Summer '09 and Camping Trip #2

Okay, so I know we haven't posted in a few months. We got kind of involved with Facebook and have neglected our blog. I have now updated basically our whole summer. Enjoy. I advise you go down to the "Montana" post and work your way up if you want it to make sense chronologically.

Camping Trip #2

We had so much fun on our first camping trip that the next weekend we decided to do it again! This time we invited our good friends Ty and Melanie Fenn.

This is me cooking breakfast while everyone else watched.

And this is me being happy about it.

Here we are in front of this cool cave thing that is on the side of the road. Good luck on a new semester Tyler!!!

Our First Camping Trip

A couple of weeks ago, we realized that the summer was fading fast and that we had to make the most of the rest of our time before school started. So, we decided to be spontaneous and go on our fist camping trip since we've been married. We didn't go far, just a few miles up Logan Canyon. A great thing about living in Logan is that you don't have to go far to find the wilderness.

This is the huge tent Tyler's parents let us borrow. It fits about nine people, so it was pretty roomy for the two of us.

Tyler is very proud of our new lantern.

Deluxe sleeping accomodations

Okay, okay, I'll go camping, but don't expect me to do it without a Diet Coke!

Tysen and Stacie's sealing

We left the Hartley family reunion early to head to Salt Lake to see my older brother Tysen and his wife get sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on their two year anniversary. The sealing was at 7:30 Monday morning. It was very early, but worth it. We had the whole temple to ourselves. It was so special to be part of the most important day of my brother's life.


Mallory and K.ley waiting on the grounds for Tysen and Stacie to come out.

Tysen and Stacie

The Barker family

Riley and K.ley thought they were pretty cool in their dress clothes posing at the temple.

Cool shadowy picture

There is nothing like a good skipping picture!

Hartley Family Reunion

At the beginning of August, we went up to Nampa for a Hartley family reunion. Tyler's parents felt that since all their kids are getting old, they should schedule a family reunion for all of Tyler's siblings and their families. The last time we were all together was at our wedding, so it was about time we all saw each other. We had family come from Seattle, Washington and Omaha, Nebraska. We came from Logan, Utah, and the reunion at the Hartley's was in Nampa, Idaho. All together we represented four different states. Not too bad! We were only able to stay for a couple days, but it was so fun just sit, talk, eat, and play games with family.

Here is Britt showing Jezelle and Addison Mitch and Joy's beautiful garden.

Davis loved playing with Joy's blocks.

And watching his dad Jeremy play the Wii.

Here is Jezelle playing blocks with Grandpa Mitch. So much fun!

and the highlight of the weekend... Joy getting a strike in Wii 100 pin bowling.

Barbara Young Jorgensen "Grandma J"

Also on July 24th, at about 10:00 pm, my Grandma Jorgensen passed away. She had been living with my parents in Nampa for about a year. She was no longer well enough to live alone. My grandpa died when I was just a baby so she had been living alone for over 20 years. She was very independent, stubborn, and loved her grandkids more than anything in the world. My mom is an only child, so we didn't have any other cousins to take up her attention. Some of my favorite memories of Grandma J are:

Going with her to ZCMI every week to get her hair done. She would always take me to lunch in either the food court or the Tiffin Room restaurant above the department store.

Her visiting me in the hospital when I got my tonsils out, when I was diagnosed with Diabetes, and when I had hip surgery.

Sleeping over at her house for no good reason other than i wanted to.

My first time on an air plane to Boise on one of many mini-vacations. (Others being destinations like Las Vegas, Orderville, Vernal, and Bear Lake.)

Her giving us pajamas every year on Christmas Eve.

Playing in the old field and barn in her back yard while she told me stories about my big strong grandpa who was a cowboy and great basketball player.

Her singing louder than anyone else in the congregation at church. She had a passion for music.

Taking me to buy my baptism dress. It was much too expensive, but after I told her "this is the most beautiful dress I've ever seen" she couldn't resist.

When Grandma, while living at a care center, heard that Tyler and I as well as my brother Tanner and Dani were getting married and sealed in the temple, motivated herself to get well enough to attend.

I spent the next week in Salt Lake helping my mom plan and organize the funeral and other arrangements. I sang the song "Homeward Bound" at her funeral. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Needless to say, I didn't make it through the song without crying. Everyone was very supportive (especially Tyler) during this hard time. I am comforted to know that she is with my grandpa again and is enjoying the eternal rewards that wait for all of us who endure to the end.

I love you Grandma!

Hogle Zoo

One benefit of living and working in the state of Utah is that on the 24th of July , we get to celebrate Pioneer Day. In order to make the most of our day off, we went to the Hogle Zoo with my older sister Elise, her kids, and my younger sister Mallory. We had a lot of fun even though it was very hot.

Tyler and I at the entrance.

K.ley, Elise, and Riley

Mallory, K.ley, and Riley posing with a gorilla statue dedicated to Dan the gorilla who was one of the Zoo's most famous animals.K.ley feeling the heat.

Riley ready for lunch. What a goof ball.

Elise, Mallory and Riley on the "Conservation Carousel." K.ley kept calling the merry-go-round a miracle-round. She then told us "I love miracles!" So sweet!

some elephants

The famous lion drinking fountain. It was fun day!

A Melban 4th of July

For the 4th of July Tyler and I went up to Nampa and stayed with his parents. We went out to Melba (a VERY small town near Nampa) on the 4th. Melba doesn't have much to offer to the world for 364 days a year. But on the 4th of July, Melba is the place to be. We went to the parade in the morning with Tyler's family where we saw the above tractor and many similar to it, the Grinch who stole Christmas...

and these cute little guys dressed as superman.

Oh yeah and Tyler ate this really big and delicious corn dog. I had a smaller one, but it was also delicious. There was also an awesome firework show that night.

MMMMMM!!!