Book Cliffs... Round 3&4

Last Friday after work Jake, the kids, and I went straight to Roosevelt. We packed an overnight bag, went to a viewing of a close friends sister, and then left for the Book Cliffs. Bronson slept most of the way down, and Bri fell asleep right after we got on dirt. I worried that meant we would be up all night. When we got to our camper we had been outnumbered by a group of people down protesting the Oil Shale development. We were annoyed that they had come RIGHT to our camp spot, but figured they were lucky that we didn't have any barking dogs with us. Jake and I got the camper all set up and then transferred the kids. They both slept through it all. It was such a shock to us. Something is up with the fridge in our camper and it only works when there is battery power. So, of course, our battery had died during the week with us gone. It couldn't have been dead too long, but long enough the meat in the freezer had thawed out. We cleaned that all up, and decided we would just head straight home in the morning. The kids slept until about 8, and then we loaded up and started the drive home. We stopped at Pelican Lake for breakfast and got home right at nap time. Perfect timing!

Fast forward to last Friday...

Bronson had gotten sick and kind of scared me earlier in the week, and with Bri's teeth I just couldn't decided if the kids and I should go or stay home. Finally, Friday morning, I decided we would go down for at least the night. Jake finished up at work early, and so he went and bought all our groceries. He then picked the kids up, and picked me up. We got home, and Bronson and I went back to the store to get the items Jake forgot. It's so who we are... haha! Ben and Andre dropped Tytan off, and Jake picked Jens up. Jake was happy the boys were coming with him. We filled up on gas and hit the road. We got to camp right at dark, and it was raining. There was a mean note on our camper from someone about some clean water act and all sorts of crazy stuff. So, that kind of set the tone off bad. After awhile we shook it off. The kids helped with that. Tytan and Jens kept telling me, "You are the forest ranger Kelsey. Nobody can leave notes on the forest ranger's camper." haha I don't know where they got that, but it was funny. We had a fire with S'mores when the rain stopped. We forgot Bronson's blanket (he is becoming VERY attached), and so he would not go to sleep. Finally at 10:15 all the kids were asleep. Jake and the boys were up early, and out on their adventure. Bri and Bronson slept until 9. Totally a record for my kids. I didn't even know what to do with myself. I fed them breakfast and got us all ready for the day. We drove up out of camp to call home, and to track down Jake. I ran into Bruce and he said Jake was walking into a bear tree, so I might not get him for awhile. Sure enough, no Jake so we went back to camp. We were playing outside when they pulled in. I could hear Tytan and Jens yelling, "Kelsey, you're going to be mad! We caught a bear without you." They were cute, and I wasn't mad! We had three lost dogs though so the kids and I jumped in the truck with them and we were off. Luckily, they were easy finds. We had a picnic and went back to camp. Bronson went right down for a nap while everyone else became chipmunk hunters. After Bronson's nap he was playing outside and tripped and fell. He hit his lip on a stick, and the blood was flowing out his mouth. So scary, and so gross. Jake and I do not handle things like that well at all. He freaked, I freaked, Bronson freaked, and then we were okay. Around 4:30 we cooked up dinner, went and got new water for the camper, and decided to go on an evening hunt. We drove all over and only had one true rig. So, we went back to camp for S'mores and cobbler. Again, Bronson would not sleep. We turned on Stub the  Cow Dog and he watched the whole movie. The other kids were out as soon as they closed their eyes to avoid the "bear part". It was a cozy night in the camper, and the bear hunters we up before the sun again. They showed back up to camp around 10 without having any luck this morning. Jake and Bronson took a nap while the kids and I chased chipmunks and watched Stub again. It started raining, and I was getting nervous about the drive home on the dirt portion with all the mud. Bri started getting the idea that she wasn't ready to come home, and she could stay with her Dad. She had really wanted to go hunting with Jake this morning, but when he asked me if he should wake her I told him no. She woke up so mad that he didn't wake her up. I tried to explain it was because I told him she needed the sleep, but she wasn't accepting the fact he left her very well. She asked me if Ty and Jens were staying and when I said no she said, "Good. Then he will HAVE to take me with him." haha smart girl!  Bronson finally woke up, we said good-bye, and hit the road. Roads were fine, but it did rain most the way home. I dropped the boys off and started the pile of laundry. Jake called to let me know they had got a bear, and Bri had done well. He said it was the hardest hunt of his life. The bear was 880 yards off the road, and he knew it was too far for Bri. He put her in the Kelty kid pack we have for Bronson. They got to the tree and took pictures. He then put her back in the pack and had to pull six dogs off the tree. He pretty much carried the six dogs and Bri back to the truck. He is tired, and will sleep good tonight!  Bronson and I visited with Ann and Barry for awhile, rode the four wheeler around the field,  and then Bronson was ready for bed. It was another fun weekend!

Thursday we went to dinner with the Henderson's, Steffies, and Maryann. It was a blast. 

 Bronson and Wyatt kept fighting over who the baby was.

 I taught Bri had to start the generator a couple weeks ago. She loves it, and so do I. She wakes up every morning asking if I want it on. 

 Their bear went up a HUGE Ponderosa 

 Jens was exhausted. 

 When Brilee went missing during our picnic... We found her with her favorite dogs. 

 I love snuggling Bronson.

 Bri would have loved snuggling Tytan, but he wasn't into it. 

 Her teeth are taking some getting used to. 

 Reunited with the "blankey"