Lake Powell

Kayaking

Our family is not the most adventurous kind of people. However, we do enjoy going kayaking when we are down at lake Powell. The first time we went down to lake Powell we went kayaking for the very first time, and we all had a blast. We played kayak tag. Nickolas was chasing me, Heidi, and Brooklyn and we didn't want to be it so we started paddling fast and we ended up tipping over. I had taken my camera out on the lake with me and it fell into the lake. We managed to turn over the kayak and there was my camera floating, because I had put into 2 plastic baggies, but water was leaking into the baggie. Nick was nice and swam the camera back to the van to let it dry out. Nothing happened to it which was awesome. We all had a great time after that and stayed out in the water for a couple of hours.


















So this time when we went down everyone wanted to go kayaking. We were going to go, everyone got ready, but the kayak man had not taken the kayaks out. So the next time we wanted to go out was on Max's birthday and we went and kayaked to this one spot were Barbara always goes. We played in the water for a few hours and also had a fabulous time.






















The next time we wanted to go kayaking we went to the same spot. Getting there was a bit tricky because we had two little kids with us, Max and Toby's son Jacob. So Jacob went in Chloe's kayak and Max got his own. I tied Max on to my kayak, so I would be pulling him. But he had his own paddle. We were going around this huge boulder and the waves were insane. I thought I could handle the waves because I had done it before. But no not this time, I ended up capsizing my kayak. Max didn't tip over thank goodness. So being the quick thinker I am, I tied the rope around my waste and towed my kayak and Max in his kayak to the spot we went to for Max's birthday. We landed the kayaks and I thought everything would be fine. So we played and found this rock that was in the middle of the rocky beach. We played king of the boulder. We all got hot and had rasin hands, so we decided to head back for the van. I got Max into his kayak and I was getting into mine. This time the kayak would not balance and I kept on tipping over. This pissed me off so bad. I think I got 10 different bruses. I kept on tipping over so I decided to just tie the rope round my waste again and swim over to the boulder were the waves started and tryed to get on there as well. But no luck. Nick paddled over to me and told me that he was going to trade kayaks he tried to get on and he also tipped over. I was glad that I was not beinging an uber dork and my body was not the problem. I ended up swimming back, most of the way to shore. Which was about a mile away or at least felt like it, and not to mention I was not waring a life jacket. I decided that I didn't need one becasue last time nothing happened while I had a life jacket on. Hillary tried to help me, by me hanging on to one of the kayaks she was pulling. But that was too hard on her and I didn't want her to go low with her diabetis. When we got to shore I was exausted I tried to pull my kayak up on to shore and I could not do it. The bottom of the kayak had filled up with water from when I had capsized the first time. There was no way for the water to get out. When I saw all the water in the bottom I was really pissed off. But I guess everything happens for a reason, and I guess that the reason was to see if I could endure swimming that far. Thats what I think anyway.

Happy Birthday Max

Blogging a bit late, but better late then never. Max celebrated his 5th birthday down at lake Powell. It was a fun day for him. His mom bought him a brand new scooter with knee and elbow pads, safety first. His mom also took him to lunch up at the lodge where she works. Grandma gave him a puzzle book of Peter Pan. Hillary gave him some new cars, which are his favorite thing. I also gave him several cars, new cloths, new boxers and a swimming suit. His birthday cake was a rocket that we made and topped with candy. His mom invited some co-workers to dinner, which she insisted on making Indian food. So I chopped and fried and cooked the dinner.
Nothing like Indian food in a jar. yum yum. All in all, I think that he had a good time.

Famous People Birthday on July 23rd
Daniel Radcliffe
Monica Lewinsky
Marlon Wayans
Slash
Woody Harrelson

Heidi's Birthday

Happy Birthday Heidi! I know I am blogging this a bit late but better late then never. Heidi turned 28 this year... Wow, I can not for the life of me believe that we are getting this old... dang... Well she came down and we had a few presents for her. I got her a pair of Stainless Steel hoop earrings. She didn't want them to hoochy mama big, and not too small. I think, she likes them because she wares them all the Hillary gave her the Beach Body Slim in 6 work out system -and she really wanted it, we were not suggesting anything mean- Mom gave her some hair clips and was going to make her a fruit basket. Nickolas gave her a scale. Heidi wasn't into cake this time, she just wanted fruit. Heidi ended up watching her sister-in-law kids, she gets paid to do it so it wasn't that big a of deal. She had a good time just chillin with the family. She was going out to dinner later with Beau and no kids for once. yeah... HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEIDI

Famous People Birthdays on July 6th

Tia and Tamera Mowry

50 Cent

George W. Bush

Sylvester Stallone

Dalai Lama

Della Reese

Nancy Reagan

Frida Kahlo

Barbara

Barbara lives and works down at Lake Powell, which is a beautiful place. Our annual family vacation to go visit and play has led to some mishaps. Well, the whole family was originally going to leave the night of the 22nd of July to stay for a week. But as events unfolded they didn't end up happening that way. Sterling, Suzannah, and Savannah went to New York to stay with there father for some of the summer. Sterling and Suzy only wanted to stay for two weeks, but ended up staying a month and a half. Sterling was pissed. Then when it was time for them to come home, there dad booked the flight for the 26th of July, he said it was the cheapest day. So that is where the 4 months of plans began to fall apart. We had to figure out how we would all get down to Lake Powell for our vacation. The next plan was to get the truck fixed so that me, Max and Nick would be able to make it down for Max's Birthday on the 23rd. But the truck needed to get registered and insured before we could make the trip. We took it in and as luck would have it, it didn't pass. We took it in several other times to get it to pass but each time it would fail, so we gave up. Then I called Barb and told her that we couldn't make it because the truck would not pass and we needed the van to pick up the kids from the airport on the 26th. She was upset, I mean really upset. So then I told Heidi what was going on and she told me also that Kim (her sister in law) was not going to be able to make it as well. Mind you have have been planning and storing enough food for 20 people and now it might not even happen. I was freaking out. Then, I guess Barbara talked to her X-Toby about what was happening. He said that he would lend Barbara his truck to come up and get us on the 15th. A whole week before we were going to go down. I thought it would be fun. Barbara offered to help pay for gas in his truck, because I didn't plan for a huge truck that took premium gas to make the trip. So me, Max and Nick would be going down on the 16th of July and stay while mom and Hillary stayed and waited to pick up the kids then would come down on the 27th and we would all stay until the 31st. Barbara came up in the truck and I packed everything and waited for the next morning so we could leave. However, Barbara wanted to make a few stops before we left which was fine. She wanted to take care of her drivers licence. Which was fine with me, they are good to have. So she called the DMV and asked what she needed to do so she could get it back. They told her that she needed to go to the Farmingtion court house to see about a ticket that she had. The DMV also said that the Centerville ticket was taken care of and that she had no warrants out. We all thought it was going to be easy and fast. But again fate wasn't going to have it be easy and fast. I took her up to the Farmingtion court house and they said indeed she did have a warrant out and that she needed to appear before a judge tomorrow morning between 7 and 8:30, which was still enough time to make it down to Lake Powell before she had to go back to work. In the morning she got ready and woke up Nick to drive her back to the court house. I had the truck packed and everything was set and ready to leave as soon as they got back. Well 9 o'clock rolled around and they still had not come back. I tried calling Nick but there was no answer, so I assumed they were still waiting for the judge. So I decided to go shopping to get a few last minute things. 10 o'clock passed by and then Nick calls and says that Barbara has not come out of the court house yet -Barbara made Nick wait outside in the car-. So we tell him to go in and find out what was going on. He calls back and tells us that they took Barbara to jail. Wow!! I was floored, we knew that was a possibility but really didn't think the judge was going to be that big of a dick. Mom began to call everyone she knew to see if they could help. She needed 1,500 dollars in order to get her out that day. But no one would help and the judge put her in jail without allowing her to be bailed out. The judge was such a dick. We finally found out that she was able to see the judge on Monday and Barbara needed to be at work on the Friday before. I personally, didn't want to unpack Toby's truck and wait for her to get out. We talked it over and decided that, me, Max, and Nick would come down without her. We Left. We made the drive in 6 hours, which is normal. When Monday came around we had had a good time and was waiting to see what would happen with Barbara. The family called and said that she could get out if she paid 200 dollars of her fine. Which she did and she became a free woman and hungry to get back down here. But that was the tricky part, how would she get down here. Mom needed the van to pick up the other kid and the truck was not passing the emissions. Then mom made a choice that shocked me. She said to take the van. Which meant that mom, Sterling, Suzy, and Nanna would NOT be coming down. I didn't want her to do that because the whole family needed to be here, because it was a Family Vacation. She was finally able to get herself together and on her way. Hillary was driving and they brought Chloe along, which was awesome, Max would have some one to play with. They make it down with out any problems. So she went into work to talk with her boss to make sure she still had a job and that everything was OK. I mean it's not like the whole thing was planned to happen this way. Granted she should have taken care of her ticked within the time given to her. And from what I hear is that when you have a warren out for your arrest, a signed copy of the warrant is delivered to your house, we never got one. And how come the DMV didn't know that she had a warrant or even about the other ticked she got in North Salt Lake. But most of all if we had missed the court house it could have all been avoided. Yes, we made it 5 minutes before closing time. Just 5 minutes more in traffic or I had suggested just to go in the morning or wait all together, but nope fate had a different idea. I guess she was meant to do her time right then.
Also, out of the events that occurred Heidi and her kids were unable to make it down to the Family Vacation, because Hillary took all the gas money with her. So Heidi didn't get to be here. Out of the 20 people that were going to be here in the beginning, only 5 family members made it. Jessica, Hillary, Nick, Chloe, and Max. Talk about your plans falling through.

Lake Powell

I am here blogging right from lake Powell with the slowest internet in years.... and those of you who have dial-up should feel bad for us. Anyway I wish I could up load some pictures for you all but there is no chance in hell that will happen. The first day we got down here Toby was nice and took us out on the boat to watch the sunset and go swimming. It was so beautiful. The next day is when all the drama began. Me, Max and Nick decided to go swimming. We didn't think it was going to be a far walk, so I decided to ware my new flip flop... I had to look good. That was a big, big mistake. By the time I reached the lake I had 4 hug blisters where my flip flop straps were. There was no way I was able to walk home. So Nick traded shoes and then he go a blister too from waring my flip flops. Then the sun block I bought was not water proof... and I was dumb and did read the label so now I am a fried egg and going to get skin cancer. So the third day we are here Toby again asks if we want to go out on the boat. We all jump at the opportunity and head out on the lake. Nick went water skiing and tubing. Max didn't have a chance to go tubing because the boat died. yep. the battery died on us so we were out on the lake waiting for someone to come and rescue us from the open waters. Then about 3 hours later we are all dieing from heat stroke and decided to jump in the lake... again big mistake. because when Nick jumped in he slipped and sliced the bottom of his foot open on a cleat. The metal thing you tie the boat up when you dock. I swim to him and try to hold his foot up to keep it elevated as blood is streaming down my arm... if there were sharks in the lake we would have been dead, because there was so much blood. I tie Max's shirt around his foot and holding pressure on it. We now decided to row to shore where there is a boat not to far. As Toby is lifting up the floor boards he discovers that the boat is taking on water. A few cuss words later we are off and get the boat jump started from the hot boys that were on the other boat and make it back to the docks. Toby runs to get his truck and I am helping Nick hop along the dock. He almost passes out because it is so hot and he is bleeding, so I have to carry him on my back. We make it to the insta care were Nick gets 6 stitches in the bottom of his foot. And now we have been home bound for 3 days... but we are going swimming in just a few... while we have been home Barbara (a long story for my next blog) Hillary and Chloe came to join us in our trailer. Nick says to tell you all that he asked someone out on a date. yeah go Nick. And Nick gets to have his stitches out in 2 weeks. I bet more will happen and I will blog... Go CLAN

Good Bye MICHAEL JACKSON.

HAPPY 4th of JULY

Wow!!! I can hardly believe that the year is almost over. For so many 4th's we have done fireworks, but this year the twins and Sterling are in New York visiting with their dad. So the only memebers of the clan that are home are Me, Max, Nick, Hillary and Mom. Wow!!! And Heidi's family are not coming down they are having a BBQ with Kim's family. Max is scared of very loud noises, so we didnt go see any fireworks last night and I am not to sure if he will be able to handle the fireworks that we bought for tonight. I hope so. This family is not doing much beside lighting the fireworks that we have. I think it will be the calmest 4th of July ever. It will be very strange. And I will have not pictures to post becasue I let Sterling take my camera to New York so they could have some pictures to bring back.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE

HELP WANTED

As many of you know already Nickolas tried to kill himself. I really don't know what to think about the whole thing because I too have been suicidal in my teenage years. I overcame the thoughts by becoming a cutter and for me that was the best kind of therapy there was. I no longer cut or have suicidal thoughts because I have learned how to manage my thoughts by suppressing them or painting or taking pictures. Nickolas is in up a hospital in Ogden, finally getting some help. Nickolas said the reasons why he tried to kill himself is he hates the entire Clan Family Members. I have known he wants to be an only child. Anyway, another reason is that, mom and I do not have full time jobs. Mom is a substitute teacher. And I take care of Max. So if anyone out there in BlogWorld has any ideas on how to get a job working at home but not working with phones, as I have already tried that and it's really not for me because I get too angry with the customers. Or I do have a bachelor degree in Liberal arts. I really don't know what kind of job that it will get me, but I need to be able to take care of Max because he is disabled. Any kind of job that would let me take him to work with me incase anything happened. Also, if anyone has any ideas about how to help Nick let us know, I just got done reading a book about teen suicide and I am still lost.

Lagoon Day

On Thursday was the Layton Construction work party for Beau's work. Layton was so generous to have the party up at Lagoon. So Jessica and my mom all told me to wear a jacket because it was suppose to rain the day we were going to Lagoon. But of course i thought to myself am too smart for that so i didn't wear a jacket.... Honestly who do i think i am? I froze that whole day we were at Lagoon because it poured rain we were all drenched from head to toe. That was the only down side of are whole adventure at Lagoon and that Savannah and I "Nick" both got motion sick from the swings then we road Wicked and after that we went on the Centennial Screamer, my stomach was not happy with me after that ride. And i am the kind of guy who doesn't like to see his food twice, but if this is a little TMI i saw it twice once i got home.
But it was a fun experience everyone who was there was having fun even though it was raining wildly it didn't matter we all had fun and that's all that counts when it comes to this family.