a legend in so many ways!

Great Grandpa found some loose screws on Brinley’s ribs and gave them a good turn. Classic stuff, right here…

Elvis has left the campsite. And so has Brinley. Adios amigo!

Next morning Brinley was up and at it again. She collected a wildflower bouquet and hand delivered it to Great Grandma Laverna.

Great Grandma taught us the names of all the flowers. The pretty purple flowers are flax…who knew they grew in the wild?

Ro-dog enjoyed all the modern conveniences that we managed to cram into the van, high chair included. What’s for breakfast? Cheese, oranges…

Every year there are improvements and changes made to the reunion site. This year it involved moving a lot of dirt.

Or maybe it was moving a bunch of dirty cousins. Aaaaaa!

Looks like this load of cousins made it out OK. They may not all be from the same generation, but they’re all related…somehow.

Thank heavens for this sturdy little park. It entertained the littlest cousins from dawn till dusk!

We were pretty vigilant with the sunscreen, I didn’t realize until it was too late that bum-screen was also required. Bummer!

Drew became an expert tractor operator with Grandpa’s help.

You’d pull over for a looker like this one too, right?

Drew made sure to get in some quality four-wheeler time. Ryan took the paper strips from the sides of the drywall and made Drew the most awesome helmet-hawk ever!

And that’s all folks…