Flaming Gorge

Summer goes out with a BaNg!!

What a way to end the summer!!

**Warning**

This post may be incredibly long... but there are some great pics (see slideshow from above) to look at for your viewing pleasure!

This past weekend, Mike and his best buddy, Andy, planned the best get away that we've had in a long time!! A trip to Flaming Gorge!

I've never been there, so just going at all seemed exciting... and I couldn't have asked for a weekend that was more fun!!

It started on Friday morning. We met up around 6:00-ish... and about 11 of us caravaned up to the Gorge. We got there around 12:00 p.m. We had to boat all of our gear to our campsite... there were no roads to get there, which meant is was that much more exciting!! We went up with 3 boats. Andy's wakeboarding boat, Eva's tubing boat, and a pontoon boat that Daniel got from his work.

As soon as we got there, we hopped on the boats and started making our way to the camp site. it was a weekend filled with fun... wakeboarding, tubing, wakesurfing... and relaxing on the pontoon boat!!

That first day was great, after setting up camp, we boarded 2 of the 3 boats and headed out on the lake. The weather was awesome and the water was like glass... not a ripple!! The boys, Mike, Andy, Alex, and Joey immediately got our the wakeboards trying to show eachother up!

That night (after picking up about 10 other people) we roasted hot dogs, made s'mores, and chilled out by the nice warm fire... it was great.

The next morning... you guessed it... more boating!! I was so excited to try wakeboarding, again. I've tried it about a thousand times and have never been able to get up on a board. Andy promised me that by the end of the weekend, I'd do it. So, it was finally my turn... the weather had gotten a little windy and rainy, but I was determined.

Mike sat me down at the edge of the boat and helped me get strapped in. As I was getting ready to hop off the edge of the boat, Mike warned "Don't hit your head on the swim deck". Well, I'm proud to say that I listened to his warning and did not hit my head... my bum, on the other hand, is a completely different story. I (literally) slipped off the deck with the wakeboard strapped to me and landed right on my tail bone on... the swim deck... the hard, wooden swim deck!!

Poor Mike... the look on his face was utter disbelief... as all the other people in the boat were gasping and trying not to laugh, I looked at my poor hubby and said (with a big smile) "Well, I didn't hit my head!!". He just shrugged and giggled saying "No, you sure didn't".

What can I say? I'm a total clutz... and if you know me, then this shouldn't come as a surprise!!

Here's the happy ending... my first 2 tries were pretty much a lost cause. Everytime I tried to stand up, I ended up on my tummy being dragged by the boat until my arms gave out. Luckily, Mike's buddy, Andy, is the best wakeboarding coach who's ever existed. After seeing my pathetic attempts to get up on the board, he came to the back of the boat and gave me a little private lesson. My next attempt??? SuCcEsS!!!! Andy explained it perfectly and I did it!! He was able to get everyone up who'd never been... Thank you, ANDY!!!

That night, we ended up with about 30 people at the campsite. It was so much fun!! Although not many people knew eachother when we first got there, everyone had become great friends!! The boys had a big Cornhole tournament (if you haven't heard of it, it's a game like horshoes, only with bean bags... and it's totally addicting).

Sunday was the day we packed up to head home. We finished the day with tubing, cliff jumping, and an awesome rope swing... which I promptly embarrassed myself on!! It was sad to leave, but I can't wait to get back there next year!!

Welcome to the World, Lochlan!!

Well, this is a happy post... at least to our family!!

On August 3rd, my beautiful baby sister had her second baby boy!! His name is Lochlan Edward Wehner (just to be clear... the Edward part is in homage to Josh's grandpa... not to Edward Cullen the vampire). Weighing in at 6 pounds 12 oz and 19 1/2 inches long... he is another beautiful addition to an amazing family. He is adorable with a head full of thick, dark hair!! Declan is a proud big brother and is already very protective of his baby!!

Kyrie and the baby are great... especially since he's 4 weeks old, now!! On Tuesday, the 18th, Mike and I took Declan over night for a little slumber party with us. We took him to a BBQ at Dan and Eva's house, where he was the life of the party. I tell you, there's nothing better than a 3 year old little boy convincing 3 late 20's men to watch "Tarzan" with him!! After the BBQ, we went back to our house and watched "Bolt" with the little man. We even made Sprite floats... we were out of root beer. Declan passed out in about 20 minutes, snuggled up next to his beloved Uncle Mike!

The next day was an exciting one for me. I had taken the day off to spend it with Kyrie and baby Loch. I promised Kyrie that I would take Dec to school (it was water day... and he loves water day), then head to her house. Well, within about 20 minutes of Declan waking up, we were in full meltdown mode. I couldn't get him to eat anything for breakfast... and I felt so guilty! I couldn't stomach the thought of him going to school and being hungry, needless to say, we survived and I made it to Kyrie's by about 9:15 a.m.

I had spoken to her about 3 times that morning, so I was surprised to see her and baby Loch passed out in her bedroom. Seeing that she was sleeping so peacefully, when sleep is so rare for her these days, I crawled under her covers. After a few seconds... she realized I was there and asked if we could take a quck 30 minute nap. I, of course, said sure!! The next thing we know, we're finally waking up and it's almost 12:00 p.m. So much for a fun-filled sister day... ha ha!!

Anyways, here are some adorable pics of our newest family member: