Yet another weekend at the cabin

I spent yet another weekend at the cabin with most of my family. We had a great time doing the usual stuff...hiking and waiting in line to use the one bathroom. But, it's fun to have all the little kids there doing fun little kid stuff too like painting with the watercolors, building forts, play dress up, and singing songs.

I think they were singing a song and were at the part that goes "...now fold you arms like me like me, now fold you arms like me..."

We also did some new stuff...like go out for fish tacos!

Cabin Art Gallery

On my other blog I featured Katrina's "Grampa" watercolor masterpiece. I thought I'd share a few more of the paintings we did at the cabin over the weekend.

T, Kjirsten

Peace (2009)

WATERCOLOR ON PAPER

8.5" x 11"

T, Katrina

Flowers (2009)

WATERCOLOR ON PAPER

8.5" x 11"

T, Katrina

Grandpa's Special Place (2009)

MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER

8.5" x 11"

(This was commissioned by grandpa himself. It is of the old outhouse that was torn down last year. Look closely for the intricate leaf rubbings comprising much of the upper picture)

R, Katie S.

Climbing in Big Cottonwood Canyon (2009)

WATERCOLOR ON PAPER

8.5" x 11"

R, Simon

Oh! Gweeeen! Bwoooowwn! (2009)

WATERCOLOR ON PAPER

8.5" x 11"

The artist himself is most often the most critical of his work...

Weekend in Brighton

My entire family came out last weekend. They were all here for once...and they didn't stay at my house. Not that I don't love it when they stay with me, but it's so nice to stay at the cabin. Once night we all even spent the night, except for Nate's family with is only 3 less people. It was crowded but fun. We decided to take this family picture after church, but as of today, it's already out of date since Emily had her baby this morning. It was taken from the horseshoe post since it was the only think I could wrap my camera tripod around.

Bryce brought out Koob. It's a game we'd played on our river trip last year and I gave him a set for Christmas. Everyone liked it and it kept half of us out of the crowded cabin for hours at at time.

We didn't all fit around the table for meals, but we did the best we could.

Mom/Grandma surprised us by making layered finger Jello for dinner and that entertained the kids for longer than anyone really expected it to. The young ones and the old ones.

Kris was entertained by the jello and the cucumbers...which entertained the rest of us to watch.

We hiked over to Solitude where some/most everyone played some frisbee golf.

With all those people each throwing a disc I don't know how any didn't get lost.

The rest of us were going to get ice cream cones at Solitude but it was closed so we just hiked back to the cabin... but we took the scenic route.

Jerry showed us how to pull the blossoms out of these flowers and bite off the end with the minty nectar inside and we did it the rest of the day whenever we found some.

One of the reasons this is the scenic route...always a nice view of Silver Lake from up here.

At the end of the day some of us went over to find a geocache Andy had placed by a meadow just off Guardsmans Pass. There were a lot of wildflowers along the way and though they were starting to fade it made for some nice pictures.

I couldn't help editing this post to add one last picture I just found in my camera. Some of the family stayed the whole week and I went back and forth between the cabin at night and working during the day. I took this picture the weekend after I took all the previous ones, just before dad and I both left the last time. Kind of sums everything up doesn't it...

Reminiscing

Well I'm single again. Boo Hoo. Every time this happens I find myself reminiscing on not just the latest boyfriend to fall by the wayside but all the ones before, as well as other guys who've played (or wish they'd played) significantly romantic roles in my life. I wonder what they're doing now. I wonder if they even remember me. I wonder what I would say to them if I had the chance. I decided to write some of them a little letter just for fun. Just a little one. They made me laugh so I thought I'd post them. I'll put the names alphabetically and Jane Austin style where you only get one letter. (I never really got why she did that sometimes.) It may be obvious to some of you who many of them are but you'll have to guess on the rest and I'm not telling who they really are.

Dear A_, You are really nice. If only you were taller…and not the shape of a beachball…

Dear A_, Bad timing bad timing bad timing. Too bad since we got along so well. You always liked the weirdest girls. I think I was the most normal girlfriend you ever had.

Dear B_, I wish we'd gone out more. I had the craziest crush on you for years after I saw you last.

Dear B_, We had some good times. Sadly, I have given up all hope for you. I'm happier without you. I think you're crazy. P.S. You owe me money.

Dear C_, Going out with you made me feel like I was in high school but in a lame way, not a fun way. The beater car, the concert, you being shorter than me…I'm glad you lost my number. Please stop emailing me asking for it again.

Dear C_, You were great, but I'm glad we don't talk anymore. I think you're shady.

Dear D_, You need to shower more often. You always smell bad and my mom says you're too chatty. I agree. Plus you're a hypocrite. Get over yourself, you're not that cool. Not even close.

Dear D_, It would have never worked out if we dated for obvious reasons, but wouldn't it have been fun if it had!? You were so good looking. I loved your hair.

Dear E_, I'd like to pretend I never knew you. Can you not ever tell anyone we ever went out? I find it embarrassing. No one liked you, not even me. I don't know what I was thinking.

Dear J_, You made me happy. I still miss you.

Dear L_, You had a really nice car, a fancy house and you were really good looking, but lacked personality. I'm not sure why I felt dumb when I ran into you recently but I'm glad you said hello.

Dear M_, You are special. I still have that poem you wrote me.

Dear S_, I'm sorry for how I treated you. I think of you often. I'm glad you are happy and successful now. I still sing that song you wrote me when I'm driving in my car alone.

Dear T_, When we went on that first double date I thought I was going out with your friend not you. I never told you that. It was a pleasant surprise.

Dear Fish Tacos, I will love you forever. Are you busy tonight? Let's get together at Lone Star Taqueria.

Love, K_

Climbing with Bryce and Tori

The entire family came out for the weekend but the first couple days when just Bryce's family was here still we were able to go out for some fun rock climbing. The first afternoon Bryce, Tori, and I all went and climbed a couple routes on The Slips. Liz and Mark came and watched. I'm not sure why it's called The Slips but Liz slipped in the river crossing it the first time and I slipped in it crossing on the way back. I was either climbing or holding the rope for Bryce so I only have pictures of Tori. She makes it look so easy. Liz just sent a couple pictures of me on The Slips! So I added them in here Saturday morning Bryce and I went and climbed Steort's Ridge on the Dead Snag Crag. It was a fun route. Bryce lead it, 3 pitches of trad climbing to a nice airy finish and then 3 rapells. It was Bryce who first let me rapell down a small cliff once at the cabin when I was about 16 or 17, but this was the first time we'd really climbed together. It was great and we're already planning the next time.

Climbing isn't always the most photogenic sport. Sometimes you make funny faces, or your helmet gets pushed back really far making you look bald...but they're the only pictures you have.

Thank goodness for scenic shots like this one. This is the view from the top, or near the top.

Bryce reaching the top. Too bad we only had one camera. This last part looked cool from both directions. A few shots of us at the top.

Pulling the rope between rappelsI'm in there somewhere. This was the last rappel to the bottom.