Oh my 4th of July!

Whew! What a long weekend. We started off the crazy whirlwind with a trip up to the Uintas to camp at "The Ranch". Every year since I was born, it is tradition on my mom's side of the family to camp at some family property up in the Uintas. It is located between Evanston Wyoming and Mirror Lake in Utah. We are right on the border of the two states, but you have to go through Wyoming to get back over to Utah.

The Ranch is meant to be used for crazing cattle and sometimes horses, besides this, we are allowed to camp throughout the summer and everyone we are related to on the Reg and Amelia Burt side is invited on the 4th of July.

Anyhoo, I have only missed 3 years in my 28. One, when I was a punk teenager and thought hanging out with a boyfriend was more important; and two while living in CA. Luckily the other 4 years in CA, we made the drive up. Since we have had more than one child, we just drive up the morning of the 4th of July, we leave about 4:30am, to get there by about 6:30. Dynamite goes off at 7am to wake the campers and announce that it's time to eat "The Best Buttermilk Pancakes in the World". Well, this year we decided to try our family at camping. We have hesitated with this prospect because Gabe is, let's say,"too curious for our own good". But the boys camped beautifully. No one fell in any of the 3 ponds. No one fell off the tractor ride. There were no firecrackers in cow pies exploding in anybodys face (This has happened to someone in the past, I kid you not). So, we left North Ogden about 10:30am and arrived at 1pm. We made a food stop, gas stop, Redbox stop and Walmart stop for more diapers. Usually it doesn't take that long to get there. After Colby and my cousin Ben found the perfect spot for our ginormous 9-man tent, it was time to setup camp. Braxton helped for about 3 minutes, then it was up to Colby and I. When we finished, we trekked over to chat with family and more relatives than you can ever imagine.

(My sister Tyra, her husband Rob, and my eldest nephew Wyatt.)

The 3rd was spent snacking, chatting and chair hopping to find the best seat in shade.

Gabe spent some time in the wading pool my Uncle Dennis set up for the little tikes (Thanks Brindi for the swim diaper).

(Taryn, Carson, Coleman and Braxton. Coleman made them all bow and arrows.)

Braxton hung out with cousins galore, exploring anything and everything.

(My dad and T.)

Tristan, when not chillin' in the stroller, was passed among many loving hands until he felt he could hang out on the grass. That night we enjoyed an abundance of fireworks put on by cousins Ben and Aaron. Of course my kids covered their ears and refused to watch them, except Tristan. My mom handed out glow sticks to all the kids there, and believe me that is a lot (She ordered about 200-400 of them just in case). After the firework show it was off to tuck kids in bed, the glow sticks came in as handy night lights. Colby and I watched a movie in the car while waiting for the two smallest to settle into a deep slumber. (Okay, so I always wanted to do matching family shirts just once. We look like complete dorks. The boys shirts are actually girl shirts, but I didn't know it until I put them on. They were hanging in the boys section when I bought them. All day long myself and others lovingly called them my little girls.)

The morning of the 4th was started with a trip to the outhouse, and then breakfast after the two sets of dynamite this year. I got to eat alone, it was heavenly not to have sticky hands wanting things left and right. All my boys slept through the blasts, I had to go wake them after I ate. After breakfast there is usually a tractor ride for all that can fit on. We missed the first ride, but caught the second ride before lunch.

(Ginger Burt and my mom.)

We had a lovely presentation put on by several relatives honoring my Aunt Ginger and all she does in taking care of the Ranch. We hope and pray that she will still be with us next year, all at the Ranch love and appreciate her dearly. I visited for a couple more hours, while Colby napped, before it was time to take down camp and pack it all back up.

(The boys enjoying a snack, while we muster up the energy to take down camp.)

It took longer than expected, and by the time we were done, it was time for the huge Dutch Oven potluck. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture, but just picture about 3 large picnic tables lined full of dutch ovens, salads and desserts on each side. The line took a long time, but was definitely worth the wait. According to my mom's numbers, we had 155 people that camped from the 3rd to the 4th, and over 200 for breakfast, and I am positive even more for lunch. They were having a special tribute to all the missionaries in the family on the 5th, but we couldn't stay for it. Next we traveled home for the second half of our annual 4th of July celebration.

(Poor B with his cold sore.)

We unpacked the car, changed clothes to be cooler, and headed over to Colby's parents home for(By the way, each of these tanks describe my boys exactly.)

our annual BBQ and watching the fireworks put on at the High School from their patio. We made our own shish-ka-bobs, and had potato salad and fresh fruit. Colby and his brother later made a Slurpee run, because it was SO HOT! The little boys all got in the tub, and then enjoyed sparklers. We didn't end up staying for the firework show like we usually do. The kids were way too tired from the long excursions. Overall, we saw family from both sides, ate lots of great food, and discovered our kids are great campers. It was a great Independence Day!

Oh yeah! Before I forget, Colby's brother Ty took care of our kitties while we were away. But, he set off our alarm twice. The poor guy was having technical (user) difficulties entering the buttons in the right order. So for those of you in our neighborhood who saw the police car at our home on the 3rd, everything is fine. The police officer got to the door and held up his finger and told Ty,"Just a minute. I was just chasing a guy through the Wal-Mart parking lot." While he pants and tries to catch his breath, Ty offers him a glass of ice water. Thank goodness it wasn't a burglar just hanging out in our home, offering strangers drinks. Good times!