i like dirt part 1

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!