Finally!!!

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Fish fish fish! We decided to try Town Reservoir when the snow drifts in the road were still too deep to get past to get to Deep Lake. We went up Tuesday afternoon and found that the fishing was ON! We caught a few and as night drew closer, we decided to go back in the morning.

We got there around 7 and the fish started biting just after 10. There was a point when Jason was unhooking a fish from his pole then Bri started reeling a fish on her pole. Then as he's helping her unhook, his pole had another bite. I was throwing lures and so I had walked down the shore (it's actually become a joke now; all I have to do is walk away and the fish start biting). I did catch a nice one and was on my way back to the family when Kayla had just reeled one in on Bri's pole. It was a great morning!

On our way back home, I suggested we go shooting. The squeakies were everywhere! So we unloaded fishing gear, loaded up shooting gear and had a redneck style surf and turf day! Fish in the morning, squeakies in the evening. Awesome!!

Memorial weekend: Rule #51

After many, many, changes in plans, we all finally made it to camp Friday evening. Mother Nature decided we needed some cold, wet weather just before the big weekend, so it took a few days to find a spot that wasn't so ooey-gooey.

We did our usual of wheeling and having fun. Saturday we went East and found some snow to play in, but then it started to snow and became a bit much for the little ones who were riding on the wheelers with the grandparents. Besides, John couldn't make very far in the snow, which meant no one else was getting any farther than they were.

We went back to camp and the fun began - fun may be the wrong word; I don't know, I was having fun, even with my ear bleeding like a stuck pig. The fire, of course, was humongous. There was a pallet on top of the already big fire, and Dad and I had finished the Bacardi bottle. So, he placed the bottle on top of the pallet (with the cap on). I got up to get a Coke and BAAM! Sound like a gunshot, glass in my hair and Bacardi all over me (so I thought).

I was laughing and wiping my ear, neck and hair with the sleeve of my sweatshirt when Mom says, "Manda you're bleeding!" with the look and sound of seriousness. I ran to Mandy's trailer (someone had left the light on in our motorhome for 3 weeks and we had a dead battery) and a nurse who was camping with us followed. My ear had been sliced about 1/4 inch by the glass. The nurse was all excited to do some on-the-spot, out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere, stitches. No need though, just a lot of pressure, laughing and, what the hey, more to drink.

Right after the explosion, though, Brooke went into a panic attack and then a seizure. Our camp nurse had a busy night for being on vacation. But everyone was and is just fine.

This is where Rule #51 when camping was born: DON'T put a glass bottle in the fire with its cap on! And right before #51 (or maybe this one is #51): Make sure you brought the first-aid kit, and that it is stocked!

During all of this, Jason and some of the other guys were off getting firewood. They came back one truck short; our mud truck got a flat. So Sunday, we went to rescue our truck. While we were waiting for the tire plug to set, we hiked to the Center of Utah and had a look-see.

We stayed on the west side where it was drier and just explored for the most part. It sure is greening up and looking more like Spring, yippee!

Monday the storms rolled in again and brought hail this time. Mom and Dad decided to take off early to miss that kind of fun, besides get home at a decent time. Uncle Eric and John took off to get more firewood to dry camp out. John was on his motorcycle and ran over a sagebrush. Somehow he got all squirrelly in the air and came down hard on his side in the middle of the road. Diagnosis: possible broken ribs and a broken foot.

Of course the sun decided to shine bright and hot just as we all were driving out of camp. Oh, well. Overall, everyone did have a good time!

Manti & BBQ with friends

I'm a dork. I know this. No need in reminding me. When I did the last post I thought to myself, I already uploaded the pictures from the camera, I'm set. Well, I didn't remember I had taken a picture of fishing at Nine-Mile, so I am going to add it here. Abriana is getting more and more into fishing, she wanted to try to throw lures this time, as well as practice her casting. So I rigged her up and off she went. It is so neat to watch her grow.


So, some friends of ours invited us over for a BBQ Saturday afternoon. When I was talking to Napoleon on the phone, I mentioned we went fishing again...with no luck. He said, "Fishing?! Let's go fishing, bring your stuff! I know a place that I always catch fish." So we did.

We went to Manti Community. What a beautiful day for fishing, and, just being outdoors.


We had walked around to the other side of the lake so the kids would have more room to play. They played in the water, snow and mud. Abriana had walked out into the lake along the waterfall but forgot to put the straps of her water shoes around her ankles and stepped into a sinkhole. She pulled her foot up without her shoe. I don't even know how the kids could play in the water it was so freaking cold. She dug and dug but couldn't find it. And again, no fish...well, for us; Elena caught 2.

We went back to Elena and Napoleon's house. They had ribs marinating while we fished and it was time to grill them. While I was helping flip the ribs, the neighbors came by with their horses and let the kids go for a ride. They thought it was ever so cool!


Chey's fascination with horses was overcome by fear when she got that close. I managed to take a picture of her petting one while Dad held her, but of course, "the image cannot be displayed" was the end result on the camera. I have, however, figured out my problem and hopefully there won't be any more of those messages in the future.

May Day

The elementary had their May Day program yesterday. The girls have been practicing their songs and dances for weeks and getting more and more excited with each day drawing nearer to the big event. The program was scheduled for 9:30 in the morning and you wouldn't believe the sight of the gym, totally packed as if it were the Christmas program.

Cheyenne and I found a corner to sit in facing where Kayla should be performing, according to the chart her teacher sent home. Grant, the principal, opened the program telling everyone about a plaque and flag the school received. A soldier from our town sent them both from Iraq, the flag was even flown over there. All the kids who have a parent serving in Iraq right now, 7 total, held this flag while the audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance. It was an awesome moment.


Then the program began with 4th graders playing recorders, followed by more 4th graders dancing around the May poles.


The preschoolers came out next in their jammies and danced to a cute song. Then the kindergartners lined up in cowboy hats and vests for their dance to 'You've got a friend in me' from Toy Story. I looked and looked but couldn't find Kayla, so I just took a picture of the whole group.


The third graders ran onto the floor with parachutes and performed to 'The Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride' from Lilo and Stitch. Of course, Abriana was on the complete opposite side of the gym from us. I tried to get a zoomed in shot once I spotted her, but Cheyenne thought I was a jungle gym and wouldn't sit still for more than 5 seconds, and then it was over.


The second graders then did square dancing, and since there weren't an even number of students, Abriana was asked to help out (she knew the steps from last year). Just as I was ready to take a picture of her, the principal says on the microphone, "Kayla D****...Kayla D****'s Mom...will you...she's not feeling well, will you please meet Mrs. Henrie in the northeast corner of the gym."

Poor girl was holding her teacher's hand, paler than pale, shaking and crying. She threw up just as her class went to perform and once more before they called me over. She didn't get to do her dance, but she did make it outside when she got sick. And gave me the excuse to duck out early!

Jason got home early and was really in the mood to do something: wheeling, fishing, visiting John & Shiree. We opted for fishing. That way Kayla could lay in the jeep if she wanted, not be bounced around, and not spread her germs (if she had any. I think it was heat and nerves that made her stomach upset).

We went to Nine-Mile, but it skunked us again. I think we lost our fishing touch or something; too many times we have been fishing without a bite this year. But we'll keep trying!

Happy Mother's Day

The plan was to leave the house at 5:30 in the a.m. and hit the road to Otter Creek. We did get to Otter Creek, we just didn't get up that early. Jason and I occasionally spend time together playing the PlayStation and Saturday night we just couldn't turn it off; we were having too much fun.

We got there around 8:30 and set up. It was a cold morning, but the sun was making its way out of the clouds. The minnows and crawdads were all along the shoreline, so the girls were trying to catch them. They did catch a few crawdads but would only hold them on a stick or in the net. We were able to net what looked like a chub, it had been swimming around the rocks below Cheyenne's feet as she splashed in the water.

The fish weren't biting and the wind came up, so we found a different spot to try with the wind at our backs. Still no bites. Jason and I went for a walk around the point we were sitting near, and when we came back, this is what we saw:


Abriana set, reeled in, netted and unhooked her very own fish! What a big girl she can be when she tries! We were both so very proud of her!

The wind calmed down and no one had another bite, so again we set off to a new spot; just past our first one. Shells of crawdads were all over in the rocks and the girls had us laughing playing with them. Chey would pick one up and start dancing and singing, "Mistew Cwab, Mistew Cwab."

Everyone had their fun quota filled that day, even Ruger.


When we got home the girls gave me gifts they made at school. Abriana's flower was a little wilted from being in a paper bag for two and a half days, but still so beautiful.


Kayla's big card sure made me smile. She missed the 'i' in her middle name, but she hasn't had much practice spelling it. The petals on the flowers were made with her fingertip dipped in paint. She said she had a lot of fun making it and couldn't wait to give it to me.

There's nothing more enjoyable than spending the day with my family, especially on Mother's Day.

My first garden...

Jason and I have discussed having a garden since we moved here. Neither one of us knows much about gardening, nor is there a green thumb in the relationship, but we decided it can't hurt to try.

The soil down here is not soil, it is San Pete clay, and in the summer - dust. Our neighbors told us anything we want to plant will grow, but just to make sure, Jason went to the dairy and got a truck load of compost.


It was a bit much for the truck; notice how low the back end sits. You should've seen the springs!

We shoveled it all out and borrowed the neighbors tiller.


Then I put the kids to work helping hoe rows (without a hoe). They did a great job and had fun playing in the dirt.


Chey helped play in the dirt and knock soil back down.


But we got it done and made a little irrigation system so the water will just flow. Jason bought the seeds and helped me plant: corn, tomato, dill, cilantro, jalapeno & anaheim peppers, peas, carrots, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and 5 different kinds of squash. When the plants arrive at the Ace, we will get strawberries and raspberries planted. We'd like to plant some fruit trees, but that may have to wait until next year.

Wish us luck! My mom text me last night and said the plant I planted for her is doing awesome. Jason said, "Our garden is going to suck!" When I told Mom that she asked why. I said, "Because I can't even grow a house plant!" The one I planted for myself, with the same seeds, is not doing as well as hers is and I've recently lost the luscious plant my sister-in-law gave me. I did not inherit my grandma's green thumb, that's for sure.