Due to the fact that we bought a new home, still own another home, and have two very young children our summer vacations have been somewhat nonexistent. Have no fear, we could not let all of summer go by without any family together time. So we journeyed far to the "Home of the Fossilized Squid." No joke -we even took a picture for proof!
Ok, that wasn't really where we were heading but the sign was on the way and we thought it was hilarious! We headed with my family and friends to Flaming Gorge in Utah. I'll be the first to admit the thought of camping, outside, in a tent, with two little boys sounded a little intimidating. We (well just Ian and Tim) had a trial run a couple nights before in the backyard. Ian loved it and now begs to go camping every night. So on the 25th of July we headed to our ward party for breakfast on then off to Flaming Gorge that afternoon. It is about a 3-3 1/2 hour drive from our home and the boys did great!
We got to the lake and headed in to our camp site.
Ian loved riding in the boat. Especially in his new Lightning McQueen life jacket! Aaron on the other hand absolutely hated his life jacket and cried most of the way to our campsite.
When we arrived and unloaded. Ian had fun coloring.
Aaron discovered the tag on the shovel tastes pretty good.
Then Ian realized that there was dirt! Which provided an endless amount of entertainment!!!
He spent majority of his time digging in the dirt and finding treasures (penny, 2 nails, aluminum circle, metal spring). Plus making homes for the ants to live in.
We had never been to Flaming Gorge before (we usually go to Lake Powell). The weather was not the best it rained a lot but we really enjoyed the area. We actually found that we enjoyed camping together as a family a lot! I am not a camper -I don't like bugs and they are not in short supply when camping. However we all survived!
Aaron playing in the tent with my mom.
Aaron enjoyed camping more than I had expected. While he did not get to sit down and play in the dirt, he loved all of the food and crawling over everything inside the tents. 
When my family goes camping they know how to eat! Each of the families that go are in charge of a breakfast one morning and a dinner one night. Everyone does lunch on their own. So the meals are excellent because everyone brings their best camping meal. Don't worry they all coordinate before and make sure no one brings the same kind of meal. So everything was delicious! As you can see Aaron had no problem enjoying all of the food.
Ian was the only toddler there the beginning of the week and loved all the attention he was getting. There were a few tantrums here and there but he did great considering he did not get his usual naps. In the picture below: Jordan, Bruce, Ivan, and Ian
Jordan, Trey, Merissa, Ian, Deana, and Andrew
Can you tell Aaron had fun!
At home Ian knew that when you go camping you get to have a real fire. From the moment we pulled into the marina all he wanted to do was start a campfire. I think I should possibly be a little concerned with this. Nonetheless that night we we roasted marshmallows for peanut butter reese's smores. They were delicious! Then we headed into our tents for bed. Yes, Ian is in his underwear. Be grateful that he at least has his underwear on this boy hates wearing clothes. Aaron is having fun reading the bedtime story of Froggy Goes Camping. The sleeping arrangements worked out great! Tim and I slept on the blow up queen mattress, Ian slept on our left on a mattress pad, then Aaron on the right on a mattress pad.
All of us trying to get a family picture in the tent before bedtime! 
That morning we woke up and headed to breakfast. Some of us woke up on the wrong side of the bed...
and some on the right side of the bed :)
We then headed out on the lake to scout out the area. It was a little chilly because it had been raining most of the night.
Hunter letting the wind blow through his hair
My dad "not driving" the boat
Ian playing in the cuddy
Ian and I sitting on back feeling the water spray past the side of the boat.
While Ian loved going for rides in the boat. He loved being on the boat when it came to a stop a little more. That meant as long as an adult was with him he could sit on the back and squirt his water gun shark in the lake. It is a good things we made him wear his life jacket at all times because when playing with his water gun he leaned too far over and fell right in. He was one wet and cold boy! Afterward he thought it was funny he had fallen in. Aaron loved playing in the cuddy and looking at himself in the mirror.
We also did a little bit of cliff jumping. Someone had connected an old ski rope to swing into the lake with. Below is a video of Ivan swinging in the lake.
With everyone jumping into the lake Ian decided he wanted to jump in too. As you can probably tell by the picture below he quickly changed his mind. Burrrrrrrr
From then on Ian became the flag holder
We had a wonderful time camping with everyone. While we did not want to head back Tuesday night it was a must. Tim was scheduled for a root canal Wednesday morning. Thanks for inviting us along, hopefully you enjoyed some peace and quiet after we left.
Ok, that wasn't really where we were heading but the sign was on the way and we thought it was hilarious! We headed with my family and friends to Flaming Gorge in Utah. I'll be the first to admit the thought of camping, outside, in a tent, with two little boys sounded a little intimidating. We (well just Ian and Tim) had a trial run a couple nights before in the backyard. Ian loved it and now begs to go camping every night. So on the 25th of July we headed to our ward party for breakfast on then off to Flaming Gorge that afternoon. It is about a 3-3 1/2 hour drive from our home and the boys did great!
We got to the lake and headed in to our camp site.
Ian loved riding in the boat. Especially in his new Lightning McQueen life jacket! Aaron on the other hand absolutely hated his life jacket and cried most of the way to our campsite.
When we arrived and unloaded. Ian had fun coloring.
Aaron discovered the tag on the shovel tastes pretty good.
Then Ian realized that there was dirt! Which provided an endless amount of entertainment!!!
He spent majority of his time digging in the dirt and finding treasures (penny, 2 nails, aluminum circle, metal spring). Plus making homes for the ants to live in.
We had never been to Flaming Gorge before (we usually go to Lake Powell). The weather was not the best it rained a lot but we really enjoyed the area. We actually found that we enjoyed camping together as a family a lot! I am not a camper -I don't like bugs and they are not in short supply when camping. However we all survived!
Aaron playing in the tent with my mom.
Aaron enjoyed camping more than I had expected. While he did not get to sit down and play in the dirt, he loved all of the food and crawling over everything inside the tents. 
When my family goes camping they know how to eat! Each of the families that go are in charge of a breakfast one morning and a dinner one night. Everyone does lunch on their own. So the meals are excellent because everyone brings their best camping meal. Don't worry they all coordinate before and make sure no one brings the same kind of meal. So everything was delicious! As you can see Aaron had no problem enjoying all of the food.
Ian was the only toddler there the beginning of the week and loved all the attention he was getting. There were a few tantrums here and there but he did great considering he did not get his usual naps. In the picture below: Jordan, Bruce, Ivan, and Ian
Jordan, Trey, Merissa, Ian, Deana, and Andrew
Can you tell Aaron had fun!
At home Ian knew that when you go camping you get to have a real fire. From the moment we pulled into the marina all he wanted to do was start a campfire. I think I should possibly be a little concerned with this. Nonetheless that night we we roasted marshmallows for peanut butter reese's smores. They were delicious! Then we headed into our tents for bed. Yes, Ian is in his underwear. Be grateful that he at least has his underwear on this boy hates wearing clothes. Aaron is having fun reading the bedtime story of Froggy Goes Camping. The sleeping arrangements worked out great! Tim and I slept on the blow up queen mattress, Ian slept on our left on a mattress pad, then Aaron on the right on a mattress pad.
All of us trying to get a family picture in the tent before bedtime! 
That morning we woke up and headed to breakfast. Some of us woke up on the wrong side of the bed...
and some on the right side of the bed :)
We then headed out on the lake to scout out the area. It was a little chilly because it had been raining most of the night.
Hunter letting the wind blow through his hair
My dad "not driving" the boat
Ian playing in the cuddy
Ian and I sitting on back feeling the water spray past the side of the boat.
While Ian loved going for rides in the boat. He loved being on the boat when it came to a stop a little more. That meant as long as an adult was with him he could sit on the back and squirt his water gun shark in the lake. It is a good things we made him wear his life jacket at all times because when playing with his water gun he leaned too far over and fell right in. He was one wet and cold boy! Afterward he thought it was funny he had fallen in. Aaron loved playing in the cuddy and looking at himself in the mirror.
We also did a little bit of cliff jumping. Someone had connected an old ski rope to swing into the lake with. Below is a video of Ivan swinging in the lake.
With everyone jumping into the lake Ian decided he wanted to jump in too. As you can probably tell by the picture below he quickly changed his mind. Burrrrrrrr
From then on Ian became the flag holder
We had a wonderful time camping with everyone. While we did not want to head back Tuesday night it was a must. Tim was scheduled for a root canal Wednesday morning. Thanks for inviting us along, hopefully you enjoyed some peace and quiet after we left.
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