Payson Lakes 2012

Vicki (Rod's mom) is the queen of camping. This woman hauled all of her seven children all over the west to national parks during their childhood. I am so grateful to have married into a camping family, since A) who can afford hotels anyway? and B) out in nature is the only place my children can be themselves (wild animals) and not get in trouble for it.

Our annual trip to Payson Lakes was generously set-up by Grammie & Grandpa,  so we joined them for a few nights/days. Besides the afternoon air being thick with forest fire smoke from the multiple fires constantly ablaze around the state, it was really great. And, as camping usually is, really exhausting too. I know the kids always come back with their tank full to the brim of incredible memories and that is always what makes it worth it for me. (Don't ask me how long it takes me/my house to recover or how many meltdowns occured afterwards though).

Also in keeping with tradition, when the sun finally rises and I'm still awake, a quick jog around the lake can soothe even the achin'-est bones. I had to run back and get my camera after a while because the stillness of the scenery was intoxicating. I think I counted 21 different animal sightings that morning. You know what they say about the early bird...

The best treat of all was that our cousins from Vegas got to join us! My kids adore the Broadheads and our time together always feels so limited but a few days out in nature can sometimes feel like an eternity (at least I know it did to Marg)! They were in absolute heaven.

Sleeping bag heads are the best.

 Super cute girlies.

Juni really did so great. Check out this shot of her wide awake, happily enjoying the peace and quiet while everyone else was still snoozing.

 

Good morning!

Doin' what kids do best.

 "Look, a brownie!"

Typical camping face.

And another...

Our Spanish Fork cousins joined the party too!

G&G with 9 out of their 13 grandkids

 (two babies napping, and two in Portland...missed you Comptons!)

A nap in the shade.

Oh, the places we've drug that old beat up canoe.

Count the kids. Count the adults. How did we let that happen?

 

Where are my children's life jackets, you ask? Yeah, we're awesome parents.

 "I see a chipped munk in there!"

Lakeside snack.

'Till next time...

Independently in Zion

Hey, it's the middle of the summer and we're hot.
I know, let's get away from it all and go SOUTH for the holiday! A family reunion in the dead of summer in the desert is the life for us!

So away we went a travelin' to Zion National Park for the four-day blazin'-family-shin-dig.

It was all sort of a blur of triple-degree temps and eye-squinting beauty...but boy did we have fun! What would we ever do without our Matron Planner, the Marvelous Vicki?

Scoot over, the Boyntons are loading the bus!

 Just follow the crowds. They'll never lead you astray.

 Cousins with terrible back light...that's about as good as it gets.

 Please do not feed the squirrels. They bite. They scratch. They are diseased. They are dangerous.

$200 fine to those caught.

 Jumpin' spot!

 River water beats ocean water, any day in my book!

 These two are starting Kindergarten this year! Craziness.

 Tom, the Pied Piper.

The enormous shade tree in front of the lodge. A perfect place to relax.

(P.S. Jill! I saw Emily here and said hi to her. She was very confused because she didn't know who I was! A little jealous you got to hike Angels, but then again, it was hot, so maybe I'm not. :))

 

Girls like dirt too!

 Loved the thunder/rain storm!

 Lucky us, the only camping spot with shade!

Elliot has a sweaty head at 70 degrees so you can imagine his forehead waterfall at 115 degrees. Good thing he bounced between the river and the pool with his good buddy and cuz, Cam.

 Coop has had to get used to being smushed into small spaces. Poor kid.

Besides our tent finally busting (we fixed it though and our $30 tent may last us a few years yet!) and most of our food melting to smithereens by day two, we really did quite enjoy ourselves! The water was high and so refreshing, and being with family is always a good idea. I would like to come back again in the spring or fall to enjoy a beauty that is a little more serene and a little less like driven cattle. But to be sure, people flock from all over the world to Zion for very good reason.