THE GEAR FAMILY

Time for our annual Boulder Trip.

Bridger hopped in the motorhome with Bill, Ryan's friend, and off we went.

Bill and Bridger hit it off and became pretty good buddies.

Beautiful Boulder Mountain.

Riding the 4-wheeler is by far the kids favorite thing to do.

Ryan doing what he loves.

Bill Enjoying the view.

While the boys were away fishing, we had a little bit of a scare.

First we heard news of a bunch of officers with assalt weapons in just up the road from us. Then we noticed sheriff and unmarked vehicles stationed just outside of our camp, so Krystel and I decided to pack up the kids and go for a walk to see what was going on.

We didn't get to far before we were stopped by a sheriff that told us there was a huge drug bust about 2 miles away from were we were camped and that we needed to go back to camp and stay put because they were not sure where the men were and they could be armed.

Thank goodness Dave was with us- He is always prepared for anything and between him (an ex-cop) and his brother, Jim (an ex-marine) they loaded up on ammo and stationed around our camp until they knew we were safe.

Later we found out that it was the largest drug bust ever in Utah. There were 20,000 mature marajana plants removed, 60 million dollars worth. Hmmmmm......No wonder Ryan loves Boulder mountain so much. I won't lie, I have my suspicions!!! :)!!

A few picture of the helicopters flying over camp with loads and loads of marajana.

Yep!! I know......The most bizzare camping trip ever!!!

After all the craziness wore down we got back to the fun stuff..........CAMPING!!!!

The kids got so messy.

Their cute little dirt smudged faces and crazy hair was impossible not to love.

And then. The moment we had all been waiting for.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAITLYN!!!!!!!

We loaded her present up in the trailer and brought it down to Boulder. The funny part is that on the way to Boulder, I looked over at Kaitlyn and she was bawling. This is the conversation we had.........

Mom: "What is the matter, Kaitlyn?"

Kaitlyn: "I don't want to tell you. You will be mad at me."

Mom: :If I promise I won't be mad will you tell me?"

Kaitlyn: "okay, I looked out the window and I saw my present when you were putting it in the trailer."

Mom: "Oh, well. I guess you can have it early then."

Kaitlyn: "No, I don't want it until my birthday."

Mom: "Okay, well, Dad doesn't know that you know, so why don't we surprise him."

Kaitlyn: "sniff, sniff. Okay."

So when we got to camp Ryan (not knowing mine and Kaitlyn's conversation) rushed to take the bike out of the trailer and hide it before Kaitlyn could see it and on her birthday we surprised Dad instead.

This bike totally fits Kaitlyn's personality. She loves it.

For Kaitlyn's birthday we drove down to Calf Creek and hiked to the falls. It was so HOT, but so worth it.

Someone must have known it was Kaitlyn's birthday, because along the way there were little gifts for the birthday girl!!

This is my friend Krystel and her little boy Rigdon.

We are so glad they like to come camping and fishing with us.

It is so much fun when they come with us.

Another gift for the birthday girl!!

Ryan, Dave and the kids taking a little break.

Caroline loves me to stop and take pictures of her along the way.

Ryan looks like could use a drink.

During the hike he thought it was 3 miles one way, instead of 3 miles round trip. So he started to panic on how we were going to ration the water and if it was even possible to make it. :)!

Even though I tease him relentlessly for this. I feel so fortunate that I have a husband that thinks about things like that.

Otherwise I would probably find myself trapped in a desert somewhere on one of my great adventures with no food or water.

Thanks for keeping my grounded, Honey!!

My little hikers!

It was a beautiful hike!

I think we all wished we could have been in Carter's spot by the end of the hike.

Can you see the fall. We are almost there!!!

Carter's expression says it all.......

Us. Standing in front of Calf Creek Falls.

The kids ran straight for the sand and started building dams and reservoirs

Ryan diving into the freezing cold water.

He still came up with a smile on his face though.

You don't have to get in the water to know how cold it is, just take one look at that face.

Dave swimming face in. Wow! Super Cold!

Scott Freezing.

Krystel and I couldn't let the boys have all the fun. WOW!!! YEP!!!! Very, Very Cold!!!

Carter and Dad. (Notice the microphone in Ryan's hand, He was having so much fun he wanted to sing.........in memory of Eli Batty..............ROCK STAR!!!!!! We missed you guys on this trip.)

So Beautiful!!!

If you notice the people at the bottom, you can kind of get an idea of how big the water fall was.

I LOVE this picture. I LOVE this man!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAITLYN!!!!!

A few shots of the amazing landscape.

On the way back to camp, Ryan took us on a side road to Devils BackBone.

This bridge was made in the 1930's and is a straight drop off.

We didn't drive over the Bridge, but I bet it is pretty scary, it is a straight drop off on both sides so when you go over the bridge it feels like you are driving on air.

When we got back to camp the kids went down to the creek just below our camp and fished for baby fish.

Rigdon LOVED the fish he caught so much, he had to give it a big kiss goodbye before throwing it back.

That's right Daniel. You hold that pink and purple princess fishing pole proudly, for it caught the biggest baby fish!!!

Another of our favorite spots on Boulder Mountain.

Dave showed this little spot to us last year and it quickly became a favorite. You have to hike of 4-wheel into it. But you are going through Boulders, Sagebrush and dirt and when you come over the top of this mountain it drops dowm into this little meadow and creek area.

It is so beatiful and peaceful there.

Saturday night the boys went fishing up to Fish Creek. Ryan took Bridger with him and Bridger came back looking so tired. I asked him how the trip went and he said.....

"Okay, I am just really, really tired."

Me: : "How come?"

Bridger: (a long sigh) "Because I caught the very biggest and the very most fish."

Me: "Wow! good Job, bud!

Bridger: Eyes bright, smiling from ear to ear. All energy lost, now regained. "Do you want to see?"

Mom: "Sure"

After showing me, he proceeded to walk around camp and show everyone the pictures with him and the biggest and most fish. After he was done, he walked in the trailer and crashed on his bed, sound asleep without even changing into his PJ's.