Father & Sons Campout 2011

I'm not sure what it was tonight that made me think of this old blog that I don't think I have looked at in over a year, but I checked it out tonight to see what was here. I'm pretty sure I only have 1 person that follows this blog. That would be my big brother, Jeff.

As I was looking at the last post on my blog from our Father & Sons Campout last year, I noticed a comment from Jeff reminding me not to forget to take pictures from this year's Father & Sons Campout. It was dated May 11, 2011. It is now September 12th. Tonight I have confirmed 2 things: 1, I haven't looked at this blog for a very long time. 2. Jeff is the only person who follows this blog.

So, Jeff, this post is for you. Enjoy a few pictures from this year's F&S Campout (4 months late).

The men and their tent

Bradley with his breakfast

Brothers and Best Friends

Jackson enjoying the fire

And for your Annie fix...

Father & Sons Campout

I decided yesterday to take Jackson and Bradley on our Stake's Father and Sons Campout. I called around and found some other dads who were going and we carpooled up with them. We found a good campsite and started setting up camp. The wind was blowing hard, so setting up the tent was difficult. The boys helped get the tent set up and then we brought our bedding into the tent and got it ready.

Bradley in the tent sans teeth

The wind didn't quit blowing. All of the stake got together for singing and stories and the wind kept blowing. It was blowing so hard, we almost decided not to light our own fire when we got back to camp. But what would camping be without a fire and smores???

We roasted marshmallows and hotdogs, ate chips, and drank lots of drinks.

When it was time for bed, I took the boys to the the tent and we stayed up talking for a while. We shared testimonies and everyone had their turn to pray. They were a little freaked out because of how hard the wind was blowing, so they included that in their prayers. The tent did bend in the wind, but it didn't break. I now know I can take this tent anywhere and it will do fine.

When we got up in the morning, it was COLD. We packed up all of our stuff and I realized some things don't change. I STILL don't like stuffing my sleeping bag back into its stuffsack when my hands are cold! We got everything packed up except for taking down the tent. We decided to go eat breakfast and then come back and take down the tent.

Bradley with the semi-automatic BB-gun in front of the Hummer

Jackson with the semi-automatic BB-gun in front of the Hummer

The stake made pancakes, eggs, and bacon. It was really good. I wish we could have enjoyed it a little longer, though. Before we got all of our food, it started snowing. I jokingly asked if this counts as the Klondike as well, but that was when it was only starting to snow. We quickly ate our breakfast and then headed back to camp to take down our tent and help the others with their stuff.

When we got to camp, the snow was just starting to accumulate on the tent. All of the kids were freezing, so we put them in the Expedition while we worked on camp. We managed to get everything packed up and headed home. We headed home a lot earlier than we were planning, but we had a great time.

This picture does NO justice to how cold it was! This is when the snow started. By the time I got the tent down and packed, it was covered in snow and mud.

When I got back home, I unpacked the tent to dry it out and clean the mud off of it. I unrolled the tent and there was a bunch of snow still in it.

Bradley in his FAVORITE seat in the Hummer...the 6th seat in the back!

We made it through our trial run of camping together. Now we are ready for our trip to Alaska and camping along the way. I told the boys our trip to AK would be a lot easier as we will be sleeping in the back of the Sienna instead of a tent covered in snow. But they will also be ready for camping in AK with all of the family. AK here we come!

A New Blogger In The Family

We have a new blogger in the family. Jackson came to me the other day and really wanted to start a blog. I think he forgot about the blog he created back in 2006. (http://web.me.com/ryan.kendall/Kendalls/Jacksons_Blog/Jacksons_Blog.html) So I helped him setup a new blog and get started.

If you would like to follow Jackson's blog or view it, send me your email and I'll send you an invite.

I can't seem to create a new post without something on Annie, so here is a video of her cheering on her BYU Cougars:

The Annie Fix

I have come to realize the main point of having this blog is to show off Annie. And I'm OK with that. I'm sure something will come up and I'll post something about someone else, but for now, it's all Annie.

Here she is, making her musical debut...my pretty lady...Annie.

Year In Review Post

Welcome back, dear readers. I am very aware of my lack of posts, thanks, in part, to our readers making me aware. I would like to reward you by being upfront and making you aware that this post, in fact, will not be a year in review. If I can't get online and post about things as they happen, there is no way I can do it all at once. The title was just an effort to increase the number of hits our blog gets. Say...from 10 hits to maybe 12. So here we are, you wondering what you will read about and me wondering what I will write about.

Maybe I'll just post some pictures and call it good.

Me and Annie on a Sleigh Ride

Annie's Long Eyelashes

Bradley, Jackson, and Annie In Their New PJs On Christmas Morning Waiting

To See if Santa Came

Bradley and Jackson's Expression As They Saw Their Present

Bradley Breaking In His New Snowboard

Surprise Visit From Santa!

Christmas On Temple Square (Where Chelsea and I Were Married)

And Finally, What You All Come Here For...Your Annie Fix

"Suite" SLC Bees Game

Chelsea was at IKEA a while back and entered a drawing for tickets to the Salt Lake City Bees. She only entered because Jackson wanted to, but wasn't old enough. The other day she got a call saying she had won tickets and they would be waiting for her at will-call. So we had a great night watching the Bees from the IKEA Suite. There was more than enough food and drinks all night long.

In between the 2nd and 3rd inning, the Bee came up to the suite to do an IKEA advertisement on the big screen out in center field. He grabbed Chelsea and me, put up one finger to signal to us we would be on in one minute, and the camera man got up close. I was on one side of the Bee and Chelsea was on the other. We heard the announcer start talking over the PA system, the camera guy made the "you're on" motion, and the Bee pushed our heads together then put his hands over his eyes as we kissed.

Here's a picture of us with the Bee outside of the suite:



And here is one of the view from our seats:

Happy Birthday Annie!

Happy Birthday, Annie!  (I know this is very late, but, oh well.)  Annie is our little sweetheart.  She is so good and happy and patient.  Some of Annie's favorite things are:  dolls, purses, play food and dishes, real food and dishes, dancing, and anything pink, sparkly, or pink and sparkly.  We love you, Annie!  You bring so much fun and girlyness to our family.