Mancos Vacation

Our summer wouldn't be the same without a trip to the outlaws! Kaleb and Sage had Cousins Camp 2010 this year at Grandma's house, so we stayed the following week for a family vacation. Thanks to Miki's parents for putting us up and feeding us so well. We always relish our time with them. For a couple of days, we even had the whole clan together for some family picture opportunities. Those who hadn't were able to meet Shaylee for the first time. We had a blast relaxing, watching movies, playing games, jumping on the trampoline, riding the four-wheelers, horseback riding, working, partying, eating, hiking, and enjoying time together. One afternoon we were able to leave the kids with grandma to ride the four-wheelers up into the forest where Miki and I shared a picnic to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. Since our camera broke in Sacramento, we bought a nice Nikon D90 to play around with while we were there and got some stunning photos of the beautiful scenery (more photos to come later). It seemed much greener to us this year. All in all we had a great time we will always remember. As always, feel free to follow along in the photo album.

Mancos Vacation 2010

Sacramento Vacation

We were once again fortunate to travel to Sacramento July 16-23. We planned that week around my 20-year highschool reunion, but I ended up not even attending. I will have to catch up with past friends later. But I did get to catch up with a few friends while there, which was great! Saturday and Sunday we relaxed and visited with family and friends. On Monday, we went to Folsom Lake, but the boat did not cooperate with us that day. We took it home and bought a new part for it. Tuesday, we went to Fairytale Town in the morning, then back to Folsom Lake for some waterskiing. On Wednesday, we went waterskiing at Lake Clementine. This day my friend Brett and fiance Jessica joined us for the fun. On Thursday, Miki and Shay stayed at home for some needed rest while my dad took the other kids and I up to Lake Englebright to meet up with Kelton, Zeba, and Mason for more skiing. Then on Friday, we all returned to Folsom Lake to do some more skiing with my niece Kaity and Rose. On Saturday we had to drive back to Las Vegas, but I for one had not gotten my fill of waterskiing yet. I think the kids feel the same. Karter absolutely loved helping drive the boat. He said he would be ready next year to try kneeboarding. Kaleb and Sage learned to wakeboard this year to add to their kneeboarding skill. They are little pros! I don't know where they get it from!?! We were a little nervous about how Shay would do with all the car travel and being on the boat all week, but she buried all our fears with ease. She is such the little trooper. Waterskiing everyday is definitely my kind of vacation! Nothing else compares to being on the lake! Thanks to my dad and mom for letting us stay with them, feeding us, and taking us skiing everyday. Love you! Check out just a few of the many pictures below to follow along with all the fun.

Sacramento Vacation 2010

2010 April

April was another busy and fun month. It started with a weekend trip to Sacramento for my parents 50th wedding anniversary party over Easter weekend. The entire family made it for the most part. It was sure fun to see everyone and visit and have our kids get reacquainted or meet cousins for the first time. Photo album:

Hone Family 50 Party

After we returned, we had a little Easter celebration and egg hunt of our own:



Cub Scout Day Camp:



Big wheelin:



And, while Miki went for a weekend with the women folk of her family to Women's Conference, the kids and I went camping and exploring at Mojave National Preserve in CA April 30th. We hit the famous "rings" trail at Hole in the Wall visitors center, Mitchell Caverns, Kelso sand dunes, the Kelso visitors center, and a very cool lava tube. It was quite windy and cold the night we camped, but I cannot remember the last time I saw so many stars at night or ate so many S'mores. We had a blast! Be sure to follow along in the photo album:

Mojave National Preserve

Thanksgiving 2009

We were fortunate enough to spend the week of Thanksgiving with all of my family in Sacramento. I was able to visit my parents and all my siblings. We had fun cooking, eating, visiting, and playing games. We also planned some fun activities:

• Saturday we made the drive.
  
• Sunday we attended church and had a great spaghetti dinner prepared by my brother Kimber and Dee.
  
• Monday we took a tour of a gold mine (Sutter Gold Mine) with my uncle Kirt and aunt Krista and family. My how my cousins have grown! We stopped by their house on the way back.
  
• Tuesday I took the kids to the Sacramento Railroad Museum (CSRMF) and for a horse-drawn carraige ride in Old Town.
  
• Wednesday everybody went up to Apple Hill to hang out for a while.
  
• Thursday we cooked, ate, played games, and visited.
  
• Friday we went to the Sacramento Zoo together.
  
• Saturday we made the drive back home.
  

Thanks to my family for all the fun and to my parents for hosting us for our Thanksgiving vacation. Click below to follow all the fun:

Thanksgiving 2009

California Fun!!!

I love summer!!! I love that Kal and the kids are out of school, the sunshine, swimming, and even the smell of sunblock. We had a fantastic vacation in Sacramento where we caught up with Kalvan's family. The kids were thrilled to see cousins they hadn't seen in a long time and meet some they didn't remember or hadn't met before. A large portion of our trip was spent getting ready for

or camping. We camped for 3 nights at Lake Clementine. In Kal's family you don't just drive out to a camp ground and go camping. They load up the ski boats and head off to a lake. It's genius I tell you, pure genius. Lake Clementine is a beautiful lake on the the American River not far from Auburn, CA. We spent 4 days in the sun water skiing and catching up with family and friends.

While we were out camping we celebrated Kalvan's birthday. It seems we are always on vacation for his birthday, but it's been a long time since he was able to spend a birthday with so much of his family. Happy birthday honey, you're so good looking!

It was exciting to get to go to a BBQ where a large majority of Kal's High school/ward friends had a little reunion! If only all kids could grow up with such a fun group.

For the 4th of July we decided to take it easy and let the kids recover from the colds they caught while we were out on the lake. After a long nap Sage, Karter and I took a little trip out to visit Katie's thorough bred horse Honey (Katie is Kal's niece). Sage was in heaven and much to my surprise Karter felt up to riding too. Thanks so much Katie for letting us visit your beautiful horse! Sage can't stop talking about it.

Of course we couldn't get through a 4th of July without fireworks. At the last minute we ran to a stand and bought a few sparklers and little fire crackers. The kids had a great time!

See our photo albums by clicking the images above.

Christmas in Colorado

When we left Vegas to drive to Colorado, there was still plenty of snow on the ground 3 days after the storm. The drive was long and uneventful. We were glad to arrive at Grandpa and Gramdma's house to find even more snow waiting for us to enjoy. When I say "enjoy," that also means plenty of shoveling and plowing. It has snowed on and off since we arrived.

Colorado Christmas 2008

And along with the beauty comes a fair share of fun and games including sledding, snowball fights, making graham cracker houses, way too much good food, movies, and never enough sleep! Kalvan even got ambitious and made an igloo in the front yard.

Of course we had our traditional Christmas Eve nativity reading as we celebrate the birth and life of our Savior. This year we had enough cousins to act it out the nativity as well. Christmas came and went with more snow and even more presents. Santa Clause was very good to us this year. How greatful we are for good kids! We hope that everyone has been blessed this Christmas and this year as we look forward to 2009. We miss and love all of our family and friends we couldn't be with and wish the best always.

Click the photo album link above to see some of our photos so far.